New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-28
ROBBING the PUBLIC SCHOOLS
REPORT or THE COMMITTEE or THE UNION
LEAGUE CLUB ON TIE ABSTRACTION OF
MONEY FROM TIE PTBLIC TREASURY FOR
sECrARIAN USES-HALf MILLION GIVEN
..I..It

| MONEY FROM TIE PTBlIC lKEASbhi r'h
sECTARIAN UsES-HALF MILLION GIVEN
| AWAY IN NETWORK CITY IN loO9.
The Committee of tho Union League Club
upop the diversion Of public moneys of this city from the
legitimate objects Of political government TO soctarAn
| purposes make the following report:
Tb. evil began short time ago under tho speclous
form begging from the city treasury few doars lor
some deserving charity, controlled ana owned Dy Sono
one of the several hundred religious sect into when our
neopIe are divided It has in few years made such
gigantic strides that 1t abstracts from tho city
| TREASURY OF tho money raised by gencral TAXA
ton half n million dollars annually; and uses
the greater part OF this to destroy our system
OF public schools. To mako this annual nlusueo Tue
moro easy and certain, last Spring. during the expiring
moments OF tho Legislature cunning hand fosted mo
the Tax Levy for this city Section 10, section that IN is
practical results enables the managers OF few sectarlah
schools TO thrust their hands INTO the public treasury
and extract therefom 100000 year, ana use lot
set OF private schools that in encct undermine our
equitable and admirable system OF puDho bchooi'' in
ssc Hs ANIMAL SNORT .qS. to 20 Pc. nSi o. ~: y:
Director appointed tor that purpose by zee Beard
@oaS for The support Of eioo eucsHS sraio1 IN said
so are 1a po,i 5T ~ 5 $ & "opo 5 the t
Tressurys YswYork Laws Of le9 Chap $40, See
THE false preense for Il IL int tho children Of these
sectaran schools are not oyded for In the common
school. of this city The fact that there were at inc
time this thrust into the Tax Leyy and nov
are vacant seats enough IN the Common Schoo7 VI tits
city to accommodate all the children OF every private
| school in the city
TIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL.
Tho average number OF vacant seats In the Common
Schools OF this city 800 Report OF Special Co
OF Board OF Education Oct. g. 1869, page Ill aud the
Common Schools furnish gratis to all tho children OF the
city, without distinction of Sect everything that theso
secaran schools furnish except the single Item oil seca
ran religious instruction. Tire children IN the common
schools OF this city have comfortable aud hraul
| schO DOL. better
provided with books, apparatus, ana toaches tan 'o'o
The Common schools make excellent crzens OF free
and tolerant republic. Love for the children as wen as
every means IN our power Free Common schools and
to give aid from the public purse to their sectarlah
We have no State Church in New York, yet tho
appropriations and donations OF our Gity 70
certain religious sects and their peculiar INSTITUTIONS eN
coed those Of any other ciy IA Chi.steI... in.So
donations voted from the public treasury OF TINS cly 10
religious sects year 1882 amountedto over $5O
| or this sum single sect receives over siOoo0J'
GIFTS TO THE ROMAN CATHOLICS
In addition this in 1866. for 81 year the CITY COY
eminent gave to the Archbishop OF this sect nan Dock
! OF ground on Madison and toward FOurthaves, worth
now In 1851 they gave to the sect the fee
of whole block OF ground running from Fifth to Fourth
ayes and from Fifeth to Fifty irststs., by changing
lease into fee for the Of $50 49, aud then, In 1864
maid this same sect $ 900 for the privilege OF extending
Madsonave across this block and also made this sect
donation Of 1928 "a TO pay al assessments on lls Lux
for opening MadlsOnaye. n moderate eallnac Vi tne
| value of this book OF ground II sltJV,,'N
In 1916 they gave the scot FOR 81 40 Feet OF the
Ffthaye end OF the block OF ground ADJOINING tne hst
and between Eft yirst aud Fty-secoudsts; ana tnrb
H. ls5r for 81 wear rent gave tins sect the rest ~ this
block thus practically donating the whole BLOCK ruhhg
through from Fifth 10 Fourthayes when DOCK u no"
estimated TO be worth another million and half dollars
