Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-03-31

But there will not be wanting abundant opportuni'
Ties TO incucae religious doctrine without encrOach-
| ing upon the authority or duty Of the State.
THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM THE CONVERSIONS OF
THE REPUBLIC.
The common school system is the cornerstone OF oui
Republic. We have the largest civil liberty and uni
versal suffrage, both of which will prove dangerous,
and perhaps fatal, unless the Republic shall cherish
and support its system Of universal education through
the common schools The State has great and para
mount duty TO perform in this behai-a duty which
II can not delegate to any sect or church, II Is bound
to see to it that every child has free opportunity to
attend the common schools.
POPULAR EDUCATION A REPUBLICAN RATHER THAN
DEMOCRATIC FEATURE OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
UnQuestionably, popular education is an important
plank in the Republican platform. That our system
OF common schools receives no detrment rests as an
obligation upon that party. do not assert that the
democratic party Is, as party hostile to the public
schoOIs but IS obvious that education is not lead
ing interest with the Democratic party, and has
BEEN and that all the opponents OF hecommon schools
are in the Democratic organization, while the Repub
Democratic party Is frantic for political power, and
has the reputation Of not scrupling at the OF
getting it, In desperate struggle for office, it might
possibly MAKE dangerous concessions 10 its allies
against the schoOls-a thing which the Republicans
could never do, though forever excluded from
political power. The political alliance between the
Democratic leaders and the Catholic clergy has two
objects On the part Of the Democratic leaders, the
OBJECT Is political power the part of the clergy il
is radical change the constitution and conduct OF
the common schools, or their abolition.
PROTESTANT CLERGY SUBMITTED TO THE JUDGMENT
OF THE COURT.
If, when the action OF the Board Of Education in
Cincinnati had been sustained by the Supreme Court,
aud the rule went into effect the Protestant clergy
and laty had demanded division Of the school fund
the danger would have been formidable. But they
submitted to the judgment Of the court in favor Of
secular schools. This az result humiliating to
them, and triumph to the Catholic Church. The
object OF the board in adopting that rule was to make
the schools unobecsionabIe to the Catholics and to
the jews. But when it was decided, with their con-
currence that the Bible and religious teaching should
be excluded, still the priesthood as we have said
would not consent that Catholic children should at
tend the common schools and adopted at
should be confirmed unless he or she
had attended the parochia schools of the Church at
least two years, rule which advised had already
been adopted in the Cleveland diocese. The result has
been to keep large majority Of the Catholic children
out OF the common schools, which are undoubtedly
mnch better than thc parochial-thus inhicng deep
injury upon the education of such children.
In this think that the Catholic clergy have been
betrayed into false position am not willing to be-
lieye that they will not yet become satisfied that the
schools OF the State must be secular and that all the
children OF every sect shall attend them while the re-
gious teachers Of each shall give the religious in
struction to its children, in the family and in the
churches, which the State protects, but does not
attempt to control.
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ARCHBISHOP OF cIScIN-
Natl AND BOARD OF EDUCATION.
1t may assist us TO understand the actual relation of
the clergy and OF the laty to the common schools ii
We recur to the part taken by them in the
lating TO the Bible in the schools in Cincinnati.
On the 18th OF September, 1863, written commune
OF Education, as follows, viz:
ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI,
CINCINNATI, sept. IS, 1869.
1.-THE undersigned, in the interest as he believes of
justice, charity, and patriotism, will be most happy
to meet in conference, on the vexed school question,
appointed by the School Board this city
He is perfectly satisfied with the Catholic schools
they now exist, but he thinks, as every honest
may, that it is unjust impose restrictions such rs in
conscience they and their natural guardians ever
resist on the rights OF the Catholic children to the
benefits OF the district schools He is quite prepared
for vote against the exclusion OF sectariansm
from the public schools. The public will then
see who are the resrictioniss and the intOlerants
81 b. PURCELL, A. c."
