New-York tribune., 1875-12-22
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
A ROMAN CATHOLIC VIEW OF THE PRESIDENTS
SPEECH AT DIS MONIES.
From me Clholte World FAR January


Taking all things into consideration, the speech is
fully equal 10 any written production of the President
II IL direct. II plain II IL manly and vigorous and
superior any other which have heard Of
from distinguished quarter. Beyond AL things
timents of tue American reople We have not been sur
prised at the general applause with which ~ mas Deen
greeted and think that all our readers Will agree III
tie judgments which We are about TO express WIN re-
gard toit
trying 10 fancy ourselves nsued by representing tO
ourselves that the head of m nation has gone out OF hs
at large and respectable class OF the community,we
forced 10 give it up, and 10 lay down our pen for We
nud nothing In the Grafton with which III the least
disposed 10 take issue. On the contrary we are prepared
to Join bnte to the burst of applause which echoes
through the land We convinced that, II II meets
With tae attention which il merits, the country at large
and Catholics mparIiclar Wl treasure me Des h1lses
Washingt0n's Farewell, and Websters mighty peroru-
tion, aud Incolns noble and pathetic Inaugural VIII
pass from the vulgar atmosphere of party strife into tho
pure and serene enpy rean Of immortality: I'M . .,
resolve dollar appropriated for their sup
port shall be- appropriated for the support OF any seea
Do We hear arghti Does the President of the United
States maintain the proposition which has brought us So
much contempt and derislonf
What is 4 Tree schOoi free school is one in which
every scholar obtain education without violating
the honest convictions OF conscience 0r-O Use the words
OF the Prrslent-a fre school is where education
can be obtained "unmiXed with seetarian. pagan or
atheIstical dORnas."
Are our socaled schools freei Let MS glance
at the general history OF the controversy concerning
them As soon AS tue public schools had censed to be
purely charitable Institutions policy vas IN,
ruraIed by our people The Government assumed that
h was bonud h. insure an Intelligent Of the franchise
by encouraging the mental activity OF lis citizens To
this all Catholics agreed and s agree; But cur tio
ies IN ructiou should be given their children, wrongly
Insisted upon having the Bible read in the schools The
Cavern uent IN ght have permitted such custom TO
tinc when no protest made against it. But it
became evident that the schools were essentially FRO
{. stapt institutions and served instrument 10
vent the growth OF IL perry" THIS was no secret "
was openly preached
About tGis time Catholics began what everybody
else rejoicing and were, naturally, alarmed
They had assisted to found and build up the republic or
they had grated under the assurance OF equal rights
TO lind Il proclaimed Protestant country was news To
them They insisted that the Government was bound to
DENY tins .Inputation and they registered an universal
protest against the design OF the falsely so-eailed coI
mon" schools" - .
We have demanded either that we be relieved from tax
alton sectaI1an schools or that such arrange
ent be devised shall render them equally desirable
for Catholics and n-Caholics.
We asa for nothing which we not willing to con-
cede 10 all felOw-ciZens- the natural right to
have their children brought up according To ther pt,
rents CONSCIENTIOUS convictions We want, AMI We Will
have our children brought UP Catholcs II can oe uohe
IA various ways: The state eau pay the saii
ries OF teachers, and the cost OF our build
in1s aud other expenses securing proper guarantee
that the money viii be honestly d OUT ana the chidieh
receive their due amount o secular instruction Again.
pete for scars d . This is done in Protestant England
and Prussia, well as in Catholic France and Austria
Is. obviously most IN harmony wth democratic pfln
cples Other ways may De devised which VIII secure
justice to all paftes There n no praetlcal dnemty
except in the smallest country school districts These
are always settled by the citizens themselves. Or,
can educate children, without the state. The state
education except for those who utterly without
means-n Other words change the schools into
charitable Institutions ana let rarenls provide But
this are persuaded Is full of practical difficulties
But the plan actually adopted has been TO tax all alike
perfectly Protestants, but to which Catholics can
not hone silly or cOnscientlOu6ly agree. go
The President further Resolve that neither
State nation, nor both combined shall support nst
tutlons OF learning other than those sufficient 10 anofd
every child growing up in the land an opportunity or
good commonschool education, unmxed win scetarial
pagan, or athcistical d0gmas."
AatV yba AT IL N.
the state has supported. and does support Institutions
OF learning mixed with sectarian pagan, ana atheis
teal dogmasi I"
There Is doubt about this fact Protesants insist
upon having the Bible read Ia the public schools, est
they become irTeiglous. Catholics maintain that the
version used is garDod ani that, even IL II were not, no
one mas a ght 10 teach it, except those who have
piled IT, and to-day tine only rcsponsb,e witnesses ~
It's true meaning. Tue jews MAINTAIN thdt tne New
Testament part of 1t il Indcs deny 1t alto
gether. What right has any school board any other
purely institution to decide this controversy and
force his religious his denial VI religion upon
othersi IL IS Outrage IL Is an inconsistency wnieh
cannot be stated In any terms without traisIarchty
manifesting lie dDsuriy. Under lhe COnstntcn, ana
according 60 the spirit OF our Government all men are
equal Under the present system of common schools
and, according ~ the spirit OF those who uphold them
not equal aud there Is no snch thing ~ regard
for conscence bt every maiOry has right 70 enforce
upon any minority, matter how large, It's peculiar
ideas OF instruction. involving, as this always does the
Leave the religion to the family altar, tho
and the private school supported by private con
trbutions Precisely so III II mus come 70 ms; II no
arrangement be made by whicb Religion aud morany
be taught IN the public schools, then leave tue NIT
ter to the family altar an the church. and allow 10 TO DO
done By private contributions. In other words either
furnish people with that which you pretend To tax
them for-ylk, fair and equitable system OF public
schOos-or allow the 10 provide Tor themselves But,
whatever You do keep your hands OF the sacredneSs OF
the family ALTAR" Do not set foot into the haowed
precincts OF the domestic sanctuary. The family though
su pornas not To be violated by the State Parents
have rights which NO government usurp. You have
ght TO force tue education OF their children
out OF hands define the number OF Offspring
Sxlaw You have no more right to establish a system
which you will endeavOr their conformity by
violent than you have To establish public wet
nurseries require sLal be brought
Gave l, AMI nan and Dc fed out Government spoon.