The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-05-06
A FLING 10 CATCH POPULAR
PREJUDTCES,

nor School to which we are indebt-
ed, to a great extent, for our pros
perity, as well as our social and moral
character, are inimical to the Catho-
lie Church-hence its intense hated,
and purpose to destroy them. The
Democratic party is the instrument,
by which they expect to accomplish
the destruction of our educational
system, and in view of the fact hat
a majority of democrats are of the
Catholic faith, it is not surprising
that that organization should be
used for that purpose.
For the purpose Of disabusing the
public mind, which the editor Of the
Register has attempted to mislead,
we here copy the Geghan Bill in
full. Had our neighbor done the
same, it would have looked more like
fair criticism:
IA Bill to secure liberty of con-
science in matters of religion to per
sons imprisoned or detained by au-
thority of law.
"SECTIoN l. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State Of
Ohio, That, as liberty of conscience
is not forfeited by reason of convic-
ton of crime, or by reason of deten-
tion in any penal, reformatory or
eleemosyrary institution, or any
House of Refuge, Work house, Jail
or public asylum in this State, no
person in any such institution shall
be compelled to attend religious
worship or instructions of a form
which is against the dictates of his
or her conscience; and it shall be
the duty of every Director, Trustee,
Superintendent or other person hav-
ing in charge any such institution to
furnish ample and equal facilities to
all such persons for receiving the
ministrations of the authorized cler-
gyman of their own religious demon,
ination or persuasion, under such
reasonable rules and regulations as
the Trustees, Directors, Managers
or Superintendent's shall make; but
no such rules shall be so construed
as to prevent the clergyman of any
denomination from fully administer.
ing the rites of his denomination tc
such inmates; provided such minis
tration entail no expense on the pub
lie treasury.
"SEc. 2. That this act shall take
f effect from and after its passage"
7 Now there is the Bill that all thi
: blow about the school funds bein!
destroyed is made, and in all candol
what Las it to do with the Commo,
t Schools of the State, dividing tn
School funds,o or the Catholic Church
n The idea is simply preposterous i
the extreme, and could have onl
originated in the partisan brain c
the editor Of the Register, to preju
dice the minds of Protestants agains
C the democratic party. The title {
the Bill itself refutes the fling of til
Register, for it declares it to be g
Bill to secure liberty of conscience i
S matters of religion to persons in
e prisoned or detained by authority {
a law" Neither the context nor til
b provisions of the bill has anythin
S to do with either common schools {
i the division of the school fund. !
simply provides that those in COZ
n finement under authority of the laE
o shall not have their liberty of col
n science controlled. This enactment
Il in strict accordance with the GENT
d of American institutions from the
earliest date on this continent, an
it is strange that the editor of IL
4, Register should thus torture an
n misrepresent the provisions of
D bill, truly democratic and just, an
'e having for its object the severant
of Church and State. Desperate &
y ternatiyes require desperate effor
lie for success, whether true or falls
a and SO it is with the Register, Il
a editor doubtless considering the en-,
e, to DE accomplished, justifies the u
III of false means to attain it, howev
a audacious they may be. This is
in dreadful alternative for any man
n assume, and whether the Dayton CT
" gentleman can ~honorably survive
he glazing a Misrepresentation as he
presented, time will prove, viii
4: event we shall await with some {
gree Of anxiety.
This Legislature prior to ms a
y 5000