The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-01


lever. on account OF his conscientious convic-
lions In regard TO religion. who began tas
agitation or thls subject Why 10 L. agttated
democratic party IN their state Convention mako
IL tue TOPIC OF their longest resolution. In their
subject except the curreacY. May Of the demo-
cratic county conventions also took action upon
II. The Republican state Conven ton passed resO-
lunons on the question. IL Is stated that it was
considered Ia about forty republican county con-
last meeting passed unanimously tne following
resolution. Mr. Tappan. rom the Committee on
Resolutions reported the iOllOwing:-
Resolved That We are in favor OF tree, impartial and
unsectarian education to every chid In the sta and
part thereof 70 any reous private school would
An able address by the Rev. DR.. Jeners, OF
puollo schools,n was emphat ideally applauded by
that Intelligent body OF citizens. The assemblies
OF the different religious denominations In the
state winch have recently been held, have gen
orally, and thiAk without exception passed sim-
liar resolutions. II Diane Is TO attacn to all who
consider ana discuss ths question before the pub
lie we nave mad a verV large BODY OF uHenders.
But have not named all who are engaged In IL.
/ nave not n imed those VINO began it-those whe
Tor years have kept II up-thOse WlO In the presns
on the PLATFORM IN tne onlplt ia iegsLatVe ooules.
In city councils and In scAool boards, now unceas-
ingy agtate the question. Everybody knows
WAC they are Everybody knows that the sec
tartan wing or the democratic party began thl1
aLiLation aud that IL Is bent on the destruction OIL
our free schools Ii republicans actlng on the de-
fenslve discuss the subject ana express the opln-
Ion that the democratic party can't safely be
trusted, they are denounced In unmeasured terms
'fooisn ana "olgots" Bat 1t Is very significant
that no democratic speaker denOunces those who
began the agitation. All tneir epIthets are leveled
al the men VINO are on inc right side OF the ques-
ton. Agitation on the wrong slde-agttatlon
against the schools may go on. Ii meets no con-
demnation from leading democratic cand1 Jates
ana speakers. the re tson Is plain. Those VINO
mean TO destroy the school system, constitute q
formidable part OF the democratic party, without
whose support, that party, as the Legislature was
ted last spring. cannot carry the county the CITY
No kfAf a q
public schools was begun many years ago. OAR
Ing the last lew years 1t has steadily and rapidly
lncre ased, ana has neen encouraged by various
inacaLons OF possible success. Ii extends 20 all OF
the states where schools at the common expense
manly in me large towns and cities. IL mas already
divided The schools. and 10 considerable degree
impaired aud limited their use ulne5s. The glory OF
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM
or education has oeen tnat II was so cheap taas
children Its advantages and SO good that tne man
OF wealth could nowhere provide Tor OILS cnllureE
Snysnng better TINS gave me system e.s m sys.
tenn. Toe young OF all conditions OF lie are
brought together and educated on terms Oh per-
late anu to fuse together the various elements o.
our populatloD, to promote unity. harmony aoo
general good will In our American society. But
the enemies or the American system have begun
the work OF destroying 1t. Tney nave iorced
away from the pubic schools In many towns ana
cities onetBird or one-iourth OF their pupils and
sent them TO schools which 1t Is safe 10 say are no
whit superior those they have lef.. In Sc youths
are thus deprived OF the associations and mo
education In practical republicanism aud Ameri-
can sentiments winch they peculiarly need. No
body questions their constitutional ana legal
ri hit 10 do THIS, aud TO do II by announcing me
puolic sonools. sectarIans have lawful ri9ht to
say tnat these schools are "a relic OF paganism-
thaT they are Goddess" and That "tne secular
having thus succeeded in dividing the schools.
they MAKE that . ground for abolsning school
taxation, dividing the scnool fund or otherwise
destroying the system, it Is time that Its lriends
should rise up In its defence. We all agree that
neither tue governments nor political parties
equally true that religious sects out not TO inter.
