The New York herald., 1870-04-16
TH1 SCHOOL QUESTION.
NEW YORK, April Is. 1870

NEW iOhh, ApTil 10, 1871
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Allow me through your columns to correct some
OF the false impressions which 1t Is evidently the
object OF those wno are actively engaged in the So
called non-sectalian school movement to create IN
regard to Catho.ic scnoos. And IN the first place
let me state inat we are not. as mas been falsely
serted, arrayei IN hostility the system OF which
Mr.. Peter Cooper Rev. H. w. Beechcr Mr. Hiram
Ketcnum and others of that lik are tne sefconsti.
tuted champions Whatever may think OF its char.
acter ana ITS effects upon the youthful Minds what
ever may be our views with reference to manage.
ment ana dIec cuon; hatever opinions we may
entertain upou The question OF economy in the ex-
penditure OF It's funds; whatever our impress
sons may be as to It's moral aspects, we
have certainly no desire to interfere with
the rights ol our fellow citizens OF Otner de.
nominations 80 far as the question or the education
OF their cnldren Is concerned. But While such IS
our posltion we shall insist upon and maintain the
Bame right for ourselves.
1t is but lew years since Catholics were accused
OF being the enemies OF education and TINS too in
full view OF the fact that the instruction OF youth In
Catholic county was converted by Protestant
legislation INTO u penal offence, punishable with
heavy pains and penalties. The teacher was hunted
as teon, driven from his natlve land, and II de-
tected in the criminal act was made to feel the
strong arm OF L governm ent which boasted of its
civilization It's prO, ,ress, Its enlightenment.
Here in New York II Is true, the Is somewhat
different. Catho:c education mas not been placed
the criminal calendar; but it Is fact that Catao
lies are taxed for the support or system to which
they cannot give their approval and under which
their conscience will not allow them to place their
children. Now, the controversy narrowed down
TO the simple question OF their right TO estsblis h
schools OF their own and to small share CT the
MT roiS NV tnx Tot thnio Iat
bered. have not asked for any portion oi the fund
devoted To the suppor. ol the common schools OF
this city, athough such am aware is the general
impression among my Protestant fellow citizens.
Ine appr9prlaaion granted IN the law passed
sources and is distributed among other de-
nominations well. Now. If the gentlemen who
addressed tue meeting Iew nights since at the
Cooper Institute are 10 Oe believed, this money comes
out OF the three millions annually expended for pub
lie educaIiOn III our metropolis II tney az all
acquainted with the Subject they must know tnat by
making this ap roprlation not only IS wrong or
injury done t. tne interests Of the school system
that there saving to that system OF over twenty
dollars for every child educated In the schools
which have been so bitterly, so unjcstiy assaed by
bigoed noveneut. Thar tins susceptible OF proof
few figures will fully establish.
1t is estimated tnat about 10000 children are edu.
Gated In the catnoc schools at yearly per cap,ta
expense OF less than dol ars. The cost of edl-
eating the same number under the New York
and $500 00J. Let these 10000 be Trans
ferred from the parochal to the wara schools
lion vii be AIDED to the yearly expenses pub.
lie school system. Would il not be well 1or Mr..
Ketchum or Mr. Beecher 10 give us their views upon
this very Important point whicn Is certainly mat
ter Ol no small cOnseqlen to the taxpayers OF
New York;
AS to the question OF the reading OF the Bible, we
Catholics have certainly no hostility TO that llsplred
work, and II might re well for NessTs Peecher *
Co. to bear IN mnd that but for the Churcn there
wod in ali human PROBABILITY be little, II any, OF IL
III existence. But leaving that question aside
insist on our right 10 instruct our own children in
n
secular education and to remove them from under
the infuen g OF a system which has been and IS
even now, made use .. us proseiyting agent re-
hgion and, let me add, In politics also
No stronger or more Incontrovertiple evidence OF
this fact could be presented than Is Afforded by the
petition winch now oelng circulated thrOugn the
public schools OF Tn city IOr the purpose Of procur-
ing tile signatures OF adult pupils there demand.
ing the repeal OF the just and equitable school laws
passed lasl year. In tnat pelition mendacous ana
bigoed assault is made on the religion or the CaJno.
lies or New ORR, who are taxed for the support OF
system which L. tnus lnSidlOuslv converted into
weapon OF offence against their faith. An unjust
false COMPARISON = made in that document between
Protestant and Catholic countless To the pre- lunIce
and dscred,t OF the latter, and bitter sectarian
feeling ~ thus sought TO be engenuered and oStered
among the children OF dlnerent religious denomila-
lions. what more conclusive evidence coulo be
she system is able to be and mas been put
than IS found IN TINS productions Bnt the
authors OF IT, unfortunately TOR their side of the case
are sngularly ignorant OF the TACT that III russia,
which Il aliuoed 10 III evidence OF the superiority
claimed for Protestant over Catboc couiiirles the
now admitted 10 ne the best and most effective that
could be devised. one TACT Is worth whole vo ume
OF speculate ms, and this ls commended parcu-
larry 10 the consideration Of the Union League.
which is now engaged IN organizing new secta,lan
war against their Catholic fellow citiZens-yes.
against those same Catholics whose patriotism was 50
earnestly and successfully appealed 10 In the late
war Tor the Union. What Is 1t TO them that there
are to-day tens OF thousands OF orphans o.
Catholic soldiers who dleu fghtno under
She nag OF the republic, little ones who
are now dependant GU Catholic cnarity2
A new issue Is, 1t appears, demanded, anu tie
puolic O justice and right ~ to be perverted
by unworthy and de5picabe en0rts 10 arouse once
more tue Old spirit OF Intolerance and bgOtry. Asa
Catholic, challenge these Digots to a fair and I'm.
partial comparison OF the intellectual ana moral
condition o. Catholic ana Protestant countries. We
DO not shrink from sucn controversy. On the con-
trary, we It, satisfied that the facts ecited
would effectual,y remove the erroneous and false
Impressions wnicn II ~ the OBJECT OF these enemies
Ul true social and political oruer to create.
And now few words as to the opposition which
hss been manifested to the law In the rural Districts
In ail candor let me ask what have our country
friends to do with subject, Is nothing OuI or