New-York daily tribune., 1845-02-26
THINGS IN IRELAND.
IRELAND, January.
of The Tribune

Ing on between The Protestant ClelSF anu 1c VI
gans of the Tory Ministry, on the subiec, OF Ma
tional Education, as conducted in Ireland, under
sanction OF The Government. The plan Is warmly
opposed by the hierarchy and Clergy of the Estab-
lished Church. on the ground, mainly. that i, Is un-
scrptural, and therefore opposed TO the true puT-
pose of education. The want of system OF edu-
cation, which would embrace in lis scope the Ro-
man Catholic poor of Ireland, was long lamented
by the phianthropic portion Of the community, and
it was no small matter TO briBg into operation a
plan, which would be successful, without giving
offence The use OF the Bible as cass-bOok was
strongly objected to by the Roman Catholic Priests.
and they preferred not 10 see their flock educate
rather than TO see them educated with the B!bi-.-
Hence arose the cause OF much OF the ignorance
which al present exists among the lower classes Of
the peasaniry, for few avaled themselves of the
means of education afforded by the various socle
ties which from time 10 time had been formed for
the education of the Poor. The great cry of the
Protestants of Ireland was Educate the people and
there will be no need of a standing army 10 make
Ireland peaceable and loyal. This was repeated
year after year, until the Government could no
longer stand alooi, and system was hXcd upon,
and avery large grant was given tor The purpose oi
supporting National Schools throughout the clues,
towns and rural Dlstrlcts-which system is now In
active operation, and already we notice strong
OF it as far as possible But unfortunately for Ire
land, discussion and bigotec opposition mar every
plan devised for her happiness, and the elevation OF
her sons. II has been the curse OF Ireland, Tor
many year, that no measure could be proposed
tor It's improvement, without calling into play
spirit Of party which was quite lutoIerable. The
poet Spelscy has thus written, and It's applicable
TO Ireland now, as in the days when the author OF
tho Fcere Queen, the celebrated dialogue on the
state of Irish affairs Through The fatal destiny Of that
land purposes whatever which meant for her good
win prosper take good effect which, whether it pro-
ceed from the very genius OF her SOIL influence OF the
stars, that Almighty God hath not yet appointed the
of her reformation but reserveh her in their naquc;
still for scolrse, which shall by her come
into England. ii is h1.d to be known, yet much TO be
feared.
But the opposition in the present comes from the
quarter whence the Government least expected -fron
the Protestant Clergy who have protested against the
scrptura education Of the poor as contemplated aud
countenanced under the prcsen; plan The reader wbct-
ter understand the protest by The following extract from H.
should observe that it is signed by Rne OFT Of 'he four
members Of tie Episcopal bench, and has received Tie
sanction Of tho great body Of the Clergy throughout the
kingdom.
Aftcr making some preliminary remarks Of the eccs
which existed for their interference and public disapproba
ton of the ran they TO state the grounds OF olec-
on thus: The grounds on which this opposition wa.
n,ado various. Tho undue prominence given
secular, the depreciation of religious education: the
disregard position and claims of the clergy o.
the established church, tending 10 tie direction OF national
education into the hands of the Priesthood of Remc and
other defects In lis system and machinery" &C. The
rule by which the Holy Scriptures were to be excluded
from the schools during the hours Of general instruction
was treated by ali hat is Protesants) rs fundamentally
Objectionable In the former societies for The education
pcor with which the clergy were connected there
in every school Bible class and to read the HOY
Scriptures part of the daily business Children OF
all denominations took their place in his class but now
the distinction ohe system is that it places the Bible
under the with books OF peculiar instruction In
religion and, with them, il Is excluded DURING iie hours
of general instruction. II further objected That this
great change made concession TO The unlawful
authority BY which The Church OF Rome Wthhods the
Holy Scriptures from It's members.
