The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-09-17

BY William Medill, afterward Governor
Of the State Ii was ratified by an
overwhelming vote, and the only oppo-
sltion made 10 II on account of this and
other liberal provisions came from the
very men who to-day are clamoring
about common Schools" which they
then sought 10 defeat by rejecting the
Constitution
This fundamental law II the State can
only be changed by amendment pro-
posed in the General Assembly, which
requires thrcc-iifths Of the members
elected 10 each House. or by calling
Constitutional Convention, which re-
quire> a vote Of two-third> Of the menu
bers elected 10 each House Of the A.
sembly. Without these conditions the
Constitution stands a. il l. until 1891.
IL j. thus seen what the Constitution
pr.Scribcs. and that 10 alter il would be-
a political impo>sihility in the existing
state Of parties. If any serious opposition
should be made by either side. OF
course no law in conflict with this in
strument could stand, no matter how
passed, or by whichever party that
happened TO be temporarily in the as
cendant
At the Democratic Convention Of last
June the following plank was made
part Of the platform:
ThirteeHfh.-we favor the complete sep
arallon OF Churcs and STATE. religious indie
pendence and absolute freedom OF opinion.
equal and exact justice 10 ali religious
elvties. and purely secular education al the
expense Of the taxpayer, without division
among or control by any sect. directly or in
directly, Of sny portion Of the public school
fand.
( Language could not b. more explicit,
positive or authoritative than this j.
Still the clamor continued which had
been gotten up for partisan uses. by
trading politicians who have BETRAYED
every trust and corruptly employed
every opportunity 10 fill their pockets
with stolen money They denOunce
the So-called Geghan bill as an inven-
ton 10 destroy the schools and Ia mp
root Christianity. Let Us see what this
monster Of iniquity H.
Al the last session Of the Legislature
Of Ohio the following act was passed
which had been introduced by MIR
Geghan:
An act 10 secure liberty Of conscience IN
matters Of religion 10 persons imprisoned.
or det-ined by authority Of law.
SECTION 1. BE AZ enacted ~ The General
Assembly Or the State 0f Ohio, Tnst a. lib
erty Of conscience l. not forfeited by reason
Of convection OF crime or by reason Of deien-
ton in any penal-r-formafOry, or eleemO-y-
nary institution. or anv house Of refuge.
workhouse. jail or public asylum in this
State no person IN any such Institution -hsll
BE- compelled 10 attend religious worship or
instruction OF form which i against the
dictates Of his or her conscience; and II shall
I be the duty OF every director. trustee. super
infendent or other person having ir ch.rge
any such Institution. 20 furnish ample and
equal facilities Ia all such persons for receive
Z ing the ILLUSTRATIONS ~ the authorized cler-
. ~ men Of their own religious denominations
or persuasion>, under such reasonable rule
and regulations - the trustees. directors.
managers or superinfendents shall make. hut
NO such rules ~hsll BE- IN construed A. 20 pre-
vent he Clergyman Of any denomination
from fully administering the rites ~ his dr.
nou-insiion 10 such inmstes; provided ~uch
minisfrsiion entail no expense Oh the public
treasury.
This j. the whole 81 il. and there i,
not a SYLLABLE in the act 20 which ex-
ception can be- taken II conforms 70
the first article II the Constitution.
which declares.
No person .hxll be compelled 70 attend.
erect, or support any place OF worship. or
MAINTAIN sny form u wOr.hip sg-inst his
consent; sni no preference hall be given y,
law TO any reli tiou- society; nor snail shy
Interference with the rights Of conscience he
per mitted.
The law puts all persons on an equal
footing. whether jew or Gentle. and
treats Christian denominations with cN-
act justice. giving to each the same
privilege and the same opportunity If
ministration among the unfortunate.
There j. nothing concealed. and not one
word which relates Ia schools in the
remotest manner by any possibility Of
construction.
Yet. in the face Of these indisputablc
facts. the Republican leaders have
striven to turn attention away from the
iniquities for which they are responsible,
by a criminal attempt 10 convert re-
7 ligiouS bigofry into IN element Of parti-
san strife. and to drag down the most
sacred things into the filth of their own
profligacy.
When called to account by the people
Z of Ohio for the robberies. yenality. Job
berry. fraudulent contracts. infamous
legislation. bribery. and rascalitN which
have shocked the country, fcarfully aug
mented the burdens Of taxpayers. and
eliminated in bankruptcy, the only an
swer Of the Republican party j.. the
Geghan law, Tie common schools are
in danger,
7 Ii there was no other reason for
crushing this party out If existence. the
crime Of introducing such an element
into political controversy ought 10 be
sufficient. Instead Of helping the des
perate demagoguies and money changers
who have profancd the temple. il will
tribute largely to that final defeat to
which every Indication now points. and
will be welcomed by the country As a