Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-09-09
FACTS.

First, In New OrK OatnOllcS as
sect enjoy discriminating favors to the
amount of millions. In New Jersey,
also, and largely. Second, in the Ohio
Legislature of 1866 and 1867, Don Piatt,
a Catholic, very adroitly prepared, and
handed over to cats-paw "a Bill whose
provisions would have placed at the
will of the Catholics the entire support
of their sectarian schools out of the
State School fund. So artfully was it
drawn up that some, even Republicans
did not at first see the Jesuit snare
Let the Records at Columbus he care
fully searched-as they soon willard
this anti-free school, Catholic, Demo-
cratic Bill be spread before the people.
For Piatt's Bill every Democrat voted.
And had it not been for the large Re-
publican majority then in the Legisla-
ture, who finally voted down the Bill
it would have passed, and the Catholics
might to day be drawing funds from
the State Treasury for the support of
every Catholic sectarian school in Ohio.
This would, very likely-and why not?
have forced other large denOmina-
tions to avail themselves of the law,
and demand their share of the school
fund, and so lead to the certain aboli-
tion of our "free school SYSTEM" Here
just now lies the true issue-the
danger to our free school system.
Now, since Democratic ascendency
in the Legislature, and since the sue
cess of legislation at the demands of the
Catholic Church, patriotic eyes are
opened to the real danger. And now,
the question meets us in the face-what
have Catholics demanded of other
governments? And, where they have
ascendency what have other gov
ernments yielded to the Catholic
Church and her priesthood? What
have been, and are now the struggles
for civil and religious libertyin Mexico,
and the South American States? What
has the young King of Spain been
forced to yield of liberty at the dicta-
tiOn of the Roman Vatican? Let every
American citizen ponder. What
dashed the Infant Republic of Spain,
and crushed both civil and religious
] liberty? Beyond controversy, the
Power at Rome dictates to Spain to-day.
No Catholic country on earth can en-
joy the free school system as in the free
States Of America. And to-day in
| UNIV Vic iCC oSHOOl SyotcL1 CdluOl lUUS
be enjoyed if Democrats are establish
ed in power, and shall need the Cathol-
lie vote as now. Because, the Catholics
hold the balance of power, and they
know it. That balance is in the reach
of any unscrupulous political party
The Democratic party is just such an
unprincipled party, and Catholics
know that as well. Hence the Gehan
law. And hence the simultaneous at.
tacks upon the free schools from almost
every Catholic paper in all this broad
land. Hence the rallying of every
Catholic voter-not every foreigner
under the Democratic banner. Hence
the holy politico Alliance of the Demo.
cracy and Catholicism for reciprocal
favors. So it is to-day in every priest.
ridden country on earth. So it will be
under the rule of the Alliance in this
fair Republic.
Facts and figures are said to be stub.
born things. Now, one fact here
Fifty years ago the Catholic children
were taught in the same schools with
Protestant and other children, when
the Bible was read freely as a Text.
Book, and when the schools were open.
ed with prayer, and not word of any
trouble about it. And why? None
because of the Bible. None because
of any thing taught in the schools OF
not taught in them. None because OF
the schoOl-fees, or any infringement
upon civil rights, or rights of consci.
ence. There was no political party