Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-07


the subject Of common schools The rus
tees Of the Catholic parochial schools in New
York city have recently requested the board
Of education 10 appoint a committee OF ITS
own body to meet similar committee ol
their body. "to consider on what terms the
said parochia schools may he admitted to
the benefits Of the common school system
subject to its laws a. regards the course Of
instruction. the methods Of discipline and
the general management in such manner
as shall be agreed
This request is exciting discussion aud
comment all over the country. as if there
was some covert and Interior object in it.
The paper, of New York. SO far as We have
observed. unanimously discountenance any
project which coutemplates the teaching Of
the Catholic faith or amy form Of religious
faith in the public schools They regard
any proposition To introduce scctarian re-
ligious training into tn public schools, as
tending toward complete disintegration of
the common school system
The Ndfion says The only terms the
Catholic committee can offer include, neces-
sarilv. the reservation 10 the Catholic clergy
of the virtual management Of the schools 10y
the selection OF teachers. and the giving of
religious instruction as part Of the school
course" 1t also says that it is in effect
proposition TO allow the Catholics 10 with
draw their share Of the school tax from the
common fund IN order to maintain their own
parochial schools. Il very pertinently asks,
chow long will other determinations remain
satisfied with the present system il one re-
igious denomination is permitted to draw
upon the public funds for the support Of its
own schools 2" Episcopalians aud Presby
terians. Methodists and Cougregationalists
would like to educate their own children
in their own way if they can get the state to
raise funds for them by taxation. To allow
one of them the right 10 divert the public
taxes to its own denomiuational schools, will
be to admit the right Of all to do !. and the
result would speedily b. the destruction OF
our present system Of common schools.
1t seems to Us that this question lies in a
nutshell II can be settled very easily on a
principle Of equal and exact justice TO all
the religious denominations. 1t is very clear
to us who have been trained in the ideas
Of republican institutions, and Of civil and
religious liberty, that the state, in the first
place, is under obligations commensurate
with its own existence and prosperity, to
provide for the education OF all its people in
the elementary branches Of human knowl-
edge. The electors Of free state must be
qualified to a certain extent for their func-
tions by education, and this education the
government, rs matter of necessity and
self-preseryaton. undertakes to furnish
This popular education, or the common
school system, is a fundamental principle
AMI idea in a free government. The former
is essential to the latter. An imperial gov
eminent can reach its best estate in the
high intelligence and cultivation Of the
rcigning family; AN aristocracy demands
culture in its ruling classes: a republic ex-
lists only by the diffusion of education aud
intelligence in the sovereign people. The
governing class. in all governments, must be
qualified to govern. Aud, therefore, in a
popular government, the principle is funda-
mental that education must be universal
The common school system is not AN excres
cence, In, it is an element in the life and
welfare OF a republic
And it has always been an admitted prin.
ciple in popular government to recognize
aud tolerate religious liberty; the right OF
the people to worship God according to the
dictates of their own consciences This
right is conceded To all. aud therefore all
denominations in religion stand equal aud
on the same footing before the state. Nc
one has superior rights to another to the re
oognition the care, the protection, or the aid
of the state The state knows no distinc
ton in the different churches, and can admit
none without violation Of the very idea Of
denomination rights aud privileges which il
does not give to another, would be destructiv,
of the Republican idea, would be to make
distinction between those churches which
II would be 10 throw the weight of the gov
eminent in favor of one and against tn
other denominations. Hence the govern
ment, while it RENTS taxes on all churcl
property, imposes taxes for the support o
no church. II treats all alike in its exemp
ton, and treats all alike in giving to mont
any special subsidy. To do otherwise woulC
he an offense that would not be tolerated il
popular government.
1t has always been customary for the vari
Gus Protestant denominations to have thei
own UNCONVENTIONAL schools and educationa
institutions supported byprivate benefcenc
and endowment. In communities also whel
more liberal education has been require,
than is furnished by the public funds, pr
vate schools have been established, sustaine,
by fee Of the scholars or by private generoi
ity. No Protestant denomination asks tn
aid Of the state, by public taxes, for the SUP
port of such private institutions Of learning
Our dnominational schools never receiv
support Of the state through or 10y taxation.
The Catholic has the same rights in a
the public schools that the Protestant Ia,
lie should not ask for less, nor should he hav
more. lie has the same right to establis
UNCONVENTIONAL schools, as the Protestan
has, and the same right also to supper
them by his private liberality. When a
Epscopalian dislikes the common school, h
can establish apriyate school and pay for i
When a Catholic dislikes the common schoo
he has the same privilege. In this respec
all the churches stand equal before the Law
and the law does injustice To none TIL
public school is opened TO all, and If any on
has a preference for a private paroehi.
school, he has the right to indulge his pre-
erence by paying for it.
Nor is the government at liberty to decid
in favor Of the arrogant or exclusive claim
of any religious denomination. 1t ought no
for moment to recognize one as hayiu
more valid claim TO divine prerogatiye tina
another. If the Methodist says Mine /