Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-13
The School Question.

The School Question.
We have been so much occupied in Court for
the past two weeks that we have been unable
either 10 eStow any attention upon our depart
nent in this paper, 10 pay any attention to pass
ing events. We have, therefore, barely glanced
over the religious discussion which has recently
occupied TO SO large an extent the columns of
the Gazette; and should not now even al
lude to the matter were it not for article which
appeared from the pen of a correspondent in the
Gazette of Friday, anu which has BEEN already
adverted TO in the Local Department of this pa
per. We care but little at any time for the scrib
blings of an anonymous correspondent, even when
containing illusions such as those in the Gazette
of Friday, aud refer to that article now, not for
the purpose of complaint or ACQUISITION, but mere
ly that we may make it the occasion of stating
course upon this and similar questions.
81 We do not know or desire to know the author
of that article, do not suppose that the an
nouncement of his name would add even dignity
or Importance to his production. 1t may be from
a respectable source, or it may be that it comes
from the pen of some who, like the counting
boy, event a. scrbbIing cause he'd nothing else
to do,'' and who having done nothing heretofore,
= all ut once feels il his age That he 'has CALL"
and turns religious. dsputant. This. however, is
nothing to our purpose. The roar of Stentor
and the squeaking OF mouse are alike important
to change our course of action, when that action
is based not upon considerations of policy profit,
but upon our honest convictions of right.
Wehaye abstained from participation in this
controversy, and from permitting columns TO be
devoted to such purpose, because LIST, We be-
lieye that no possible good can come out of its
present discussion. as il is premature and far in adj
vance of every probable contingency. There is
effort tie part ofthe Catholics here TO raise
this question, far as we have learned, and it
would be worse than vain were they to attempt it.
I'd, We are opposed 10 religious discussion in the
columns of political and commercial journal, as
being alike foreign to its aim and province, rs CAL
culated to engender strife and contention rather
than allay religious differences, or produce any
commenda5le result. We have never yet known
a conversion effected by such a discussion in a
polticalpap and we doubt whether an instance
can be produced, while we have known much I'M
necessary personal feeling aroused, and unfortu-
nate animosities engendered, which always act
unfortunately upon the body polite.
We have yet to see any material good resulting
from the indisctiminate attacks so often made
either upon Catholics Protestants, of the coun-
try. Were our life devoted solely to the CONVEX
sion of Catholics 10 Professionalism we could never
sanction such course as one likely to effect our
end. Cancellation an kindness, a constant prqc-
lice rather than preaching, ofthe sublime, yet SIM
pie truths of Christianity, constitute the great
means which Christ has placed in the hands of his
followers for the eradication OF error and the pro-
mitigation of his divine truth. These are the
means, the sword OF the Spirit by which error
should be met and truth advanced, and were these
the arguments used by those who would convert
Catholics, they might hope foz more fruits from
their laborS.
We are no Catholic and never expect to be, yet
we are no party to the indiscriminate imputationS
continually heaped upon their acts and their mo-
tives. They are citizens, like us, and entitled
with us to the unfetered and exercise of their
religious opinions, so long as they do not attempt
make those opinions interfere with the civil iust-
tutions of the land. These rights ale alike guar
antled to them and us by the cardinal principles
of our institutions, and when any denomination,
whether Catholic or Protestant, exceeds these guar
antied rights, by attempting to blend church
and state, in violation of those civil rights and
principles, which forever and properly disunite
church and state, we shall be among the first to
meet the effort, come whence il may. Religion is
an affair between man and his God Every man
must give an account of his deeds, and the act of
one will not effect the account of the other. Cath
olics and Professionals have equally the right 10 en-
Joy their religious opinions, and neither have the
right 10 interfere with the political institutions of
the Sta'e. 1t may be said that the present discus
sion is political one and this question we do not
decide, but it is premature, uncalel for, and may
ultimately give an Importance and vitality to this
question, when otherwise it would have in Vir-
ginia no existence whatever. Were we making
this aquesion of interest rather than of honest con-
viction, we might take different course Such
motives are not allowed to act upon us for mo-
ment, and the correspondent of the Times knows
but little of our character if he supposes we can
be made to deviate from our convictions of right
by any imputation whatever. We shall pursue
and practice upon our convictions at all times,
though. were our effort ''time- one. we
might pursue far different policy. These are our
sentiments and by them we shall stand.