The hydraulic press., 1861-04-20
MoNTGoMERY,s SCHOOL LAW.

lioeIty tO give tHelH KICK. 1He COuStltutlOn
of the United States having been grossly vio-
lated by those States which seeded, has en-
boldened others to disregard its obligations, by
seeking to override, IN the enactment of local
laws, the very spirit and essence of its chiefest
beauty and largest freedom. The religious per-
secutions of the Old World, arising from State
interference and intolerant prescription, con-
tinued through successive centuries and bap-
tized the soil in blood. These things were
knownby the founders of the American Govern
ment. They saw the great folly of persecution
for mere opinions sake, and by engrafting wise
provision in the fundamental charter of our lib
critics, permitting all kinds of religious opinions
and forbldding none, at once condemned and
avoided the obstacle which had so grievously
afflicted the nations. This feature, we say, has
been one of the grandest and most beautiful of
the American Constitution. No religious sect
or denomination was to be recognized or fostered
at the expense of another. The laws were
| so framed as to operate equally and impartially-
acknowledging only the existence of a Supreme
Being, AMI leaving to the people discretion to
worship Him in the mode and manner dictated
by family training, suggested by the reflection
of ripper years. For two-thirds of century this
plan has been found to work we'll. A free school
| system, in the meantime, was devised, and i'm
proved upon at various times, until it has now
arrived almost at perfection. But there are
those who profess not to be satisfied with its
workings. They do not complain of it's catholic
benefits, but would change it to favor their
Roman Catholic doctrines.
We have for this religion and those who pro-
fess it, the same respect that We have for other
denominations; but no more. We shall oppose
their design to alter the school law as we would
oppose the same design advocated by any of the
other Churches. The law should not be changed
There is no necessity for it. The Roman Cath
olic enjoys its benefits equally with the Episco-
palian, the Methodist the Presbyterian, the
Universalist, or the Infidel. If one can have it
changed to suit his purposes, so can the other
and the evident effect of such license would be-
not to lend the countenance of the Government
to support one State religion-but to foster fifty
different sects, and also to aid in strengthening
the hands of those who would strike at the
foundation of the whole religious fabric.
The bill introduced into the Legislature by
Mr.. Montgomery is Janus-faced concern. In
its first section it seeks to convey an impression
at variance with its one true and only object.
Says the first section-"No books, tracts or
papers of sectarian or denominational charac
] ter shall be used or introduced in any school
established under the provisions of this act, nor
| shall sectarian or denominational doctrines be
| taught therein, nor shall any of the public
schools established under this act receive any of
| the public school funds, which has not been
taught in accordance with the principles of this
| act prOutded, however, that any school number
ing at least thirty pupils, established or adopted
by the parents or guardians of such pupils, shall
have the right to apply, through Board of
Trustees, for said school, to the State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, to be enrolled
among the public schools under the appellation
of free public school, and to receive a pro rata
share of the public school funds, subject to the
following regulations and provisions:
Ft,st-That the usual branches of common
English education shall be we'll taught in such
school for at least five hours day.
Second-That no religion be taught therein,
ualess such be the aciH of said parent or guardi-
ans and in no event shall such religious in
struction lessen the five hours of secular educa-
| tion.''
Mark the language in itaIcs-''that no relig-
ioii oo e"uShe IHeAeili, 0HtSSS SUCU Oe We WtH "
the sad parents or guardians" These words
are the gst of the whole matter for it is the will
of the Catholic parents and guardians that the
tenets of their Church should be taught to their
children, and they are the only denomination
which seeks for change in the law. 1t is most
devoutly to be hoped that their request will not
be complied with.
SURRENDER OR FIGHT. The latest Pony