The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-02-10
shall all Our Cnzens b. t. xed TO Teach
the Rcligion Of n ParIt

To he TdftCr Of me sun.
SIR: The courteous appeal Of Mrs. K. b. Con-
molly 10 myself, in fHE srS Of Tue.iay, would call
for rrpy as matt Of politeness, even II prin-
eipie OF public policy were inyolved. Upon any
question of public charity IN New York Mrs. Con.
nolly's Views are entitled 10 most respectful con
alteration; for her own works OF benenc.nce the
thanks OF ali good citizens are her due, and the
blessing Of the poor, AMI Of tue Divine Master, the
,ricnd and savior Of the poor, will be he reward.
But the question IL not at all OF charity nor
religious cont over-y nor even OF religious teacuing
IN demon Irrational schools. II Il simply tiu Qlts-
ton Whether the money taAt Is raised o. tax NJ
cIIzens alike shall b. used in tea hing the ttnsts OF
any one religious bodyf Whether just when tue
mnnstrous wrong or supporting y religion by the
Sde has been 1bOlisued ~ ireland, we shall InrO-
duce Ia THIS country the DdiOus principle Of tnXng
ever body u support Somebody's rehgioni r
whether we shall adhere 10 the noble example OF
tho Roman CathOlc founder vi Maryland, In keep
~ tic Church aud the State entirely separate In
their rrsucCtiNc held-y
THV Sae must educate its citizens Tor their dnties
as matter OF s'lrpreservaon. II education left
To private cot rprlse, muutules Will grow up IN
Educate It's chLdfen PEG le BELONGING TO no e. u-ch
WI b" neglected, aud their conscience violated (;
an the S,atc will encourage religious rlyaIIe- and
scctarian anmostes. Race schools, On nese, Air.
can, Irish, German, &c. would poorly qualify citl-
Tic Sac must urovde one and the slme teaching
fT all alike and tho must be Tree etarian blrs
INould not even insist upon having tie Bible READ
Nov, what Is taught In a Roman Catholic school
that Is not taught IN the common schools Aritt-
mete, grammar, geography, spelling, writing, his
tory No, none OF these; Nothing Tut " the prin-
clpes of The Roman Catnullc rel gon," Now, maxi
no objection TO those principles being taught TO as
many children as Roman Catholics can gather into
their schools but, az citizen, ! protest against
being taxed % pay for te ching them, Just as would
protest ~ inst taxing Roman CHthO les 20 support
Tie charity and mission schools IN which nv own
chdrcn teaches the poor both knowledge and re-
hgiOn.
No donlt Mrs. Connolly and her excellent ca.
workers make the teaching subordinate to the
charity; but the TdLksf and the CaLbOio World
nyo~ That the religious teaching Is the main tim
that they demand; schools under the control OF the
Roman Catholic Church, TO be paid for out OF the
public treasury That In violation OF national
princiDle, that the state shall not provide Tor the
support oil religion.
AZ TO the poor children OF whom Mrs Connolly
sp+aks, the Board OF Education report 1000 vAcan-
Gies In the public schools. II room 10 yeg wanting,
let sci DOL houses be bu. II tie children are
too poor 10 70 TO school, my church will unite with
MIS-. Connoiy's In prOyld ng them with clothing
TIN ough On nm sectarian Committee. II the STATE
helps thea AZ matter Of charity let this be doue
through nOn-sectaran Board or Agency; but do
not taI any maG ~ lIach another mlus Ieli 5Ou.
Feb. 8, $50. dos. p. THOMPSON.