New-York tribune., 1841-12-04
The school Fund.

versv seems 10 be this: The T. ). Society APP
plies the School moneys, raised hy tax, in par
ticular manner the Catholics claim that tAey
should be applied differently As a question Of ex-
pediency the City Councils and the State Legisla-
lure. men Of every religious and political par
" and men of no sect party, have decided
agans, the Catholic claim As mere question OF
expedicncy ,h. vast preponderance Of opinion ex-
pressing itself SO emphatically and in such var-
-,y OF forms, should be decisive But the Catho.
lies say, "no, we will make it higher question
than one Of expediency will make it ques-
ton of conscience. Thus the question is made
to assume new aspect, and requires to be de-
bated farther. If this offended conscience is in
errsr, it mus be reasoned with and convinced; il
in error, its claim, must be allowed.
But how allowed We must see, first the
ture of the objection to decide whether it can fair
y be considered as one Of conscience; and second
y, we must know what the -fiended conscience
demands, or will be satisfied with, to determine
whether its demands can be allowed without ga
crfce of pie or the conscience Of others
Public opinion has decided the question, as one Of
expedency against the Catholics; must now
know what is demanded the Of con
science, to determine that for or against them.
1t must therefore, be steadily kept in mind tha,
we are not now considering the general question,
whether the p S. Society and its administration
are absolutely perfect; whether there are conscien-
In,
istration, which require and would justify such
charge as will obviate such objections.
Has Cato told US what the conscientious obiec-
tious Of our Cathoii, fellow citizens reqnire, or
will be satisfied vi ~ If not, h. has not advanced
the points mooted one step towards decision but
has .peculated OF minor questions of change and
reform lying outside OF the real issues between the
p. S. Society and It's Catholic opponents
If we prove this allegation, then it is proved
that Cato must write something more pcrtinentbe
fore he needs an answer. For our proof we APP
peal to Cato's articles. Cato is good enough
witness to convict Cato. Tie has nowhere define d.
but has wandered into the mazes of vague and gen
eral speculation In his last number No. 3 af-
ter stating the various, forms which the Catholic
demands might assume, he says, Which of these
alternatives the Catholics demand or would be CON
tent with, or trhether anyof item do not under
take to affirm. Thus. the very thing which the
friends of the p. S Society have right to know,
and the very thing which must be known before
there can be any useful discussion actual decl-
T., H.; ,,pu
candor and fairness And would not discussion
under such circumstances, bs very much like per-
formance of the play of Hamlet with the part OF
Hamlet left out
In the state OF uncertainty in W hcs the points
to be con,rever,ed tn US left, it is evident that
we should gain nothing by overthrowing each ei
Catos hypothetical alternatives. When done we
NAV be told that the Catholics make ma such claim
as we have over,hrown; or. if we yield to one OF
these hypothetical demands, told that the
Catholics are n.t satisfied because they demand
something entirely different. For an Illustration
Of this. see Catos article in tho Evening Post OF
he lsi instant.
Such controversy may be coveted by one TO
whom it ia pleasant novelty TO see his tn onghts
in all the dignity Of type or ono who loves te
fight for fights sake. Blu, one who espouseS this
quarrel because he believes mom0ntoGs conse-
quences to be involved in it, will not his
ersies by playing with the oils. Such disputaTi
will not be contcned with being teld that the spear
spntered upon his crest was spear of lath, or
that the man whom he has slain in battle was
r,an of straw.
Let Cato, or some other champion of the same
cause, throw down II gage which we can take up
with honor, aud we promise that it shall not lie
unhceded ia the lists. HANLroS.
NJ 4 general tish, occurred at Pekin. Illinois.