The New York herald., 1870-02-21

Municipal Donations TO Sectarlau schools.
In another column will be found some notes
Of sermon delivered yesterday by Rev. DR..
Thompson, in the Tabernacle, on the support
of Catholic schools by the City Council. Our
pulpits are an indication, so far as they 60,
of the tendencies of educated thought; and
the fact that they are now discussing the topic
of sectarian schools in the city must be
accepted as an evidence that this subject is
likely to receive all the attention it seems to
deserve.
Although it is written in the constitution of
the State that s'the free exercise and enjoy
ment of religious profession and worship, with
out discrimination or preference, shall forever
be allowed in this State to all mankind" yet it
is certain that in this city there is on the part
of our municipal authority determination
and preference" to the extent of at least half
a million dollars a year. We have Church
sustained by the political power by direct
grant of money, and in so far as that fact
binds Church and State we have that dan
gerous union. Out of the taxes paid in the
city half million is given by our Aldermen,
not to the cause of religion, but to the support
Of the Catholic Church. This fact is, We be-
lieve, not denied by those who receive the
money; for although it is in some quarters
claimed that this allowance is made for the
education of children too poor to attend the
public schools, it is acknowledged by the bolder
supporters of municipal donations that this
lame excuse must be given up, and the action
must be defended on the ground that the
money is given in order that children may be
taught in the faith Of the Roman Catholic
Church.
We are opposed to this use of public money
because 1t is contrary to the law. 1t is not
only against the plain letter OF the law, but
it is contrary to the spirit Of every principle
on which American freedom is based. It is
the primary idea Of our system that govern
ment is instituted for political purposes only,
and If there is any one gigantic evil that our
government should be guarded against 1t is the
alliance, or even the least relationship, be-
tween political and religious authority Oppo-
sitiOn to that source of untold evil is in the
very fibre of the American brain, and this
nation will most assuredly stand or fall by this
point Of political principle. They who should
most respect this point Of our system are the
Roman Catholics themselves. OF all our citi-
zens they should be the last to encourage any
tampering with this guarantee of one Of their
most sacred rights; for il ever there could be
any change in this respect, that change would
certainly not be in their favor. This is .
country of Protestant people by majority so
overwhelming that its DEGREES could never
come in dispute, and if the topic Is ever pushed
to an issue 1t will be to the injury Of those in
whose interest the noodles Of our city govern
ment now defy the law.
One of the worst features of the case is that
this evil is done by the Common Council in a
huckstering spirit. We do not accredt the
public plunderers with any irrepressible love Of
religion. They donate money to purchase the
fss1ty Of . denomination to their party. They