Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-09-01
THE SCHOOL QUESTION IN
OHIO.


the demands of the Catholic priests
for division Of the public school
fund, assumes new prominence in the
canvass through the able speech very
recently delivered in Cleveland by
Judge Alphonso Taft, of Cincinnati.
The speech will attract unusual at
tention, and have unusual force and
significance, from the fact that Judge
Taft was opposed in the Republican
convention that nominated the candi.
date for Governor, on the ground that
he was too favorable to the Catholic
side Of the question. The speech ex-
plains his position, which is impreg-
nable, and the only one that can be
successfully upheld in this country.
Judge TAFT explains the origin,
progress and significance of the
school controversy, and though ex-
tremel y moderate and conservative in
his views, he demonstrates plainly
the Importance of the issues and the
danger that threatens the schools of
Ohio, which he pronounces the cor
ner-stone Of our republican form of
government.
In 1869, the School Board of Gin
cinnati, out of respect for the relig-
ious views of the Catholics and Jews,
who comprise large portion of the
tax payers of the city, decided to
omit the reading Of the Bible and all
religious exercises from the public
schools of that city. 1t was believed
that this concession would be salts
factory. 1t made the schools, sup
ported by general taxation, thorough
ly secular and unobjectionable to
men of every religious belief. Lit
CATION followed, and Judge Taft, as
one of the Judge S of the Superior
Court, refused to enioin or interfere
with the rule of the School Board ex-
Guiding the Bible and other religious
teachings from the schools. He
thought, as the schools were sup
ported by a tax from all sects, they
should be secular, leaving religious
instructions to the family andChurches
The Supreme Court of the State up
held Judge Taft's opinion. The Jews
were satisfied, and their children 90
to the city schools, which are unsur.
passed by those of any city in this
country. The Protestant clergy ac-
guessed. The Catholic Priests, though
victorious, proved their insincerlty by
continuing their opposition to the
schools. AS Judge Taft says. the
Priests are the source of trouble, for
the laity like the schools, and would
send their children to them if they
were not prevented by a rule of the
Church, which forbids confirming any
child in the Church that has not for
two years preceding attended their
parochial schools. They first protested
to object to the schools because the
Bible was read. That was excluded,
but they still opposed them, because
they were Goddess, i. e. because their
Priests could not control the chill
dren in them. Judge Taft says:
"They want the children under their I'M
checked control In school and out of
school they must be masters of the children.
They understand that in childhood they can
best establish their priestly authority, and
they are determined to do it. 1t is difficult
to speak of such pretentions with patience,
aud we are thankful that the State which
they attempt to set aside as an educator
win not be set aside, but is, and will be
master.
al trust that they will learn, before it is
too late, to respect the Government which
protects them, and cease to war upon the
fundamental principles of our Government,
and that the laity may learn to respect
their own good judgment against clerical
dictation. Let us look with due allowance
and charity upon the mistakes of all our
fellow. citizens. On reading the maledic-
tons (which they cast upon our noble
schools we are forcibly impressed with the
necessity that these gentlemen have some
lessons in true American democracy, and
that the American people will be found
competent to give them"
Judge Taft shows conclusively that
this question has been forced into
Ohio politics by the unreasonable de.
mands of the Catholic priests. His
ideas Of the Importance of the public
schools, and the danger of the posi-
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