The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-08
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
MONDAY, MAY s, 1871.
The Catholics aad the schoois.-A Danger
10 be Met in Time. eft 4ttats

The American people are SO entirely will
ing that the foreigners who make up the
great mass of the Catholic population of this
country should enjoy absolute freedom OF re-
ligious opinion and worship that any inV&'
sion of that sacred right from whatever quar-
ter it might come would be met WIN lnuiS-
nant protest and, if necessary, WIN arlheo re-
sistance Protestant America would beyond
a shadow OF doubt fight for the religious free
dom of its Catholic citizens, if an exieency re-
curing such action could ia any way arise. |
There is NO more disposition to prescribe |
them on account of their chucrsh, Or 10 limit
in any way their privileges, than there is 10
adopt hostile measures toward the Congre-
setionalists, Methodsts or Unitarians. The
cry of mo Popery" is never heard here, and
it would be as easy to revive the stupid, IRA
tional prejudices that were at the bottom of
Know-Nothingism, as TO excite Protestant
blgotry to the point of making an anti-Cath'
olic crusade.
But is only too plain that the Romsh
clergy of America are the farthest possible
from any recognition or appreciation OF the
liberal, magnanimous spirit evinced by Prot
estants toward church whose dogmas ex-
pcitly attack and denounce every principle
that is essential in democratic government
a church among whose acknowledged aims is
the subversion of everything that forms the
moral basis of republic. Not content with
enjoying in common with other religious de-
nominations the freedom to hold what doc
trp ~
manner as they deem best, the Catholic
priesthood is aggressive and DESTROYS of carry
ing into practical effect at the earliest posi-
BILE moment theories the triumph of which
would be fatal TO the very existence of our
form of government. Not satisfied that the
laws regard them as occupying precisely the
same position as Protestant denominations,
they begin to cIamor for special indulgences
and special pecuniary endowments. r.
Now the doctrines that make heresy of the
favorte American notions of free speech, free
press, progress, civil and religious libecsy, sec
ular education and unchecked scientific in
igation-doctrines that set the authority of
the church hierarchy above that of civil rulers
and the decree of the Holy See above the
laws of the land-are of such character that
the instinct of selfipreservation must lead to
resistance when well defined attempt is
made to give them practical expression. 1t is
an unsafe thing that any considerable portion
of the young should be taught that para
mount allegiance is due elsewhere than to
our own government. But SO long as it is
theory merely, it is not consistent with our
democratic ideas of personal independence to
interfere.
But the Catholic policy with respect to the
public schools of the United States seems to
us to be the beginning of active, offensive
war on our whole political system. The
Romish clergy are unceasing in their efforts
to remove from the influence of public school
instruction the children of their comnun-
cants. Wherever it is possible they educate
these pupils in private schools of their own,
under the immediate supervision of the
church authorities. And where it is possible
they so much farther--and it is here,
in our opinion, that vigorous measures of re-
sistance should be adopted-and boldly grasp
part Of the public funds for the endowment
OF their training institutions for Catholics
They succeed in this only where tue party
with which they are naturally in alliance is
in undsputed possession of political power.
The objections to these inroads upon the
common school system are SO important that
they cannot be too often reiterated. The gen.
eral welfare of the public schools /, necessari-
ly impaired by the withdrawal of the support
OF any large class of citizens and founda-
ton is thus laid for the overthrow Of that be.
neficent policy of universal instruction, most
wisely and most fortunately adopted in the
early days of the Republic, and for the build
ing up in its place of UNCONVENTIONAL schools
whose benefits are less literally and inexpen-
sively bestowed, falling altogether to reach
the masses of the people, sf"
But there are objections, especially to Cath
Ole institutions of learning, even.graver than
these. The common Schools have second.
airy but most important function in amapa-
mating the foreign with the native popula-
ton and making our people notwithstanding
the immense number of immigrants we re-
ceive annually, substantially homogeneous.
1t is marvellous how soon the descendants of
foreigners become undistinguishable in Ian.
guage. appearance, dress, culture and man.
ners from the natve-born population. The
identity OF the Irish and Germans is lost "a
the second generation except ybere thew
chance to settle by themselves, in populous
communities. Acoerdinpl-y. instead Of having
large bodies OIL Germe..n Irish. English French
ana scandinavia citizens. senarated from tba
naive naive polpustion, cherishng their own ira
i1o"s II government, customs and laws.each
deserving Tor generations their identity as
people OF another CLINE, likely enough to as
sumo unitedly position antagonistic to the
rest OF the country, we have an American
people, with what the French well denomin.
ate solidarity" subsistng between all classes.
There is a unity growing out of this unifor.
nifty that warrants the most sanguine hopes
IN regard to the perpetuity of our institutions.
We are nation, instead of a mere geograpbi.
cal designation like Austria, Russia OF even
Germany, made up of diverse and sometimes
hostile races. This indispensable work of
assimilation is largely done, we repeal, in
The public schools where the children
OF all citizens associate and receive
the same Instruction. The Catholic plan
plan of sesregating their pupils from the rest
of the population would, if carried out. ipev-
1tably prevent this process from going ON
we could be content if the pupils came out
OF the Catholic schools still adherents of their
own church, but it is a matter Of deep public
concern that they come out bad tnot immor-
al but diSloyal) citizens. The time has not
perhaps yet come when the danger from this
source is so great as to warrant the interfar-
ence OF the law or provision for Compulsory
attendance on the public schools by all nsr-
sons OF the legal age. But the time has come
when the very first movements in sayor of
building up UNCONVENTIONAL schools syitA nub-
nc money, at the expense If public schools,
should be sternly resisted.
Mr. Greeley says in the Tribune on S,tpr.
day, 1t certainly true we are not seelinc
the reelection of Gen. Grant as President
Should he be The Republican candidate wa
should of course support him to the hest If |
our ability, but pending the nomination wa
may be fairly charged with unfriendliness 70
l. tl,o,