New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-06-25
THE TRIBUNE
~. yat,ona, Schools OF ireland.

E,fnrd by Longitude ana ieii'uue, ou' II" "i"' "'
& ,olrit which acknowledges no boundary set up
/, m,n against legitimate liberty there IL subject
CA;,b must command the interest ofthe ph!anihro-
l., "a. in It's progress Of devcopment It's influence
t;ll bs felt wherever an Irshman seeks permanent
Kane or even q transtory residence. That subject
[ Education. | remember we'll with what violence
l.. parliamentary opponents o" the Catholic Cues
Esu' denounced the Irish Clergy of that faith as
I,srs of darkness and enemies OF human knowledge,
Id thus, BY logical deduction, conservatives oil
banpy of The worst nature. The Catholic public
Ehool., or as they were at that time called,
E,barity schools" were indeed but few, and une-
Lu.l TO the wants and desires of the poor whose
EHldren grew up i'll comparative ignorance, having
|, advantages OF an educational provision from
Gosernmen,, whose principles and policy provided
sundantly for the education of the children Of the
Protestant poor by grants for "Charter Schools"
(which the work Of proselytism was openly and
bso,ously pursued.
But the progress of the Catholic Question, how
ksr and the slow but certain growth Of liberal
tp;nions which followed the establishment of the
Ea-d-rcnowned Catholic Association, soon pro-
bpeed it's natural effects. A commission of inquiry
kto the state of education in Ireland was instituted,
1.-The necessity for ouch Inquiry, thus admitted,
sa,ed the prejudiced and, sanctioned by the
Government, senced their more offensive hostility
h. candid and liberal of the Protestants joined the
hanks of The Association in great numbers and, by
hsrees the Ministerial arguments against uncondi-
konalEmancipntien, flor that was Irelands sine qua
hon, were laid aside as useless-and superannusted.
The bugbears of the supremacy of the Pope" aud
foreign allegiance" priestly dispensation from
HE obligations of an onth'-the royal precedent OF
The memorable and awfuly ominous " So help mt
God Of the Duke Of York, 10 which the lay and
kpirual majority in the House of Lords referred
hsir most sacred authority and jus,fcation-and
Even the zone cheer more" Of tho now despairing
b,cendancy party, through their unyieldng cham
bion LORD ELpoS-all were necessarily abandoned
timpotent in a contest in which Ireland had or
hyed on her side truth and justice, and, admittedly,
BE great majority Of the genius, talent, patriotism,
learning and eoqueuce of the three kingdoms. Yes.
h that hour all the usual of service aban-
bOpsd except the one | have already referred to-
he abuse OF the Catholic Clergy as enemies oil Edu-
Ss,on. The fact that the literature of Europe hs,
kund in thu, body at once q citadel and sanctuary
kss suppressed, as also the more reunlentavr
lid apposire fact that, 10 comparatively recent p'
I'D, Catholic, lay or clerical, dared not assume the
hp.cirv of school-teacher; tho first being too
sropg n testimony that patronage of learning has
kyr been n ch lracterislic of the Catholic Clergy
Ind the second 100 explanatory OF the causes winch
BED 10 the universally admitted prevalence OF iguo-
k,aee among their people. This theme of abuse,
fshieh wore 100 well. aud was etili considered too
t.riceable 10 be dispensed with, was harped on
Isnb fidelity which might have aided n good cause,
lui as the proved, Is totally unsulted TO bad
io,.
The Government Schools were Of ostensbly be-
Ins,elent origin, but were in fact nothing more than
nurseries 10 suppv AT future day the rank and h'
Lei tho ultra ascendancv party commonly called
EOrahgemen aad consequently detective IN every
Ehing implied by the word educat Their perma-
Eneacy having been disturbed by The progressive
Esprit of the age, new educational Arrangement was
Effected under the immediate direction OF the Nil
dss Street (Dubln) Society" into which negative
Essit of liberalism introduced 10 neutraliZe the
h,,.d with which the Blue Coat,' Green Coat,
s.Dd other Government Schools had filed the popu-
Oar mind This society had - branches through
HE country; but il was soon discovered that they
Essn to say the least of them, very bad improve
k,,nt upon the others, and that while their ayowed
pnuepes were entitled TO public confidence, Their
Elmer government the veriest subteiy oil preji-
Eiee and deception Education was still degraded
INTO party Intrigue the spirit OF Cancellation, 50 re-
kessar,, amid conflicting opinions 10 the interests OF
1.-The country was excluded, certain 10 initiate
sainsl the darling hopes and projects of the society
land The result was, that they disappointed the eX-
bectatous Of the few, confirmed the suspicious oil
tae many, and, satisfactory TO no party became nn-
Popular with all.
Meantime, nj every succeeding session OF Parlla-
nent the old and fayorite war-cry raised against
he clergy abcttors ignorance, because they re-
fused TO sanction the education nculcated IN those
schools, which had nothing whate.er to recommend
them 10 the minds, feelings, faith or principles OF
Iseven.eghths of the people.
The time for reaction, however, al length arrived;
and never reaction more retrlbutory. GA one
Isde the Protestant mind had been successfully dis
abused oil It's former Impressions TO the grounds oil
hostility 10 the Government mode of education !;
and on the other, the Catholics had grown up 10 Il
moral power at which they themselves were sur
prised, such va, the sspdty OF the revolution which
bad been effected u Aeir condition. The SUBJECT OF
National Education was taken up in active earnest
BY the Catholic Association and the Clergy, long de-
famed, but long patent, went heart and son into the
Increment Mr. O'CoaSELL, armed with all niu-
snce and power such nation had ever before so
unanimously conferred upon an individual, miro
duees his Normal School motion; dut oiam inrcaiam
oui ae'am became his practical motto; adopt
A cd by tho whole body OF the Catholic Clergy;
stnpols were built, and rapidly multiplied around
I'e laRo teachers properly qualified were selected;
'D9 power OF useful knowledge was set in motion,
Inu 'e clergy, directing this power, soon proved
1pe:asere' the moral avengers Of Truth insulted IN
Incl. meu persons. The British Minister was thunder
r nj. de had no, deemed i, possible that peo
~, r., 4uPovenshed by taxation, and engued in cenu
..es OF oppression, could possess energy, vitality
sapass to ASSUME any addonal burden but il
,Ss n.ao on me impossbility he orgo, they were
inc people OF lrelaad-a people VIII $500, ia
dduay Of national character end love o, CO. conn
uy capahie OF producing just such rss.o, ~
Poiut o' GaScent where Others would d.: a
| perish. aespaif ana
m! But it wa. now too late to reract hi. denouoce.
meat or retrace his seps He was parslyzaJ'
as' weapon OF his warfare bad been wrr,,eS r, ,,s
%n the justification OF history had been ,G,
y We convection OF the British nation The pnks ~
md 1. lar and his oath had been gathered to the tomb
i.a the Emancipation bill passed both Houses sS'o
las, i s 10 the royal signature which i, received
Il III, n.y. years after lis first trembling preservation
Which, 100, 100, OF The throne. Such were the rr;un,nba
Csrsv ",lesed closely the announcement Of the
nass d.s ene.Hes Of education, and which are in no
hood 'iosole TO that Ministerial false
granted wben -. wonder exciting measure in Itself