FERRER AND CO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12388, 8 December 1909, Page 7

FERRER AND CO.

Sir, —I beg t^ thank you sincerely for your generosity in publishing my replies in extenso. I shall encroach for the last time on your valuable space. Mr Talbot repudiates the texts chosen from the " modern school " —" l'escuela moderna." He asks for more, and he will not be happy till he gets it. The following extracts appear in a recent issue of the " Saturday Review," which gives as its authority the Paris " Temps" of September 18th, 1909. These are a fair specimen of the sort of teaching that was imparted in Ferrer's secular schools, which were closed in Barcelona after the outbreak: "In these schools " (says the " Saturday Review,") " The children have been told that soldiers and officers are murderers whose mission is to kill and to sack. . . .

All Kings are monsters who ought to be uncrowned and punished for their iniquities, as the Kings of England and France were punished centuries ago. . . If amongst the. political men of the day there are one or two who pretend to sympathise with us, do not believe in their sympathy, but kill them when the opportunity occurs. We must expel and exterminate all monks" and nuns and priests; we must expel and slay all magistrates and lawyers; we must demolish every church; we must confiscate all the money in the banks and all the money belonging to every class of citizen, military and civil, all the existing Ministers, courtiers, and persons at the head of the Government must be massacred and a new set of mien elected in their places. This abominable document of which I give you a synopsis was actually printed in large capitals and nailed up in every school under the control of the revolutionary party." " Ferrer was not tried by court martial, but by ordinary tribunal of the country; the public were admitted to the sittings in the customary way and (says the London "Tablet" of' October 16th) after a patient trial Senor Ferrer was found guilty of complicity in the outrages in 'Barcelona. The> Court was unanimous in its judgment and also-' unanimous in approving the sentence of death."

All right-thinking men must deplore the ravings of perverted genius, the fate of dupes and accomplices, the helpless victims of premeditated slaughter, and all men (including Mr Talbot) must bo taught that the resources of civilisation are not yet exhausted. JUSTICIA.