National Republican., 1876-08-21

on the Democratic side was that Of Sena-
tor Bogy, of Missouri. whom we have every
reason to believe is sincere man and Q
consistent Catholic. But when Mr.. Bogy,
as a United States Senator, the repre-
sentative of free and enlightened constit-
uency on tie floor of the Senate Chamber,
avows, with emphasis, that "a proper un-
"derstanding of the Syllabus uttered at
"Rome December 8, 1854, by Pope Plus
ok will show that it contains nothing in
"imical to the great principles OF liberty,
he not only sadly misrepresents the sentl-
ment of his people and insults their un-
derstanding, but violates the spirit OF that
noble instrument, which he, as United
States Senator, has so solemnly sworn to
support. Let US examine few of these
infalliable dictG which His Holiness OF
Rome designates as errors of belief and de-
nounces unto the Christian world under
anathema, which denunciation MIR. Sena-
tor Bogy as a good Catholic admits he ap
proves, and which his Democratic col
leagues in the Senate indorsed by solid
vote against unlimited non-sectariau free
education. The Bishop of Rome stigma
tizes and denounces under Rnathema and
pain of communication every Roman
Catholic:
l. Who believes that the entire direction of
public schools in which the youth of Christian
States are educated may and must
appertain to the civil power, and belong to 1t
so far that no other authority whatsoever shall
be recognized as having any right to interfere
in the discipline of the schools, the arrange
ment of the studies, the taking of degrees, or
the choice and approval of the teachers.
2. Who believes that the best theory of civil
society requires that popular schools open TO
the children of all classes, and generally all
public institutes intended for instructing in
letters and philosophy, and for conducting the
education of the young, should be free from
all ecclesiastical authority, government and
interference, and should be fully subject to the
civil and political power, in conformity with
the will of rulers and the prevailing opinions
of the age.
3. Who believes that in the present day it is
no longer expedient that the Catholic religion
shall be held as the only religion of the State,
to the exclusion of all other modes OF Wor-
ship.
4. Who believes that it has been wisely pro-
vided by law, in some countries called Catho-
lie, that persons coming to reside therein shall
enjoy the public exercise of their own Wor-
ship.
5. Who believes that every man is free to
embrace and profess the religion he shall be-
lieye true, guided by the light of reason.
These, then, the great principles for
which We are contending, are regarded as
errors in belief by the Church of Rome.
Can any true American, be he Catholic or
Protestant, subscribe to such doctrines,
subversive as they are of all that we hold
as nation most dear? 1t seems folly to
dwell upon the subject longer.
No amount Of the dlalectics of s0phistry
will explain away these assaults upon the
fundamental principles of civil and re-
ligious freedom. The language we have
quoted is not susceptible of any explana
ton. 1t is clear and explicit. We do not pro-
pose to comment upon these passages from
the Roman Pontiff S allocution further
than to say that if the Democratic op-
position to the Constitutional amendment
is to be found in the spirit and letter of
those passages comment is not required.
If those are the issues that the Republican
party is to meet, then it can truly 60 be-
fore the American people in this campaign
with assurance doubly assured. No one
can gainsay the fact that the public schools
are endeared to the hearts of all true
Americans. 1t is this system of free edu-
cation which has for the past century
Graded and nurtured the very life blood of
American intellect and fostered and in
spired progressive republicanism, not party
but republicanism in its
highest and most liberal sense. 1t is in
this system of gratuitous instruction that
is to be found the great secret of our won
derfully rapid growth and marvellous pros
perity. 1t is through this system
that the American people have been
taught to realize the inestimable
value of true liberty. 1t is idle,
then, to suppose that the masses do not
consider and appreciate the incalculable
privileges thus derived and which they
now enjoy, and equally idle to think that
them as they do they will ever
consent to see them long threatened by the
antagonism Of any hierarchy on earth, or
permit them to be endangered by the &C
cession to power of any political party,
however fair its promises, which is opposed
to giving to those privileges constitutional
protection. Finally, in the eloquent Ian
guage of Senator Edmunds:
''The real substance of the question is whether
the people of this country desire to protect
themselves and each other, for ali time to
come, against the factions of partisan cree1s
in the several States by declaring that there
shall be an absolute and universal equality,
and that no mans religion shall be promoted
at the expense of his fellowman who does not
believe in it. That is the proposition, whether
it be in school or in prison or asylum, wherever
it be, where an institution is carried on borne
by the general burdens and supported for the
general benefit of the body of the people. That
is the proposition and the only proposition
upon which we are called to vote. Let those
who do not believe that a sound proposition
vote against it. Let those who do vote for it."
We have seen that the Democrats to
man did vote against it.