The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-18
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topice-C Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
BIBLE OR NO BIBLE?

"Cincinnati Bible Case, one of the counsel
denied in plain terms that we have any right
to be called a Christian nation, and argued
at some length to show that Christianity had
conferred no real benefits, even of a moral
kind, upon the human race Most people
would be much shocked at this view, but it
is the only view any one can consistently
hold who demands that the Bible shall be
made prescribed book. When O man says
plainly, "The Bible is q pernioious fiction,
and cannot be read in public without doing
injury to the hearers" we can understand
his position. But it is not SO easy to under
stand how any Christian minister can recon-
cile it with his duty to consent to place the
Bible under q perpetual interdict, 80 far as
our common schools are concerned, and to
assert the principle that the daily reading of
the Scriptures is too unimportant privilege
to be worth contending for.
People who enter into unworthy compro-
misses usually find that they have sacrificed
their own convictions without securing the
object at which they aimed. The contest
which is now forced upon us is pre-eminently
one of this kind. We eare asked to throw the
Bible out of our schools-and for what? TO
conciliate the Roman Catholics2 Not at all,
for they have had the candor to tell us before
hand that they take very little interest in the
question. ''The issue" one of their journals
has told us, ''is not about the reading or not
reading of the Bible in schools. We insist
upon having this apprehended and acknow-
lodged. Bible read, or Bible not read, in the
public schools, cannot alter the objections of
Catholics, obedient to their faith, against the
popular method of public schools. We insist
on having this recognized" This statement
has been repeated by almost every Catholic
who has discussed the question; and it is
enforced afresh in the April number of a
publication which may almost be regarded as
the official organ of Catholicism in this
country-the Catholic World. 1t is not, there
fore, even to make peace that we are invited
to expel the Bible from the schools, as
if it were an exploded collection of old wives
fables. We are merely asked to proclaim in
the face of the world that in our own opinion
we have arrived at a stage of perfection at
which we can dispense with the revealed
Word of God.
1t is important to consider that we are not
situated as people would be who had just
begun to found national system of educa-
tion. 1t is not question with us of intro
ducing the Bible into schools but of delibe-
rately eiecting it. If it were the former, we
should, in the highest interests of future
generations counsel the use of the Bible.
But when we are asked to reverse a settled
policy at the instigation of those who are
irreconcilably opposed to our entire free
school system, how can we hesitate about
the answer we ought to return? The pupils
at present in our schools are suddenly to see
the Bible turned out of doors with igno-
miny What would be the impression
created upon their minds? Would not every
principle of religious faith in them be deeply
outraged, if not severely shaken? Would it
not be taken as q confession that we have
found out that the Bible is a mischievous
book? 1t may be said that they could still
hear the Bible read at home. But only
casuists say so. In practice, there are too
few fathers and mothers who begin the day
with reading chapter in the Bible. They
have no time, or think they have none. But
they rejoice to know that the loftiest and
most sublime appeals to mans nobler i'm
pulses and capabilities to which it can ever be
our lot to listen, fall on their children's ears
once a day in school. If they are infidels,
they will vet admit that the Biblical code of
ethics prescribes q method of life which is
best calculated to insure happiness in time
and after it, If they are sectarian bigots
they may, indeed, wish to consign our Protes-
tant Bible to the flames, as tyrants and perse-
cutors have done in past ages, but shall we
basely yield to their audacious conspiracies:
Are we to be formally placed under the
dominion of zealots OF an alien faithi
Roman Catholics say they want Stree
dom of conscience" Yes-and so do wei
We want to enjoy the privileges which oul
forefatherS handed down to us, and for which
they suffered innumerable hardships ant
dangers at a period when men were moi
ashamed of the faith that was in them
Freedom of conscience" in the mouths o.
too many Roman Catholics means freedom O
their consciences, and suppression of every
body elses. When foreigners come here the,
enioy every freedom the heart of man cal
desire, but when they seek to overturn insti
tions which exist for the general good, or t.
change us from Protestant into Romal
Catholic people, they ought to fail-and the
aoiU fail while we are great nation and not
degenerate race of towards. ''It will be
glorious day for Catholics in this country,
says one of their journals, ''when, under th
blows of Justice and morality, our school sys
tenn will be shivered to pieces" We answer
1t is beyond your power to destroy on
school system Try to do it, and you wi
rush to certain destruction. If we mus
have this fight, by all means let us have
quickly and get done with it, Mankind wi
attest that in the transfer of the Old Worl
conflict between Professionalism and Popel
to the New World, Professionalism was not I
blame. If the Church of aggression ont
more invites a trial Of strength between he
self and the Protestant principle she mu
have it, but we'll will it be for her if 81
emerges from it without undergoing the mo
fatal reverses she has received since she 10
England by her intolerance. AS for us, v
as a people ought to resolve, at once and fo
ever, to defend the Bible and the commC
school system against any adversaries wi
can be arrayed against us, relying for succe
upon Him who has solemnly warned ma
kind, "Heaven and earth shall pass away b
NV words shall not pass aWav "