The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-03-31
observation-disclosures

The Christian Adoocate dissents from
the doctrine laid down by the late Meth
odist Convention at Syracuse in relation
to the rights and duties of the state as
pertaining to religion and the common
schools. 1t says
We Protestants hold that, as popular
government and liberty cannot coexist
with popular ignorance, the state has an
indefeasible right to educate its subjects
for their duties as citizens therefore,
we insist on the maintenance of the COM
mon school system. But we do not, we
cannot contend that our own or any
other party's idea of religious education
shall be maintained in the schools by
the state. A moments reflection con-
vinces us that this would be incompatible
with our whole political system, so far as
its doctrine of federation is concerned
We have no national religion, and we want
none We know that the independence
of the church and state but secures the
prosperity of the former and also of the
latter. We Protestants, especially, are
not willing that the state should tamper
with the religious education of our chill
dren. We reserve that sacredly to our.
selves; we provide for it in our families,
and churches, and our Sunday schools
The teachers in our comnon schools are
generally young men and women, crude
in their opinions, many of them not only
inexperienced and incompetent to ex-
pound matters of religious faith, but liza
BILE to be skeptical, transcendental, or
otherwise wrong In their religious pro-
clivities. Let them teach our youth the
elements of secular and civil knowledge,
so far as may be necessary for their bust
ness life and civil duties; but let them
not interfere with our own sacred righ.s
Of their religious training 1t is
important that we should see the bear
ings of this question on our own interests
as protestants. None of us deny that it'll
is a fundamental, an unquestionable prin-
ciple Of American liberty that the
majority should legislate and rule We
are ready to fight and even die for this
principle for we know that there can be
no liberty, no genuine democratic public,
order and civilizatiC n, without it. But,
it it be true, what is to become of us or
the principles of the convention if the
Romanists themselves become the MAORI
ty? They have the majority in New
York City. What if, believing with the
convention that religion, the Bible
should be taught in the public schools,
they vote that their own version (the
Douay) or any other shall take the place
of our version? Are we ready to submit
What if the Chinese should predominant
in any part IF the Pacific Coast land they
may,) and the writings Of Confucius or
tn. Blddhists be voted into the schools
are we, Professionals, willing to accept the
decision and expose our children to it ?
And must we not, according to The
theory of our government, if we now
claim with the convention the right to
enforce our own iaith or version of the
Bible in the schools?
No, no; this is not American statesman
ship, nor American Professionalism We
all believe In religious federation, for we
know that 4he truth needs only fair play
we demand liberation, because we believe
we ourselves shall thereby triumph at
last. We do not need legal coercion in
order to triumph; we deprecate it as
fatal to truth. Let us be consistent then.
There is no other tenable ground for us
than that above indicated. Let us main
tain unfinchingly the common school
system of education, aside from all secra-
ran considerations. Let US reserve scru-
pulously to ourselves, our families and
our respective churches the religious
training of our children. Let us insist
that Roman;sts shall stand on the same
fair, impartial platform; and shall no
longer have cent of the public moneys
for their sectarian schools. In this way,
and In no other way, can we successfully
vindicate American liberty, religious
liberation, state education, and genuine
Professionalism.