The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-08-27

HTDGE FIrS SPEECH

tuehIlOn, WHICH AOH dDiiily anu iOBIC uds
not been surpassed during the present
campaign. He promised by calling at
tention o.the fact that the Democrats,
upon assembling in Convention, feared
the School. question, and tried to sup
press it, feeling that their party was
compromised in the premises. but, he
says:
f'The relation between the Democratic
party and the Catholic clergy, who are
opposed to the common-scbool system,
was such that the issue could not be
evaded by platform, and the attitude
of the Catholic clergy, as between the
paties, renders it impossible to ignore
them in our present contest with the
Democratic"
Under the head Grounds OF Appre-
hension, the Geghan Bill is considered,
and the Judge mentions that the point it
raises is in this:
''That the Catholic clergy claimed it
as an important measure to which their
Church was entitled, and demanded it
at the hands of the Democratic majority,
as q consideration for the Catholic vote
in the past, and a condition of their re-
ceiving it in the future. On the same
principle, if the Republicans should
promise to divide the school fund, or to
abandon the school system, they might
expect a pledge of the Catholic vote
from the clergy, unless the Democrats
should bid higher"
Again:
81 regret to see sectarianism intro
duced into politics. But the Democracy
have purchased the support of the Cath
olic Church by q sectarian consideration,
and are enjoying that support. They
hav no right, therefore, to claim ex-
emption from the natural consequences.
Nor can the Church complain, when it
identifies itself with a political party,
that its political actions should be can
vassed. They, the Democrats and the
Catholic clergy, have agreed to combine
against the Republicans. The Catholic
clergy are supposed to have no other
object in this coalition than to divide
the school fund, or destroy the common
school system. Is it right to trust this
vital interest of the Republic to such
combination"
The Democratic platform, the Judge
says, is a ''mere protestation," and he
says
''The Democratic politicians seem to
concede that their relation to the Cath
olic opponents of the schools is suspi-
cious, and calls for explanation and pro-
testation. Otherwise, why do they make
such a plank, when they reproach the
Republicans for doing the same thing,
i'm ffrar 70, fha IL IF
seem to have felt no apprehension that
the Democratic plank would come under
the same condemnation. 1t is for the
people of Ohio to say whether these
protestations can be relied upon or
trusted under the circumstances. The
interest is too vital to be left in any
doubt"
The Judge gives at length, with the
documents, the history of the negotia-
tions between the Archbishop of Gin
cinnati and the Board of Education in
1869, and shows that though the Board
made the schools secular, excluding the
Bible and religious teaching, still the
priesthood would not consent that Cath
olic children should attend the common
schools
"And adopted at Cincinnati a rule
that no Catholic child should be con-
firmed, unless he or she had attended
the parOchial schools of the church at
least two years-a rule which a,n ad-
vised had already been adopted in the
Cleveland diocese. The result has been
to keep large majority of the Catholic
children out of the common schools,
which are undoubtedly much better than
the parochial, thus iniiicting a deep in
jury upon the education of such chill |
dren."
The root of the difficulty is in Rome.
The Eneyclical and Syllabus are not Re
publican documents. They do not har-
monize with the Constitution of Ohio,
or with Republican institutions, and he
quotes them to prove the fact. The
Protestant clergy were not at first will
ing that the schools shOnld be completely
and opposed the sweeping
measure of the Board.
"But on second sober thought, they ;
concluded that the law and the COnsti-
tuition, as expOunded by the Court. fur
nished the only solid ground on which
the system could stand fast and safe
against all attacks from whatever
As to goddess schools" the Judge
says:
''If there is anything divine In Ameri-
"a, it is our republican form of govern
nent. IL there is anything divine in the
Republic, it is its system of common
schools 1t is time that we should all
earn the infinite folly of attempting to
asten upon any part of Gods creation
,ur puny condemnation, by denouncing
t as goddess The use of the term in
to the schools implies an utter
want of appreciation of the relative
position of the schools aad the Church,
n this country"
And he adds that if the ehurch goes
nto politics, it will be treated as po-
itician. He draws broad distinction ,
between the Catholic laity and clergy,
md remarks:
81 am glad to learn that the Arch
bishop of Cincinnati has recently disap-
,royed of the term goddess as applied
~ cClOOlo, anu W bllG /
ime remarked thar some of the best
eachers in the parochial schools had
,een educated in the public SCHOOLS of
cincinnati. But as the Democratic
,arty is frantic for political power, and
re willing to ruin our currency in order
o get it, so some of these priests seem
o be frantic for the mastery of the
ehools. They want the children under
heir unchecked control. In school and
ut of school they must be masters of
hildren. They understand that in I
hildhood they can best establish their !
riestly authority, and they are deter
mined to do it. 1t is difficult to speak
f such pretensions with patience, ard ]
re are thankful that the State which / {
hey attempt TO set aside as an educator .
Till not be set aside, but is, and Will be
laster."
The whole speech must be read TO
nderstand its force and apprehend its
gnificance.
GENERAL BASIL DUKE was elected |