The Nevada Democrat., 1859-04-20
IN, Brble In PubIIo schools.

in prohibiting tue use OF the blOle n our puoilc
school. You say you wish to be understood.
But in all candor do not understand you. end
as one interested in this matter seek for more
light.
Ist. You say the Law of this state to regulate
common schools provides that no book. tracts or
papers Of a sectarian or denominational char
acter shall be used in the schools established
under the act. Now do you mean 10 assert
that the Bible is sectarian book in the light
of that law and by it prohibited from all the
public schools of this State Is that the intent
and practical application Of the law? do not
understand you. Will you venture legal
opinion on that point?
Again. you say "as protestant reject the
Catholic Bible, as Catholic reject the prot
estant Bible, and as Jew reject the New
Testament altogether" or which of these de-
nominations am to understand that you are
member! 1t is said you are Catholic and
that that alone accounts for all this trouble
about the Bible 10 our school. Your confes-
sion of faith does not enighten me on this
point for If you say anything, you say You are
both q protestant, and Catholic, aud also
Jew. Don't understand you.
Again, you say, las lover of peace and
good will to men object to any book that will
lead to strife and angry discussion" Does the
reading of the teachings of Jesus Christ the
Peace Maker of the world in our public schools
throw the children into strife and angry dis
cussOnl When aud where did it occur? Have
you any better maxims of peace and good will
to men for onr children to read than are con-
tanned in the New TESTAMENT Speak. l don't
understand you.
Again, you say, ''ss lover of justice pro-
test against the public money, contributed by
taxpayers of all creeds and denominations be-
ing used to promote the peculiar views Of diff
ferent sects." When and where has it been
done? Who wants il done now Has it been
done in the school of which you are agent /?
Don't understand you.
Again, you say, "as the lover of the inno-
, cence of childhood and of the kindly sentiments
that should be engrafted upon their minds, |
protest against the system" Protest in the
name of the innocence OF childhood against the
reading of the teachings of Christ in their hear
ing Did you discover that the reading of the
Bible in your school was polluting the innocence
of the dear children, and engraftng corrupt
ing and debasing sentiments on their minds? ?
Pray, sir, by what means do you propose to
preserve the innocence of our children in our
school? Don't understand you.
Again, you say, suppose the spectacle of
one-thrd armed with the Protestant version,
another with the Catholic version and the 9TH
er with the Bible of the Jewish dispensaton.
These distinctions thus introduced cannot but
do evil" Suppose | should slip into your bed
chamber some dark night and steal your watch
Then would be thief wouldn't? But sup.
pose again there was not the least likelihood
that would ever do any such thing. Then as
agent of your watch suppose you arrest me Oh
suppos ition. Did you ever hear in all your life
of school where such things as you suppose
ever occurred? Did the parents of this city
warn you that they were going to send their
children in thirds as you supposed, armed with
those dreadful versions to do those evils? Or
did you in the full exercise of little brief au-
thority conclude to kick the Bible out on sup
position Don't understand you.
Again, you say as Agent in this matter of the
people of Nevada. What matter? Whether
we would have the Bible in our School, or not
Worse in the dark than ever. Didn's know the
people of Nevada had all agent in this matter.
Who appointed you as an agent for the people
of Nevada, TO decide whether they should have
the Bible in the school or rot. How many of
Of them instructed yu to put it out. and who
are they l did understand that we bad
County Superintendent and three distinct Com
mssioners, to attend to the general interests
Of the public school, Did understand that you
we're some time ago, appointed one of said Com.
missioners But where are these, thy fellow
officers? Did they constitute you Lord Chan
cellor. Sir Oracle, and retire in mute modesty
that you might sway your scptre as agent for
the whole people ofNevada? Again say, who
made thee judge and ruler over us? Don't
understand you. l am not much of a lawyer,
but do know, that according TO the law of this
State there should have been an election tor
school Commissioners 10 this city. on the first
Saturday of April, and that it was the duty of
the incumbent officers to have given notice of
such election weeks before. Why did you not
comply with the law! Did you take it for
granted that the people OF Nevada were so we'll
pleased with you as agent that it was not worth
while to call an election?
Once more-you say the introduction of the
Bible Into the public schools in New York,
years ago led to a deplorable religious excite
ment in that State, and that by popular vote
the just sense of the people excluded it,"
Where on earth did you find your authority for
that statemcnti You must either be in total
ignorance of the facts or supposed you were
writing for the eye of q community Of igno-
ramuses, who would gulp down anything. Had
you said that some years ago Arch Bishop