Year: 1869

The Pablic Schools and Education Question:


Agitation for Political Amnesiy-A Noble.


mans Idea Of Freedom of Conscience.


LONDON Sept. 4, 1859.


In this mornings London papers the first notes Of
the trumpet calling to arms the party, or rather
combination OF parties, that VIII next session prove
the ruin Of the Gladstone Ministry to be heard
As usual like every subject and every political ques
ton at the present day, the sound comes from the
West The war cry has been hitherto the Irish
Church, now we have come to the question of Irish
education and few words are necessary to explain
the position Of parties as they stand. As lib
ers and as the head OF the liberal party in England
Mr.. Gladstone stands pledged TO his supporters to
permit In every way system OF purely secular edu
cation But this is not acceptable to the Catholics OF
Ireland, who are determined to have their portion Of
the educational grants made to support schools
which shall teach the children the faith OF their FORE
fathers Now without the Irish liberal that CathOIc)
support Gladstone could not stand for single day;
therefore he cannot afford to go contrary to their
wishes. On the other hand, he still less afford
to throw away the support Of the great English lib
era party, and between the two he is fairly puzzled
The conservative party in England are in favor OF
the denominational system, and would gladly give
the Irish Catholics the schools they want provided
the latter would support them in the contest,w nich
must and viii come in q few months time, OF secu-
lar versus denOmlnational education. And as
neither the English liberal nor the Irish Catholic
party Will near OF any compromise themselves the
chances are that between The two the Gia dstone
Ministry wl not last through next session or Par
uamout.


on the two systems OF educauoD 1t ia not my
province to pronounce, but tbiEk shat the purely
secular system, which works 50 very well III all the
towns aud villages or the United states is somehow
against the traditions and preudices oil the English
people. In America there is far less Digotry than
with US. Somehow or other EngIsn Irish or
heaven his own way. What would you say
IN the states II man OF education and re-
hnement dismissed good and faithful servant
at moments notice simply and solely because he
happened by chance to find out that the III an was
Catholics Yet such an occurrence TOOK place to my
certain knowledge less than three montns ago An
English nobleman, man Of great wealth, liberal
IN polltcs. and one who passes for an enlightened
supporter OF Literature and arts, had need OF q
butler man called on hlm, said he was leaving
his present place because Dis master was going
abroad and would be glad to take service with the
Earl, who wanted O servant. The noblernan made
every inquiry, found the man knew his business
perfectly, had lived Ia two or three families OF the
highest position and bore an excellent character
He engaged the butler, VINO for SIX or months
gave him the highest satisfaction IN every way.
This Dobleman had son, q little boy about seven
years OF age, who TOOK great FANCY 10 the new
butler, and. being somewhat spoiled and petted by
his parents, refused TO walk out OF go anywhere
except with the man. one day he came run
ming to his father and showed him in great
triumph what ne called necklace, that he had
taken out of the buffers pocket. The said necklace
was Catholic rosary, with a small cruci1x attached
10 it. The Earl took it from the child sent Tor the
butler and asked whether he was q Catholic. The
latter sad he was. The nobeman asked him why
he had never mentioned TINS before, The man said
ne had not done SO because be did not think 1t was
matter oil any moment what faith or creed or
church he belonged The Earl replied he was very
sorry TO part with the man, but that he could not
keep Catholic in his service. He wrote him
check for two months wages In advance, told MIN
that he should he happy " give him an excellent
character whenever he was called upon to do 30, but
dismissed him. The man was not allowed 20 sIeep
another night In the house. And what is more,
when the man did ma place, the Earl wrote In re-
ply to questions put about his character saving UI
have no fault whatever to md with him He "a
honest, SOBER cleanly In his habits understands
perfectly the care OF wine the keeping OF plate and
all his other duties. Moreover he never quarrelied
with his fellow servants and was great favorlte
with all the family. would never have turned him
away only that found out ne was Catholic, and I
viii not have Catholic servants about mer


You VIII no doubt imagiua that tnis aoblanan