The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-01

the United states In the present interna-
tonal trouble. England declares that her
own Government Is not likely to be less en-.
crgetic than that of the United States in its
demand for reparation 1t will, however,
choose its own methods Of procedure and
seek TO attain its ends without unnecessari-
ly increasing the difficulties of the Govern
ment of Spain. This is the more desirable,
1t is thought, since no more amability can
extenuate the gravity of the case.
Even If the Cuban authorities have not
been guilty of fragrant breach of Interna-
tlonal Law, they have acted with bar
barity in the enforcement of their rights of
which the English Government considers
itself bound TO take notice, not indeed, it
is said, in the general interests of humani-
ty, but for the protection of its own citi-
zens
This is fair example of the crafty care
displayed by England in entering upon any
enterprise which is likely to contain hazard
to his peace of mind. She trusts, further
more, that the difficulty will be cleared up
without open rupture, but, should extreme
means be necessary, London stands ready
and willing to enter the field with Wash
ington and she feels confident that two
such powers in combination are quite sulli-
cent to crush the bastard strength of
| Spain. Marvellously deep reasoning, no
doubt it may be possible that similar con
sidcrations have occurred to the American
mind
THE CLERGY VERSUS THE PEOPLE.
| There Is at present a most novel species
of social warfare waging between the laity
and their spiritual advisers which threatens
to dcmolish the late School System which
has proved such champion in behalf of
the public good.
The strife applies particularly to the tax
payers of London who by their suifrages
| constitute the new School Board which,
for the next three years, will have charge
Of the machinery of the popular education
of the metropolis.
The citizens are to-day called upon to
vote whether the education of their chill
drcn shall be carried on by the Clergy with
all the crampcd appliances of Sect or in
the free atmosphere of liberal instruction.
| AS matter of course excitement is high
and the clectiOneerng has found recruits
among the Amazons of the gentler sex.
Three years ago the first School Board
was elected to perform II work which at the
time was novel. Indeed this was the first
instance in the history Of London in which
this vast community had elected Il repre-
sentative body it was the first time, too,
in which a local elective organization had
been charged with the superintendent of
the public schools. Hitherto education
bad been abandoned to voluntary schools
supported by heavy draughts upon the pub
lie purse. As Il consequence, the streets
swarmed with idle children pauperism
and crime were increasing there was not
sufficient number of schools and even
those who were fortunate enough TO attend
were il-taught when present
The new Board was charged 10 reform
the old schools, to open new ones and en-
force attendance Success crowned the
effort with an increase of sixty thousand
children. Mind this Board was free of
clerical iniluence. Meanwhile the difficult
ties arising from the paying of fees for de-
| nominational instruction were avoided and
the whole system preserved healthy tone.
The question of religious instruction in
Board Schools was solved by the accept
ance on all sides of Bible reading and UNI
sectarian teaching.
This compromise was accepted for the
sake of peace, and with the desire that the
great work of educating the London Poor
might not be hindercd by political and re-
lgious strife.
| II is the fortunate result of the efforts OF
| the late Board to have SO raised the stan.
dard of humanity in this great metropolis.
However, the present election has opened
| oil al ,,p,,n1a and thn tlnsli Ilon1 "a N Al
contention is flowing out through the
breaches.
On Sunday last large number of the ma.
tional pulpits were transformed into politi-
cal platforms, from which excited clergy
men harangued their congregations upon
the matter in question, until those who had
gone to pray were disposed to fight. These
belligcrent clergy have combined in an eff
fort to bend all the interests of the public
education to their own sectarian purposes
and il they should succeed School Board
education will be limited in quantity and
will be made to coincide in quality with the
instruction impaired in strictly scctariall
| schools. AS a matter of course, the ma
jority of Londoners are in revolt and appear
determined to strike a blow at the clerical
ambition and one for their own liberty also.
! There is an appearance of cheapness in the
Scctarian arrangement whlch IS altogether
delusive. Board Schools in England are
nearly self supporting; but 1t children are
driven into clerical schools, the taxpayers
are obliged to pay the ices. The problem
is, therefore, not one OF expenditure but OF
the manner of the expenditure 1t is not a
question of the pockets of the taxpayers
but of the pockets of the clergy. What the
people of London have to decide is whether
the national school master shall be respon-
sble to the people or be the agent of the
priesthood.
Even the impartial foreigner cannot but
trust that the interests Of the people will be
asserted in the coming election, and indeed,
in all future elections throughout the world.