EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE.
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explained is, I know, the most formidable. I might have omitted it altogether—I might have left the franchise in country districts and in unincorporated towns upon the same footing as that upon which it already stands. But as I entertain now, and have always entertained, a very strong opinion in favour of this kind of encouragement to Education, in favour of this species of indirect—I cannot call it compulsory—furthering of education—as I have always had a very strong opinion of the merits, the transcendent merits of those industrious classes, who, to their immortal honour, struggling with every disadvantage—struggling against narrow circumstances and cramped means—struggling against the difficulties and the disadvantages that result from an imperfect Education—struggling against the obstacles and impediments presented by those who would discourage them in their efforts to improve, from a foolish and preposterous jealousy of their treading upon their own heels ; and who, for that cause, would prevent them rising in society by the best and most meritorious ladder, mental superiority—who, labouring and struggling under all these disadvantages and discouragements, still occupy the highest place in the estimation of those who look at man beneath the surface—with the heartfelt respect which I have always cherished for those persons—with the affection and love which I entertain for those classes from a long and intimate knowledge of them, and from a deep and daily increasing sense of their transcendent merit, both of understanding and honesty, and I must be permitted to add, of genuine independence ;—I believe I should not have discharged my duty, nor have acted fairly towards my own feelings and my principles, nor fairly towards the persons I have mentioned, nor fairly towards this great Catholic measure of Education, if I had not in the outset declared and explained the nature of the principles