Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-09-09
HOW 1T MIGHT BE DONE.

support OF Sectarlan schools. This they |
say can not be changed without vote
of the people, and they pretend to say
they oppose any change in that direc-
ton. But where there is a will there
is generally way, and that way the
Roman Catholic priesthood long ago
discovered. In every large city there
are Roman Catholic parochial schools.
These are managed exclusively by the
Church. In New York, in New Jersey,
in Connecticut, and other States, an ef-
fort has been made, and in one or two
places successfully made, to have the
Boards of Education assume the ex-
penses of the schools while the priest
hood would appoint the teachers. In
this way it is sought to evade constitu-
tional provisions such as we have in
Ohio.
In this State too the attempt was
made. 1t was slyly introduced into the
Legislature, and failed by one vote
only. The striking fact is presented
clearly in speech delivered yesterday
afternoon at Portsmouth, by the Hon.
Thomas l.. Young, which is printed in
full in this paper. This happened in
1866, when the Republicans had con-
troll of the Legislature. The bill Was
introduced by Dom Piatt, then pro-
Tossing to be Il Republican, and reads
as follows:
"a BILL-To authorize Boards of Ed
ucation to receive certain donations,
and for other purposes.
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly OF Ohio, That the
Board of Education o! any township,
city, or incorporated village shall be
and is hereby authorized to accept any
donation OF school-houses properly
constructed and so situated us TO be of
service.
"SEC. .. That it shall be the duty OF
said Board of Education TO continue
the schools organized in said school
houses by enrolling the scholars, and
supplying ali that is necessary, and
subiecting such schools to the laws oi
the State already in force.
"SEC. 3. The power Is hereby grant
ed the donors of such school property to
select from teachers duly qualified un-
, der the laws now in force, instructors,
and appoint the same to instruct and
carry on said schools"
"SEC. 4. This act shall be in force
from and after its passage.
This measure, as Mr.. Young shows
received at one time yty-t,cO votes in
the House, almost constitutional ma
jority. Euery Democrat in the House
voted for it, also twelve -Repu5
licans, most of whom were from thi:
county. Now this hill had very in
nocent face. 1t authorized the Board
of Education to receive donations o
school, houses. Who could object tC
that? Woodward and Hughes ant
McMicken had made munificent dona
tions for educational purpo-es, which
were thankfully received. Why should
, anybody refuse a donation? But tht
= fang is in the tail. Usually the poison
is in the tongue, but in this case it i
found in the hind part of the animal
The donors ,cere to hare control Of M
n schools.
e In this city there are number o
J, Roman Catholic schools. These wer
r to be donated to the Board of Educa
e ton, the latter paying the expenses q
carrying on the schools, provided
d Archbishop Purcell should have tn
e appointment of the teachers. Had thi
n measure been adopted, the State woul'
r have paid the. cost of conducting tn
n schools, while the Roman Catholi
s. priesthood would, in consideration G
e the property donated, have had tn
J. exclusive privilege of appointing tn
a teachers. In this way the school
a would have been virtually Roma
" Catholic, and as much under the infiu
l. ence of the e'Church as the Roman Cath
r Ollie schools now are.
If The Board of Education for this cit
now consists of fifty members. c
e and majority are Democrats, VIII
n would vote in the interests of ths
Of Church. Suppose that law, prepare
ic by Mr.. Piatt, had been adopted, meme
/, collected from the people for the SUI
ID port of our public schools would
!. used, in part, to pap the teachers ell
g. ployed in oectarian schools. No doul
about that.
id But it may be said the law woul
re have been declared demonstrations
v, Give the Democratic party control
z: the State, and put a majority of Den
e. ocrats on the Supreme Bench, and
ic constitutional objection would go fC
f. nothing. Besides, the proposition is
Il, plausible one, and an argument in Fl
n vor of it could easily be framed tn;
would in measure disarm or weake
n. opposition.
IN The donation" of school-huus,
ID would be made to appear as a gre;
as stroke of liberality on the part of tt
to Roman Chatholic Church. No 9th,
he Church had ever proposed anything
~ the kind. Then the teachers would
o, required to pass an examination. The
st ability to teach would thus be esta
to lished. Thus the people would ha,
IN schOOl-houses free of cost-where,
~ each of our school-houses cost an ave
a. age of fifty to seventy-five thousan
in dollars-and teachers competent
teach. the Archbishop merely aske
the privilege of appointing the teacl
sn ers. How liberal, how fair, we woul
~ be told, and with Democratic Sta
ei government, and Democratic Boar
~ of Education, the proposition, we ma
. be sure, would be adopted.