Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-12
lailn Asnnrber Aournal
AUG u ST A.
FRIDAY MORNING. Nov. IL. 1878.
THE PUBLIC scHooL QUESTION

The pretence of the democratic papers
that the public school question is merely
agitated for party purposes. will not an
swer TO screen the responsible agents IN
the matter. 1t is apparent that the asila-
ton is one of importance. The mo'lVe Is
deeper than appears on the surface II IL,
wolves more than the fate of any poiiticai
party. 1t touches the very existence oi
our republican institutions.
The active power at the bottom OF all
the excitement concerning the public
schools is Ultramontanism The agent
through which it is working is the demo-
cratic party. These two acting in con-
junction are responsible fer the state OF
feeling now existing in the country re-
garding the public school system. Against
the encroachments of these the republican
party is arraying itself, defending the en-
dangcred schools, but by no means the
cause of the agitation concerning them.
When democrats or democratic papers
charge the republicans with being the
primal cause of the agitation, and tanning
It solely for political and party ends, they
state that which they ought to know is en-
tirely false. Ultramontanism is the real
aggressor, and the democratic party in
consideration of having made over to it
that part OF the Roman Catholic vote
which the Ultramontanes can control be-
comes the humble servant of the Pope to
break up and destroy our American school
system.
That the feeling against the assailants
of the schools is not the work of politicians
Is plain to be seen by evidences all around.
Everywhere the attempted aggression OF
the Roman Catholics is discussed. 1t is
discounted upon in our boldest and most
enlightened pulpits. And there is great
deal of quiet but intense thinking upon the
subject. If it is reckoned that the agita-
ton is only tor political ends because in
Ohio and other States the republicans took
the side of the schools, how are we to ae-
count for the appearance of this subject in
church conventions and other important
assemblages not POLITICAL As an exam
pie take the proceedings in the Church
Congress of the Protestant Episcopal
Church Of the United States, recently held
in Philadelphia. The first subject for dis
cussion was .'Ultramontanism and Civil
Authority DIR. Francis Wharton in treat
ing upon this subject made distinction
between the Ultramontanes and the mass
of the Roman Catholics, presenting the
former as placing their allegiance to the
Pope before that due by them to any civil
authority, and holding that the Church
and not the State has the right to educate
in its own way. Thus the common schools
are endangered by the power of foreign
potentate. DIR. Wharton therefore urged
that the Church must come to the rescue
Of the schools, always recollecting. how
ever. while supporting education, that the
State is supreme in its own secular sover-
eighty.
In the same Congress DR.. Butler Of
Philadelphia speaking upon the same
subject said: Rome presses the claim
"for the States support of sectarian
SCHOOLS. By acting with party which
Twill sustain her claims she receives in
"some municipalities and States endow-
"ments for her educational and other in
.stitutions. By holding thus balance be.
tween two great national parties she may
''be able to determine the policy OF the
country in great crises of internal and ex-
eternal administrations. A new policy OF
aggression in all these departments
seems to have been recently inaugurated
. "by orders from the Vatican, and the adj
'vance has been met in England by the
pamphlets of Mr.. Gladstone, and in the
United States by speech from Presi-
"dent Grant-full five minutes long. Now
sin order to meet these issues with sue
"cess and with the least injury to our
"selves and our Catholic fellow citizens,
I'VE should put ourselves in absolute har-
''mony with the fundamental principles OF
'our government, which proclaim the
mutual friendly helpiulness, but the
complete independence of Church and
Estate"
Surely here is enough TO show that the
public school question is not entirely a
question of politicians, and that ridiculing
it as of no consequence is not the way to
dispose of it. There is not Protestant
church in the land which is not alive to
the importance of the issue between u
tramontanism and the public schools, none
which does not know that the designs of
the Pope in regard TO the institutions of
this country are to be carried out--if car
ried out at abby the democratic party
THE NEXT CONGRESS-.
There will be good deal of backing
and filling when Congress meets The
policy of that House Of representatives.