The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-03-14
The School Question.

wbelmed in the waters OF the heu oe"'
Catholics. of whom the children of Israel a
were the figure, often find history repeat {
iug itself in their regard, in experiences OF b
this kind. The school outrage will prop Ii
ably afford an instance in point In many
places, and bids fair to do 30 In this com
M unity pretty coon. Some overwhelming
disaster frequently breaks the strength o.
persecution. Thus poverty in our midst Is
beginning to bear 80 heavily on the people
that the school tax is getting to be an an
supportable burthen to Others oesioes
Catholics.
| Mr. E. A. Burke, one Of our Municipal
Administrators, has realized this fact, and
proposes to the consideration of the next
Legislature, law by which the present
school tax of this city will be reduced more
than one half. At this, as was to be ex
pected, Rsdicalism becomes rampant
through it's organ here, a journalistic para
site called the Republican. This foreign con-
cern, which has fastened itself on the pub
Y lie treasury and fattens on public mlstor-
tune, is greatly concerned about this "bloW
at education" as it calls the cry of a sinking
people for relief Persons may be, to
certain extent, judged by their company
and measures by their advocates. That ed
Z, ucation which has the Republican for Its
J., advocate is suspicious. We have always
8 contended that the control of education by
the State is power totally foreign to its
b legitimate functions, and is political Rsdi-
calism in the very worst form except that
d where a control of religion is assumed.
: We suppose every one, by this time, un-
4 derstands the distinction which comes in
here. The State cannot control education !;
i the State may furnish education. There
80 fore, we are against public schools, but In
h favor of public education. We think that
1e the State may pay for the education OF
y certain children remarkable for either their
brightness or their poverty or the merits OF
v their parents, but it ought to place these
M children at schools created and carried OF
to through private enterprise. The parents
We ought to have the untrammeled choice O.
az those schools, and the education ought to
be simply paid for by the State, not con
trolled by it.
,' But this would not be Radicalism. l
4. would merely be carrying principle to it
ate legitimate length, and not to an absurd ex
k,s IRENE, which latter is the very essence o
ich Radicalism. Therefore the Republican an
it's acknowledgements in name, many c
would them-scotf at any such plan. Tha
plan educate all who need public aid j
their education, and one would think th
nj. enough. But, no! 1t would require only
ope rlolcuiously small TAX, anu taaI "ouid h'
ON do; it would give no patronage to the ger
l. tlemen who run the machine, and thu
. would not do !; finally, it would not tend I
" aggrandize the State, and that would not d
,aa. Well, perhaps poverty will do what con
om. mon sense ought to have done. Perhaps
ent will teach the people to scrutinize this a
ity, sumption by the State of the right to o
le1t ganize and carry on schools of it's own, an
perhaps they will conclude that the whist
a., ., is not worth paying for.
Iaoo But the Common School System
ew. doomed to harder test than even this.
ish- is beginning to wane on the score of Il
ION spectability. Formerly, in the hey dey
6 of the Public Schools, they were under Il
nere control of our most influential citizen
will These gentlemen took an enthusiastic pc
sonal interest in them; this enthusiasm e
Dur tended to their families and friends, to t
this newspapers, to the public. The schoo
city were pulled, they were praised, they b
ngth came the fashion. The city took pride
hum them. The most exclusive, the most T
ased fined people showed their interest prac
lren' cally by sending their own children.
'0fS' But how is it now The regime is tota
d.; different. The machine is run by men W
IIol, are generally considered public enemi,
,rcb The common impression is that it has
thew come a party engine, worked to gre
Pa extent for party ends. The personal
lived terest which formerly impelled our leadi
5 of citizens to send~their own children to
will institutions has not only disappeared
changed to disgust This is being grea
dora. heightened by the introduction of mel
atorv pupils. The nobility will withdraw tn
land, children the cOmmOnalty Will not be IL
this in perceiving it, and then-good- by
Co., -, 7