The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-08-01
For The JasNcr COurleI
Our Common Schools.

NR. EDITOR Through the kindness
of one of the Catholic Priests of thi,
county, was favored short time age
with copy of the N. Y. Freeman's
journal and Catholic Register, with al
article marked for me to read.
Upon an examination, i find the old
Iproverb verified" one side Of story
is always good until the other is told
The great trouble of the Editor, is tc
learn the fact that other churches have
lequal rights with the Catholic church in
1.-The eyes of the law. When once brought
Ito realize this fact, most of his trouble
will he overcome. The complaint Il
lmade that Catholics are heavily taxed to
support the Public Schools of New
York.
| Their tax is no heavier in proportion
than the tax of Protestants, Jews and
] llnfdcls. and Catholics have the same
rights in those schools as other churches
but church relation has never been con-
sidered in this country, necessary
qualification for any Office, and Catho-
Ines ought to conform TO the usages OF
the country. But just complaint can be
made on the other side Of this question.
Catholics receive for church purposes
between a half-million and million of
dollars yearly, from the Public Treasury
lof New York city. Protestants, Jews
land lnfdels are heavily taxed for his
money. And the complaint of the Ed
.tog IS Ike an auger that bores two ways.
Ut the Pub,ic School system is called
laccursed and Goddess, because there Is
no religious instruction in connection
with IL. so acca.sed indeed, that teacher
dare not tell pupil "ihat Christ is
God" But the most accGrsed thing IN
connection with il, is teacher dare not
read to his pupils " hat God says about
Christ being God. which is far better
thar any teacher can tell about it. The
logical rcsl.is oftA1t plea Of conscience,
which drove the Bible from the Public
schools, has driven all religious in
Isiruciiun from t..em. and Catholics are
chiefly responsible. As proof o. this
take the principe already announced.
which is ,gue that al churches are
equal before the law. and he respon-
sibl. parties are soon exposed.
III one +, stem of religious instruction
must he prohibited ia the Public Schools
because OF conscientious scrupies Of
patrons. 50 must every one he excluded
t,ri patrons conscicntiously oppose, or
we are not equitable.
proiesiaa,s had The Bible read in the
schools as q system Of religious in
struction n Catholics said they were con-
scicM.iOusly opposed 10 its being read.
cNd Il was therefore excluded. Now
they wish TO have some Of the dogmas
of Christianity taught: but Jews. Uni-l
tarians ana imt.dcls are conscientiouslyF
opposed. and according TO the logic OIL
their own theory, they must be prof.
hibicd. Verify they have =" "sown TO the
wind. and now they reap the whir!-
wind" 1t is really llughabc 10 sec how
they plead the baby. After adopting
a theory that in its logical consequence
excludes all religious instructions FROM
the Public Schools, they turn around
then and talk about the acclrseG Cod
less schools. III they are accurscd and
Goddess. no persons have done more tol
make them SO than Catholics.
We must not fail 10 say somethingI
about his ling at children Of misfortune. i
Is there any reason why they should not
be educated? Can they help the circum-i
stances. however lalnentable they mayl
Dt. VI licii OIl-.lls anu - ~ Hol ihC
most wicked cruelty to tanialize them
for that which they cannot help? Del
pend upon it my snobbish friend your
family line You cannot ascend without
finding it waxed at some farther end, byl
some plebcan vocation"
If the principle put forward by the
Editor must prevail, soon the rich will.
not educate their children with the
poor, and all classes Of poor will suffer-
alike. 1t is far better TO educate theE
children who arc poor and unfortunate,
and make them feel the duties and re-
sponsibilities of society, than 20 cast
them off in ignorance and disgrace. For
so sure as we neglect them, they will rise
up and curse MS by becoming pests to.
community. Should | ever hear man
praying the prayer ofthe proud Pharisee,
shall feel very much like asking him il
he is not the Editor OF the Catholic
Register of New York. Notwithstand-
ing all that can be said by Catholics
against common schools. they are not
Goddess. There is nothing in science
opposed to religion. but much every
way that harmonizes with ii, and the
n,nd is better prepared to giorify God.
when instructed, than when in ignor-
ance. And the time is now fully come
that the miidel taunt against christian
ministers, whether Catholic or Protest
ant, should pass away" that the power
of tie Priesthood is the ignorance OF
the people," Then "their faith will
stand in the power Of God and not in
the wisdom Of man. II our present
system of education is destroyed, then
az.