New-York tribune., 1868-05-01

| CHURCH AND STATE IN OUR TAX Levy
There are certain grand principles which lie
at the foundation of our republican institutions
in the integrity of which consists the safety
and the harmony of the country, and OF which
our people require to be constantly reminded
One of these is the complete separation or
Church and State, the preservation with con-
scientiOus care of religious freedom, and the
protection of every in the community
| from being taxed in any way to support any
religious denomination whatsoever, each reli-
gious community sustaining itself by voluntary
contributions To the violation of this princi-
pie by the British Government in Ireland is
due in large measure the chronic disturbances
of that unquet island, and the Roman Catholics
have appealed to the world with such force OF
reasoning against their being compelled to con-
tribute to the support of the Church OF En-
gland that at length the Parliament, under the
lead of Mr.. Gladstone, is about to remedy that
monstrous abuse, and free the Romanists in
Ireland from fostering religion which
they disapprove. In America, with the
traditions of our forefathers, the Dutch,
the Puritans, and the HuguenOts, and
all our Constitutional guarantees, we deemed
ourselves safe from making the grand
mistake which has produced such heartburning
and wretchedness across the sea; and yet
| glance at the appropriation proposed by the
Assembly bill for charitable religious denomi-
nations seems to indicate a complete forgettul-
ness Of the lessons of history and OF the wise
rule OF our Republic-that Church and State
must be separated forever. If our Legislature
cannot make appropriations for charitable pur-
poses without fear or favor, it would be
| thousand times better to make none whatever,
and leave all charities to be supported alike by
| voluntary contributions.
The Legislature and the Governor are both
doubtless aware of the growing senstiveness
of our people-burdened as they are by the
War Debt, and the desOlation brought by the
pro-Slavery party-to any additional burden
not demanded by absolute necessity and i'm
partial Justice and we therefore call their
attention and that of the public to one feature
of the pending bill, which seriously threatens
the public harmony.
An Italian paper-the Erdmindt0re-re-
Gently declared, in passage which has been
| widely copied, that the Roman Court expected
soon to control the American Republic, and
| the writer added 1.-The populous City of New
"Iork even now, in fact Is governed by the
Roman Court through the cunning of the
"Papal Hierarchy and their universal subjec-
" ton of religious interests to those which are
| "politico- ecclesiastcal.r And this bill would
seem TO be intended to give color to the boast,
and to make our people feel that they are to
be taxed not simply TO support ROmish schools
and Romish churches, but to supply money to
assist the Sovereign Pontiif-the only Soyer-
-. ,,-1,n Com
federacy-to wage war against Garibaldi and
the Italian people. In regard to State taxes
for Romish schools, the provisions of the bill
will excite both surprise and alarm. The
a. Acts making appropriation for certain public
land charitable Institutions introduced into
the Assembly April IA, by Mr.. j. l.. Flagg, APP
propriates Fifty Thousand Dollars to 0s orphan
asylums, homes for the friendess, &c, in pro-
portion TO the number of orphans and homeless
persons maintained in them. Included among
these is the free school for INDECENT females
attached to the Academy of the Sacred Heart
at Manhattanville, and a large number of
Romish orphan asylums.
Then comes special appropriations to the
amount of $4,000 to ten institutions. The four
last are rs follows:
For the Evangelical Lutheran st. Johns Orphan Home
For ST. Mary's Boys Orphan Asylum in Rochester
5000.
For the Troy Catholic Male Orphan Asylum. $4,000
Next comes an appropriation of $4,000 to the
hospitals of the State to be given in proper
ton TO the number of benefciaries; and another
of S24,6O0 to certain hospitals and dspensaries
which are not required to report Then series
of special appropriations amounting to more
than S1JOOOO, to hospitals, medical colleges,
orphan homes, schools and free-schools.
This list throughout is singularly suggestive.
Looking at the appropriations for the benefit
of Children in the City of New York, we find
one for an institution not under iRomish man.
agement, viz: "For the NewsbOys Lodging
House of the Chidren's Aid Society, $1,000"
Per contra, we find these items for Romish
schools
For the Church OF st. Mary. in the City OF New
York, 70 aid in the maintenance of the schools =, oo
For the Church Of st. Bridget in the city OF New
York. to aid In the maintenance of the schools , ooo
For the Church Of st. Vincent Ferrer in the CITY
Of New-York, TO aid In the maintenance OF the ,ooo
For the Church of the TRANSPORTATION, in the City
OF New-York. to aid In the maintenance Of the
For the Church OF the immaculate Conception, in
the City OF New.York, to aid In the maintenance
For the Church OF ST. Patrick, in the City of New
York, to aid In the maintenance OF the schools
lls charge VooV
For the Church OF 81. Peter, III the City Of New
York. 10 aid In the maintenance OF the schools
For the Church Of st. James, In the City OF New
York, TO aid In the maintenance OF the schools
under their cnurRo
For the iChurch OF st. Paul IN the City OF New
York. TO aid In the maintenance OF the schools
For the Church OF 81. Joseph In the City OF New
York, TO aid In the maintenance OF the schools
under It's charge. 1000
For the Church Of st. stephen, In the City OF New
Nnry nai1 In 4 Tho mt unaa nf ha
under ITS charge 1000
For the Church of 81. Gabriel, In the City OF New