The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-09-09
Religion in Politics.

NsoAAsAoA III oAAtAcSs
The issue which the Democrats of Ohio
| made in the present canvass, by arraign-
ing the administration and its supporters
for extravaganza, peculation, and the hard
times, proved very distasteiul to its sup
Porters. 1t was also alarming from the
number of detections which it caused.
Hence the leaders have sought to effect a
change by charging the Democrats with
being in league with the Catholics, and
that the latter intend to destroy the schools
by insisting upon a division of the school
money. 1t is simply an appeal to ntoler-
ance and blgotry, and is at war with the
that the radicals of Maine, finding them
selves in a like predicament with their
Ohio brethren, are Introducing similar
tactics into this state.
The position Of the Democracy, in Ohio
and in every other state, in respect to this
question, is not Il matter Of conjecture.
The broad ground is taken that the relig-
lOus convictions of every man are Il mat
ter between himself and his God, in which
the state has not the slightest right to in
terfere upon any pretence whatever. The
public schools are for the education Of the
children OF the people, of all crceds and
forms OF religious belief, the conduct of
which must be in the strlctest sense non
sectarian. No religious exercises which
do violence to the conscience Of Il pupil
should be permitted. Religious education
belongs wholly to the home and the church
secular education is to be cared for by
the state. The present constitution Of
Ohio was framed by Democratic con-
ventlon. and adopted when the Demo-
Gratis had an overwhelming majority in
the state. That instrument makes it the
imperative duty OF the Legislature to
maintain "a thorough and efficient sys-
tenn OF common schools throughout the
State and expressly declares that i" no
religious or other sect or sects shall ever
have any exclusive right to or control of
any part of the school funds Of this State. ="
The Ohio Legislature Of lS7 / passed " hat
is known rs the Geghan bill, which allows
persons in penal, reformatory, or charit-
able Institutions, to select their own re-
ligious teachers
And yet, because the Democrats sustain
these just and equal laws, and are reso lived
to preserve the public schools for the free
use OF pupils Of any and all sects, they
are aSsalled with the accusation of Joining
hands with the Catholics for their destruc
ton. A more false and senseess cry was
never raised.
In a recent speech at Cleveland. Sena-
tor Thurman paid some attention to these
matters. He took the ground that the
Catholic issue was raised in sheer desper-
alton by the man who found that they
were losing ground immensely in the dis
cussion OF legitimate and fair party ques-
tons. In relation to the Geghan law, con
corning which 4 great deal Of clamor had
been raised, MI Thurman said
When this bill first passed the House of Renre
sentaves there were sixty votes for and thirty two
against it, and among those who voted for it were
seven conspicuous Republican members one OF
whom am told, was and is Protestant preacher
of the Gospel. But Immediately afterward the idea
entered the heads OF the party managers that some
party capital might be made out of the bill; that it
might be made to assist the anti Catholic and now
Nothing cry about to be raised for party purposes
and hence these seven Republicans were induced by
party considerations to fOrego their judgment and to
vote for reconsideration Of the BILL and only four
days after they had voted for it four of them voted
against ii and three of them omitted to vote at all
Now if the bill were bad bill, why were seven Re.
publicans found voting for it before the party lash
was applied to their backs2 and WHY did three of
them stand out SO far to let it pass without their
dissent? If is a bad law, why did not the Renub
mean stare convention condemn it and demand its
repeal? Ihey We're ready enough to condemn the
Legislature, but you find not word in their Mat
form cOndemning this law. II it is a bad law whv
did the Republican Convention of Hamilton County
only last W Wednesday, refuse to pass a resolution
demanding its repeal? If it is bad law why has
not some Republican orator, from Gen. Hayes down
to the least of Them or some Republican newspaper
great small, pointed out where it is bad? Nine
tenths, at least of the members who voted for the
Geghan bill were Protestants, sympathize with
Professionalism. Not few of them are earnest and
active members of Protestant churches. Some of
them represent constituencies in which the CathO-
lies are scarcely one in a hundred of the people.
Did these men succumb to Catholic dictation? Were
the seven Republicans, the Protestant preacher in
Guided, who ut first voted for the BILL servants of
the Pope? Is there any man not an idiot, utterly
blinded by prejudice, who does not that the
charge is absurd, that ii is a mere trick of party
managers, who are willing to jeopardize religion,
conyulse society and sow the seeds of perpetual dis
cord in order to achieve party success?
To hear Radical stumper talk of the Catholic
Church you would Think If you knew better, that
all the members of that Church under the abso-