The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-09
SCHOOLS AND THE CHURCH.

The suggestions of the president relative
to the school question, although not new,
are timely and should meet with general
approval. With him, we believe in a free,
non-sectaran public school, and we be-
lieve, also, that everything which threatens
its existence or integrity threatens the ex
istence and integrity of the nation. 1t is too
self evident to require argument, that
generally diffused intelligence is the bull
wark of free institutions, and that this can
only be obtained through free schools
which shall open up the fountains of know
ledge to the great masses of the people
We believe, too, that it should be oblipa-
tory upon the several states TO maintain
such schools wherein religious, atheistic
or pagan tenents" could not be taught,
and that the school funds or taxes should
never be diverted from the support of such
schools. There may be no danger of any
successful attempt in contrary direction,
but constitutional amendment would rem
der such an attempt impossible. That there
is danger of the attempt being made is con-
coded that the question may become po-
litical one is possible. A constitutional
amendment would prevent it. We all pro-
fess, republicans and democrats alike, to
favor free, non-sectarian public school,
and to oppose diversion of the public
money tor the support of sectarian schools.
Here we all stand on common ground, lei
US then unite and, by an immediate adop-
ton of the proposed amendment, prevent
its consideration becoming party or pc.
litical question, and thus steal whatever OF
political capital there may be supposed to
be in the recommendation. Its adoption
can do no harm it may be productive Of
much good it will prevent an unhealthy
agitation-and that is enough.
In this connection, the president urges
upon the attention of congress the ques
tlon of the taxation of church property
While we agree with him that this vast
amount of property, now exempt from tax
alton, should bear its share of the public
burthens, we fail to see what congress ha,
to do with the subject To be sure, con
| gress has the power to levy direct taxes fo
national purposes, but it has been exercised
we believe, only twice in our history, ant
so, practically, it may be said that the mat
ter is entirely without the province of thu
| general government. The matter belong
| to the states and to the states alone, and
although the states may, if they will, del
egate their powers over the matter to tn
United States, there is no immediate or re
mote necessity therefor, and the Who'll,
matter had better remain where it is. w
hardly think that the president is mucl
out of the way in placing this exemptct
property at thousand millions of dollar
the figures, we apprehend, are rather I'm
der than over the mark if anything-as i'm
perfect returns from Massachusetts alone
based as far as they go on actual statistics
show the exemptions of church property
in that state, to be over thirty and quar-
ter millions of dollars-and the exemption
only applies to property held sin trust
which cannot be slienated or sold. w
doubt very much whether there is any ad
vantage gained by the religious organizs
tons themselves in an entire or partial ex
emption from taxation-as what the men
bers save in taxation in this way they ar
compelled to make up in an enhance
taxation of the property which they hol
as individuals. But there is no necessii
for consideration of this matter now, fol
whether 1t is good or bad policy to exemr
church property, it is matter in which th
general government has, and can have, n
concern.