, 1876-09-17
AN OPPORTUNITY LOST.

Thoughtful men are rapidly coming to tht
conclusion that the question of the relation
Of the public schools to religion ought to be
permanently settled, and On national basis
Left in its present uncertain condition, it il
perpetual irritation Thus, that which
should be an element Of unity, and pro
moter of homogeneity, is turned into an ap-
pie Of discord. Protestauts and Catholics
are in an endless wrangle over it; while
Christians make it battlefield for their
conflicts with Jews and Rationalists. It is
evident that the real and vital question is,
| Whether We shall maintain our system OF
common schools, or shall relegate the sub
ject Of popular education to private and
ecclesiastical control We cannot be mis-
taken in affirming the unalterahle attach
ment of the people to the main features
Of our present system; so far, at least, Is
! provision is made at public expense for the
| education of al the children OF tho COM
munity in the elementary branches. II there
is any doubt anywhere, it is as to embracing
in the scheme the higher courses OF study,
which are for the few rather than for the
/ many, and which moro necessarily involve
tuition in disputed branches Of learning.
On the supposition, then, that the people
| will insist upon maintaining the public-school
system, let us inquire how it is to be made
permanent, and to be placed upon fired
and satisfactory basis. So long as it is sub
ject, in any fundamental respect, to ordinary
legislation, it will remain, as at present, the
sport Of changeful caprice, or be like a
floating cork On the waves Of popular
passion. In the absence Of uniform legis-
lative prescription for the whole State, every
city and county now has its own principle,
or want Of principle, in adjusting the reig-
ious question, with no certainty that the
decision will hold good, even there, for more
than year. It would be great gain could
the State Constitution have an article SO
worded as to establish definite rule; for it
is much more difficult to change the Consti-
tuition than it is to alter statute. There is
reason, also, to believe that, after the people
had carried out their schools successfully
for several years, under rigorous provision
in the State Constitution, the good results
would be SO manifest that no proposal of
change would meet with favor. But still
better would be an article to the same effect |
in the Federal Constitution. For that would |
give us truly national institution; compel |
ling each State to make provision for popular
education, without discrimination as to race, |
or birth, or creed, "a duty now greatly neg
lected at the South, and securing |
uniformity of principle throughout the Union
We should then be able to point to an Amer
ican system. Moreover, such an amend
ment once adopted could be changed only by
O two-thirds vote of each House Of Congress.
and q subsequent ratification of three-fourths
of the States. There would be no doubt of
its permanence-
What now must be the essential restric-
tons in such constitutional amendment in
order to meet the difficulties of our American
problem? Precisely two, in our Judgment.
First, there should be prohibition of any
state-support of sectarian Or UNCONVENTIONAL
schools, directly or indirectly. This would
strike death-blow to the hopes OF those of
the Roman Catholic hierarchy, which
insists that the State ought to appro-
pirate funds to support the religious
schools Of that denomination in pro-
portion to the number Of their children.
Doubtless they await the 1ookel-for day
when they can secure majority in some of
the States favorable to this project The
proposal must be made utterly impracticable
n the whole country by q clear prohibition
n an educational amendment to the Federal
Constitution. Then, secondly, to balance
his, as a matter of justice to all concerned,
md to match the existing constitutional pro-
llbltion Of any establishment Of religion"
here should be requirement thnt all
schools supported by public tar OF appropri-
'tions should be strictly secular, allowing no
:eligious worship or instruction. Then orr
American principle Of non-intervention by
he State in religious questions would have
complete application to school as we'll as to ,
hurch, and the members of the Church of ,
Rome would see that, while refusing to sus I
ain Roman Catholic schools, we were not ,
nconsistently supporting those Of another 6
eligious character.
And now what prevents the adoption of I
uch comprehensive and wise measure
'lmply the fanatical determination of certain ,
Jealous relgionists, who would rather not
eteat the Roman Catholic scheme than to 6
ave their own also precluded. Those who c
utterly denounce the Roman Catholics for !
heir objections to common schools, con- i
ucted on Protestant principles. will virtu- =
uy join hands with them in defeating q q
constitutional amendment which would for !
yer render it impossible to appropriate $
ubhc funds to the support Of sectarian aud D.
hus Of Romish schools. The evidence Of t
us appears in the recent action of the :
nlted States Senate Oh such an amendment }
'hich had been recommended by the Presi- :
ent, had been introduced into the House of 0
representatives by Mr.. BLAINE, and had =
cen adopted by that body unanimously. il
lth the exception of two or three negative C.
otes. With such start as this, eyerv- !!
ing appeared hopeful; for if the s
enate should, with similar unaniu- v
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