The City Government has thus gwen S32ocO worm VI
real estate to a single sect for sectarlan purposes
Now II the other religious sccts were each Ieateu ~
our CITY Government with ike hOeraly the CIty OF
New-Yor would m few become the very paradise
of religious corporations for they would have absorbed
into their dead hands (Ncrmaln), either by donation or
We have brought forward these alarming f1cts IN no
spirit OF hostility true religion, nor to ay church or
~ American citizcns we cali upon our fcl!ovcizcns
irrespective Of sect or party TO oppose III Ah !Au
! ways, taxation for sectarian purposes
Nh SECT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED TIE PUBLIC EXPENSE
Each gious sect has equal and perfect hight in
our free land many and as magnificent churches ana
schools monasterie nunneres aud a.Ynms ss
Il chooses pay for but 10 take money from the pUbc
treasury for sectorlan not right and especially
not when by doing arc virtually destroying the
very nurseries OF universal education and OF good cti
zenso Wit our Free Common Schools. The sole effect
and real object Of tie tenth section OF This satte Is TO
raised by general taxation pay tho expenses OF teaching
the special and peculiar tcnes of certain religious oecs
In other words, 1t Is the entering WeusH o ue iul
! effort to destroy system of Free Common schools
and upon It's runs TO build up state Church ana Put
the whole subject OF education under tho cOhFOl VI IC
| ligous seots. ,,.,
public real object and effect This injustice OF Diid
ing up sectauan schools at tho expcn;e OF me public
ana OF the nee common ocuooi' N W hc"S
Of this Statute. be repeated annually uh Tie section DC
repealed a. -, !, ,,,,, soo,, On IN ocl,
necessary at the right moment 20 enllghten he PUBIC
for public sentiment is and always has been, right on
this question this country ever since the adoption OF
the Constitution " the United states The first amend
ment to the Constitution adopted IN this city III l,sy AT
the first session of the first Congress. made the sear
tion of Church and State part OF the Constitution TINS
was done protect the people against the se OI puDo
| money for the support OF sccts aud churches.
To the sad effects OF turning the education OF inc
children over TO the Church VIC nave Gy 10 GoG co ~
troll OF education. Ignorance ana pontcai corruuon
cover those unhappy countries a. Win Dense bcn
| cloud. While IN Prussia ana some OF lHe Cdhlnhs Oh
Switzerland where for half century the state mas taken
sole manager OF the schools universal enlgtcnhen'
thrift individual aud state, prevail Divide the pubic
money raised for schools among the religious sects, aud
endless contention and prOstration OF general eucaoh
at result large part OF the youth OF me country
would up In ignorance, ana the rest "OuIu DO in
| doctrinated with srctaran views. $1,000,
We hold IL 10 he one OF fundamental truths that
American liberty largely needs general, generous ahd
uuscctarian education The scheme uaISuaVtl ny thl;
fraudulent tenth section OF the last Tax Levy Is devised
to destroy free common school-a system OF euuca
ton that in half century has made PRUSSIA one nl the
first nations OF Europe. and s fast making tie United
States excel in universal Intelgenceaud 10 BET up Ill
| their stead the system Of Spain ana Italy.
IL ia the first legislative step In this state toward re-
turn TO the ignorance aud bgJry OF the Middle Ages.
i should be met at the threshold aud ell from the
statute book. FRANCIS LIEBER. Chairman VI Com.
| DEXTER A. HAWKINS, Secretary Of Com.
NeiG. York, Jan. ~, 1870
! TABLE OF MONEYS VOTED FROM THE PUBLIC TRBAsU-
Ky OF THE CITY or NEW YORK FOR SLCTARIAN Is
| sTTUTIONs IN 1869. ~
Sacred Hem &i6oc sisters ciCbirty........ so
sacred Heart 800 Most HOLY Rsdeemer SchoollOJ
Good shepherd ..eW 900 ~ Faucs Female School 80
House .l5O ST. Francis Male ScOo $50
House Mercy 5000 81 lraucis Hospital 3eO
Sisters ~. ~ McSss SS 9
sisters ST. 100 81 MiehsrP' school 500
Auam St Domne. 1900 81, Giorsrs school ,;..'''lls'9
Dominican Chnreb $500 TraIgnr,on school ll5O