Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-12-16
4elamare Wribntte
"THE SCHOOL ou1sT1oN"-l1r IT H PuT,

"TH1 SCHOOL QU11TIoN"-L1f IT H PUT I
Il seems thss there are persons who fear "ths
school question" They CRY out whom Mr. Blaine
writes most temperate. Wise, and unanswsrA-
bic letter on the subject. They protest vshem-
emily because the President, In bis Meesass,
makes It prominent They twisted and squirmsd
when Judge Taft, with other Republican speak
era. gave 1t o. thorough and, timely diseussioa
In the Ohio campaign, upon the challenge Of
the Qsghan bill. This 10 tondeenesd that u
suspicious. II 10 . too sentative conossn. It
will Justly excite public wonder. For there
ought TO bs no American Citizen whose heart y
not sincerely and entirely given to tho general
and liberal education of tho children OF his
country, and there ought TO be none who wants
that education connected with the influences Of
any church. Nthers be cries Of protest and
nnsasiness at the simple proposition to put into
the fundamental law . guaranty Of general and
unaeotarian education what must II force m 10
conclude? Dan thsrs bs any other theory than
that such . guaranty ID really needed aimee
there avs citizans WHO, whatsoever opinions they
may profess, or however they may disguise their
feslings, are the enemies either Of general or
unssctarian education, or Of both ?
The constitutional guaranty suggested by Mr..
Blaine, aud substantially proposed by the Pres
ident will hurt no one except the enemy Of the
public school. II there Ia no such person, Il
hurts nobody ifit does hurt somebody, then
its value becomes apparent. 1t is absurdly said
that to propose it raises religious issue ono
critic. touched to the quick, cries out that tho
President "hopes to array Protestant prejudice
and Protestant bigotry in . political crusade
against the Catholic church." Could there be
IN assertion which argues more oonclusivsly
against itself2 IL it bigotry and prejudice To
place the egis Of the Constitution over the
school-house2 IL 1t war on any church to 6x II
fundamentally that there shall be free and un-
sectarian education Of American children Let
MS be allow ever to charge that, much less to ex-
claim 1t 40 excitedly and quickly.
Next TO the principles Of Liberty and Equal
Rights, lies the necessity Of an educated people.
This is truism; 1t Ia trite; 1t In rarely disputed.
Yet while there 10 in tho Constitution al the
careful guarantees that wise and patriotic hands
could devise, to protect liberty from invasion.
aud equality before the lsx from harm, there u
nothing that secures the instruction Of the peo.
pie. One Of the foundations Of republican gov
eminent is not in our written structure. The
very means by which the nation must continue
TO live, II II shall continue is left unsecured and
unprovided In the nations charter. Itis strange
omission, and one that cannot too quickly be
supplied.
Now, let us agree readily to put this question.
Let the American people stand and be counted
upon it. Let the inquiry go out, Distinct,
souare and pohitiye whather there shali hA a
guaranty for free schools, and non-church
schools in the highest law Of the Nation2 Such
question can harm none but those who are the
enemies either Of free education or Of unseotar-
ian education. II there are such, We cannot
regret their hurt, at the putting of the question.
In such = canvass of the popular mind, party
considerations are small and pitiful the ques-
ton" the school question "-s "a fundsmen-
tai ~ Freedom, for in . republic Intsllieenos
only can preserve Freedom.