Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-09-10


supposed TO be hostile to the common school sys-
tenn and 10 desire and hope Tor division OF the
of an alliance with the opponents OF the common
school system and nothing is more natural than 70
suppose that their allies viii claim some advantage
also in the line OF their leading o0leeL hence oc
CURED to the Democratic platform builders that they
must protest against what seemed 50 natural conse-
quenee-
'Gentlemen, please not to give heed 10 appearances
We know and you know that the Catholic clergy have
political objects except to control the education OF
the Catholic children in their parochia schools
and the Catholic people against taxation Tor
the support Of the public eopmon schools Their rei
gion is their only politics. They care little for any
Of the distinctive principles of either party, but on the
subject of the common schools they are jealous and
nervous. They think they v-anged because the
Catholics have to pay taxes and yet permitted
70 enjoy the public schools with such religious insrue-
tions as make them acceptable to the Catholic clergy
1t is therefore, their only object in mngling in poll
tics TO change in their relations to the COM
mon schools by which they can either get an entrance
with their religious teaching into the schools or get
out of the school fund share proportiOned TO the
number of Catholic children escape taxation for
ing, II not the only object which the Catholic clergy
have now in politics, and we have been and are in
alliance with them politically, it seemed necessary
that shoold explain that We are true 70 the common
schools aeUerfhele6s."
DEMOCRATIC POSITION SUSPICIOUS
Now felow-citizens it is difficult to that the
Democratic situation in relation to the Catholic clergy
required considerable explanation. But still, the
question recurs whether these protesting Democrats
can be trusted with SO great an interest while in
profitable alliance with the only opponents that IN
| terest has in America.
The Democratic politicians seem to concede that
their relation the Catholic opponents Of the schools
is suspicious, and calls for explanation and protests
| tiOn. Otherwise why do they make such plank,
| when they reproaeh the Republicans for doing the
thing insulting to the people of Ohio? They
to have felt apprehension that the Democratic
! plank would come under the same condemnation. It
is for the people of Ohio to say whether these pro-
tesatOns can be relied upon trusted under the cir
cumstance The interest is too vital to be left in any
doubt
No mother ever cherished her only child with more
Jealous than free republic cherishes, ought TO
cherish its system of universal popular education
its common schoOs-a7d however slight the posi- biity
OF d5nger, 1t will be avoided with something like the
dread with which we approach precpice, though we
do not propose TO plunge over it.
The people Of Ohio not afford to intrust its pre-
cious common school system to a confederacy, of
which al least member has no other interest in
politics than 10 overthrow it or to make it subserVient
to ecclesiastical purposes.
Now, gentlemen l do not intend to assert that the
Democracy would be induced sacrifice the schools,
that tine result Of the confederacy between it and
the Catholic hierarchy will be the overthrow Of The
school system. have too much faith in the common
sense Of the people, and even the Democratic people,
outside of the Catholic clergy, to assert that. Never
theess why should we not intruSt the destinies Of
the schools to party composed wholly of their nau-
! raj friends? This is a point on which the Ameri-
can people disposed to any risk whatever
II not be doubted that the Catholic clergy hope
for aid from the Democratic party in the
which they have most at heart: l trust that they
will be disappointed. wish them no harm; out
trust they may be forever disappointed in any hope
they may entertain against the perpetuaton and eff
| cheney Of the common schools
BROAD DISTINCTION BETWEEN CLERGY AND LAIrY.
| FellOw-citizens, you will observe that 1 make
broad distinction between the Catholic clergy and the
Catholic aity. Many of the latter take deep inter-
esI in the common schools, and believe, would be
glad to unite with otner citizens in the support and in
/ the enjoyment OF them. Many Of them send their
children the public schools and themselves become
jealous and useful Trustees IN the management Of
i them.
the reading Of the Bible and singing Of hymns as an
opening exercise Of the schools they were anxious to
have the new rule adopted, as doubt not, for the
purpose OF making the schools unObjectionable for
their children, and with the expectation of sending
their children 10 the common schools. But when,
last the Judgment oil the Court had secured the object
for which they had long contended, another ques
ton arose, which it is probable had not been fully
considered by the Catholic aityl but whch was not
satisfied with the common schools places for the
education OF Catholic children and regarded them
not sufficiently religious I do not believe that the
Catholic aity would object to the schools Cncin
natl they are but for the influence of the priest
| hood.
