The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-14
Aid to Sectarian Schools.

~ In the course of the debate in the Senate,
Monday, on the resolve substituting st. Den
mis- Academy, Romish institution, Mr.. Far
ington of Oxford is reported to have said that
the opposition of the Portland PRESS to max
ing appropriations for rundown academies
is "a thrust at Oak Grove Seminary" Moth
ing could be farther from the fact. Oak
Grove Seminary, with its accomplished and
energetic principal, large attendance ofpupils
and school-house, boarding house, gymnasium
&C., in good repair, is about as far from being
rundown institution as can be found any
where. Our own personal feelings are SO far
enlisted in favor of this particular Quaker in
stitution, that, if it were just to make excep-
tons to sound general rules, we wish that
they might be imperative so far as Oak
Grove is concerned. But Mr.. Farrington's
speech places in a remarkably strong light the
inherent wrong of making appropriations of
public money for the support of sectarian
schools. He says: ''When called upon to dis
tinguish between Roman Catholic institu-
ton, and a Prostant institution I
.unequivocally give my preference to
the latter" So would any other Protestant,
for it is justly belived that the establishment
of separate schools is one of the most effective
means on which the Catholics rely to break
down ourcommon schools, destroy the feel
ing Of patriotism and loyalty in the minds of
the young, aud finally to give to Rome the
paramount allegiance of American citizens.
All the old-time terrors of Papacy are things
of the past, except this attempted subversion
of democracy by destroying the intelligence
and patriotism on which it rests, and substi-
tuting gross superstition therefor. This is
danger that is still imminent, and becomes
each day more apparent. 1t is no wonder,
then, that our legislators shrink from taxing
the people to sustain literary institution
where the young shall be taught that there is
a higher temporal power than the peoples
serve that so long as they vote to tax Catho-
lies to support other sectarian schools, they
cannot consistently and honorably refuse them
participation in the same bounty that is be-
slowed on others. If these Catholic gentle
men were members of the Legislature-and
LltJ are UcSulIlll9 W Uc d uuIleTOuS. DOuy-
their preferences for Catholic institutions
would be as marked as those of Mr.. Earring
ton or the PRESS for Protestant institutions
What if they should obtain the ascendency
and use their power? If they are not in
situation to enforce their claims the equities
of the case should not be disregarded The
endowment of sectarian schools is something
that cannot by any possibility be done
equitably, while it affords enemies of our in
situations, like the Romanists, the most spe-
cious pretexts for carrying out their pet
schemes for the subversion of our govern
ment. 1t should, therefore, be at once aban-
doned. Mr.. Harrington, whose anti-consoli-
dation services give him our hearty respect,
will not seriously contend that the language
of the constitution which he quotes makes it
necessary to continue this unwise and unfair
system Our common and unsectarian high
schools need all the aid that the State can
give them. The Church and State policy at
present in vogue, of subsidizing the schools of
one church at the expense of the rest, ought,
as precautionary measure, to be expressly
forbidden in the constitution. In the improb-
able contingency of the Catholics becoming
strong enough to control matters we should
be much troubled by these precedents we are
making