The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-08-10
A Methodist Paper on the Catholic View Of Edu-
cation

The st. Louis Christian Adrocate, COM
menting upon an address of Brother Ed
ward, Principal of the Christian Brothers,
on Education, says:
Well, there it ia now ; what of it 1t
tells us that Catholics are opposed to the
American system OF common schools; a
and read of all men for years past. So far
as we know, they never tried to conceal
their opposition to our school system.
It tells us that Catholics are forced to
pay for the support OF schools which their
conscience will not allow them to use, and
this also, has been proclaimed through tho
length and breadth of the land, for years
past.
Nothing new in this. 1t tells US further,
that persons have sent to Ireland in order
to induce young men to come to this coun-
try, and engage in the work of teaching.
And what Of thatq Catholics believe they
are right, and labor to propagate their Pc
culiar doctrines. We send missionaries to
Catholic countries, and Catholics send mis-
sionaries to Protestant countries. The
Professionals in France, Italy and other
countries where they are greatly in minori-
ty, desire help from abroad, and 80 far as
this is concerned where is the difference 7
"Oh but Catholics are opposed to some of
the institutions of this country" NJ doubt
they are and Protestants are opposed to
some of the institutions of Catholic coun-
tries "But Catholics would break down
our system of schools" Yes, we believe
they would, and Protestapts, or many of
them, would break down their system of
schools. 4" But our system is the right"
Aye, that's the very question in dispute
and allow us to cay that question will not
be settled by bandying epithets, by mere
persecution. No great principle or ques-
ton, vital to the interests of man, can be
settled in this way. Persecution and force
may overcome the weaker party, but they
do not change the deep and earnest con-
victions of mind aud heart. Truth, jus
tice and fairness N ust be the weapons of
those who would win permanent vic
tory.
The struggle in regard to education in
this country, will be a fierce and fearful
one. You may depend on it. No child's-
play will characterize or terminate it, and
there will be need for all the cool delibera-
ton, the tuition, the care, the foresight
aud wisdom that can be commanded. We
look towards the future, and not the dis
tant future either, with painful apprehen-
sions. Men are prone to yield themselves
to the impulses of blind passion, uDjnsti6a-
BILE prejudice, and to be guided by these,
when a good conscience and sound reason
alone should prevail. And for this reason,
so far as this question is concerned, we
look to the future with dread.
What ID right, what ls Galr, WnaC ID true,
what is good, should be, and if We act
wisely will be the themes of discussion on
this, as on every other subject. We
should look at it calmly and discuss it in
all soberness and candOr.
1t would be useless to deny that there is
in the public mind, q widespread and
growing dissatisfaction in regard to the ex-
istipg system of public schools. The su-
perintendent of these schools in Jefferson
CITY, alluded to this in his last annual re-
port. HIS language was plain, forcibfe
and truthful. Unless We have been misin-
formed, dissatisfaction has been openly ek-
pressed, in the Annual Convention OF Epis-
copalians, lately held in this city, when aC
Ieast two men-men of standing and worth,
and both men of large experience as educa-
tors-stated that they felt compelled either
to teach taeir children themselves, or to