New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-11

tenn, approaching its vital necessity as 4
basis of free government.
| 1t is impossible to indulge these cheerful
beliefs any longer. A change of opinion
already appears. The number of those who
openly and uncompromisingly attack the
school system has greatly increased. They
can not be acting thus without encourage
Catholics who used to defend and uphold
the eystem have grown mysteriOusly silent.
Plainly, the influence of the church is being
| silently and steadily exerted to array all it's
adherents in opposition to the system. II
would be worse than folly to suppose tina.
no hostility is intended, when such PROPOSE
tions are bluntly made as that of the vicar
general respecting the schools of New York,
or when such nominations are made, and
by such means as those which the people
OF this city now have before them. A fight
is evidently at hand, fight to the death,
10 which either the system of free schools
or the influence of the Catholic Church in
American politics must be finally destroyed.
With the beliefs of men we cOuntenance no
interference. This country should offer, az
it has done hitherto, tree asylum and equal
protection to men of every religious faith.
But when an attempt is made to undermine
our free institutions by those of any faith
or OF no faith at all, it is time to defend
those institutions, and, if it be necessary, to
drive that hostile influence completely out
of our public affairs.
The American people regard the public
schools as the very foundation OF their
freedom. They know what sort of public
opinion exists in lands where parOchlal or
sectarian schools have controlled the train
ing of the Young. In every such country,
without q single exception, free govern
ment has been found impossible. Ii estab-
lished, as in some such lands it has been,
it has either been undermined or over
thrown, or transformed into a mastery of
brute torce-a virtual despotism. As there
is but one church which claims temporal
supremacy, and asserts the infallibility of
Its ministers, so that church only refuses to
tolerate non .sectaran education OF the
young, and thus places itself in hostility
to free institutions. And, as Mr.. Gladstone
asks whether q sincere Catholic can pos
sibly be loyal subject of Great Britain,
we IN this country, with free institu-
tons and popular suffrage, will soon be
forced to ask, with even greater reason,
whether sincere Catholic can possibly be
friend of the republic. If he disbelieves
or refuses to carry out the doctrines of his
church, he is Catholic only in name. If
he believes and seeks TO carry out those
doctrines, he is an enemy Of free govern
ment. We are by no means adv COATES of
proscrlptive spirit or policy. As long az
no assault is made upon the system of free.
schools, we wish to see this land offer to
men of all creeds equal welcome, protec.
lion and opportunity. But if that assault is
10 be made in the name and by the inhu-
'nce OF the Catholic Church, it will be in
'rder to consider whether constitutional
amendment should not be adopted, disqual-
tying any adherent of that church from
folding any office, legislative or other, in
which power can be used to the injury of
he school system.-.St. Louis Democrat.