Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-10-30
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 80, 1879,
Opposition to our Public Schools,

We trust that the spirit of fierce opposi-
ton to our public school system, which
showed itself in the recent Roman Catholic
convention at St. Louis. does not represent
the views and feelings of the better part of
that powerful religious body. From the
report of that convention. it appears that
among the resolutions reported. was one
denounclng our public schools as IA curse
and ''tiood-gate of atheism One OF
the more sensible members of that conven-
ton, objected to the resolution, saving that
lie thought the Catholics should not aim TO
overthrow the system of public schools.
but simply to exclude the Bible. or at least
to secure to Catholics the right to use their
own version.
At this point one of the leading priests
Interrupted, and declared that the Catholic
purpose was to have "A division of the
school money. and TO have the Catholics
use their portion to maintain distinctly
Catholic schools, with the Catholic version
of the Bible and IT, .ne liuts>u, the light.
After cn,si,Io, and makes b.i grow
i. Datnolic Catechism.-
-. +=able discussion the resolu-
M passed, modified slightly but ex-
~ the bitter hostility. not only to
4 public schools in which the Protestant
version of the Bible should be read, but
also to public schools in which pupils are
allowed to read Protestant or Catholic YER
>ions, "a they prefer; and also TO schools
from which the Bible should be excluded.
II is evident that there is soon to come
a struggle in several states for the mainte-
nance of our common school system Ii
WAS at one time supposed that by exclud-
inS the Bible from our public schools or
At least not requiring Catholic children TO
read the Protestant version. the opposition
OF the Catholic leaders to our public school
system would cease. Undoubtedly the
great body of the Catholics would be sat
isiied with this, but the leaders are not
Having driven the Bible out, they now
complain that our schools are Goddess :"
and urge without religious instruction they
raise up Goddess men. Hence they argue
that religion must be taught in the school,
and each denomination be allowed to take
their part of the school money to maintain
>ectarIan schools.
Neare very sure that this demand will
never be yielded to. TO concede this.
would be TO practically give up our public
school system. Our free government is
based on the education of the masses. and
the State properly claims the right to
educate it, children according 10 American
Ideas and into American principles. II
cannot give up that right without giving
up IT, right to live. Religious education.
beyond the religion of morality ana right
living. it very properly avoids leaving
That 10 the family and church There is
enough for both States and church TO do
within their respective spheres and when
the State surrenders to any church or any
organization the exclusive secular educa-
ton OF her children. it may a well pre-
pare for its own destruction. No. the
Roman Catholic leaders, and as for that
the leaders of any other sect. NAV as well
understand that so long as this Republic
stands, it will not consent to give up the
system of public schools on which self
government rests, or suffer any por,iv.. =
the public money set apart for their sup
port TO be diverted to the maintenance of
separate schools Lewiston Journal.