Thus you will perceive that the exists parallel 10 INC
dissenson caused in the State of New in consequence
OF the exclusion OF the Btlc from the Common Schools Il
/, my province TO examine The question oil exclusion
whether il be right whether II be wrong but simply tc
give the result OF my observations ana the teleIc
to he drawn from thr nature of the opposition
The Law Prossants do not appear TO think alike on this
subject with their Clergy with the exception OF the g
Church pary who little for the education OF the Poor
whether secular religious but, who seze upon II as
for venting their spleen upon the Preer ior ms
detection from their partythat is for his mainess 10 e
cislae for ireland without consulting the prejudiccs OF
party nooriosy opposed TO every thing which may teno
in the slightest degree to their influence and author
ty in the land The tme however, has gone by when their
threats or dcnlncatiC,ls eau drive British Minister from
d!scharrng his duty long neglected nation sir 'oDcIt
Peel has shown that he longer regards them rs his true
friends and they threaten him with tie block for his back
sliding from the true ith they term their unpalaabe
doy,nas The moderate and thinking Lay ProtesttS VINO
really desrous 10 see Ireland properly governed anu
her children raised ON the almost level with beasts c me
field 10 the true of regard the National plan
Of Education tho best which could be framed lndc exist
ing circumstances. They have witnessed The repeated
futures the Societies. hitherto formed for The education
of The Poor which were under tho control OF the
Clergy ard in which the Bible used as class BOOK
Thcy know that the Catholic Priesthood VIII not permit
their flock 10 be educated in any such schools and they
commend the Government, for endeavorng to adapt Inc
system TO the people. Religious instructions at the op
ton of the parent and the Minister can teach The children
Of his congregation, the Catccism ard Bible AT any
time he may dessnaie,-not interfering WIN lc cus .,
general instruction he Roman Catholics have accepted
the plau and Jealous in giving the experiment as m
trial as possible. Owing the Withdrawal OF the Pro-
tesant Clergy from any control over or guardianship III
the the schools tbs greater portion OF them
under the OF Cathode Schoolmaseis and Mistress
es and many of the Inspectors are OF the same persuasion
This another ground of offence TO The Protestant Clergy
To obviae In some measure tie evil they anticipate from
the teachings OF Catholic Masters they have established
Church Education Society and have several schools III con
nec.on with II in which the Bble Is used as class doom.
These schools however, too ewnd the funds for Their
support too limited he much service They are raip
supported out Of funds OF the Clergy who can but badly
snare the donation their low pttance, and The Lay
men seem unwilling make any combined eIor to sls-
toin Len The Clergy have cndeavorcd 10 procure di
vision of the Educational Grant, but this has Decn aeheo
by the Minister, who is determined to see The werhs OF
his u!an before he bcthnks himself Of the canourous
Bshops Disappointed III this, they are petonnc TO be
allowed 10 share tho funds ont OF which the Church IN
England derives support for the school IN which lis doc
trines are taught This is opposed ue fFo'esta.tS "i
England who say that they have enough OF opportunity TO
dispose of tha, fund either being able 10 spare any OF 1t 10
heir poor Irish brethren Thus the Withdrawal OF The
Protestant Clergy from the supervision OF the National
schools throws the direction OF the education oi the poor
into the very channels Of which they are bathing TO
r them Thsy have made false step III not accepting
the p,an, and afterwards procuring any modification vhich
they might have doomed udcous and right The Govern
ment evidently regarded the plan as an experimental o
10 be altered and revised opportunity nrcscntee se III
the operation OF its various rles Tho result VIII De hai
the Irish people Will be educated without the aid OF The
Protestant Clergy and such education be but 10 Strength
en- the power ana influence of the Church OF Rome IN II
land thcy cannot lay the whole blame on the head oil The
Minister, whsmthey threatened with Impeachment.
The objection that the Bible has been supersesed oy Inc
introduction and use of selected portions Y mus NE, p
the Commissioner in their preface TO the slipe Le
sons" in use and issued under sanction
Nothag is more from the CompieIs tlh eiiHet
offer them substitute for the whole oie OF 10 seeA
supersede any degree, the authorized version Oh e
Established Church They butncnded 10 convey 70 ie
minds children (and OF the poor Irish peasans) uu
and precepts drawn directly from the word OF Goo. Inc
objection comes with bad grace from men, wh0 nave
heretofore their societies allowed, and puelshed DOORS
Of similar plan Of which are in existence 10 ms
day. The truth is they perceive that power wie hes
have unscrupulously exercised has departed nom thei III
the concessions made BY wise Minister TO me advancing