Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-06-24
The Issue In Ohio.

The introduction of sectarianism in
any form into the politics OF the coun-
try is an event TO be regretted by every
man who knows from history what
have been the consequences to other
nations of political contests in which
questions, of religious faith were in
volved, and who is aware of the care
fulness with which the founders of the
republic strove to make such strife im-
possible here. But we are to-day COM
PEELED to face the fact that the policy
and the traditions of our government
in this respect have been rudely dis
regarded by denomination which,
more than any other, has an interest in
respecting them, and which owes debt
of gratitude to this nation for giving
10 it here such freedom from persecu-
ton and oppressive legislation as it
possesses in few other countries in the
world. In the State Of Ohio the Ca
tholic. Church has resolved to make the
division among the various denomina-
tions of money raised for public school
purposes by general taxation an issue
in the coming campaign. Bishop Nc
Quaid, in recent address at Cincinnati,
declared to those who, with him, op-
pose the present public school system,
that they must go in the politicsl field,
that they must use "the power cf the
ballot box" and that "power rests
with organized numbers" In pursu-
ance OF this theory the church has vir-
tually made an alliance with the Demo-
cratic party, and it is bold and daring
in declaring its sentiments and in re-
vealing its attitude, and il is confident
that the Democrats, being In possession
of the State, will be able, with the
numerical strength given to them by
this alliance, 10 win the election. The
Catholic Telegraph, the organ of Arch
bishop Purcell, has openly promised
to the Democracy 1.-THE solid unbIoken
vote" of the Catholics of the State in
the struggle, and we have no doubt
that every effort will be made to secure
that result.
In Ohio the Republican party has
given no uncertain sound concerning
its views of this subject. In its plat
form it has declared in the strongest
terms against the scheme, and it enters
the canvass as the champion of the
public school system and of popular
enlightenment, against the adversaries
| of both. 1t never committed itself to
more important policy, and it never
more clearly proved its claim to be the
party of progress and the defender of
pure American principles. The coun-
try will remember against the Demo-
cratic party not only that it has con-
sented to strike blow at free educa-
ton, and to attempt to Introduce Ia
introduce to this country theories which
obtain only in the most bigoted and de-
graded of foreign nations, but that, for
the sake of gaming few additional
votes, it has dragged sectarianism into
our politics, and joined itself with a
powerful church in political contest,
in violation of one of the most honor
ed and most distinctive ought to con.
denim any political organization to de-
struction, and we confidently hope that
the unholy alliance will be repudiated
by the people in the present, and will
serve to rob the Democratic party in
the future of what little prestige it has
remaining.-L Philadelphia Bulletin.