Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-17

that thought religion should pc IN
troduced into our public schools, as
was said ia an article in the Leader
last evening. That was an exaggerA
ion, and might uso stronger word.
Let me sec how the public school sys-
TEN has worked in the part of the
country better civilized than here.
want to say here what may be now 10
some Of you: That in the east, people
who can afford il, do not send their
children to the public schools. Why
is II that our Bishops always found
schools where the creed of the Church
10 taught? Because they believe that
the children Of the Church should not
be given to the world six days In the
week and only one hour to the Lord on
the Sabbath day. Children should be
taught from the beginning the religion
which Il is 80 desirable for them to
live. The influence of Public Schools
is demorAlizing. Tho influence is not
in the direction of morality. II may
tend towards enlightenment, but not
towards religion and morality.
want TO make prophecy; 1t IL
this: Ten years from now, no one In
Des Moines who can afford to send
his child to pay school will send to
the Public Schools. We arc under OBJ
legations as parents to instruct our
children for the Lord first, and then
for tho country"
We are very strongly inclined to the
opinion that brother Reed had better
have never come West. He should
have remained East, where caste and
creed arc, according to his view, es.
sential to culture. The gentleman's
world must be confined to . very
small part Of it and of its people, If
We are TO give him credit for telling
the truth, when he says that in the
East. people who can afford II, do not
send their children to the public
schools. 1t may be that in the select
circle, the cod.fish aristocracy, a. it is
commonly termed, In which he may
havo moved, they do not send their
children to the public schools, but
thisis certainly not the case.with many
really intelligent and decent people
of the East.
Again. the gentleman would blurt
in the face of his hearers, that in the
East, where s'people can afford It they
do not send their children to the public
schools-thas they are better civi1ized
than here" That down. East preacher
ought to be taken out by the boys
sniping. This may seem tri1ing too
freely with . man who has been
"called" to his Masters work, but
the Devil never worked more effect
ually, nor never will, than in the garb
OF Saint, and we do not hesitate to
speak freely and plainly.
If, % the Reverend Reed says, the
common schools of the country, are
demoralizing, then there is NO use Of
explanation or shutting about and
around tho question, but We must con.
clude that hc who SO AYERS, il opposed
to these schools, and would, were the
power given him, abate such scboels
Tho world for centuries had narrow
cramped education, because of the
heavy biased hand laid upon the ave.
enucs Of knowledge by tho greater
portion of tho leaders Of the religious
world. tits within our own romem.
berance whom degree of proficiency
in learning could be obtained only in
few colleges or universities, save It
came after months Of patient labor in
dead languages and ancient lite rature,
which gave little practical knowledge
II It has come to this, that the State
cannot educate her citizens in all that
pertains to practical education and
sound morality, without at the same
time cramming their youthful minds
with creeds of this or that Christian
denomination, then are we coming to
. pretty pass, indeed. II jealous zeal.
ots Of Episcopalianism, Presbyterian.
ism. Methodism, Catholicism, or any
other religious ism fancies that the
untrammeled enlightenment of the
youth Of the Republic, free from their
especial guide-boards pointing out the
way to future happiness, is demoraliz-
ing, we can only pity them, and at
the same time say that such doctrine
Is remnant Of the reign of Church
aud State. Further, it is in the interest
of . prudish aristocracy. In the lands
of Kings, Emperors, and titled nobil-
ity, blood forms the divisions and
classes of the citizens. In this coun.
try, the man of many thousands, who
10 able to send his children to other
than tho common schools, should, &C.
cording to the Rev. Mr.. Reed, not con.
taminate his own flesh and blood with
tho common herd within the pale Of
our most excellent common schools
No!-his children should attend the
school Of tho Bishops. When the
child of such man has arrived at ma
ture age, and goes ont into the world
to engage in the general duties OF the
citizen, in the professions or in active
business life, he learns at once that he
IL to battle unavoidaby with tho com.
mon herd, and often to be sadly out.
stripped in the race. In this country
no pensioned, titled class exist, man
IL clothed, fed, and cared for because
OF the rank held by his sire-riches
take to themselves wings often, very
often, do they do this, where tho po-
session Of wealth by tho father gives
license to the son with the consent OF
the parent) to freedom from soiling
his hands with honest industry, and
exclusion from association with the
sons Of those whose Golfers arc not
plethoric, and this in schools as broth.
er Reed advises. This il very vicious
advice. Lot the youth mingle with
the world in the common schools, in
order that when % Z man he must do
so in life, ho will be all tho better pre-.