The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-02-07

eau fom Of government is not perfect !;
.Lul'whilc this may be true, il is also true
that !, is tho mos. perfect that has yet
been devised by man, under Gods provi-l
dence, to ensure human equality, and the
right to frcslom Of thought md worship,
It's likewise Elected that this Nef5 ffse-
donis dangerous, becaaso it promotes
differences Of opinion9in matters Of reli-
giou BUTT is better to have the mllli.
ons Of intelligent men lhiakiag Tor them
.clscs --thoughithey may think different
ly-than TO have those millions not think
at all. Intelligence is the basis Of vir-
tue. Ignnrancsf is) tho parent Of vice.
Professionalism promotes the efforts 81 the
mind uftcrlhtslligphce. ROnanisnI tukes
charge Of. the mind, and denies II the
right to make such an effort il the mat.
tiers Of faith. u4.Egl - Inv,
Protcstuntisn,i is opposed to Roinanism
because it based that principle upon an
intelligent conviction of,h truth of tho
Gospel. The latter, on the contrary,
bascs luishupcu acceptance, Without in
quiry. Protcstahts hold that ant propo-
sition mhith'is contrury toreu,on canhOt
be accepted. Romauism. on the other
hand, updct penalties of cccIssiustiedl
condemnation, euforccs faith without up-
derstandihg.q tThisAis iguiust reason.
All true faith must be based upon pro.
per understanding Fosa,, Nrb tnN Eeb
In allowing Romusis,s to come 10 th'.
country, w.givs them Inc rightto equal
lily IN oil matters including the privilege
Of free education; Sbut'wcpeter counted
upon this cndeavor to supplant our irs!i'
tutions with those Of their own making
tYc. they have steadily striven Ito effect
this purpose. and haze begun ,hcir work
'tin'tlic matter Of our school system. We
have yielded in somc instances SO fay p
TO leave out the reading Of the New Ties.
I lament in our schools; which ives in itself
q mistake. W. have, yielded certain
matters; but tllesc notifications nrefonly
ifthc'rcsult ola partial compromise. But
even as it'd, We cannot be accused ofma'
king our schoosr snseetarion with any de.
size to make them irreifgiots.f,fh fact,
we do not hold that education is confined
to tho school-room alsne. We believe in
the pursuit. or study Of one thing at
time; and it is no moro reason 70 say
that schools arc irreligious because moi
srcraridn, llan.to; hold that they are op'
pcsea 10 eating because an eating saloon
lis ,uot attached to aE Of them.
1 THE teaching Of religions matters j.
only postponed until after school hours
for children; asths exercises ofrsligion
are, postponed darfng working hours fOl
men. This objection is a4he as unrca'
sonable as ihat; made to the, text s9ek.
used, because they contain the opinion.
of their writer's. 1t would be thoug b
I. absurd in ap Englishmaa ssning hero Il
object to these textbooks, because sont
Of them contained sentiments adverse Il
His country and yet bis objection would
be just as reasonable as that of'ths 10
mnnist agy 1FI.
The increase Of Romanitm Is thi'
country lis due mainly to emigration
but very considerable number Of Ro'
manist children are Influenced by contact
with Protestanis to change their views
and hence the effort Asde y the PRIEST
TO have tile matter Of education entirely
lin their own hands,. In ten years theil
Church has lost 100000 Of its young
members in this wat. What The Roman.
lists now want is q division Of the peblit
money and the separation Of Catholic
from Protestant children in the public
schools. After this is accomplished, they
will have q system of voluntary edaca.
ton which is sure to result in decay o.
'ltGe system aud a consequent increase III
Ignorance. BY having control Of por.
lion Of the public funds, tho Romunist:
will grow to have control ofthe public
offices. Thus, with an ignorant people.
from whom implicit obedience is, e1nctcd
and acontrol OF the Government by few
tho educated, it.would not be long be.
.Ifore these very rights, that are now So
well enjoyed and used BY the masses Of
the people, would b taken away fraa
them. ID -lIhn -r .slip ,.i,.r-
The Romani.ts now accept our tol,ra-
ton to work their own ends !. but those
once accomplished, they would ,upplant
It 10y on intolerance of their own. We
can judge Of, this by the fact that IN the
only place where they have absolute. con.
.rol1t Rome) they deny the right Of Prot
estanls'lo xorriiip according to their own
desires The question, then, nurrows
itself down to this: Arc We to have our
free school system sustained, and by its
aid odaeation, freedom and religious lib.
erty perpetuated or ,hall It be subvet-
3D., and ignorance and intolerance sue.
ceed7 May God as,i.t us to judge I'm.
'derstnndingly in this iiupcrtun. matter.
aud give US strength and VIII 10 make
the necessary efTortto preserve this great
buluark Of our civil and religious liberty.
t'519 A PRorEsrASr.