The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-03-02

f,oMposITION OF THE PUBLIC eohoo
noARD-Tuf ENACTMENT OF PENAL LAWS
THREATENED AGAINST cATiioLlCs
ANT REPLY OF THE CATHOLIC ORGAN.
CINCINNATI, o., Jan. %, 1873.
DEAR SIR: Some two years ago Pr;
lisbed such a glowing account OF oa'"oII :
education in this city, in tho columns %
the Frceman's Journal, as causeo sensl"
snrnrise everywherr, while many consider
ed That I was mistaken in the numbers
gave as attending the parochial schools;
for thew considered that Cincinnati could
not be 30 far ahead of all the other cities
in the union regarding parochial education
as had represented it to be. Wen, all l
stated then now reaflrm. then aiiowea
that there were nearly 5000 Catholic chill
dren attending the public schools. ana .naI
these schools contained over 1000 pupils
more than all the Catholic schools, whiie
TO-DAY the latter are hardly 1000 short OF
having as many pupils as the former. ne
Catholic schools have had three or Tour
new schools added to their number during
the last two years, while the number OF
enrolled scholars attending the public
schools in May, 1872, was q $50. had fallen
off to %, SAG in last December. This would
indicate that the Catholic schools have
drawn from the public schools about 1,ooo
scholars but think the increase In the
Catholic schools during the last two years
School Board consists of forty,eight
members thirteen of whom are CATHOLICS
and one Of these is 1t Catholic priest Inc
bigots have become as furious as bedia-
mites during the raging days OF tue doS-
Star on account of the strength OF the Cath
Ollie element in the Board, asking bitterly,
"Wby do Catholics seek to be on the Board,
unless for the purpose of injuring the
schools What business have they on 1T
There are hardly any Catholic children
attending the public schools, and at the
rate they are proceeding there will soon be
none. Then. why don't they attend to
their own schools and let ours alone
The Catholics answer, when Yea have
schools that you can honestly call your own
we will let them alone and leave you to
conduct them ns you deem proper without
the slightest interference from us but the
public schools of Cincinnati are ours as
much as they are yours, Cor we pay for their
support as much as you do, ana while
doing so we will take care that our taxes
are spent as the laws direct, and not &C
cording to your peculiar desires. Build
and support your own schools, like honest
men, out OF your own pockets, as we Cath
olics are doing, and then with justice cry,
Hands OFF. Until you enter on this manly
aud honest course you must excuse us If
we look sharply after the money we pay
the tax gatherer for the support of our
public schools. There are over forty Cath
Ollie teachers in the public schools, aud
looking at tho whole school system of
Cincinnati from n Catholic standpoint, it
is as free from objection rs any other
know Of in the country. But this does
not in the least lessen the desire of the
authorities here to withdraw Catholic chill
dren from their deadening influence; and so
great are the evil effects Of attending these
schools felt here that after next May no
pupil will be allowed to approach tho holy
sacraments until after having attended IL
Catholic school two years before nor will
Catholic parents be allowed to approach
the sacraments while sending any of their
children to the public schools The bigots of
Cincinnti, during the long sch DOL war that has
been going on in this city, did not think it
was possible for Catholics to support sepa-
rate schools of their own while they had
at the same time to pay their full share of
the heavy expenses of supporting the pub
lie schools. But finding out how sadly
they have been mistaken, and now seeing
that full and complete separation of all
the Catholic children from these schools is
going to tako place, rage and fury have
taken the place of reason and common
sense, as is clerly shown by the frantic efforts
of their organ-the "CincinnaH Gdscttc"-
to organize party for the purpose of fore
ing the national and State governments to
enact laws against Catholics the same as in
Prussia. II states that religious liberty in
the States was established 10y q majority
vote, aud that a majority vote can destroy
it. Holds up New Hampshire to the admira-
ton of the enemies of Catholics for it's in
tolerant laws, which to this day prescribe
Catholics from all Offices. They advocate
the Punishment of the Jesuits and bishops,
the closing of all Catholic schools, and
compulsory law on education. Not long
back the leaders in this movement openly
advocated the destruction of Catholic pro-
perry, school and churches, by mob VIC
lence, as virtuous aud patriotic. But they
disclaim such proceeding at present, land
want the same ends to be accomplished in
accordance with laws prepared for that
purpose.
While these sentiments were widely cir
culatrd over the state, and politicians were
trying to feel the public pulse regarding
them, the Cathoiic Telegraph has come out
with reply which has fallen like bomb
shell in the camp of the intolcrants. 1t
assures them that thc road they intend to
travel in their persecution OF Catholics,
will not he smooth aud level as they
think. Assures them that Catholics eau
perceive no difference between tho open
violence they reject, and the atrocious laws
under which they propose to succeed, Cx-