Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-07-15
The school Qnestinn

Ihe school Question.
In our last paper we said that bill had been
introduced into the Senate last winter pyepar-
ed in the School Department. containing the Sec
tartan feature, which was stricken out on mo-
3tion of that eloquent and vigilant whig, Coll
JoHN c. kUSKEL. We now repeat that asser-
5tion,aud refer to the Journals of the Senate for
fits truth. We did not say that the bill eswas
sanctioned By Gov. Bigler," but that having
sbeen prepared in the school department, it was
reasonable to presume, it at least, underwent
shis supervision.
We dc not know what Gov. Bigler's opin-
ions may be Oh this subject, for the very good
reason, that on it, as on all others, (perhaps
Every judicioasfy,) he is delicately non-commit-
Stal. But TIVE do know that for the purpose of
Emolifying certain class, he appointed James
aCampbcll to office, after he had been rejected
: by the people, and it is not unreasonable to
suppose, that with similar object III view, he
= awould not refuse, if in his power, to grant the
eprayer of the same class, should they ask, as
they have done, a division of the Common
dSchool fund. We have no index by which to
Fjudge the Future, except by the past, and we
think in Gov. Bigler course, there is sufficient
: indication of what we may expect, in regard
ito this question, should he be reelected.
As to the sectarian clause existing already
Fin our Common School laws, and having been
zplaced there by the Wings, it is only necessary
Ito ask, why, if it is already there, have GER
etain sect been clamorously seeking for it, for
9 THE last eight years. and what was the object
aof DR.. M'CIntocts bill last winter? No one
swho understands the history of our Common
sSchool System, since its establishment in 1885,
5would assert, what every man knows to be in
Ecorrect, or attempt to prove it, by reference
sto sections, which have stood, according to
stheir own showing upon the statute book for
snearly twenty years, yea, which are as old as
sthe Common School System itself, and have
HnevcT yet been interpreted in such a manner as
Ito give to any sect, Notwithstanding their
astrcnuouS exertions to obtain it, exclusive con-
strol over the School fund, or any portion of it,
1--WE have neither time or space, nor is it ne:
1cessary to go back to the first attempt to forrn
IA school system in 1890, and to trace it up tol
clauses, of the law, but point if you can to a,
single school, in this Commonwealth, under,
THAT law as It was framed by Whig Legisla-
sture, and approved by a Whig Governor, which,
lis under the sole and exclusive control of any;
3religious sect, or rather, poiat us to a singlcj
instance OF q division of the School fund forl
.sectarian purposes. Such a clause has neveri
yet been engrafted on the school law by anys
party, much less By the Wings, one of whom !;
!Thadeus Stevens, was the very father of the:
|Common School System in Pennsylvania. And;
f those sects who desire Il wait till it is con.
|ferred upon them by the consent of the Whigs,s
they will wait until the United States ceases:
Ito be a Protestant country, till the name of.
Washington shall be forgotten, till the Holy;
Scriptures shall have become obsolete, tilli
Liberty's beacon shall be extinguished, and,
the last shrek of the American Eagle shall re-,
Sound over the hills and vallys of the Westernl
Continent