New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-30
THE RIFLE IN SCHOOLS.


Yesterday the question of the Bible in the
Common Schools came up again in Clnclnnatl,
on an argument of the injunction lately granted
against the execution of the order for us ex-
clusion. Meanwhile the subject continues to e1-
cite great attention throughout the country, ana
in other columns this morning we give far
presentment of the varying phases OF pubic
opinion both as reflected in the editorial COL
columns of other journals and In the stream
of letters to THE TRIBUNE now pouring In
upon us. Many of these letters dissent from
positions which we have ourselves taken, While
others sustain those positions on grounds which
we would not ourselves assume. We may
refer to some of them more at length here
after At present we give special attention
only to the following:
TO the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: There are some of your readers who are
in doubt in regard to the question OF Bible Bible in
the Common Schools viii you please answer some ques
lions for their enlightenment
l. Are not those who to be opposed to tho use OF
the Bible in the schools really indifferent 10 its use or
nonusei
q Are they not really seeking to destroy the Common
School system tsefi
g. DO they not know that the Bible ia dear to the great
mass of American parents and that they will not easily
consent to take 1t from the schools where their children
axe instructed And have not these opposers OF the
Common Schools taken advantage OF this fact ana raised
the ISSUE which they hope will produce such contention
as will result in the overthrow or the schools a.
a. II we quietly yield this point and say, Very wel
we will endaDger the schools you may take away inc
their real object and hence will they not raise some
more issue f indeed there can be any more er
Ous), which will be more successful III PIouucHb aqua
g. VIII they not continue to agitate until they have
viii it not be best to meet them at once and fight 1t
this most serious ground, which they nave tSke
them w. +. RoMER
No. IS Grorc-s., Nov 90, 1862
AnSwer to the foregoing.
1. Mr. Romer assumes that those to whom he
is opposed are essentially knaves and hypo-
critics. We do not consider this good be-
ginning for disputant who proposes to con-
vince and convert his antagonists. Better pre-
sumo them honest till they are proved other
wise.
2. The above questions would seem to be
aimed at the Roman Catholics. Now, we have
no evidence that they are guilty Of the deception
and double dealing attributed to them above.
We know no Catholic who says, Danish the
" Bible from the Schools, and we shall be salts
"fedn On the contrary the Catholic journals
in this City unanimously and emphatically de-
clare that they will not be satisfied with the
exclusion of the Bible, or of the Protestant
version or versions thereof-that this will not
even mitigate their hostility to the Common
School system. They tell us that they want
Catholic children educated by Catholics in
Catholic schools; and we presume they say
what they mean
g. As to Injecting them ut once" the first
thing to do is to put ourselves on thoroughly
tenable, defensibe ground. And, in our judg-
ment, here is that ground: Gentlemen cayll-
GERS if you object to such religious inculca-
"ton as is now given, we are willing to waive
ait and remit all religious teaching to the
"fireside, the Sunday School and the church
but Common Schools at some rate we must
and will maintain I'd.