The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-08
The Schools and the Presidency.

Mr.. Blaine has issued the most important
manifesto thus far in the presidential cam.
paign of 1876. It is nothing less than an
effort to, appropriate to himself whatever
capital there was in General Grants Des
Moines speech on the Roman Catholics and
the schools. It is admirably put; it is
plausible; is, In fact, the orly solution of the
question, provided a further solution is
needed, and it is launched at precisely the
right time. Mr.. Blaine has discovered that
there Is nothing at present to prevent any
State from having an established church,
or from distributing the funds raised by tax
alton In the interest Of any sect, whether
for education or for other purposes; and he
proposes q constitutional amendment to
limit the powers Of the States to this further
extent. His proposal has the great advant.
age of being In form to which nobody can
object. Nothing can be said against 1t except
thatit is not needed, while the feeling already
aroused goes to show that q great many of
our best citizens think it is needed. Every
politician knows that there is 40 subject on
which the average well.to-do citizen in the
country districts is SO sensitive as upon the
possibility Of Roman Catholic aggression,
particularly with reference to the schools.
There is no point wherein popular prejudice
can be 80 skilfully wrested to political
uses. Mr.. Blaine adroitly seizes upon
this feeling, recognizes the danger to
which the President called the public
at ention, and passes clear beyond him BY
proposing practical remedy. Cynical OBJ.
servers may think it strange to see'P Protestant
ism in the hands of such defenders; and even
the intimate associates Of the President and
of Mr.. Blaine may confess to some surprise
at this sudden zeal In behalf of evangelical
religion against the Pope. Nevertheless,
they have struck upon one Of the most
efficient agencies for use in the present po-
litical situation; and Mr.. Blaine, at least,
knows exactly what he is about. Without
regarding the merits ofthe question or taking
into account all its religious bearings, we
may fairly pronounce this the shrewdest and
most formidable move yet made on the presi.
dental chess.board for 1875. -.
Nor do we make light of the real danger
which does In some quarters threaten the
system of pubic schools. It has already
been found necessary, 10 this and some other
States, TO prohibit by constitutional provi.
sions any division or, diversion of public
school funds. But experience has shown
that these provisions can be eYaded. Itmay
YET. of course, become necessary to meet the
question in, State elections. If the attack
should continue, and at some. future time
should become so powerful as seriously to
threaten the existence of the system Of
free. non:sectarian schools, it may, be
needful, by amendment of the Cons,i.
tuition of the. United States, to. raise
up insuperable barriers against, all forms
of assault upon that system. For, come what
may, the people Of this country, will sustain
their schools. knowing that free thought and
free education are the basis Of republican
government, aud that free institutions can.
not be always safe in any land In which the
education Of the. 2youeg il, left to- the
churehes.--Ne York Tribune. 49,. ~.