Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-09-10
s.FREE SCHOOLS FOR ALL" "
The Catholic Church, the Democratic
Party, and the Common Schools.
GREAT SPEECH BIZ JUDGE A. TAFT, OF CIECTS-
MATT, AT CLEVELAND.

FELLOW -CITIzEEs-I an happy to stand befcse this
nteIiQeut audience the fair and prosperous City Of
fbe Lake have not forgotten the kind invitation,
received from your represen atives at Columbus in
June last have come to keep the promise then
made 70 them. But 1 confess that urging was IN
5ecesssry Cleveland has always had attractions for
me- When, in 1889. came 70 settle in the West,
should have stopped in Cleveland, II had not gone to
Cincinnati Though divided BY the entire State
spy two other cities in the State or in the Union.
Cleveland dauahter Of the beautiful lake, and Cncin.
natl daughter Of the beautiful nverI lose % COM
pare them. and to contemplate the prospects 9e9fe
Them in the long future; their enterprise ana go-
Iious rivalry, in commerce an mi manuIae-
ducts Of agriculture in all the industries and in the
broad field of intellectual culture And this great
State of ours looks forward to g brilliant future.
Bounded on the north by great navigabe lake and
on the and south by great naYigable rve Il IS
eneircled bv line OF fourishing towns and cities:
ToIeao ssnSusl-v CSeTeland Painesville Ashtabula,
steubenvilie Marietta, Pomeroy lronton, Portsmouth,
Cincinnati like many jewels set in its coronet.
rich and growing cities enclosed within the circle,
almost equally well situated on canal and railroad
But feIIov-citizens propose to call your attention
4his evening 70 the issue arising upon the common
schools and upon the relation Of the respective parties
10 the school system.
THE DEMOCRATS EvADE THE ISSUE
The Democrats declare that there is such issue.
Their convention, however was nervous, and evident
1y conscious that their party had in some way been
compromised on the subject They feared the ques-
s1ion and tried to suppress il
To avoid the issue they made their platform that
point nearly possible like that of the Republicans
end then declared that the platform OF the Republicans
vas insult 10 the people of Ohio. But the relation
between the Democratic party and the Catholic clergy,
who opposed 10 the common school system, was
such that the issue could not be evaded by PLATFORM
Like the ghost Of the murdered Bansho, IT. would not
InThe midst Of their political revery it rose and
stood before them, it did shake its CORY locks.
And true to nature the convention inTountariy ex-
"Thou canst not say we did IL"
have no desire or purpose 10 attack carry any
crusade against the Catholic Church But the atti-
tude of the Catholic clergy between the parties,
renders it impossible ignore them in present
contest with the Democrats.
GROUNDS OF APPREHENSION.
majority Of the Catholic voters in this country,
Though not all have generally TOei with the Demo-
erauc party. But the recent enactment of the
eghan BILL give the clergy OF every sect Opp0rtu-
nifty minister to the spiritual comfort Of persons Of
their faith confined in the Denitentiary and other
penal and relormatory Institutions has awakened
unusual apprehensions. Not that the Geghan bill
would seem 20 be dangerous or unreasonable in itself
although the general public had not been aware that
there was any occasion for it-but that the Catholic
clergy claimed it as important measure to which
their Church was emitted and demanded it at the
hands of the Democratic majority consideration
for the Catholic vote in the past, and condition OF
their receiving it in the future On the same prins
cple If the Repu blicaus should promise 10 divide the
school fund or to abandon the school system they
might expect pledge OF the Catholic vote from the
clergy, unless the Democrats should bid higher.
This circumstance even might not have excited so
much apprehension, buE for the fact that the Catholic
priesthood have, by the newspapers under their
rol, sgnfed their opposition TO the common schools
Of the country They willing to have Catholic
children educated in schools to ALL and with
ous seetarian tea-bing. The apprehension IN the
popular mind Is, tna If the Catholic Clergy can in
duee the Democratic majority 10 do one thing their
instance they may hereafter induce the Democrats
do another far more important and formidable thing,
viz To divide the school fund or break the school
system.
special regard for either party except as it ayors or
HAY
claim the right control the instruction Of Catholic
children secular well religious knowledge; and
this is their politics. To this end they affiliate with
fhe Demo cratic party, which is not supposed 10 make
education leading object or to adhere to the COM
mon school system with any desperate tenacity.
