The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-09-02
JACKSON G. H., OHIO, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1875

Catholic Church in the United States has
risen from numerical ratio of l to l31
/ in 1870 to l in 6 in 1875, 1t becomes AFRO
! CANT and selfasserting. 1t is the imper-
atiVe duty of all those who would pre-
serve the government of the fathers free
| from all entangling alliance with the
Church to meet these pretensions upon
the threshold, and to stop these en-
croachments upon liberty and law
The Geghan law is innocent by its IT,
tie, and upon its face, but it opens up all
our public institutions to the wrangling
of sects, and makes of them a denomina-
tional battle ground. Heretofore they
have been free from sectarian teaching.
We should keep them so if we would
preserve their discipline and usefulness.
The Geghan law should be repealed by
the next Legislature.
DIVISION OF THE SCHOOL FUND.
No sooner had this bill become a law
than we find the Catholic Telegraph
clamoring against our common school
system, and pronouncing it an abomina-
ton and crime against the Catholic
Church. 1t proclaims against goddess
schools, and demands that a portion of
the money contributed by others shall be
apportioned to the support of sectarian
Catholic schools. If Catholics may do
this, why not all other denominations,
and what then becomes of our common
school systematic pride of our people,
and the foundation of their intelligence,
prosperity, and happiness?
Bishop McQuaid, D. d. of Rochester,
n. Y, in public address in Cincinnati,
at meeting where the Archbishop pre-
sided characterized our common schools
as drifting toward infdelity-a sort of
,,
said by Protestant ministers that the
public schools are adverse to the Catho-
lies. Did they ever think of the posi-
bility of the tables being turned? They
make the mistake which is too often
made by the stronger party. A Protes-
tant minister said to me: When you
get the power, will you put the screws to
US? | replied, How could we dare not
follow your illustrious example? We
would collect all the taxes and con troll
the schools, so that you would have to
support your own and ours also.
In conclusion, he said a better time
was coming. There was gleam of hope.
Catholics must avoid side issues. The
Spanish inquisition punished with tor
ture; the Bismarck inquisition Furnishes
by throwing men into dungeons; the
American inquisition Furnishes by taxa
ton.
He had not voted since he had been
Bishop, but he hoped the time would
come when he might exercise that right.
He hoped this question could be brought
to vote Said he, 81 stand here and
say that unless we bring this thing of
the school taxes to the ballot box, we do
not deserve the name of Catholics. 1t
may not be necessary to bring it to the
ballot-box; we may, by making de-
mand. effect compromise; we may OBJ
tain platform on which we can stand.
Politicians will come to u.s. Irish. Ger
man, and American Catholics will not be
so patient as their fathers have been.
The platform of the schools is not now
for us. 1t is for Jews, for infidels, for
Protestants, but we are under it. Sup
pose we get strong enough to rise up.
Remember, the platform is on us; where
will the platform be then? Men will
learn that we have something more to
do than praying; we must vote, and the
laymen must work There is jealousy
of the priests which will not have force
against the earnest, persistent labor of
the laymen."
The Bishops remarks were earnestly
applauded throughout
All the Democratic orators in this cam
paign tell their hearers that the Republi-
caH party is surviving 10 eXclCe religious |
war. | say again that issue is not of our
seeking but we shall not shrink from it.
Our common schools must be preserved |
intact. There can be no sectarlan teach
ing in them, and there can be no division |
of the school money. They are free to
all, and all must be taxed for their sup
port. Whenever an attack is made upon
6em the people who love and appreciate
them will rally to their support. If it
becomes necessary to be Catholic in |
order to be Democrat, there will be |
fewer Democrats.
The utterances from which 1 have
quoted do not differ in character and |
spirit from those of other Catholic pa
pers and official representatives all over |
the land. | commend them to the care |
ful consideration of all lovers of their |
country.