Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-11
Ueaehers' Goln,,,,,.
w. +. PARKER. Editor,
For the Teachers Column.
Free Education.

Free Education.
In this, the Centennial year of on
nations history, it is Justly q matte
OF pride, to us rs Americans, to re
view the progress and advancement
which has been made in our public
school system, during the past centu
ry, and, also, to note the improve
ment in the higher institutions Of
learning throughout the land.
Never before have they attained tt
such degree of perfection, and
never before have they required sucl
constant support, and such jealous
care, as is at present demanded. The
recent concessions which the de
mahds OF blgotry have met with, al
the hands Of our State Legislature
have emboldened its followers to
make more presumptive requests and
to expect still greater victories.
1t would seem that after they had
succeeded in excluding Gods holy
word from our schools, (thc book
from which we claim to have taken
our laws, and to the rigid adherence
ofWhlch laws, we owe our present
national prosperity that they would
be content, but such Is not the case,
as is witnessed in their endeavors to
divide the public school fund, thus
severing, with one blow, the "Gordi-
an knott which has hitherto bound
us together u free and independent
people.
The recent action Of Father Ryan,
of Dubuque, i'll denying the right of
the holy sacrement, to such of his
church members Us should persist in
sending their children to the public
schools, should call forth the severcst
censurc from all true lovers of li5er-
ty; and it is to be hoped, that there
are but few of his congregation 50
weak, as to comply with his de-
mands.
Allow me to again call attention
to short extract from the organ of
the Archbishop Of st. Louis. which
appeared in these columns u short
time since:
''The church endures the heretics
only in 50 far as she is compelled to
do it; but she has deadly hatred
tor them and makes use of every arti-
flee for their humiliation. As soon
as the Catholics have attained n suffi-
Gent majority, religious freed ON i'll
the United States will have an end.
If we neglect at the present moment
the persecution of heretics, we re-
peat it boldly, it is for the sole reason
that ne are to aceah too persecute,"
How do such sentiments as these,
sound in the ears Of a people, upon
the foundation stone of whose
government, is inscribed sReligious
liberty to all?"
Has it, indeed, come to thatpass in
our country's history, that these enc
mys Of christianity, and opposers of
all mental and moral reform, shall
not only publicly boast Of their vii
famous schemes, but declare that,
but for their weakness, would again
be enacted, within our midst, the ter
rible scenes of the Roman Inquisition?
| appeal to all true thinking men,
if it is not fully time that we should
arouse from the lcthargy into which
we have fallen, concerning these
vital questions, and show these de,
signing demagogues, that we have
not forgotten the cost of our liberties,
and that they shall be retained in
violate, even at sacrifice of all that
is near and dear to us.
Let us not be deceived; but read
the signs of the times, and awake,
more fully to q realizing sense of the
dangers that threaten us.
Think not that these are the mere
tancies of our heated imagination: they
are facts which are proving them
selves to be true more and more
each day; and we nave but to read
the past history of the church to see,
that not only these, but more dircful
results will soon overtake us, shall
we but permit their present plans to
attain the wished for end
To the teachers in our public
schools, then, | would say, let us as
co-laborers III these nurseries of lib
erty, by constant endeayor, and con-
slant perseverance, instlll into the
young minds under our. charge, a
love for the present system Of free
education, which will follow them in
future life, and try to show them that
freedom Of thought, and freedom of
action are one and inseperable.
Thus may we be led to hope, that we
shall be able to subyert the designs
of these intrigucrs, who would seek
to wrest from US our present system
of free government, and establish IN
its place that most to be dreaded of
all powers Religious Monarchy.
+. a. SIMMONS.
Newtonyille, Jan. 90, 1876.