When this proposition came before the board for
discussion, Mr.. Carbery, a leading member and
Catholic who ably represented also the Catholic
timeut OF the board, said that
, He did not want the board to believe that the
and had given up their individuality. This was a
mistake. The dictum of the Archbishop not all
powerful There were thousands of Catholic children
IN this city anxious to attend the free schools. The
Archbishop had sought conference To be sure his
proposition was garbled with more verbage than
strictly good taste might dictate But there it was,
and all tair-minded members OF the board should
listen 10 it and act upon it."
A committee appointed, as requested consisting
Of seven Mr. Caroery was chairman, and there were
two Catholics on it. AT the next meeting the commit
tee made their report, as follows viz:
REPORT of the Committed
"CLERK's OFFICE, CITY BUILDINGS
ClSClNNATI, Sept. 20, 1863
"Your Committee appointed to confer with Arch
bishop Purcell with regard taking such steps as NAV
enable children OF Catholic parents to attend the
present ultlmatum Of the Catholic authorities, and
which is as follows marked Paper No. H.
JAMES P. CARBERY, Sec'y.
"Your Committee, in view Of the above facts ask to
be continued +. w. RAUCH,
"H. EcKEL,
rs a. MILLER
"H. L. WKHMER,
"a. l.. FRASER,
"LoUIs BALLAUP."
Paper No. IL
"The' entire government Of public schools in which
Catholic youth are educated can not be given over TO
evil power
1--WE, Catholics can not approve of that system of
for youth which is apart from the insLruc
tion in the Catholic faith and the teachings Of the
Church.
"Il the School Board can offer any thing in con-
Iornity with these principles, as has been done in
England France Canada, Prussia, and other countries
where the rights Of conscience in the matter of educa
ion have been fully recognized am prepared TO give
It respectful consideration ~. B. PURCELL,
archbishop Of Cincinnati"
This was not encouraging; but still the Catholic
members OF the board did not despair Of securing the
ldvan'ages-Iot the public schools by secularizing
them.
At the next meeting Mr.. Carbery said:
The fact is that with this form of worship in
u force, there thousands of Catholic children
now in attendance, and the reasonable deduction is
that if that be forbidden as it ought to be- by the
board the numbers will be rapidly increased"
Subsequently TO the adoption of the rule by the |
Board OF Education, excluding religious instruction
The subject by the Superior Court OF Cincinnati, and
IN the occasion OF the spring election in 1870 the
members Of the board who had voted for the resou-
lion made and published declaration a response
% the charges and opinions prevalent that they
my Of them were willing to sacrifice the schools. OF
he twenty members who signed it and who consti- |
uted the majority Of the board eleven Catholics.
The following is a copy:
TO the friends Of the Secuidrizdtion of The common
schools, in o;GH Hall assembled and TO The citizens Of
Cincinnati generally:
"tELLow-CITIzEEs-Th undersigned members of |
he Board OF Education, who voted for the resolutions
,assed November /, 1869, prohibiting religious in
ructon and the reading of religious books nclud hg
he Bible in the common schools of Cincinnati, |
iaying been charged not only by influential part |
u the English daily of the city but by the voice
VI one OF their fellowmembers from the pulpit with
eeking the destruction of our common school system,
leave TO that this charge unscrupulousy made
nd in the face OF frequent denial pernaciousy repeat
3D. IS utterly without foundation in fact; that they re-
,ard 1t as calumnOus, and challenge the authors and
epeaters thereof to point to single word uttered or
ngle act doEe by any one OF them which furnish
he shadow OF an excuse for such misrepresentation.
$50 lar from seeking the destruction of the
chool system, which the undersigned, aud ALL re-
,ard as essential 10 the perpeuity OF republican
nstitutionsI they firmly believe that the measure |
Ehieh they hhye proposed and favored, and which |
hey mean TO advocate in future whether in out of
he School Board is absolutely necessary the
lnuance OF the school and that the only