New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-18
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY JANUARY 49, fe741

ton has had such law for twenty years,
and in the last ten they have reduced tru-
ancy from school sixty per cent. New
Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island
and Michigan have now adopted it. Eng
land has given her school boards power
to adopt it, and in London they have.
The effect is to increase the attendance at
school, and decrease the number of ju-
venile deIinquents. The time has arrived
to try the experiment in the cities of our
State, at least, if not in the whole State.
This will cause every child to enjoy the
benefits of the public school, or Of some
private school.
Wherever compulsory attendance has
been tried long enough to determine its
effect, the result has been so satisfactory
that it has become fixed and settled
policy. Prussia, Saxony, and democratic
Switzerland testify to its excellence, 1t is
in harmony with the true spirit of de-
mocratic republic to require every citizen
to qualify himself for the right of suffrage
and for earning an Independent living.
The taxpayers who furnish the money
to educate all the people have right to
require that all shall be educated, in
order that crime and pauperism, and the
public burdens caused by the same may
be reduced to minimum, and the ballot
welded only by intelligent voters.
The ballot, in the hands of q corrupt
and ignorant populace, is the torch of the
political incendiary; but with an intelli-
gent people is the buIwark OF liberty.
'An ounce of preventative is worth
pound Of cure" It costs far less to pre-
vent crime, pauperism and civil commo-
tons by educating the whole people than
it does to punish criminals, support pau
pers and maintain armies to repress an
ignorant and vicious population.
The average daily attendance in this
State upon the public schools during the
school year is only about one-third Of the
school population, and upon all schools.
public and private. it is only about one.
half.
The class most in need Of school train
ing seldom attend school at al, to wit:
Those whose parents, through ignorance.
poverty, avarice or crime, give them little
or no home education. This class can be
reached only by the aid Of compulsory
and searching statute. Every other rem.
edy has been tried withou. curing she
disease.
BY judicious law. firmly but kindly
enforced. compelling attendance during
school hours upon some school. either
public or private, the streets of our large
cities could be cleared OF the thousands
of youthful Migrants from whose ranks
now our army Of criminals is almost en-.
tirely recruited. Such a law in p single
generation would work moral and intel.
lectual reformation and regeneration of
our criminal and pauper classes, ana save
millions of money in the departments Of
police. charities and corrections, and
largely increase the wealth, influence. and
producing power of the State.
The wisdom OF developing and perfect
ing our free schools is admitted by the
great majority Of the community. 4
small minority oppose them on the
ground that their religion is not speciall:
and authoritatively laugh. therein.
OUR GOVERNMENT CAN NOT AND sEoULD NOT
TEACH RELIGION.
Our government can not give religious
because. while protecting each
citizen in the undisturbed enjoyment OF
his own religion. as a sacred matter be.
tween himself and his Maker. and thus
all religions. it has none Of its
own. and can not favor any sec: or deno.n-
nation or class.
The whole letter and spirit Of the con-
st;tut:on OF the United States, as we'll as
Of the several States. prohibits the estab-
lishmen'. either directly or indirectly, OF
. state religion. or the showing Of any
favor or giving any protection. privileges
Dr. financial support to one religious sect !
more than to another. Protection to all
equally, but support 10 none, as. on this !
point, the organic law of America.
If the churches would not interfere with |
he governments secular education. but !
would devote the whole Of their strength |
o giving. in their own places and manner.
eligious education, they and the govern
nent, though working in different spheres
nd in ditfeyen: buildings. would act in
ntire harmony, and would in the end pro-
luce the best possible general result. BY
imply protecting religion. but not teach.
ng it. government is. as matter Of fact.
living the utmos: genuine vitality and
trength to the religious element.
u- ONE SECT OPPOSED 70 FREE SCHOOLS.
This American doctrine of free, nom
ectarian schools is substantially accept
d and adopted by all religious sects save
ne. That sect, however, is large. enthu-
astic. well drilled. and ably and power
lilly led: and though its members are
hiety of foreign birth. yet, having be.
ONE citizens. they are entitled to the
anne voice and rights and privileges as
atives are in this matter. The leader of
lis sect. though a foreign ruler. has or.
cred the destruction Of our free non-sec.
rian system Of popular education. and
le substitution Of his own system OF
lurch or parochial schools; that is,
hools whose textbooks and teachers are
elected. appointed and controlled by the
lurch, though the State may be permit
d to pay all the bills. In the city of
ew York. through State and municipal
gislation. the following amounts o.
oney were obtained in the last five
ears from the public treasury for secta.
an institutions. such as churches, church
.hoo.s aid church cAas.ties. viz:
efwhich this !
u. seat received. I
'S................ 6,t:,8'S $751; 1871 |
.o............... sol %" :l,436
s340se :S2 7l8
sl9,84S 952Iln
SARA 3U5 Igs
Iotai five years s:,ol7.3t: S2,493.Gi,
If this is a better system than ours, we
ould adopt il, for we want the best: but
it is worse. We should reject it.
sE PaRoCHiAL SYSTEM P!:cDccEs MORE II.
liTERATEs. lArPEIs. .HD CRIMINALS
THAN OURS.
1t has been tried for centuries. and in
me countries. as Italy and Spain. under
Il. most favorable, aI1Snicec so. thar.