New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-30
A PRoTEsTAST's VIEW.
To III, Editor Of The Tribune.

SIR: In your edition of yesterday, appeared
communication over the signature OF e" c. H." contain
ing weltempered but earnest protest. against the e1
cluson OF the Bible from public schools. This pro-
test was founded on traditional for that
book and the profound conviction entertained by
peope OF It's close relation national peace and well
fare In the editorial comments which followed this
communication you did not hesitate 10 characterize such
sentiments as bigolry ana |" nolu IreH oo up
mon schools OF tho breakers just ahead"
The argument Of dissent may be briefly expressed
III C. sune. hat The Roman Catholic, are bo, reading Of
ap es Doe. ss ;. SoDS.s 10 " S
What he they will ONLY do under eOsroOn Who made ~" their
You cite also the of Jews and inndes, and in
qaig%Ss .,, III. Authority to eo.. Ties. Into A.r., ,s, children
fell Short you ask has H. esSe,phOH whatever Of re-
ous liberty equsyi" And yOa proceed 1--WE have no
afSt re ss s.i.S lf1 GsoS 10 %
most minority and a''snp'O do IBIS soodby to our
To all OF which venture to express earnest and
solemn dissent l. II cannot be that tho TO protect
religious liberty and equally s 20 ao1sh al rensTI
this question OF conscience does not occur 10 you
that have conscences tool And Catholics.
infdes and Jews are sensitive at the reading OF book
which they regard only any other book or ancient
poems legends, traditions and rhapsodies may not Prot
estants be supposed TO have some conscience toward
book which they regard az the inspired Word OF COD rs
book OF reveationsi Why Professionals taken into
the account II this be question OF oonsceheeI Or is IL
p Your principle carried out would reach a strange
conclusion. Suppose Professionals Catholics inhdels,
Jews and all agreed that the Bible should be read;
presently along ChoO Fow. from China and puts
Bible from the window aud every religious breath is
bated because ChoO Fow doubts Moses and believes In
CoDfucus. million Christian conscienees outraged.
that pagans may he appeasedl And that to preserve
religious liberty and equality"
But your principle 10 not restricted To schools only
II sound 1t applies equally TO every department OF the
State where the responsibility OF the citizen attaches
IL would therefore strike out the recognition OF Divine
Being from Constitution aud laws abolish our Sab
baths and Thanksgyings, trample on all judicial and
official Oahs drive chaplans from their regiments
upon the battlefield, and the morning prayer from the
halls OF Congress nay, wipe out the inscription
upon national coin, In God we Trust and blot out
the very name of God from our national dialect France
did this when she abolished God by law and wrote with
mpious hand upon her temple fronts There Is no God
Nature IA Cod Happy will IL be. II, venturlng upon
snch an experiment we do not like her wade through
baptism OF blood 10 the recognition ofthe truth That God
iS-that He rules the nations
science at all and II is the faacy OF this pretense that
lies at the bottom OF all disquetude on this subject
The Bible Ia not sectarian book. As the revelation OF
the will OF God to men, 1t belongs alike TO all men, at all
times and everywhere. IL 49, therefore utterly uhsec
tartan IL Is the mote and comment That renaeIs u
sectaran and well you know that the note and com
menp never read In the public schools III IL Is the
translation that objected to. that Is purely question
OF schOlarshp and not OF inspiration ana ~ 10 DC setd
by appeal To letters and not To thames or creeds In
this country vast majority OF our people believe that
the King James version is the best translation Inc
administrators Of schools therefore, recognizing the
principle, fundamental with that majortles rule ana
that this question OF conscience but OF schoarshp
adopt that version When the majority in any state or
district shall think the Catholic version the best shall
be their duty adopt that; and In that II Will then
become the duty and privilege OF Professionals as now
Is Of Catholics TO supply by private teaching AT h9o te
ference between this and coercion resrant or CON
science wide the poles Coercion comes win pains
and penalties, and eompels assen-this compels notnng
imposes disabilities hut leaves one u De grave OF
gay, accept reject he shall be moved, without pre-
JUDGE and without eonsTant Oh pain or pela VI ally