The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-19
The Catholic Bishops and the School
Question in Ireland.

xueSLOu IN 1reIanOs
Within the past few weeks the question of
education in Ireland has attracted good deal
of attention in the newspapers Of that country,
owing in great measure to the course pur-
sued by number of the Catholic bishops on
the subject. Prominent among the prelates
stands Cardinal Cullen, who is determined to
make himself felt throughout the island and
to compel recognition of his influence in the
British Parliament. Now that the College of
Maynooth draws no annual sustenance from
the British exchequer and that the establish
ment must prove self-sustaining or, in course
of time, pass out Of existence, the move
ment inaugurated by Cardinal Cullen at
tracts degree of attention it would
not otherwise possess. The crusade in
agurated has for its aim the attainment of
an object which, if successful, will compel
numerous alterations in the present national
school system. In set of resolutions the
bishops give their views and explain their
programme. They declare that Catholic
education is indispensable for the preserva-
ton of the faith and morals of the Catholic
people; they condemn mixed education as
dangerous, and they argue that recent events,
especially the acts of secret societies OF revo-
lutionary organizations, have strengthened
them in that convictions they demand,
as right, that the subject of edu-
cational equality shall be legislated on, and
they repudiate the present system of
education as repugnant to the religious con-
vctions of their Hocks. The model schools,
the Queens. colleges, Trinity college and
all similar institutions are vehemently de-
nounced, and Cardinal Cullen is called on to
take immediate steps towards the establish
ment of central school for the training of
Catholic teachers. The bishops do not stop
here. They go still further, and announce
their determination to support only such can
didates for Parliament as favor the pro-
gramme they have laid down. The people, too,
are called on to hold meetings in their several
parishes, under the direction of the clergy, to
sign pet ions against any system of education
contrary to that favored by the hierarchy.
The Irish educational campaign may then be
considered fairly opened, and inaugurated
WIFI QcteTIHlHdLlOH Oh Tue part VI CeTIdiu
bishops to fight with considerable warmth.
The subject will be brought up at the ap-
preaching session of Parliament, and will pro-
woke much discussion. On general princi-
pies we believe the present movement is inju-
dicious for the very reason that the national
school system of Ireland as it stands at pres
ent is noted by unprejudiced persons both at
home and abroad for its many excellent char
acteristics. The cry raised against goddess
education has but slender foun dation to sus-
tain itself, and when a number of the Catholic
prelates declare that they will use their influ-
ence in securing the defeat OF any candidate
for Parliament who will not accept their plat
form for thorough and complete reformation
of the present educational system, they an
nounce policy the wisdom of which cannot
be concurred in by thoughtful and unprejud iced
Catholics.