Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-12-08
Religion and Schools, Under the
Republic President Grant and
EI-Speaker Blaine on the Ques-
tions : Constitutional Amend
ment to Meet the Case.

lions - ConStltutl0nal Amend
nent to Meet the Case.
The questions OF religion aEd schools
have become so u xed in this country
that they are drifting before the people
as great public questions, likely in the
near future TO csnse great agitation.
The thinking mind of the Nation is al
ready closely directed to the questions.
But short time ago President Grant
deemed these questions of sufficient
Importance TO found speech on them.
which be delivered in 1ewa. The
speech has been discussed by the first
iniellects of the civilized and learned
world, and in the main has been pro-
nounced correct or sound. The sub
stance of il is that as the common
schools ana churches are organized in
this country they generate conflict for
ascendancy, or when more definitely
stated to meet the uppermost case Of
the situation, it means Catholic against
Protestant. The President sounds the
alarm and cautions the country against
his boon of contention, but proposes
no remedy for the existing trouble, out
side of general enlightenment through
the common schools.
Within the past week ex Speaker
Blaine expresses himself on tie ques-
tons. He recognizes the danger and
proposes a remedy; remedy that was
proposed by Thomas Jefferson, but be-
cause of the uneniightened public mind
on the subject at tina; day 1t was con-
sidered of DO account and allowed to
die out. 1t would have been blessing
for US if it tad been settled then. His
remedy is an amendment TO the Con-
stltution of the United States, that
4" No State shall make any law respect
ing any establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof,
and no money raised by taxation in any
State for the support of Public Schools,
or derived from any public fund there
for shall ever be under the control of
any religious sect, nor shall any money
So raised ever be divided between reli-
giCus sects OF denominations"
The Republic is Civil Government
that allows all men to worship God ac-
cording to the dictates of conscience,
and every effort to move 1t from this
foundation on the question of religion
is beresy, both political and religious,
that must be resisted.
That Increment is On foot in num-
Der of the States to direct portion of
certain publ; funds, such, for example,
as the Common School fund, to the use
of particular religious bodies, Is well
known to reading people. To allow
such division would not only destroy
the Common School system, but it
would be the entering wedge to State
religion.
Ii the country adopt an amendment:
TO the Constitution such as proposed by
Mr.. Blaine, the schemes of the Catholic
Church will be frustrated, and all de-
nominations will be protected from the
encroachment of any particular sect.
Such an amendment would simply give
life in all of the States to the idea of
equality of religion before the Law
under the Republic.
Who will be the first Congressman to
perform the high religious duty and
love for man and God by proposing
such an amendment to the Constitution
in Congress The people will ratify
such an amendment