The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-01
Compulsory Education.

Compulsory Education.
1t is surprising to see how easily a good
many WELL meaning Protestants and honest
non Catholics are gulled by the Infdel cry
of compulsory education. We have seen
papers, professedly religious, advocating
this peculiar invention of the Serpent, on
the ground that intelligence was in itself
adverse to crime, and that the education of
it's people was a dictate of self preserva-
ton for the nation. We have about three
observations to make on that point at this
present time.
1st. There is not O shadow of necessary
connection between intelligence and inno-
cence. The Devil is extremely learned, as
are also many of the most noted Atheists
and reprobates among men. On the other
hand, the greatest innocence and virtue
try. And on principle, there is no COED
reason for supposing that an accurate
knowledge of arithmetic, or grammar, or
geography, will incline one to contemn the
things of this world and give his affections
to God. It seems manifest to us that the
greatest illumination of the mind may be
effected without arousing a single good i'm
pulse of the heart.
ed. If education is necessary element
of preservation in government, where did
the intelligence come from to organize the
government. If men without any previous
compulsory education are found sufi ciently
instructed to give shape and life to q new
nation, how can we pretend that such a
nation will perish because it's citizens are
left to the same accidents Of education as
those which surrounded it's founders
Sd. Compulsory education means too
much for the good of our Protestant friends
themselves. 1t comedies to the government
a power which is virtually the right of con-
trolling conscience and debating religious
belief. If government can enforce educa-
ton, it may find it necessary to abolish oil
schools but it's own. The other schools
would weaken it's own too much, they
would in its opinion be equal to
no schools at all, they would not
give education enough, or of the right
kind, to save the nation, if education
is a necessity, the right kind of education
is a necessity, and the government could
suppose that to be attainable in its own
schools only. Such would be the argument.
How would our Protestant sectarians
like that And it is not fancy sketch by
any means. 1t is exactly what is happen
ing now in Prussia. That nation is break
ing mp all the Catholic schools on one
pretext or another, so that compulsory
education may carry the children into the
Bismarck Infidel schools.
Now suppose that government should
say "Your children must go to school.
You shall close all schools but mine for
they disarrange my system. Therefore
your children shall all go to my schools.
AS have the right to educate them, l
have the right to say of what that educa-
ton shall consist. say they shall be
Taught the noble, free, liberal, enlarged,
untrammeled doctrines of Materiaism and
Atheism. will have no more of that
nonsense among my people which will
warp their Judgments and enslave their
souls. Your absurd superstitionS and
theological slavery would ruin our coun
try and shall not be taught"
What would the go called Christian sects
think of this Z Yet concede to govern
ment the right of compulsory education
aud you concede the whole control and
Of that education. If Infdelity
got into control it would not hesitate a
at exercising most despotically a
power SO improvidently conceded.
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ST. JosEPH's PARIsu.-Next Sunday evening,