New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-05
GAyAZZI,

The Independent expresses great contempt
for our structures on the Speech Of Gavszzi
Introductory to the course Of Lectures he is
now delivering at the Tabernacle. Passing
over whatever of argument may be embodied
in such rhetoric, as housing OWL Mr.. Ex-
pediency,' Mr.. Facing -both.wsys,' the Llli-
putians,' insolent tone of dictation,' &c, &c,
we proceed to state distinctly the point on
which we are at variance with Rev. George
B. Cbeever, who assails US so deliberately in The
Independent's leading article.
We are on the eve of momeatous struggle
for the preservation or overthrow of our Com
mon School system. The Catholic Hierarchy,
speaking as if for the whole body of Catholics
in this country, peremptorily demand Separate
Schools for Catholic children, to be Supported
at the public expense, or else the exemption
of all who may seefttO call themselves Catholics
from taxation for School purposes. Now we
stand ready to make any concession to Catho-
lies, or any other portion of our fellow-citizen's
if we may thereby increase their attachment
to our Common Schools and render the atten-
dance of their children more uniform. We
might even consent 70 the management OF
particular Schools by officers Of this or that
faith in our great cities, if we could thereby
secure the cordial and thorough cooperation
Of all religious sects in supporting strictly
Common Schools in the villages and rural dis
tricts where none other can be efficiently sus-
tanned. But before beginning to make con-
cessiOns We must feel sure they will accomplish
their purpose, and not merely bs used as 8
fulcrum for farther exsctions.
Now our intercourse with the Catholic laity
Of this country has assured us that the great
mass of them are satisfied with strictly Com
mon Schools, and are content to have their
children educated therein. We believe that
whatever dissatisfaction may exist among our
Catholic laty is either Of priestly origin, or
has been fomented by Protestant assumptions
and Overbearing exactiOns in the conduct OF
small proportion of our Schools and we are
thoroughly resolved that, so far as in US lies,
the Catholics shall have no just reason 70
complain of Common School management as
hostile to their faith, and their priesthood no
plausible excuse for exciting them to distrust
and hostility
Now 10 seems very clear in our sight, that
whatever shall tend at this time to inflame and
embitter the theological and ecclesiastical diff
/ ference between Catholics and Protestants
plays directly into the hands of those Catholic
prelates who are laboring to ALLEVIATE the entire
! Catholic laity from our Common School sys-
tenn and withdraw all Catholic children from
our Schools. II the Roman Bishops have re-
solved, as We have reason to apprehend, that
the education of Catholic children must be con-
fined to Catholic Schools, they could not have
more efficient auxiliaries than the preachers OF
violent and irritating Anti-Papal crusade
throughout the length and breadth of our land;
and if Rev George b. Cheever desires to arm
our Roman Bishops. in their es"sada AGAINST
| Common Schools, with the full moral and POI
litical force Of the Catholic laty, he does his
best toward effectiDg his end in setting on
Father Gavazzi to make such speeches as that
with which he opened at the Tabernacle.
Valorous assertions Of the right Of Father
Gayazzi to make such speeches as he thinks
fit, are plainly superhuous, since that right has
not been denied Nor are such assertions as
DR.. Cheeyer's, that the Papal church is not a
Christian church, no, not even an apostate
church-beng no church at all, but a lie and
q blaspbemy," &c, &c, any more TO the
purpose. The question we raise concerns not
at all the theology of this or that church, but
the wisdom, propriety and utility of dealing
out such thunders as Gayazzi saw fit to sport
on the occasion of his public welcome to
| America. We ask in all earnestness, What
good have they done What good are they
| likely to do Have they aliensted one Catho-
lie from Rome Have they rendered any
sppreciable number of Catholics more favorable
to Protestant ideas Did Protestants need
theml Have Catholics been edited by them
/ If not, and they have subserved the ends of
those who are laboriDg for the overthrow of
our Common Schools, then they have done a
mischief which true Protestants and true
Patriots must deplore, and for which Father
| Gavazzi, if he be a true man, must feel poorly
compensated by all the money and telat gained
by his lectures.