Iere with the government or with political par
ties. We believe that the cause or good govern
ment and the cause OF religion Doth suffer by all
such interference But II sectarians make de-
masds Ior legslaslon oh Po os,t,on t sns
elections In case the required enactments are NOS
passed; ana tue political party Jlelds 70 snes
that action OF the political party become legiti-
mate subject OF political discussion, and the sso-
tartans who thus interfere with the legislation or
the state are alone reSponslble for the agitation
THE dEGHAS BILL.
And now few words as TO the action OF the
last LEGISLATURE on this subject. Alter an exani-
nation OF the Geghan oil we snail, peraaps.
come to the conclusion that In Itself 1t Is not OF
great Importance. l would not unueryalue the
conscien tlous scrupes on the subject Of religion
OF a convict IN the Penitentlary or OF any unortu-
nate person IN any STATE institution. But the
provision OF the constitution oil the state covers
the Whole ground. IL needs no awkwardy
framed statute oil doubtful meaning, Ike The
GegnaR sil, to accomplish the OBJECT OF the or
Constitution now Ia force, oil 1851. are SUBS TAU
italy ahke. Both declare Il quote section 7, ar
AL men have natural and indefess right to wor-
ship Ams Coo ASsSTdns q me he seSss' o. 20 ohsir
tend erect or support any place o. worship: or man
preerssco snail Be siVep 5y law to any religious
ely nsr snail any interStsncs with the right of con-
science be permitted.
IL the Geghan oil Is M arely a re-enactnent Of
this part o the Bill Of Rights. It WORK otBuper-
erogauOn, ana 1t Is not strange that the LegIsla-
passage. the author OF the bill wrote. 1.-The Men-
bers claim that such a bill i. not needed" The
same opinion prevails In New Jersey, where .
similar oil Is said to have been defeated bV vote
OF 70 L But the sec6ar ian, OF ONO were re-
It's author, wrote to Mr.. MURPHY OF CinclnnAtl:-
We have prior claim upon the democratic party.
today arc made up Of irish ana German cst6ohc. and
,ey I've Rssn fS ps ana tsnG er 20 pS
TO u.s. and have perfect right to demand them
iesare and state and we're By Sots
taat Iaey should as party redress our grievances
The organ OF the friends OF the bill published
this letter, and among otaer Things said:-
cshOG ySSss ase O Of Ps' sesce; w ths
draw the support which Catholics have Even to 1t and
II will al in this city county and stste as speedily a.
party now on trial Mr.. 1eghaRs bill viii test the
sincerity OF It's professions
That threat was enectual. The bill was passed,
and the sectarlan organ therefore said
The unbroken solid vote OF the Catholic citizens Of the
State Wall De given 10 the democracy A. Inc tAl eecuou
In regard TO those VINO voted against the bill lt
is SAID, ''They have dug their political grave; tt
will not be our fault IL they do not Nil &c. When
any or tnem appear again in the political arena
We will put upon them brand that every Catno-
lie citizen Will understand No defence oil THIS
conduct OF the last Legislature mas yet been at
tempted. The facts are beyond dispute. This L.
the 1rst example Ul open aud successful sectarian
interference with legislation In Ohio. II the peo-
pie are wss they Will give II sucn q reouke In
OCTOBER that, for many FEARS 81 least, u Will be
the last But IL is claimed that the SCHOOLS in
no danger. Now that pubic attention 10 aroused
to the Importance OF the subject IL Is probable
that IN ONO Lhcy are sale. But their safety de-
peads on the rebuke which the people snail
give 10 the party which yielded last spring at
said tnat no political party ''desires the destruc
ton OF the schools" | reply, no polIticai party
''desired" the passage Of the Geghan Dill but the
power which hates the SCHOOLS passed the bill.
The sectarlan wing OF the dem0cratc parry rules
that party to-day In the great commercial metrop-
OILS OF the nation. IL holds tne bslancs or power
IN az IN lara air NJ lha H.