The New York herald., 1871-01-01

Public Edueafion and Religion In Eng
Common Schools.
The question of the best mode of manage
ment Of the system of public education of the
young has proved to be one of the most en-
civil executives Of the Old World since the
days of the Protestant Reformation. Wars
and fierce Parliamentary debates on fixed sub
jects, such as those which have reference to
the foreign relations Of the countries or their
internal economies Of jurisprudence, finance
and land tenure, are terminated by legislative
council and diplomatic action In due time,
and, it may be, at seasonable periods. The
matter Of public education il eternal-tn-
dying as is the soul which it Is proposed to
enlighten. To grasp the infantile mind, to
nonspolize its ideas, and thus to mould the
political destinies Of the nations, has been
ever the aim both Of priests aud ambitious
statesmen. The former have inclined to alb
negate the spirit of the divine command,
"'Suffer little childrep to come unto me-" and
to declare that the young shall walk to
the footstool only by the path which they
themselves point out; the latter have been
either Indifferent on the one hand or the un-
frocked servitors of the Church on the other.
Rome, Italy, Spain, France, England and Ire
land have all suffered terribly in their social
relations from the effects and consequences of
this struggle. We have not indeed, been en-
tirely free from them in our own happy and
unsectarian land in former years-a fact which
is known by very mournful convictions among
the populations of New York, Boston, Philas.
delphia and other large cities.
The American people have come 'sall right"
however, with respect to the management of
their common schools. We are glad to fad
that the inhabitants Of Great Britain are
rapidly following their example. Men of every
religious creed and Of all shades of the modern
varieties Of Church faith, as well as ladies, are
coming forward to serve on the school boards
of the United Kingdom. The people appre-
ciate their action. Elections for members Of
the English school boards draw forth an ex-
ceedingly heavy vote, particularly in the
just voted for such appointments. The poll
ticians of the great radical centre, the
.'lberals," as they term themselves, endea-
vored to monopolize the returns. They at
tempted to carry the whole list of fifteen men,
bers.
The Churchmen, however, amalgamated
cumulative, liberal educational vote, which
defeated the politicians. The returns show
that the Roman Catholics came out in force.
Their candidate heads the list. The following
extract is from the official declaration Of the
poll of elected School Board candidates in
Birmingham :-"Rev. Canon OSullivan, Ro-
man Catholic, 80, 720 votes; S. S. Lloyd
Church of England, 80, 799; Rev. DR.. Burgess,
Church of England, 81 1926 Rev. DR.. Willlin-
son. Church of England, 10, 1929; G. Dawson,
unattached, II, lo3; r. W. Dale, Independent
16,3S7; G. Vince, Baptist, l5,943; J. S. Hop
kins Church of England, 1896; W. L. Sar-
giant, Church of England, 1868; Joseph
Chamberlain, Unitarian, 5000, and ]. S.
Wright, Baptist, 1901 Among the defeated
candidates are &c. 3. Lloyd, Society of
Friends; Rev. H. W. Holland, Wesleyan
George Baker, Society Of Friends; Jesse Col
lings, Unitarian; J. A. Cooper, Independent
Rev. H. w. Crosskey, Unitarian; J. u. Mel
son, Wesleyan; D. Krkwooi, Secu!arist and
j. Raffles, unknown"
This is as it should be. Extremists and
unknown" men are not wanted on the school
boards Of England and Britain thus receives
promise Of the early advent of an
era Of regulated, wholesome liberty and
fraternal liberation, having its foundation
in her public schools and leaving its future
direction for the hands Of the ma!ured pupils
of these institutions.
ROCKETS AND BAD WHIsKEY are the