The theory of the Catholic clergy is that no schools
can be satisfactory TO them which do not permit the
full instruction OF Catholic children in the Catholic
faith so that they may be well indoctrinated with
their religious opinions the time they are ac-
quiring secular knowledge and discipline if not the
instructors. Their only way secure this OBJ
ject of the school fund have it divided; and
they do not yet why this can not be done. They
oppose the common schools, therefore, even when
lieved OF all sectarian teaching in the hope of
raugement by which they can have the teaching of
Catholic children under the Of Catholic reg-
! ious teachers, in schools supported by the
school fund.- which is raised by taxes levied upon all
that the Catholics be relieved of the school tax
And they think they propose fairly when they pro-
that all other denominations shall have the same
privilege They think their position is logical and
| just, and adhere to it, through GOOD report and
through evil report with characteristic perSever-
which belongs to the history OF the Catholic HE
ra-chy.
IT WAS RIGHT TO sEcULARIzE THE, SCHOOLS IN GIN
CIENATI.
Now, thought that when they and the Jews asked
have common schools secusrzed in order that their
children might not be aught what they regarded as
religious error, should yield to their demand. This
has been done in Cincinnati, where the question
was practical.
In the great majority OF schools presume that it
not and not practical question at all as
there are not persons objeeting to such religious
services may be in nse, and presume that in per-
baps still more neghborhoOds where all are subsian-
tally OF one faith, no religious services have been
| thought necessary.
In Cincinnati, where the Catholic churches and all
shades of Protestant churches strong, and where
also, the AuHidiQRs, they called in the dis
eussions the Bible question: also numerous the
rule established by the Board of Education with the
sanction Of the Supreme Court, unquestionably
right and leaves the schools and the school fund in the
securest possible position.
IF CATHOLIC CLERGY HAD ACCEPTED SECULAR EDUcA-
TIoN THE CONTEST WOULD HAVE ENDED.
If the Catholic clergy well laty had been con-
tent to enjoy the secular education Of the schools and
give their religious instructions in the family and in
their churches the controversy would be ended hap
PLY ended
But the Catholic clergy yet prepared for this
they have, in other countries, many ages, had
supervision of the secular well religious education
OF the young, and they claim it here. In this think
they mistaken; aAd that strong and well organ-
lied as the Catholic clergy are they attempting an
impossi6iiity. They have faith in the divinity Of
| their Church. But they will have TO learn in
America that there is a divinity in the Republic
impregnable and more potent than that which any
Church organizations can bring against it. They
should reconcile themselves the ground they have
achieved-that Of equality and justice between all
Churches To attempt more, and insist on a division
of the school fund, destruction of the system will
accomplish good and WILL as it is now doing excite
the powerful and in6exible opposition TO them
and to any party which shall deude them with its
profered friendship. This say in spirit of per-
sOnsl hostility the Catholic clergy. do regard
them other than honest religious men, seek
ing what they suppose they not entitled to. am
not OF their faith, but disposed persecue
mRgn them. But, in my Judgment, all
attempts to the division Of the school fund,
the introduction Of religious teaching into the
schools, in the interest Of any church. vain and
injurious, and ought 10 be abandoned. regard such
attempts in this country arising from a miscon-
ception OF institutions. OF course need not saw
that, with my conviction Of duty, should be inhexi-
bly, opposed to any and all such attempts 1 regret
this mistake Of Catholic clergy, not so much that
believe there is prospect OF the Of their
efforts that it engenders unnecessary bitterness
aud aWakens very great apprehensons the part of
thousands who fear their power in this direction far
more than do. i do not SUPPOSE that the Catholic