PLATFORM OF REPUBLICANS.
The Republican Convention represented the senti-
ents Of It's constituents by the fourth and fifth panks
ofsits platform. viz:
"a We stand by free education, our public school
system, the taxation Of all Tor its support and no
division of the school fund.
as Under cur Republican system of government,
fhere should be connection direct indirect be-
tween Church and State, and oppose all legislation
On the interest of any particular Upon this
iect should not tail profit by the experience OF
foreign governments where the efforts of the Chure
TO control the State constitute evil of great magn-
tude and eldanger the power and prosperity OF the
This platform undoubtedly originated in real ap-
prehenson of danger school system, and that
apprehension had become general from the causes
2 have named that it not confined to fhe Repub-
hean party
DEMOCRATIC. PLATFORM.
The Democratic Convention on the 18th of June
found ii necessary also to declare itself on this
which it did as follows, viz:
1--WE favor the complete separation of Church and
Bafe religious Independence and absolute freedom Of
opinion, equal and justice to all religious socie-
tes and purely secular education the expense of
the taxpayer without division among control by
any sect directly or indirectly, Of any portion of the
public school fund In view Of the admirable provi-
ons Of State Constitution these subjects which
Rre due to the energy and wisdom OF the Democratic
party, we denounee the Republican platform in
suit 70 the intelligence of the people of Ohio,
base appeal TO seci arian pTeiudices-"
CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION IN ENGLAND
This resolution, passed by the Democratic State
Convention following it did closely after that OF the
Republican, and in view Of the dOiDgs OF the Demo-
cratic Legislature while in power, reminds one OF
erking performance of the English Tories in the reign
Of William ". on Catholic emancipation.
The Catholics in England we're under many and
severe disabilities. The removal of these disabilities
OF what was known as the "Catholic Characterization -
became great and most exciting question between
with the Duke of Wellington and Sir
Robert Peel at their head maintained
unsetIle the monarchy and ruin the en-
pire. They were then in power. The Wings main
Iained that, however mistaken the dOgmas and the
policy of the Catholics they not be deprived
Of their civil rights merely of their re-
9igious faith. Great was the contest, and long con-
Enued I'LL, IN the process OF time and politics. the
popular mind took decidedly in favor of Catholic
Emancipation, when, after tremendous conflict of
argument and abuse with fearful predictions of dis
aser by the Tories in case Of any relaxation of
Catholic disabilities Parliament was prorogued. In
Jew weeks, on the opening Of another session, the
Tory Ministry came in with bill in favor of Catholic
emancipation, declaring thai it was the
only measure TO save the emnire
and that they alone could carry it OUT and therefore,
st was important that they should remain in cfice
The Whigs were surprised and somewhat embar-
rassed but insisted that the measure should De en-
trusted its friends. and not TO its historic enemies
They said that the record Of the Tories had been such
that the friends OF emancipation could not trust them
gust Of popular opinion had led them to change their
ground 70 keep in Office; but that as soon the popu-
lar sentiment should undergo another change that
subject they would DESERT and disappont the friends
ot emancipation and the cause would be more hope
less than ever
This passage in the history Of English parties and
nsmilar passage IN the history Of the reform bills
that country, BY which the rotten borough system
vas remedied illustrates the recent adoption by the
Democratic party in Ohio Of that plank Of the Repub
Jcan platform which relates to the schools and its
claim 70 hold aud acquire power by carving out Re-
publican principles on that subject
CAN TIE DEMOCRATS BE TRUSTED WITH THE SCHOOLS
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES?
The Republican party might forego the honor of
being in ofce. the Democrats could be trusted ifb
Ehe carrying Out Of Republican principles But Iovs
Of ONCE is their ruling passion. Can we 81 quite sure
Ehat II close contest should arise in which me
Catholic clergy could turn the scale favor of one ar
the other party the Democratic politicians might NOT
be tempted yield something TO them the schools
or school fund.- consideration for another political
Tictory7