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OCR
June, 1907
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRAT ' 67
degree of insensibility. But when it comes to
gushing in Dutch over the love of freedom of “the
Mother Country” the farce becomes a trifle
nauseous. Having had its origin in the stock-
jobbers’ war, the Colonial palaver was then used by
Chamberlain to boom the dear-food campaign.
The good Colonies having helped their “ hlother
Country” with five-shilling-asday warriors (consist-
ing in reality of the scum of the Colonial cities),
the “ Mother Country ” was to return the kindness
by giving the Colonies a “preference” for their
products, which really meant that the “Mother
Country " was to tax her food for her “Daughter”
nations’ benefit. At this point, however, the
Mother Country began to recover from the effects
of the Chamberlain opium. She is not going to tax
her food for the benefit of the Colonies, and the
Colonies are not going to tax themselves for the
up-keep of the British fleet. The whole thing
consequently was, as we say, a humbug. Therefore,
according to the press reports, most of the time of
the Conference was occupied in discussing, like a
boys’ debating society, the rules for their meetings
and discussions. A fitting end to the drama was
the scene of angry recrimination and party warfare
in which the curtain was rung down. The only
memories that survive are of General Botha’s “loyal”
speeches and Mr. Deakin’s swelled head, and lvlr.
Churchill flaying the ‘I)uily[l4uil. It all makes for
the “ unity ” of the Empire.
S “ Reconstructive Catholicism " -
Among the book-reviews in this number of the
National Dmzcrrrzi, we desire to call special atten-
tion to that entitled “ Re-constructive Catholicism”
-a notice of Father George Tyrrell’s latest book,
by a young Irish follower of the Tyrrellian gospel.
VVe invite comment on the ideas in this review and
in Father Tyrrell’s hookewe are prepared to pub-
lisl1 criticism from either of the two armies of
“dogmatic rationalists and rationalistic dogmatisers,"
between whom, according to “M,” Father Tyrrell
stands. But we must urge upon our contributors
on this or any other subject to be brief. It will be
seen that, owing to the extraordinary pressure upon
our space this month, we have been compelled to
curtail our editorial notes in a drastic fashion. If
the present excess of excellent contributions over
the space available continues, we shall be obliged to
consider the question of permanently enlarging the
paper, or else-which we should prefer if possible
eof converting it intoa weekly publication. ‘Ve
should be glad to hear from our friends as to the
advisability of the latter step, particularly with re-
gard to the probable financial support.
THE CONTROL OF EDUCATION
BY CAIRBRE.
The following questions occur to me, arising out
of the great question of educational control :e
I. Has the State the right to control education ?
If so, by virtue of what principle i
2. Until the right of the State is proved, can we
assume that the same right devolves on the
local civil authority P
Has any majority 21 right to compel :1 minority
in such a matter as education ?
4.. Are the parental rights in education, assuming
them to exist, equivalent to a general public
right or majority right or State right P
5. The man who pays the piper can call the
tune. Does this imply that the man who
collects the halfpence from the crowd and
hands them over to the piper has alone the
right to call all the tunes?
6. With regard to educational funds, is the State
anything more than a collector and trustee P
7 If the State and its local representatives have
the right to control education, why don't
they 9have the courage to claim this right
over the rich man’s child as well as over the
poor man’s child?
8. If the State and its local representatives are
merely collectors and trustees, have they any
rights over the funds of education, beyond
seeing that the education on which the funds
are spent is efficient ?
9. Supposing that a certain kind of education
reaches the requisite standard of efficiency,
has the trustee of the general fund a right to
refuse support to that education, because it
contains certain elements over and above
what the trustee requires ? (The Irish
. Christian schools are a case in point.)
to. If the right to control education is primarily
rcposed in the parent, should not parents be
free to associate themselves on any basis they
please for educational purposes ?
11. Should they not also be free to delegate their
authority to a representative of their own
choice, and still to claim a share in the
general funds of education, provided that the
education they receive reaches the acknow-
ledged standard of eHiciency?
12. A savage can provide his children with all
education that he and the society to which
he belongs deem requisite. ln civilised com-
munities, does not every parent delegate a
part of his educational authority to others?
13. The tutor engaged by a rich man is in the
fullest scnse.the rich man’s delegate. The
":7