The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-09-02
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
A Few Plain Facts for Fair
Minded Men.


fecting to believe that there is great
danger of division of the school fund,
and the destruction of our admirable
school system in case of the triumph
of the Democratic party at the coming
election. To show that these fears, if
they really exist, are utterly ground
less, we invite the attention of the
reader to few indisputable facts. II
First: No Legislature of any party,
or of any religious denomination even,
can divide the school fund without
] FIRST procuring an amendment to the
constitution, by vote of the people,
as that instrument most clearly and
emphatically provides against such q
division. In proof Of this assertion, ,
we quote below the section of the
Constitution on the subject: 374i
lTSec. 2. Art.VI. Constitution of Ohio. ]
The General Assembly shall make
such provisions by taxation or other
wise as, with the income arising from
the School Trust Fund, will secure a
thorough and efficient system of Com
mon Schools throughout the State ;
but no religious or other sect or sects
shall ever have any exclusive right to,
or COL troll of. any part of the School
Fund of this State. si4
And it is well to note here, that this
provision of the Constitution of Ohio
was adopted in a convention a majori-
| ty of whose members were Democrats,
and that the constitution which they
framed was submitted to the voters Of
the State, and its approval advocated
by the Democracy, while its principal,
if not only opponents, were from the
Whig party, which forms the princi-
pal element in the Radical party at
this time. The present school system
was the work of a Democrat, and was
adopted by Democratic Legislature,
as has been nearly or quite all the leg
islation upon the subject. And in all
the history Of legislation in this State
upon the subject, there has meyer been
manifested by the Democratic party
the slightest disposition to go back up
on the honorable record it had made,
even down to the opening of the pres
ent canvass, when its State Convention
adopted the following resolution by a
unanimous vote: -..-f,.,t
Is. We favor the complete separa-
ton of Church and State religious
independence and absolute freedom of
opinion equal and exact justice to all 4
religious societies; and purely secular
education at The expense of the tax
payer, without division among or con-
troll by any sect, directly or indirectly,
Of any portion Of the Public School
Fund. In view of the admirable pro-
visions of our State Constitution upon
these subjects, which are due to the
energy and wisdom of the Democratic
party, we denounce the Republican
platform as an insult to the intelli-
base appeal to sectarian prejudiees.
"Oh," but say these eroakers, ";why
denounce the Republican platform as
an. insult to the. intelligence Of the
people?" Because there was no occa-
sion for attempting to create an issue
upon the subject, as no party and no
considerable number of persons had |
ever dreamed of asking for any such |
division. And was it not insulting to |
the people to ask them to believe what
the Radical demagogues know to be
utterly groundless. bic
The above quotations show the po-
sition of the Democratic party on the |
school fund question. No Democrat-
ic organ, and no Democratic speaker
advocates the division of the school
fund. Neither does the Democratic
party advocate special privileges for
religious or political, but de-
mand equality for all. Unless THE
PEOPLE so desire there can be no di-
vision of the school fund, because it
cannot be done without an amend
ment of the constitution, and that, we
repeat, can only be accomplished by a
vote of the people, SO that If the Rad
cal leaders are sincere in their profess
lions (which there is good reason to
loubt), there can be no issue upon the
question in this contest.
"Oh," but say these sticklers, !" your
,arty passed the Geghan law, which
hows that there is an alliance between
t and the Catholics" But we deny
hat the Geghan law is any more in
he interest of Catholics than it is of
Methodists, Baptists, Disciples, Unita-
'ians, Universalists, or any other de-
of religion. It places each
md every one of them upon an exact
quality. It is just what is demanded
~ the 7th section of the Bill of Rights
# our constitution, which reads as
ollows:
SEC. z. All men have natural and
ndefeasible right to worship Almighty
Tod according to the dictates of their
'wn conscience. No, person shall be
to attend, erect, or support
ny place of worship, or maintain any
orm Of worship, against his consent;
nd no preference shall be given, by ,
aw,. to any religious society; nor
hall any interference with the rights
ous test shall be required as a qualifi-
alton for Office, nor shall any person
e incompetent to be a witness ON ac-
ount his religious belief; but nothing ,
erein shall be construed to dispense
nth Oaths and affirmations. Relig- .
IN, morality and knowledge, howeV-
r, being essential to good government, T
shall be the duty of the General AS
smbly to pass suitable laws, to pro- {
,ct every religious denomination in a
ne peaceable enjoyment of its own +
lode of public worship. and to encour-
ge schools, and the means of instruc-
on. q e -ss. III
To show how clearly that law COM ]
orts with the above quoted section, g
re again republish it: s. K
A Bill to secure liberty Of conscience il
in matters of religion to persons i'm t
prisoned or detained by authority y
Oflaw. :,
"SEcTIoN !. Be it enacted by the :,
General Assembly of the State of Ohio =
hat, as liberty of conscience is not
,rfeited by reason of conviction of e
rime. or by reason Of detention in
ny penal, reformatory or eleemosy-
ary institution, or any House of d
efuge, Work-house, Jail or public L
4 l. ok@k