The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-19

that we are equitably entitled to partici-
pate, without any sacrifice OF our con-
scious convictions, In the benefits Of the
School Fund; and request the appoint
ment OF a committee by the Board to con.
fer with committee on our part, TO see
what may be done in a matter LETT by the
law to the discretion, that is, the sense Of
justice, fairness and liberality of the
Board.
[OBJECT OF PETITIONERS EXPLAINED.
To tie Board Of Education of the School
District Of WheelIHg!'
GENTLEMEN The undersigned COM
mittee, appointed by the Catholic tax
payers and citizens Of the city OF Wheel
ing, beg leave to present you the accom-.
panying petition, and would respectfully
ask for it your earnest consideration
We believe all tax payers have riehl
To share in the benefits accruing from the
outlay OF public funds, and careful
Consideration of the school law has salts.
Ged Inc Catholic residents Of the school
district Of Wheeling that there is nothing
in The law to prevent their participation
/ in the advantages Of the educational fund,
| if properly administered, without sacrifice
OF conscience. The application Of the
means raised by taxation IS made TO de-
pend entirely on the fairness and wisdom
Of the Commissioners and Board OF Edu'
cation. To their sense Of right, Justice
and true liberty we appeal, therefore, for
redress of our grievance.
We would represent TO the Board that
the Divine law las we understand IL rig
orously imposes on the parent the obliga-
ton oil imparling 10 his child the knOwl-
edge OF God aud His requirements from
tho first dawn OF reason, and in c0nnec-
ton with all that Is learned OF the works
OF creation and Of the business oil life,
That in our estimation the school room
| furnishes thc mast ready and suitable
place and occasion Tor imparting these
lessons. That without such aSsiduous
training in the school room, no less than
at home and in the chapel, the youth is
not prepared to resist the violence OF hIs
growing passions, and that society as
we'll as himself, must necessarily suffer
from the omission, Recognizing fully
their own obligation to God, TO our chill
dren and 10 society, VIC claim their right
to fulfil the duty without FORGETTING there
by the advantages Of taxes imposed on US.
So evident Is the influence of Gssocia.
ton and training on childhood and youth
that we hold ii as q sacred and paramount
duty Of parents TO commit their children
only to those In whom they prefer to con-
iide And we maintain, therefore, that
the regulations of the Board should BIO
made 10 harmonic with the duty Of the
citizen to his God.
We proclaim II the duty of every free
man, rs Of every Christian, TO hold last TO
his paternal rights, and as u sincere friend
to true liberty, to respect and sustain the
rights Of others. For there arc few things,
il any, respecting which liberty Is more
to be priced and maintained, and where
interference may be more inludlcious,
more unjust and more fatal to mans best
intercats.
Happily we sec no reasonable objection
to what as Christians and ireemen we dc.
mnnd for we arc disposed to be content
with no less than the full measure equity
would require, that none may find even
plausible ground for complaint. We are
not opposed to the public school system.
We ask only such modification Of the
practical details as will make II consist.
ent with the inalienable rights and natu'
raj obligations Of parents.
Prejudice and certain objections against
the c0lored man have induced the Iegis.
ture to discriminate and even require
special schools for him. What gross
insult 10 God, IL the sincere and sacred
plea of obedience to Ills holy laws las
understood by us) should carry with II
less weight TO justify such organizations
as would be accessible to us, because con.
siStent with our sense Of duty TO Him.
We refrain from accommodating reasons.
Representing nearly One.third Of the
school going population Of the city, we
call upon the Board to do to others rs
they would be done by, and respectfully
request the appointment Of committee
to meet in conference with The committee
appointed by ourselves to present this
petition, and state more explicitly our
grievances and our demands for redress
81. Reilly, Wm. g. Handlan, J. +, Up
degran, Thos. O'Brien, Jacob Altmyer,
John Z. Hoffman,, Geo. Deusch, N REFS
ter, Geo. Curenbauer, Jno Vockler, Chris.
tian Hess, Casper Hell.