Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-04-02

order and public security in all our city affairs
Besides this, the Romanists, or rather theii
leaders, acting in concert with their Bishops
and Priests in other States, havo forced upon
us the consideration of their claims to an alter
alton in the Public School system so as to give
them portion Of the School fund for the sup
port of Schools under the control Of thei,
Church-that is Of sectarian schools. Having
petitioned the General Assembly, and failed in
getting their claims acoeded to, they have or
ganized in the various wards of this place to
elect trustees Of the schools favorable to their
demands. Some time since, (as l mcr toned
in one of my letters last year, the School
Board in this place complied with the demands
Of the Catholics, so far as to permit the chill
dren TO use any edition of the Bible in reading,
their parents might prefer which gave full liz
censo to the Catholic children to use the Do
way Bible. But had no idea that this would
satisfy them, and as the evert has proved, they
urge for more ultra claims. The Constitution
is so plainly against any appropriations Of the
school funds to denomnational schools or bod
les Of any kind, that it appears as though sue
cess in their attempts was hopeless, and yet
they seem bent on agitating the subject in every
way possible. In taking this course It seems
to me the Catholic Priests have not shown their
usual prudence, nor tho far-seeing policy Of the
Jesuits, and can only ascribe il to their igno-
rance Of the spirit of our institutions, aud the
sentiments of the mass of our people in regard
to Free Schools. The popular jealousy of any
scheme to pervcrt the public school fund to tho
support of fsectarian schools is 50 great that any
religious body making the attempt, will only
subject itself to general odium. If the Ro-
manists expect the aid of any Of the political
parties in these attempts in return for their votes
(as the Telegraph intimatcs, boasting of having
100000 Catholic voters in tho country,) they
are greatly mistaken. No party has the dispo.
sition, nor would it try to brave public opinion
or risk its hopes Of success, by fayonng any
alteration Of the School law like that proposed.
We are not to be mislcd by the false Issues
made by the Romanists. No attempt has been
made to take the moral and religious training
of the young from their PARENTS; no one ob-
jects to their teaching their children rs they
like, in the doctrines Of their own Church
they are at perfect liberty to have their own
schools; but then they must support them
with their own Church funds. II is not the
province Of tho Public Schools nor Of the
State authorizing them, to teach religious doc
tTines. All that can DO expected IN these
schools, is instruction in the common branches
Of education, and the incubation of a sound
morality. As it is, the Romansts arc on the
same platform in regard to these schools, with
all other citizens, and if they do not choose to
avail themselves of their privileges, it is their
own fault. The truth il, they do not wish
their children to mix with those of Protestants,
even IN the public school, for fear they may
gradually imbibc our republican sentiments,
our ideas Of religious federation, and the right
of private judgment, and get from under the
control Of the Romish Church. Oar free
schools tend to make our population of all
classes homogeneous, to destroy foreign in1u-
encc, and Americanise in principles and feel
ings. all who come under their influence, and
hence the hostility Of Romish Priests, uinc-
;enths of whom are foreigners, and were edu-
Gated in European ideas, under Monarehical
institutions.
One of the reforms contemplated in our city
affairs, is a new Fro Department. The City
Council have taken a step in this direction,
which ought to be known abroad, and may
Ii g -
at the East. II your infant city indeed ever
expects to become a large ono, ii would be well
for her at an early day to adopt plan for the
protection of the property and lives Of her poo
pie, similar in principle to that soon to go into
operation. here. We have just effected an en-
tire abolition OF the old system of voluntary
Fire Companies and are substituting a Paii
Department in its place. An act has been
passed within few days providing for an On.
tirely new organization to be under the control
of the city authorities, which is To be put into
operation Immediately. Our Fire Department
was for many years equal to any in the Union,
celebrated indeed for its promptness, efficiency
and love of order, But for about three years
past, IL has rapidly desoneraed in character
men of low and turbulent character have
entered the companies, riots and street fights
between individuals and companies, have be-
como more and moro common good men have
left tho companies in disgust finding their in
fluence unavai.ing to check the tendencies "a
rowdyism the Fire Association has failed tc
remedy these evils, and they hayo Increased SC
much that all good citizens see clearly the ne.
cessity of thorough retorm, of the most radi-
cal character. The influence of the old system
has been for some time positively demoralizing
to the young men connected with the compa-
nies, and it is a subject for congratulation that
when the evil became intolcrable, the City
Council had the wisdom and courage to apply
the true remedy.
4. .,Nr 81 tt,,,.o