The record-union., 1894-03-24

mad the honor the other day of a con-
versation with the Earl Of Meath regard
ing the Union Jack and its introduction
into our public and national schools.
In answer to my query as to what first
put the idea into his head to ask the Lon
don School Board to display the ma
tional emblem in the various centers of
education over which they have jurisdic-
ton, his lordship replied that while trav-
cling in the United States he was in
formed that ceremony called ''Saluting
the Flag had been instituted in some of
the public or national schools.
sit appeared to me-" continued his
lordship, "a wise step on thea part of the
school authorities to foster a sentiment of
patriotism among the rising generation.
I asked myself whether similar or per-
haps an improved system might not with
advantage be introduced into our own
national schools, especially as it had
often struck me as regretable that so little
trouble was taken by the educators of the
young to point out TO their charges the
many privileges and advantages enjoyed
by the British which are denied to the in
habitants of many other countries.
AN EXAMPLE OF POPULAR IGNORANCE.
''The ignorance on this subject is great,
and was recently exempliied in letter
addressed to me by man who described
himself as a well-to-do tradesman.
1.-THE writer fell foul of me for desiring
that patriotic feelings should be instilled
into the breasts of the rising generation,
arguing that it was all very well for Amer
lean citizens to love and be proud of their
country, inasmuch as IN the l nited States
all offices were filled by merit, whereas
in England favor alone led to promotion.
Now, as is well known by all who are
acquainted with the two countries. the
exact reverse is the case. In England,
with the exception of the diplomatic
service, entrance to which for special rea-
sons is by means of a competitive exam
ination among nominated candidates. all
Government offices are thrown open to
the widest possible competition.
mo man, however high his rank, or
however large his fortune, can get his son
a commission in the army, the navy, the
home or Indian civil service, or, indeed
into any position under the Government
by favor or intrigue. There is only one
way to British Government employment,
and that is through the competitive ex
amination-room
ENGLISH VIEWS OF AMERICAN METHODS.
ION the other hand, almost all Govern
ment appointments III the United States,
from that Of ambassador down to the
lowest letter carrier, can only be obtained
through favor. No American citizen can
get his boy into the army or navy unless
he be first nominated to the military col
lege at West Point or to the naval college
at Annapolis on the recommendation of
some Senator or politician whose services
are necessary to the Government.
at is difficult for any man to obtain or
retain any situation in the civil service of
the United States by merit alone. AS
rule, after every election, clean sweep Is
made by those in power of all the civil
servants who have been appointed by
their political opponents and their places
are filled by the friends OF the Govern
ment.
zone would imagine that these facts
were known to all the world, and here was
man calling himSelfa well-to-do London
tradeSman, late vestryman and school
board manager, who evidently was ignor-
ant of the manner in which his country
IS governed, aud was under completely
false impression in regard to the way
these matters are managed abroad"
THE FLAG MOVEMENT POPULAR.
Ibid your lordsnip encounter much
opposition in getting your patriotic sdg-
gestion about the national flag accepted
by the London School Board?''
NO. the majority of the school board
of London readily accepted the offer of
Union Jacks, and undertook after my 900
had been exhausted to supply any school
with flags on the demand OF the local
managers. They also passed a resolution
placing Oh record their desire that the
children in their schools should be led to
entertain patriotic feelings toward their
country, leaving it to the teachers to
choose the method best calculated to effect
their end"
I'm what manner p" l then asked, sis
the flag displayed in the schools so as to
secure the purpose of an object lesson on
the importance Of fostering the national
spirit with view to the preservation Of
the Empire?"
II cannot answer that question" re-
piled his lordship, ''as no uniform sys-
tenn has been decided on. My suggestion
was that on the first Monday in each
month, after religious instruction,
quarter of an hour should be taken off
the time allotted to secular work for chill
dren TO listen TO the recital of patriotic
poem, such, for instance, as TeDnYson'S
Defense of Lucknow or of a prose
passage describing some incident in his
tory connected with the growth of the
British Empire, after which the Union
Jack should be saluted by all the scholars
while they sang the national anthem or
Rule. Britannia"
would your lordship like to see the
displaying OF the Union Jack made COM
pulsory in all the public and national
schools of Great Britain and Ireland?"
Il think" said Lord Meath, sit would
be great mistake to make the display of
the flag obligatory in every school. Patri-
otism can be encouraged, but it cannot be
forced. 1t must arise from the conviction
in the heart of each individual that the
country of his birth is worthy of his love
and respect. All that can be done is to
point out the solid grounds upon which
such faith in the case of the Inhabitants
of the British Isles may justly be based"
next inquired whether, in view of the
prominence presently given to the spirit
of principle or nationality of the tendency
to pay greater attention to the claims and
aspirations of the three distinct NATIONAL
tiles that inhabit the British Isles, his
lordship did not think that it might be
advisable to assign to each country
separate flag of its own for use and dis
play in their respective national and pub
lie school. emphasizing my meaning by
saving that | supposed 1t would be pos
sible to provide for both sentiments, the
local and imperial, by so arranging the
display of the national flag as to have the
symbol of our unity in tho Union Jack
on the diverse side, and the particular
emblem OF the nation in which the flag is
in use depicted on the other, but Lord
Meath thought that there could be mo
occasion for any such suggestion, as the
Union Jack is composed OF the national
flags of England. Scotland and Ireland"
To BANIsH IGNORANCE.
Then l suppose 1 may take it for
granted l said in conclusion, "that your
Iordship is convinced that the best way
TO promote patriotic feeling in the young,
and so, indirectly, to strengthen our EN-
pire. is to draw more attention to the i'm
portance OF displaying and chershing the
glorious symbol of our unity.n
II don't care so much for the symbols"