The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-06-18
THE RePUsLIcAA PARTY AND TIE
COMMON SCHOOLS.

/ The recent Republican Convention of
Ohio plainly declared the true and origi-
nal American doctrine upon the subject
of sectarian control of the public schools.
| 1t Is said that n resolution OF the same
| kind was prepared for the Pennsylvania
Convention, but was withheld by that
foolish and blind timidity which thinks
that the Republican policy should be
negative and not positive. The bold
demand Of the Roman clergy, sometimes
passively sustained by the Democratic
party, that the school fund shall be di-
vided, and the sneer of the same interest
at the public schools as goddess, present
a question that can not be avoided, and
upon which, as upon other fundamental
questions of liberty and progressive civ
ilization, the Republican party repre-
scnts the true sentiment Of the American
people and the logic OF American prin-
ciples. The fear of bringing seetarian-
ism into politics is a very rational fear.
It springs from bitter experience. Our
fathers knew the grounds Of that fear
so well, and had had such sharp expert
ence Of the consequence Of allowing see
tartan influences in government, that
they established religious liberty, and
absolutely forbade the union of church
and state. They knew, as all history
shows, that priests are the most intOler-
ant and unscrupulOus of politicians, and
that Il prieSt-ridden government is the
worst in the world. In our time this
truth has been amply illustrated in
Spain; and the undying spirit of politi-
cal priestcraft is shown i'm the present
attempt of the Church of Rome to OBJ
tain absolute ascendcncy i'll that cOun-
try, with the power OF prosecuting other
sects. And it is to keep state and
church well apart, and TO Danish secta-
rianism from politics, that the Republi-
can position upon this subject is taken.
The proposition in this country to di-
vide the school funds Is not coupled with
the deuunciation Of the schools as god
less without Il reason. The plea is-and
it is plea made by the priests, not by
all the members of the Roman Church
that the RomanisiS cOnscientiOu9ly think
that schools in which a religious creed il
not taught are irreligious, and that to
tax them for their support is to OppreSs
their cOnsciences. This is kind of ar
gument that would put an end to all
common public institutions, and can not
he admitted. a man may reasonably
object to the positive teaching of Il creed
in the schools If he does not accept it,
but to complain that his own creed is
not taught, as if the omission in the
is Il position that can no; be maintained.
The proposition OF division of the school
fund is an effort to force theminOrity to
do the very thing which is unjustIy
made the excuse fordestroying the pres
ent unsectarian system. For If the school
moneys were divided according to the
IeHltlNe nHlnDeFS Oh SeCiSf illc SillitiicE
sects could have no schools, and their
children would be forced either TO attend
schools in which doctrines abliorrent to
their parents would be taught, or to re-
main uneducnted altogether.
Every proposition looking TO this over
throw of the equal, unsectarian common
school system in this country has pro- |
ceeded from the political designs of the
Roman Church, and has been intro |
duced and sustained by the influence of !
the Democratic party. 1t is purpose |
well defined, long cherished, and fos-
tered by the very unwillingness to admit
its existence and 10 oppose it openly, |
and it is a purpose fatal to republican |
liberty and to American institutions.
The time has fully come for recognizing
that an assault is made upon the com
mon schools, and that it must be resisted,
AMI the Republicans Of Ohio, in leading
the defense, have deserved well of the
country and of free oiviIization.-Ha
pey'S WscEiy.
THE good sense displayed 10y the Ohio
RapuI,Ii-anG in i.snpl.in,s fIta Drari1anf,-