Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-07-29

question of the stability of our grand
system of public schools supported
by common taxation.
The Cincinnati Commercial, the
leading independent newspaper of the
West, has more than once said that to
raise any cry of alarm about our
schools in order to divert attention
away from the financial issue would be |
simply party claptrap. In this 1 fully
agree with it, because our people ought
TO be fully aroused to the Importance
OF the consequences which would en-
sue if the imitation fraud should sue
ceed through our folly and ignorance
but next to that issue, l hold that the
perpetuation of our common school
system demands our earnest consider
ton at this juncture. Not that it is in
any immediate danger-for it has too
firm grip on the affections of the
great mass Of the people-but because
attempts have been made in the past,
and will be made in the future. to in
| troduce sectarianism into it, and thus
detroy its integrity.
On the I'd of June the State Con
vention of the Republican party, then
assembled at Columbus, adopted the
following as their fourth and fifth dec
laration of principles:
'Fourth-We stand by free educa-
cation, our public school system. the
taxation of all for its support, and no
division of the school fund.
"Fifth-Under our republican sys-
tenn of government, there should be no
connection, direct or indirect, between
Church and State, and we oppose all
Legislation in the interest of any par
ticular sect Upon this subject we
should not fail to profit by the expert
ence Of foreign Governments, where
the efforts of the Church to control
the State constitute an evil of great
magnitude, and endangers the power
and prosperity of the people"
These declarations have no uncer-
tain sound. They mean just what they
say, and they have met responsive
throb of approval from the hearts of
the people, without regard to party, all
over the State and Nation.
But the Democratic leaders in Ohio,
who pander to the prejudices of GER
tain religious sect for the purpose of
holding their allegiance to their party,
denounce these declarations as an in
suit to the intelligence Of the people
of Ohio, and characterize them as g
base appeal to sectarian preiudices.
Now let US see why it was thought nee
essary to insert them in our platform.
The Common School system of Ohio
is, perhaps, as nearly perfect as any
popular institution can be made. Ev-
cry winter for many years our Gener-
al Assembly has devoted a large por
ton Of its time to perfecting the sys
: TEN as from time to time experience
developed it's defects In 1873 the
: Taft bill codifed the laws on the sub
: ject then in exi stence, and has made
! the system one of which we have 8
right to feel proud, and even to boast
: of, The aim of our public schools is
to put within the reach of all, without
: regard to religion Or conditions, tn,
: means of education, which Burke say
sis the sure defense of nations and
. as citizens, we ought to regard it as
. sacred duty to guard them with zeal
II Gus and jealous care. We ought to ex
} tend their usefulness by encouragin,
. our children to attend them, and b
y paying liberal tax for their support
= = and good salaries to the competent
" hard working teachers, whose live
are spent in making them an honor t.
us. But there is something else of ia
y greater Importance which we ought
" guard against, and that is the insidiou
- encrOachments of sectarian zealots
:, who denounce the system as coolies
: and who are working openly snd sc
= cretly for its destruction, through th
= instrumentality of the Democrat
- party. 1t was for this reason that til
, Republican Convention deemed it nee
essary to make these two declaration!
e and the Democracy becoming alarme
- at the position they were placed in be
- fore the people, hastened to follow u
: in declaring their belief in the separa
" ton of Church and State, and in favo
of purely secular education. This de
:. claration came too late, it cannot bin
q the people of the State to the fast tha
- - treaty offensive to the public schoo ol
g had been entered into between tt
IL leaders of the Democratic party an
the Catholic leaders. With the CathC
a. lie religion I have no quarrel. | haI
ed no prejudice against it as a religion.
on have some devoted friends who pr
ar fess its teachings, and respect the
or because they are good men. | am n
at bigoted against any form religion.
lal this country every man has a secur
IS, right to worship God acco riding
ed the dictates of his conscience.
,e[ But religion is one thing and pol
~ tics is another, and when any religio
y sect interferes with the affairs Of t
~ Gu State, as religious society, and by i
~ Influence seeks to accomplish legisl
~ " ton for its advantage over other sect
IN IN then am ready to join hands with {
mnA m freemen to overthrow the party whit
e' will lend itself to such q sect to bre
down our institutions for the me
snO sake of political success.
Z, The Catholic newspapers all ov
no the State have openly declared the
u. " hostility to our public schools, a
o!s a! the same papers have pledged the. su
elr port of the Catholic vote to the Dem
10y cratic party. Taking these facts
u@o Us gether it looks like an alliance for
'on purpose, and I think the Republic
ar party was justified in declaring tn
'eI, firm adherence to school system
0l0 dear to us as a people, when it W
threatened with danger in the future
how But the Democratic leaders de
Of that there was anything written
nth published upon which to base such
ave presumption, and raise the cry of
! of ligious intolerance. Well, let US
bev what the Catholic papers of Ohio
lmn say. quote from the Toledo Cat
r;rs lie Review;
''The Catholic vote should be c.
Z as solloiy lor the democracy at Tue e'
ken ing electloh. 10 IS Ne oRSy PoSS
and This is bold and plain and outspo
v;E ana SHOWS GXaGtlV WnGTo lHe r6lld