Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-09-11

/ There is danger of the popular feel.
ing becoming extravagant in charge,
OF wrong and corruption. It isa ia
vorite policy with scoundrels to breal
down the character Of good men BY
circulating slanderous and lying re-
ports against them. There are a set o.
correspondents, chiefly attached to the
so-called independent papers of the
present day, who make it business to
slander those whom they cannot black
maitland they persistently do this upon
the principle that falsehood well stuck
to will find its believers.
1t is bruited about from the lips of
reformers at this day that corruption
abounds through the length and
breadth Of the land, and generally that
1t invades all the offices until in the
minds Of many it comes to be consid-
cred almost Disgrace to hold Office in
this country. With sneer it is said
this or that one is an Office holder. and
that alone is deemed by many sufficient
to condemn him.
The fact Is there never was time in
the history of this country when In
proportion to the number of officers
and the amount of business done and
funds handled that there was less
per centage ofembezzlement or wrong
doing of any kind. The officers of
this country will compare remarkably
favorably with those of any previous
period In the history of the country.
The unblushing impudence with
which men who have the beam in their
own eye bolt away from their political
associates of years standing and find
the mote In their neighbor's eye is a
remarkable condition of things just
now in the political world. Especially
is this remarkable as the leaders In this
movement in less than six months af-
ter they assume this role, they appear
as candidates for Office, and their chief
stock in trade is to complain of cor
ruption in Office, and that they should
be placed in power to cure these
things. The difficulty in the way of
success before the people with them
is, that they are usually mighty sight
lamer dncks than those they would re-
place.
The Catholic World makes strong
appeal for separate schools, in other
words the death of the common school
system. We are sorry to see this, and
If there be any one thing overshadow-
Ing all others, which we shall ever do
battle to sustain, in our political econ
omy, tits to give the fullest scope, the
largest freedom to our common
schools, stripped, in every sense of the
word of all sectarianism, of all sec-
tartan religious teaching of any kind
or character. The common school is
not the place for religious teaching of
any kind, more than what of religion
pertains to the incubation of sound
morals. 1t is not the place for any
creed or doctrine, and thus conducted
the common school is the life giving
element of our National prosperity and
existence.
On the contrary the substitution of
sectarian schools, that is separate
schools, as the World puts it, in the
place Of common schools, could not be
otherwise than the dawning of Nation
al calamity and degradation.
There is no need of argument to
convince the intelligent mind upon
this question. Sectarian class educa-
ton, Exclusive of the common school
training, happily for this country in
augurated and practiced heie), has re-
tarded the wheels of progress and the
freedom of the mind for generations.
We cannot but regard all those who
would break down the common
schools of this country as either unwit-
tingly or willfully enemies of the
country. Here is the appeal of the
WOrld.
eve now appeal to the whole Catho.
lic community, and we say earnestly,
If you want to have Justice awarded
separate schools, it is necessary to
manfully undertake the work of
wrenching from the hands of preju-
diced public which will not yield to
reason, but will be glad to accede to
the well-understood wishes of an or
ganized, determined, vigorous politi-
cal movement. 1t Is true that such an
effort requires much labor, loss of time,
political prescription, and necessary
expenditure OF money to prosecute it
to final success. Sacrifices of this
kind are essentially necessary. 1t will
be better if the more bitter pain of po-
litical ingratitude be not added in the
end. However that may be, it is need
full now to hold public meetings, to
0iOSs PuOlAC DcuOOl COlHiulttceS, 10 1Orn
. general organization, to determine
upon plan of action, to have clergy
and laity combine in strenuous efforts
to Lave our demands recognized at the
polls, and make politicians feel the
power we can put forth. Nothing less
will do. The sooner the work Is be-
gun the sooner it will be finished. 1t
is not to be expected that success will
crown the first attempt. Repeated as
saults will carry the rampant of intol-
erance before us. Perseverance, calm,
steady, progressive, will unquestion-
ably lead to the full accomplishment of
our purpose. Now, let us SEQ who
will move in the matter. Let those
who take it up be seconded and sup
ported by the body of the Catholic
public. Intelligence and energy COM
u 49, I'll