The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-23

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in which he lie willing to take the risks.
The State may teach him "That honesty
| is the best policy" and many other similar
maxims but this accustoms him to make
policy his rule of honesty and when the
best is too incOnvient, he will be satisfied
| with the second best.
| The State, then, has little power to
form good consciences in her people. Some
may grow up under her care to be models
of elevation and solidity of character, but
this happy result will be chiefly owing to
good natural dispositions, wise training of
parents, and good associations. These ad-
vantages belong to the favored few. With
great numbers, the natural dispositions or
early habits are bad. For many others
their parents have not the ability or the
time to train them we'll. Still larger num-
bers find in their associates every example
of evil. Altogether what large mass of
the population do these form. To train
them into good. reliable, conscientious men
and women the State has indeed very little
means.
THE FACTS coRRoBoRATE THIS REASONING.
Aud experience confirms this conclusion
of reason. What State is there in our
| country that has succeeded by her own
teachings, to elevate to any great degree
the average standard of morals among her
peoplef In those States where secular
education is said to approach nearest to
perfection, are we told that the number of
crimes against society is diminishing in
proportion to the population l speak not
of the morals of the uneducated classes {;
but of those very crimes which only edu-
Gated men can perpetrate. Is there in any
of our best schooled States, where State
teaching alone is relied upon, smaller
proportion than there used to be of forger-
les, embellishments, fraudulent specuIa-
tions, dishonest administrations of public
trusts, "rings," and other corrupt combna-
! tioDs to obtain the money of the people
80 \
not care to enumerated Do not all our
public papers continually bear testimony
that these things are multiplying to q
frightful degree Are not their advertise
ments proof of growing depravity and it's
consequences
And the tone of public opinion itself
with regard to dishonesty and other i'm
morality, is it more elevated, and more
serious than it used 60 be Are not these
matters every day treated with levity
and Indifference that prove a growing care
lessness about moral principle
am not one of those who see no good
except in days gone by. Gladly do re-
cOgnize the many examples of virtue
around us-the many persons of q purity
and diainterestedness of character, Of which
our country and generation may we'll be
proud.
But if we would learn lessons of wisdom
from observation, we must observe fairly
the good and the evil both. And one who
does 80 1 think will find it impossible to
contradict the testimony OF the same Pro-
testant Divine, Bishop Potter, of New
York: "that making allowance for all
| these, there is something visible in our
public business TRANSACTIONS, in our politi-
cal affairs, and in large portion of our
social life, which is manifest change for
the worse, as compared with former years."
(Same Address, p. ~. Abridged, but not
altered.) Such is the too common expert
| ence in our country.
PRUSSIA GETS THE HELP OF OTHER MEANS.
Now let US look at different OK perience.
Prussia is held up as the great first model
of common education. And yet, strange
to say, many of our States that cite her ex-
ample, 60 directly contrary to her course,
in this most essential matter, the means
that she uses, to form good citizens. She
takes care, by means of examinations, to
make cure that the pupils learn we'll the
secular branches. But for the moral train
she relies on Religion and the teachers OF
Religion. They have different religious
denominations in Prussia, as we'll as here
often mingled together in the same districts
! and villages. Almost all the difficulties
that might arise from this, the Government
avoids, simply by leaving liberty to the
parents to establish mixed schools or separ
ate schools, as they like best. The BoarG
, of Education at Berlin encourages, rather
separate schools, because they find that il
l them the religious training can De accom-
}. plished more easily and thoroughly.
THE RIGHT OF AMERICAN FREEMEN TO US
IT THE SAME MEANS If THEY CHOOSE.
.e Now is there any sufficient reason VIII
AZ in free republic, parents should be les
., free than in one of the most rigorous mon
~ arches of Europef
81 And even if we had not the example
g. Prussia, why should free men be deprive
OF of the free mans right to educate his ow
l9 children as his conscience tells him Z
eo long as they neither neglect their duty N
OF injnre their neighbors.
US If the State wishes to make sure by e
ne aminations, ETC., that the pupils lea
let well all the secular branches, which she r
on quires to be taught, what principle of ju
tut tice, or necessity of public good, can a
ess thorize her to hinder the parent from pr
viding his own child at the same time wi
iu- the best moral training he can getq
tue Is this the way to form good citizen
lu- 1t is during school hours that the chill
PIE mind is chiefly growing in knowledge a