The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-01
The Know-Not hiug Movement In Ohio.

The Know-Nothiug Movement In Ohio.
The Republican leaders who started the
campaign in Ohio with protested aban-
donment Of their own financial policy
during the last twelve years, and pre-
tended conversion to specie payments,
have all Of n sudden dropped the new
Issue and substituted for II another even
more hypocriticnl than the first. because
Its whole aim is dangerous to the peace of
society and inimicnl to the genius of our
free institutions
Judge TAFT, to his dishonor be IL said,
for better things were expected from him,
HAYES. MOVES, ard others of inferior de-
gree have been and are now travcrsing
the State, striving to excite soctarian pre-
judi,e 10y appeals to funatical passion, aud
to spread alarm upon the most unfounded
preteXts. Secret circulars, lodges, aud all
the accessories Of the old Known othing
organization have been revived, under the
auspices of some OF the chiefs who were
conspicuous in that movement twenty
years ago, when il was stamped out and
buried under general eXecution by the
American people. Now, II is directed
against a particular religious sect but that
Is only the corner stone of crusade of
bigo;ry against all adopted citizens Of
whatever cline or country. As tho Re
publican Conventions OF other States have
adopted the same cry, IL Is evident this
Kuow-Nothing revival was rreconcertcd.
Ii Is the last desperate eNpcdlent of Il
doomed party
Since this partisan scheme has taken
such proportions. the country should
know how utterly false is the pretcucc
upon which II rests in Ohio, rs that is the
key to the whole conspiracy. The expo
sure Of one part OF the plot applies with
equal force to all parts, since they cohere
together, and are entirely destitute Of
foundation in truth or sincerity. With
impending defeat in the State now, aud
the prospect of overthrow in the Union
next year, the Republicans seek 10 divert
attention from their corruption and
frauds, by shouting at the top of their
lungs, "thc common schools are in danger,
and the Democrats are going TO destroy
them
Now. this cry is not only false In itself,
but In the State Of Ohio neither party can
touch the school system without change
In the Constitution. Hsrs =se ths sxs"t
Words
Article =. section 2 The General Assembly, thall
maxi .u,h provsion by t1aion az otnerwsg, as Win
cure thorough and efficient system OF common schools
thr.ugh99i the state but 10 ~ go or cue - ~
Of any Part of INT school fund 81 THE State"
The convention which Framed this Con-
10 In .n1
majority, and was presided over 10y WILL
LIAM MFDILL- afterward Governor Of the
State. 1t was ratified 10y an overwhelming
vote, ana the only opposition made TO il
on account OF this and other liberal pro-
visions came from the very men VINO to-
day are clumouug about common
schools, which they then sought to defeat
by rejecting the Constitution,
This fundamental law of the State can
only he changed Ivy amendment proposed
in the General Assembly, which require.
three-nfths Of the members elected TO each
House, or by calling n Constitutional Com
vention, which requires n vote Of two
thirds of the members elected to eacl
House of the Assembly. Without thcs,
conditions the Constitution stands as il i.
until ls9l.
II is thus seen what the Constitution
prescribcs and that 10 alter II would he {
= litlcal imposs billty in the existing stat,
OF parties, If any serious opposition shoulC
b. made by either side. OF course no law
ia conflict with this instrument coulC
stand. no matter how passed, or 10y which
ever party that happened TO be Temporal
rily in the ascendant.
Al the Democratic Convention Of las
June the following plank WIS made par
Of the platform;
" 2tUrmh .-Wcftv.r the comllcte separation @
fee. ON u op MON, tqual aua exact luftc 10 ali r,
Is ou- soeici4e- ana purely .gculi oeu aiipn at IN
c'nirs ~ rnN sect, n.rc ur indirectly, If any POI
uun 81 Tie luhlic school fund
Language could not he more explicit
positive or authoritative than this Is. Still
the clanor continued which had been got
ten up for partisan uses by trading polti
clans who have betrayed every trust an
corruptly employed every opportunity t
MI their pockets with stolen money. The
denounce the so-callcd GEGHAN bill as a
invention TO destroy the schools and I
uproot Christianity. Let us see what thi
monster of lniquity is.
~ the last session OF the legislature G
Ohio the following act was passed, whic
had been introduced by Mr.. GEGHAN:
-An act to secure liberty Of conscience in mattcra
religion 70 persons mprlsoucd, or detained ly Al
thor Of law.
"sErIoN / liz ende'ed bpne Geaerdl Aaenhly
ne SUITE N Ohi0 That M liberty Of conscience is n,
iurfetcd by rea Of conviction ~ crime ny rrHso
Of detention In any penal retormatory eeeno syna
ln-tltutiun ~ use Of refuge, wOr. house AN
public asylum m this state no person IN any such inst
instruction 81 a torn which Il against the dictates
ls ur her conscience and q shall be the duty Of cvc
director, trustee superintendent other person Pa
ny IA charge any such Institution, 10 furnish amp
and equal facilities To all such pertons for rec wing n
lnns ratio - the authorized clerPYm Of their OW
religious denominations or ptTfuHslone. under SUI
Irhsonane rules ana regulations the trustees dlrc
lort, man gers or tuperintendents shan make, but
IN ruts th'l ic 90 construed 10 prevent the Gle
Iymhn OF any dtnoml ailOn from fully administers
ueakufy"
This is the whole Of il, and there s not
syllable in the act TO which exception ca
be taken. II conforms 10 the first artic
OF the Constitution, which declares;
mo person thAll be compelled 10 attend, ere,
o. support aLy place Of worship. ar maintain a
form ~ worsHip against his consent; aud no prcf
tnce shall he given b Law to any religions society l.
permitted
Tho law puts all persons or an oqu