Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-02-17
state Aid TO Denomi ffOnal InstItu-
ions

kee Wisconsin, clearly expresses our
sentiments regarding the question Of ap-
propriating public money to the up-buld-
building of private or sectarian institu-
whether Catholic, Protestant or
any other We deny the justice or pro-
priety of drawing money from the Golfers
of all the people, for the purpose Of adj
vancing the interests of any enterprise
by which all are not equally benefited
Especially do we protest against pecuni-
airy aid being extended by the State--di-
rectly or indirectly--to religion Of any
kind or character;
ave believe that the Senate acted
wisely when it refused, as it did few
days ago, to order to third reading seven
bills appropriating to UNCONVENTIONAL
charitable institution in this city and
vicinity an aggregate Of 81 600. We say
the Senate acted wisely, not because we
have anything to say against these instr.
tutions, but Tor the reason that the prin>
ciplc of voting state aid to denominational
institutions is wrong, and contrary to the
spirit Of our constitution. Three Of these
institutions, to which the bill proposes
an appropria ion Of $500 each, are Cath-
Ole orphan asylums; another is Cath>
olic academy. These institutions, while
they provide for orphans, are really as
much part of the Catholic Church or.
ganization as are the Sunday schools Of
that Church; the children are taught the
principles Of the Catholic religion,
and the tenets of the Catholic Church,
and instructed that all other churches are
heretical Now this is all legitimate, if
done at the expense Of that church and
those who may see fit to contribute to the
object, but the legislature has no moral
right to take the public funds--the great,
er portion Of which is from the pockets
of men who do not believe in that
church--and bestow them upon these
| church charities; it is making protestants
pay for propagating the Catholic religion
The same argument will apply to strictly
| protestant institutions, we are aware,
! though not with she same force, but that
makes no difference with rs. The prin-
| cipe upon which these donations are
made is wrong, and therefore the dona>
| tons should cease - it is just as well to
stop now These institutions are increas
ing in number every year, and ii they
| coDtinne to be subsidized by the state,
the drain upon the treasury will ere long
come to be enormous. The practical re-
suit of this principle can be oeen in New
York City, where the donations to vari-
Gus religious Institutions last year
amounted to half million of dollars
over four hundred thousand Of which
went to the Catholc Church Whole
blocks Of land in the city have been Civ
en- to that church, or sold to it for nom-
ina sum, and why? Because it has an
immense political influence in the city,
and that influence was in favor Of the
democratic party, which made the dona-
tons, True it might be many years be
fore this substituting Of religious institn.
tons would grow to such an enormous
evil here as it has in New york, but let
men who hold the religious and political
views of Mayor O'Noil, Senator Deuster
and the like, gain the majority in the
legislature, and with a precedent before
them to excuse their action and no one
can tell where their love Of political in
iluence and their sectarian bias may lead
them, The experience OF New York
might be ours much sooner than auy one
viii now anticipate Let all party and
unconditional institutions stand upon
their own bottom---they will be supported
by private contributions il they are wor>
thy Of It, We want no state church in
this country; but if this system Of giving
the public money to denominational in
situations is continued, we shall have one
before We know it,and it will not be such
n one as will contribute to the prosperity
OF Tree institutions.
One thing which has tended TO stir up
the opposition to these appropriation. is
the opposition Of the Catholic Church to
the common schools 1t is a great wrong
for the state 10 foster institutions con-
Quoted by those who are bitterly hostile
to our system of public education 1t is
paying for intoxicating sentiments adverse
to that education This inconsistency
cannot exist much longer, and if the
Catholics lose the aid which they have
cen in the habit of receiving from the
state, they have only to blame them-
selves therefor. On this subject the re-
marks of Senator Williams, the gist of
which we find in the Madison Journal,
are cminently sound
lie said that not only the Catholic,
but certain Protestant denominations
had made assaults upon ouy. common
school system through their journals
and otherwise. That he stood on the de-
iense against all such assaults and that
he was unwilling to vote n dollar of APP
preparation while they were continued
That he would vote just as readily
against Protestant denomination maxi
ing such assaults as against the Catho-
lie denomnatlon--that the Legislature
incorporated from ten to fifteen of these