Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-07-09

j
question as if the question were dis
tinctly stated. The moment the
public authorities recognise the right
of sect to public money, for the
special purpose of holding its chill
dren together for sectarian instruc-
tion, they destroy the public schools
so far as any action of theirs can ac-
complish that end. One sect has no
more rights in America than anoth-
er, and the result Of. consent would
be the abandonment of the public
schools, and the transformation Of
our Board of Education into a Board
of Apportionment. We have no
State religion. We never ought to
have, and we never shall have one.
Of course, no exclusive rights can be
granted to any sect, and concession
of public moneys to Catholic schools
would be the practical recognition
Of the right of every sect to educate
its own children, in its own way, at
the public expense. The logical and
practical resalts of such q concession
are so plain, that it is mere waste of
type and paper to argue the matter
at any point. 1t is one of those things
,wlfich cannot be done, and can only
be considered for the sake of courte-
sy or form.
But would the Catholics be gain.
efs, Supposing their request was
granted? Here We touch the motive
of the whole matter. The Catholic
Church as a power, and the Catholic
people as portion of the free Amer
ican nationality, are not the same.
Indeed, to speak the simple truth,
their interests are not the same. It
is no slander, because it is freely
confessed, that the Church lays its
controlling hand on every conscience
and every life within its power. 1t
can hardly claim that those within
It's fold are better citizens, finer
members of society, purer patriots,
or more Intelligent men or women
than those W ho belong to the differ
ent Protestant communions, and
have been bred in the public schools
without sectarian hands to shape
their opinions. 1t would not be
pleasant to appeal to facts, as they
they stand up in this or other coun-
tries, and we do not appeal to them,
further than to declare that in no
point of advantage to pupils has it
ever been shown that a Catholic pa
rochial school is superior to the
American public school. 1t has new
ermade purer men and women, bet
ter and more loyal citizens, more
Independent thinkers, sweeter COM
Inunities. III Aidt' $40 ( - '--- IL
In nation ike ours, whose well
fare depends ina large degree upon
homogenity. OF material, common
sympathy where sympathy is posi-
bic, and cordial tolefakion where it
is not possible, it is most important
that all means should be used for
breaking down sectarian and party
prejudices- among 1.-The young. To
train children into bigots,s to, make
them belieFe that they and only
those born OF gathered into the fold
where they happen to stand, are the
elect of God, while all outside are
beretics or worse, is to make poor
patriots of them and poorer Chris,
tians. 1t matters mot whether they
aresGatholic or p rOtestanf- "a train
ing Ike tMs Is simply abomlnable,
There Nis net a$chureh in America
acknowledging its allegiance to the
tenets of a sect, and interested in the
maiAteaahoe an4spread of those ten.
efits, that IS fit to be iRtrusted with
the education of any portion of the
American youth. We are ashamed
to say. it, but it is true, and Just as
true of the Protestant as of the
Catholic. n9a gss
I Let US, as Americans, hold one in
stitutioA particularly sacred-that
one in which the children and youth
of all communions and classes, all
parties, all conditions, are brought
together, and trained to respect each
other, and a common love of freedom
and free institutions. To constitute
and maintain this institution is the
business of the State, and it is the
duty of the State to say to all polit-
ical parties and religious sects;--
"Hands off! You can take your chill
dren from the public schools if you
will, but l will not be party to the
proceeding. You can foster parti-
san spirit among them and bind them
to your opinions, but not with my ap-
prcval. You would train subjects
| for yourselves and not for me, and
you shall have no money Of mine for
your purposes"
The Protestant, like the Catholic,
is anxious for the moral well-being
and religious culture of his child
He takes care Of these, at his church
and in his. home. The Catholic can
be treated in this matter no differ
emily from the Protestant, and GER
tainlY, any Protestant sect which