Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-05-10
Zone of Very Many"
NUMBER ".

lone OF Very Many"
NUMBER ".
| MEssRs. EDITORS: Since Father Finne-
gan has retired from the field, il is a uues-
ton how far ] should pursue the subject.
with the case altogether in my own hands.
If it were not that some things he touches.
| in his closing letter, might leave a false
impression upon the public mind, it would
perhaps be best to rest the case with the
| simple, clearly cut issue which has been
made. AS it is however, l must beg to
submit certain statements.
l. THE FATHERS GOOD TEMPER.
In his farewell letter this is quite unex-
| ceptionable, and in response to il | can
| more than pass over the hard language of
his earlier pieces. | repeat, therefore, that
| personally have nothing at all to bring
| against my courteous opponent and will
| be always ready TO testify to the ability
which he has brought to the support of
| what regard a bad cause and dangerous
| principle, as well as to the general proprie-
! ty with which he has borne himself 1t is
with Father Finnegan as the agent of an
| ecclesiastical organization which, through
! It's hold on the balance of political mower
endangers all that is peculiar in the Amer
lean type OF civilization and liberty, that
| have contest.
,. THE QUESTION.
am glad the Father keeps this before
u.s. All else in this discussion is of little
| value but as it bears upon this momentous
| issue in itself, in its prospective reach and
its necessary connections Father Finne-
gan says: II have from the beginning in
| sisted on the right of parent to educate
| ms children i'll whatever manner he pleas
es." This is a sound position in the sense
he intends, only it would be well for him
not to forget that in the Papal States, where
| only his church was absolute and unques-
toned master, the parent had not, until
| the Pope was dethrOned, any such "rightn
conceded How are we 10 hope for a con-
tinuance of the Fright" of a parent in this
important matter if his church should gain.
as he claims it will at length, supreme CON
troll in this country? He boasts that his
church has always been infallible, and,
therefore, that it never changes its princ-
pies. Must they not, therefore, take away
the right of a Protestant parent to educate
his child in his own way, when they have
the power to do it?
But the Father, in the same breath, as
serts " the injustice of compelling any man
to pay taxes for the support of a school
from which he derives no material advan-
tage." Now let US examine this position.
II will not be denied that a grossly ignor-
ant community will perforce be degraded
vicious, and criminal community. In
such a community the conditions of pros
perity do not exist. The few who are edu-
Gated, thrifty and prosperous, will find
themselves forced TO pay high taxes to sup
port paupers, and prisons and other institut-
tons made necessary by crime and vice
which are the children of ignorance.
Will the Father claim that it is gross in
justice" to tax man to support these in
situations? Will he not confess that the
very existence of Government demands
such n tax? Well, which is fairer and bet
ter, to pay a tax to support the common
school that prevents the growth OF the
criminal classes, or TO pay the tax to re-
strain and bind and punish them? If it
be said, sectarian schools will be sufficient
TO educate the masses, the answer is at
hand. All history and current observation |
IN our own land disproves the assertion. |
Wherever there is not a common school |
fund, education among the poorer classes |
languishes, is, in fact, almost wholly ne
elected.
The Father adds "that many good and |
worthy men, even in Knoxville, will never
consent to send their children TO the COM
mon school, " and asks if it is mot an out
rage upon these to take their money! for
support Of such schools? By no means.
have heard one of this class say publicly
That though he did not expect to receive
any aid from the school in educating his
own family, he was heartily in favor of
paying his proportion of the tax, His
reasons were that the "tax was right,u and
that it was the "cheapest way" to meet the
expenses of Government.
As 10 the Fathers remark about "taxa-
ton without representation, y | must be al
lowed to suggest that he could not surely
have made it seriously. Taxation with
out representation" is "A technical express
SION and refers to an arbitrary exclusion
from the councils that dispose of common
claims and Interests. No such exclusion
has ever been limited or for moment en-
-ertained. The proposition is to place all
;ltlzens on the same footing in this matter,
ma even in the appointment of teachers
o appoint simply on their merits, to give
Roman Catholic applicants an equal
chance with others. Is not this fair?
3. THE AIMS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH.
The Father asserts that they are simply
very anxious to perpetuate their religion
~ all honorable meansp &c. No one OBJ
ects to this. Ours IS or at least, it has
heretofore been, a land of liberty which
Protestant principles must secure, if their
are consistent. We leave it to
lra q