The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-09-22
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BY F1R15oII.
State Schools - eA6ssststwsienal Manufacture
Of Public Opinien. .. .-. go. =
True it 10, the State, the Government, the |.
minority, families and individuals, rich and
poor. all and every one Of the people, in TO .
public, arc interested in the dissemination OF
knowledge, the Enlightenment of themselves ,
and othcrs.xs Many are tbeFeasDns aud motives ,
for Promgting and demanding the intellectual
improvement % every citizen. Yes, not merely
bis intellect and body should be developed
but above all bic soul, his moral and religious
sentimeots, for the good Of society, as we'll a.
his own. 49, - -
This is freely and unreservedly admitted by
all parties; but alas! the recognized benefit
the community must derive from the spread
and elevation of education, serves as . pretext
| for msjorities to abuse their power by estao
| fishing q system of saifor~ schools suited to
4 their own tastes, prejudices and opinions Inc
naked feet Ahat education eccaeces to the
public good, 10 the pretext fos. seising upon 1t;
and for refusing to parents in the minority,
aud to their children that equal liberty and
| opvortuuity. which dissimiar or astoaimoHs |
schools would afford. a,.e-.ss
Beeasss, in arepnbiie, the people should &C
ouire Al knowledge and virt1e. % that they
may be able to make tho best choice Of rulers
and legislators, it does not follow that the
a State-the majorty-the lucky favorites OF
the majority, may rightfully dictate the man
ner and matter Of this knowledge; and choose
the kind and order of tsachers they prefer, or
\ determine the model or mould into which the
intelligence or character-the religious and
! political tendencies of every child shall be
, cast. On the contrary, there are many IRE
> fragabls reasons why the government should
. he prohibited from exercising this privilege.
The interference by State officers in the de-
). tails Of education is . violation of the repub-
lican principle Of government ,..s-.-.'
!, In republic, the ruling officers have no
n right Of their own TO tho Office they hold-no
|, family title-no privilege of appointing those
d who shall sueeeed tbeni-4ne perpetual succes-
1t sion, in themselves, through natural heirs or
3, otherwise. They are elected by majority,
i: and are only temporary repositories OF the
% power of an ever-fuctu ating majority-they
are constantly aud periodically removable,
going and coming with the erratic changingf
., of that majority; and the theory is, thas-by
q the liberty Of the press and Of speech-by
le freely formed public opinion-tbe variation
lie and transformation of the majority shall
g, always be Independent of official control ant
is authority. The character and policy of thu
of Office -holders, their ADMINISTRATION and meas
ures must be ever subject to free criticism ant
rebuke Nay more, the principles or platform
of the party that has elected them, are right
fully amenable to the same ordeal Ncithe
they OF their party should enjoy official OF dog
matte advantage over those who oppose them
lib No WAYS and means should be placed by law a
an their disposal which, at the same time the la'
st. would exclude other parties, or any ps,soI
no from having using, for the Pagafion
He religious or political doctrines Every oPpo'
N, tunity of dissent and opposition, OF discussio
-, and teaching, must be allowed, in order tha
"a the tendency and acts of government may b
thoroughly appreciated and approved OF col
Oh demned by any elector. The same doors mus
-, be opened to all; and the voice of every etize
Aia in untitled to the same access to all an
y. os minds. Right or wrong, this is the intrins
lie principle of popular self-government. 1t
Let only on this condition that such governmeI
of can be preserved and perpetuated. 1t must
ns, the creature of free opinion and safrage-n'
ad the axthor and dictator of that opinion ar
,et srhraee. This characteristic is what dist
,bt guishes It essentially from all other fnrms
government, and is the very saaitsuee OF
nature. Therefore, party or - elect capn
Of rightHSlly and consistently take charge 81
control Of the education Of the people,
= whose free and distinct sufrages the continu
}. ton or change Of officers and policy proper
asst depends, II. for 4instaaceSrfhe democrat
or pas4s, shrough its chosen a1lcials and rep
dis scasesizss, teachers and books hid thp dire
nm tionj 81 pablie eduestiop, under the frese
to syafsss, saik hs thsy hos take dsNpsago IF q
the pa1ssf IL isnPeess their tp
pry the As1ads Sf the rising genssatisns- o
OF of view all facts, ideas aud histories til
,nts might tend to dispa-age or refnte those d'
pre- trines-thus make votes for that party .
ity. perpetuate it's Poweri Would this be eqt
srs. liberty Should the common contribution
an, all parties he appropriated to the use of on
ton, should the very men whose tenure of Office
,rey made to depend q future public opini'
nee: freely and independently formed, be entrus
Mr.. with the formation OF that opinion ono'
Blu the main avenue to the minds OF the youth
the the country be closed TO all other part
L.. al nin1a