The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-09

CATHOLICS AND COMMON SCHooLS.-MayOr
Kelley, Of Richmond, Va, in recent paper
on Catholics and the Public Schools, pull
li>hcd in the Independent, says:
"Iama Roman Catholic Iayman-an Amer.
can citizen, proud Of my country. and pro-
foundry convinced that, with all the con-
fessed or imputed evils of her Government,
she is the freest and happiest on the earth
to-day-who feels that his Church is to-day
more independent, more securely grounded,
more fruitful of promise, more vigorous
and prosperous here than in the oldest
Catholic nations Of Christendom, and
who freely comedies that these facts
and conditions impose upon him and his
brethren in an especial manner the con-
scientious obligation of Il cheerful obedience
and prompt support to all lawful commands
of the civil power, the more particularly in
view ofthe form of our government, which
as nearly, | presume, as human wisdom can
accomplish it, is the direct reflex OF the will
of the whole people. And | assure my Pro-
testant felIow-citzens that in what have to
say express the convictions of hundreds of
thousands Of my fellow-C Catholics, who CRATE
fully remember the public schools as
the source Of whatever education they
or their children possess, and who know
that among the most distinguished lay
men and the most pious, and learned, and
useful priests Of the Catholic Church in
Americ;, are those whose only early secular
training was in the public school, l formd-
late their opinion and my own when | say
that the imparting Of sound, useful, and ex-
cllsiyely secular knowledge by teachers OF
suitable requirements, skill, and character,
chosen Immediately 10y tue people and PAID Tor
out of the public treasury, is, under the con-
ditions prevailing in the United States,
wise, beneicent, and Just system, and I'M
pugns no right OF conscience"
Mayor Kelley refers to the efforts Of the
late Bishop Hughes for the complete secu-
larization of the public schools, and adds
that
"During the past quarter of century the
Catholic people OF the majority of the States
of the Union have been repeatedly called on
to express their views, directly or indirectly,
on this question at the polls, and have never
raised the banner Of hostility to the public
school; that in the Legislatures of my State
Catholic votes have aided in the extension
and perfection of the school laws; that In
every large city in the country pious Catho-
lies have gladly given their services as men,
bers of the boards of trustees; that Catholic
teachers have in every State sought and re-
ceiyed employment in the free schools and
that Catholic children by thousands are now,
and for many years have been, the glad and
uncontaminated recipients of their adyan-
tages."
He says in conclusion:
"Wherever the zeal or piety or oppsrtu-
nifty Of the Church succeeds In erecting by
the side of the public school a Catholic
school Of equal or approximate advantages,
and the added grace of moral training, let
us avail ourselves of it, and thank God for
the privilege; but strike no blow alta sys-
tenn to which so many Thousands are and
for long period to come must necessarily
be confined in seeking the intellectual eIeva-
ton Of their children. Above all, let us
scorn to whine about the petty tax which
we cast into the general lot Tor the support
of Il system which the deliberate Judgment
Of our brethren approves with such signal
nnanimity." .,.....