Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-10-06
/ REvEREND MS CRITICTsM OF THE
PREs1DENT'S RE UNION

Des Moines. Feeling deeply impressed
with the supreme importance Of the
spread of general intelligence, and
the maintenance of our system of
common school education, he spoke
out plainly, led to do so. no doubt,
from what appeared to him to be
dangers threatening that system in
the near future. Within twelve hours
thereafter, there appeared in the Dem.
ocratic organ at Des Moines the State
Leader. a lengthy letter i'm severe crit.
icism of the Army of the Reunion
and the President, from the pen OF
Rev. Father John +. Brazil Tho
Leader heads the letter: "vIcAR GEN.
ERAL BRAzIL-HIs COMMENTS UPON
THE REUNION"
From this letter we quote at con-
siderable length, and will do so with
out comment at this time. We ask.
however, the attention Of our readers
to it. Give it careful reading, and
reflect upon it:
To the Editor Of the Leader:
The meeting at the Opera House
last evening, on the occasion ofthe Re.
union of the Army of the Tennessee,
was, in point of numbers a success. Ii
was a social gathering Of citizens, and
officers, who assembled to praise and
hear themselves praised. One would
think we have had enough of this.
Brave men should remember that
bravery and modesty are not separa-
BILE, and that it is the noisy, hawling
craven who is most apt to herald his
own praises. The existence or utility
of such society is. at least, very
questionable, unless it be to establish
a military empire on the ruins of the
Republic, and the President, in his
written remarks last evening, appear
ed to hint at such contingency. He
says: "If we are to have another con-
test in the near future of our national
existence ?"
Military societies in a republic are
most certainly an anomaly. and to be
always suspected especially if headed
by military President, who is ambi-
tious for ''third term" of Office. II
we are to be one people and one ma
ton, evaporation will not promote
it, and the valiant men who Assem-.
bled at the Opera House last evening
ought to know that such course does
cxasperate, naturally, and Of necessity
must do so. Patriotism does not re.
quire the perpetuation Of national OF
civil feuds, and the Executive VIII,
would lend himself thereto. is no
true to the sacred and sworn dutie
and obligations of OFFICE.
But the President, who might b,
expected to give statesman's view
of the object of the Reunion, did new
ertheless. nothing of the kind. III,
said. however. that we should all la
Dor to get more guarantee for fire,
thought, free press, free speech, FIRE,
religion, and pure morals. None can
doubt that the President of the Unit
ed States was extremely instructiv,
and intelligent in these, his remarks
No preacher could write them better
and no preacher did write them. Blu
the logic OF the President was aheat
of his rhetoric! Every child grow
ing up in the country should have al
opportunity of good common schoo
education unmixed with sectarian
PECAN or atheistical tenets.' If. the
President would only point out to u.
how the above impossibility could b.
made possible, we would consider
him benefactor. Sectarianism in this
country includes all the religions there
are in it, or it is none of them. Ii
none of them, how can the State edu-
cate outside them all without its edu.
cation, being either pagan or atheist.
cal, or does the State propose to have
a state religion, (and if SO what is i,
to BEL as it has Stntc Schools Z n y
educates within sectarianism, to which
sect is it to give preference w,
would be glad to hear the President
on these very difficult questions.
President says next-"Leave reli
gion to the family altar, the church
and private schools, privately sup
ported" Well, "if every growing III
child in the land is to have the oppor
tunity of a good common school ed
ucation," where, or how would an,
be left for the private school?
1t is to be regretted that our worth,
President touched upon these subject
at all. He certainly has nothing to d.
with them, and he is evidently not &C
quainted with them, unless it be thro
jaundiced channels or sectarian SQUIRE
| cs.
As it is to be regretted that tn
President has at all alluded to sub
jects which belong to State govern
ments, if at all, and not to the gener
al government, so it is to be hopet
| that in future he will be as unsectar
ian in national and civil affairs, as h,
would be in educational, and that M
movement, however honest, or wei
meant, il calculated to ALLEVIATE or ir
ritate one section of the country
Iagainst the other, will receive thu
sanction of his presence or approba
ton. / am persuaded that such, upol
reflection and mature deliberation
will appear to be the proper cours
to the gallant officers OF the Army o
the Tennessee. JOHN +. BRAZIL.
The foregoing letter of criticism i
itself SO open to criticism, that itneed
no attention at our hands. The read
err needs only to read it to condemn
it, and it is only to show how accur
ately our faithful President has por
troyed the danger ahead, that W
publish it.
| The Hon. Charles Mason, of Bur
i lington, this State. has been airin.