, 1875-05-02

oaics Of New York with reference to the
union af their pnrochinl schools with The
public schools, famiiarly known as the
"Poughkeepsis plan" I" is only n presentation
OF their original proposition in another form,
aiming at the same purposes, and, if accepted
by the Board Of Education Of that city, des-
tined to bring about: the game results, Ths
details Of the Poughkeepsis plan are sub
stantia1ly as follows: The Board of Educa-
ton leased the Catholic parochia1 schools for
ten years OF = nominal rent, the right to CAL
cal the lease within certain time being re-
served by both parties to tha lease. The
teachers, who were mainly Sisters Of Charity,
Rftcr passing examination by the Board, wars
reappointed. The textbooks ia use in the
public schools were adopted During the
school hours, occupying half the day, there
ere no religious exercises Of any hind, but
after their expiration, and Sufficient time has
been devoted to cleansing the rooms, then
they are used for religious instruction and
devotions. This plan the Catholic clergy
are mdustriously pressing upon tho
New York Board upon two grounds:
first, that it has thus far worked well
in Poughkeopsie, and giron no ground forcom
plant, and, second, that it is in the nature
Of compromise, and generous ens at TINT.
Tho first reason has very little weight.
Poughkeepsie is small interior locality,
whera tho working 6 >.:ae plan would not
manifest itself with any degree Of elearness
as to results and; even if it would, tho adop-
ton Of the so-called " compromise is too
recent to afford any opportunity OF Judging
its merits. The second reason is only make
shift. Tho Poughkeepsie plan is in DO sense
a compromise. It Is the old proposition IN
another shape. It would be absurd to Sup
pose TINT the Catholic clergy ha7e abated in
tbs smallest degree their determination to
make the Stata assume the expense Of main
tanning their dogmatic schools, and 6varing
the school fund from its present unsecta1ian
application. They. relinquish none Of their
claims in presenting this plan. If they did,
they would convict themselves Of insincarity.
The real meaning Of the Poughkeepsis prop
osition is that, after the pupils Of these paro-
chid schools have finished their daily secular
studies, then they shau be instructed in the
Roman Catholic dogma, and these 'instruc-
tons shall be given in building maintained
by the State or city, and by teachers who are
to be paid out Of the public treasury. This
is only the old proposition revived. It is al
they havs ever claimed or expected The
only difference is that they seek to reach thu
same end BY another road.
The determined opposition OF tho better
c1nss Of papers in New York, without refer
ence to their partisan character, makes it ap-
parent that, if this plan is over sdopted, it
viii only happen after Q long and obstinate
resistance upon the part not only of Protest.
ants, but also Of large and well informed
class in the Catholic 1aity, and that this re-
sistance will be based not only upon religious
grounds, but also upon grounds of common
equity, economy, and educational advantage.
There is no middle course in the matter. Tho
schools must either be sectarian OF insects
rian. The proposition to make them unsec-
tartan haH the day and sectarinn the other
half is simply absurd, md in the case to which
We have alluded its only effect il to make
them Catholic schools supported II tha AZ:
pense Of the general public. '" :
The hostility Of majority Of the peopla to
this covert plan for making them pny for
instruction: in religious dogmas md creed
does not grow oct Of any hostility to the Ro-
man Catholics as. a body. Other secta- the
Msthodists, :Baptists, Presbytezians, or Epis-
copalians- tha same right to make this
demand, and, i it vers adopted, Methodist
children would 20 b Methodist schools, Bap-
tit II Rantixt. and n nn, .sad In: 81