Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-11-19

Of the snnctitv of our Pnbic School System
ia being earnestly discussed, and this from
one common standpoint. The feeling is
not that the Republican party, is or should
be aggressively inclined toward The Catho-
lie, or any other Church, but to the policy
which certain branch of that Church
has seen fit to adopt toward our Free
School System, That policy is not de-
fensive. but aggressive in its character, and
seeks. by an alliance with the Democratic
party, to overthrow system that has
worked well 70: many years, system that
is devoid of all sectariauisn. unohjectlon
able to the various religious sects and
creeds. beneficial alike to the Presbyterian,
Methodist. Baptist, Episcopalian. Jew and
Pagan, and should be equal beneficial to
the children of our Roman Catholic citizens.
II is purely secular system. intended To
extend to all equal advantages III acqulr-
ing good English education. The RepuO
lican party seeks to preserve this system
from all religious interference. whether IL
Games from Protestant or Catholic IN
tiuences.. 1t clings to our Free Schooi
system as 20 The rock uf Matt 'nai safety,
believing that any departure from 1t that
will sanction division of the Public School
Funds. will b, the entering wedge To dis
rupt the system, destroying Its common
benefits. and through this, work untold
injury To our free institutions.
The benefits of our schools, as now
nrcanized aud conducted, are too mary to
admit Of change being effected without q
sey.ye struggle. Ne do not even think
that the laity IN The Roman Catholic
Church. as q rule, desire it. The more
intelligent among them as the least. are
conscious of the fact that our Public Schools
afford a far better seculal education than
do The Church schools. OF course those
more earnestly devoted To their Church
,reE.r the religious 10 the secular educa-
,ion, and their children are, very naturally,
sent TO the Church schools. To this no
one objects. All denominations have
special schools. which are patrOnlzed by
those of the faith represented By the schools
and such institutions are generally, well
sustained. We have not examined the
question critically, but our conviction is,
that there are more Protestauts in atten-
auce at select or denominational schools
than there are Of Catholics in this country.
Hence, were it merely question of money.
or even of patronage, there should be
stronger demand on the part OF Protestauts
for division of school funds than from
Catholics. The claim made that our Catho-
lie fellows citizens are, many OF them, poor
is rather an argument for our Public Schools
than against them. Oar school tax is very
light. yet it provides for the education oi
children, irrespective of the number con
tained in any one family. 1t is evident,
therefore, that there is no good reason to
Justify Catholic interference in our school
system that will moi apply with greater f"rce
IN behalf of Protestanis. Yet the latter do
not seck dIJ ChlauSo ""i'" '"O wa
Why? Simply this. The Catholic oppo-
si.ion to our Free School System is based on
:.u erroneous idea of the function OF the
State aud the relationship of the citizen
treto. The Catholic taxpayer objects To
paving the school tax because his children
nm, r.,..;ya in ,b,. Puhlic faith. lie
,,;.,h, with .op,I mr., verify object to nav
I'M, ,b,. tax I,.yi.d for puhlic charity
a. r,us. the b.aef,s are nnr cpatinrd tu
Catholics or h.cau4,, The faith %. the z imam
C,urch Is nnl Impressed IN cv,ry mau.
w,nuap AMI child asSis ed ., ghp fu 49,
H.. .ris,, with ,qutl force. ct 10 the
tax l.v,..d for TIA supp ,rt nr hD<,i ,is. h,.-
r,u..rh. skill en,Io,r. sn,r confined ia
Cuh,ir or ~" ri,cs pf lhr Church are not
administered .. t',. same hnnd tha r, liryes
sufr rim, hunl.llN. lie M .ht. with equal
iu.,i,.c ,lri .cl T, nt,in., "a dollar of public
,,,...,,,.,u,,. -. Ii,.,.,.d is.,p.nJ,.d
r,.,.r ,h.. s,,,..,y,si,,n of lin. C,rrrh far
&c i,,..r.,s,. ., ,h.. hands ,,fitsaun,in,ed
, ,,co..I,
lnE - ,.o ...,,,li,,r. ., ,.,bI;,.
money mi, ~, :, ,l..v,,o "a. nr;y,,..
interests q. ,ho .;,,u oh,v. ria ruhl;,.
of the State -, .,t.;.. r
government, be :, .,o,,d das,ror ,ha,
equity of adm uislrati0. ;.-.....,;,I, :.
the peace and welfare of thes,.te There
fore, aside from the bad effects e,,t wouId
develop themselves IN the school svstern
there is dangerous priuciple underlviug
the claim for n division, of tb,. npblio f,,,do
Ill, 20 c-..,, 'A"'0
r''''f''S "'"'ou ny 'ne EN-
p'''' y, '"' P0o'''' VIII eooner OF
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