Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-21
The War on our Public Schools.

The Atlas of yesterday had full account of a
meeting held in the Fourth Ward on Monday night
by some perambulatng Catholics of the Thirte eIth
Ward, to make demonstration in favor OF the d.
VISION ofsthe public school fund among the vari-
GUS religious sects. The proceedings of.the meet
ing were of 6igoted character, betraying settled
determination to destroy our common school sys-
tenn, and make the State the supporter of Catholic
Schools, rather than a desire 10 get nd of evils
which they honestly believed they are SUFFERING
Bosterous and inSncere defamation was fit in
strnment for the accomplishment of such pur-
pose, and 1t was very freely used by the persons
most conspicuous as the meeting.
The Catholics seem to have deliberately resolv-
ed to make this the great question on which all
taeir pollcai action is 10 turn. In every portion
oil The county they have simultaneously attacked
our public schools, denouncing them as tyranical
and despotic, but SO far we have been able to
discover, assigning no reason for change in their
organZaion organization ori conduct except that
they are not permitted 10 teach in them th= pecu.
liar doctrines of the Roman Catholic church. 80
Were our schools now under the control Of Cath
Ole teachers, and were the doctrines OF the Cath
ollc church now taught in them, things would pre-
sent quite different aspect, end instead of long
harangues aboutlthe tyrannical character of our
present school system, would be favored by our
Catholic friends with the most violent denuncia-
IONS OF such as dared 10 propose the division OF
the funds now insisted on by them. 1t is very ey-
ident that the Catholics have nothing to complain
OF IN our common school system, but the fact that
they do not aid in building up their church, but
tend rather to loosen the hold of the priest on his
PanShloner, thereby weakening the church, and
placing It, so far political influence is concern
ed, on TIE sane footing other churches. This
IS an effect naturally flowing fIom the intercourse
OF the children of our common schools. This eff
fect contributes to make population homoge-
neous, and is therefore wholesome and worthy of
protection, and no dtclamatoTy appeals Of polit 4
caldemagugueS OF clerical ScLemers should induce
our citizens to give up portion of the school funds
Tor the preparation of Catholic ideas Sound mr..
gumeQt OulU CERTAINLY inunee them IN ke onyI
change that would make our, schools better; but
nothing, we trust, will ever induce them to favor
apian SO certain to injure them fatally and con-
Tribute TO the spread of ideas repugnant to our
republican institutions, and dangerous 10 our lib
ertIeS. = r z.FE
We copy the foregoing from the Cincinnati Ga
zete, and regret that such effort as that alluded
to by that paper, should be made in any State of
our Union. Ofall the great efforts to promote the
advancement of our social condition, we regard
zone as more important than universal education.
Common schools should be the chief pride of every
State, and should be supported by and under the
guardianship of the State. Education is the great
means by which society can be advanced, and our
political prosperity improved and perpetuated. nj
is essentially ofand for the State in every respect
Religion has another and different sphere. 1t is
not primarily for time, but looks beyond and dwells
in Eternity. II is great adiurant in the temper
al relations of men, but should never be connect
ed with Sr dependant upon any, governmental ac7
ton whatever. Church and State should be as
are time and eternity. No church, no sdenomina.
ton whatever, should be allowed any sectarian in
fiuence in our common schools, and while the |
great principles ofmorality should ever be laugh
in al, The peculiar and sectarian doctrinesofl
The different denominations ofchristians should be
taught I'M none; If The churches wish to teach to
,hildfen their peculiar tenets il should be done
home or at schools their own supporting. lGossI
srnmsnt is supported by all, it should educate an
utipterfenng Elih the religious feeling 81
nreiudices of any. and this can only bs done by
leeping aloof5 pem the pecidiaf tenets Of All ths
,hnIches, and giving TO children of all denomina-