Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-03-31
FREE SCHOOLS FOR ALL" !"
The Catholic Church, the Democratic
Party, and The Common Schools.
GREAT SPEECH ny JUDGE A. TAFT, OP CINCN.
MATT, AT CLEVELAND.

TUTEOTIUW 10
received from your esenatives at Columbus in
June last. have come 10 keep the promise then
made to them. But / confess that urging un-
necessary. Cleveland has always had attractions for
me. When, in 1882 / came to settle in the West, /
should have stopped in Cleveland II had not gone to
Cincinnati Though divided by the entire State,
these two cities have points Of resemblance than
any two other cities in the state, or in the Union
Cleveland, daughter OF the beautiful lake and Cincn
natl, daughter OF the beautiful river-l love to COM
pare them. and TO contemplate the prospects before
them in the long future; their enterprise and glo-
rious rivalry, in commerce, in manufac-
lures, in the mechanic arts, in the pro-
ducts OF agriculture in all the industries and In the
broad field of intellectual. culture. And this great
State Of looks forward to brilliant future
Bounded on the north by great navigable lake, and
tho and south by great navgablo river it is
sncirelcd by line OF honrishing towns anJ cities:
Toledo Sandusky, Cleveland Painesville Ashtabula,
Steubenvile Marietta, Pomeroy, Ironton, Portsmouth,
Cincinnati, like so many jewels set in its cOrOnot.
Nor do we forget though we can not now recount its
rich and growing cities enclosed within the circle,
Utmost equally well situated on canal and railroad
navigation.
But feow-citizcns, propose to call your attention
this evening to the issue arising upon the common
schools aud upon the relation OF the respective parties
DEMOCRATS BvADE THE ISSUE.
Tho Democrats declare that there is no such issue.
Their convention, however nervous and evident
ly conscious that their party had in some way been
compromised on the subject. They feared the ques-
tOn and tried to suppress it.
10 avoid the issue, they made their platform on that
point nearly possible like that Of the Republicans
and then declared that the platform Of the Republicans
was an insult to the neople of Ohio But the relation
who are opposed to the common school system, was
.uch that the issue could be evaded by platform.
"down" )" W. -
In!the midst of their political revelry it rose and
stood before them, it did shake CORY locks
And true to nature, the convention involuntarily
claimed:
"Thou canst not say VIC did it,"
have desire purpose attack or carry on any
crusade against the Catholic Church. But the att-
Jude OF the Catholic clergy, as between the parties
contest with the Democrats.
GROUNDS APPREHENSION.
majority OF the Catholic voters in this country,
though not ALL have,generally voted with the Demo-
cratic party But tho recent enactment of the
Geghan bill to give the clergy OF every sect oppOrtu-
nifty to minister to the spiritual comfort OF persons Of
their faith confined in the pententiary and other
penal and reormatory institutions, has awaksned
unusual apprehensiOns. Not that the Geghan bill
would seem to be dangerous or unreasonabe in itself
although general public had been aware that
there any occasion for it-but that the Catholic
clergy claimed it as important measure TO which
their Church was entitled, and demanded 1t at the
hands OF the Democratic majority, n consideration
Tor the Catholic vote in the past, and condition of
lheir receiving it in the future On the prin.
eiple, II the Republicans should promise divide the
Icnool fund, or to abandon the school system they
might expect pleIce of the Catholic vote from the
clergy, unless tNe Dcin0crats should bid higher.
This circumstance even mlg"t not have excited so
much apprehension, but for the fact that the Catholic
priesthood have by the newspapers under their con-
troll, sgnihed their opposition To the common schools
OF the country. They willing to have Catholic
children educated in schools to ALL and with
GU; sectarlan teaHhing. The apprehension In the
popular mind is, that, If the Catholic clergy in
duce the Democratic majority to do thing their
instance they may hereafter induce the Democrats
do another far more important aud formidable thing,
viz To divide the school fund.- or break the school
system.
1t is not supposed that the Catholic clergy have any
special regard Tor either party, except II favors or
opposes their purposes in regard the schools They
claim the right to control the instruction of Catholic
children IN secular rs well as religious know and
this is their politics. To this end they affiliate with
the Democratic party, which is not supposed TO make
education leading object to adhere to the com-
school w nm y 1agD ne tanoa
PLATFORM OF REPUBLICANS.
The Republican Convention represented the sent- |
menIs OF its constituents by the fourth and fifth planks
oEits platform, viz:
~. We stand by free education, our public school
iysiem, the taxation OF ali Tor its support and no |
division OF the school fund.
SO. Under our Republican system Of government |
there should be no connection direct Indirect be-
tween Church and State, and oppose all legislation
IN the interest OF any particular sect Upon this sub
lect We should not tail to profit by the experience OF
foreign governments where the efforts of the Church
To control the state constitute evil of great magni-
people"
This platform undoubtedly originated in a real an
prehenson o1 danger to our school system, and that
apprehension had become so general from the causes
have Named that it was not confined to the Repub-
licau party.
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
The Democratic Convention the 18th Of June
ound j. necessary also to declare itself this subject
which II did as follows, viz:
1--WE favor the complete separation of Church and
State religious independence and absolute freedom OF
ties, and purely secular education at the expense of
the taxpayer, without division among control by
any sect, directly indirectly of any portion of the
public school fund. In view of the admirable proyi-
hons OF our State Constitution these subjects which
are due to the energy and wisdom of the Democratic
party we denounce the Republican platform an in
suit 10 the intelligence of the people of Ohio and
base appeal to seciarian preiudces-"
CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION IN ENGLAND
This resolution, passed by the Democratic State
Convention, following it did closely after that of the
Republican, and IN view OF the doings OF the Demo-
cratic Legislature while in power, reminds one of
striking performance OF the English Tories in the reign
Of William Y. on Catholic emancipation.
Tue Catholics in England were under many and
severe disabilities. The removal OF these disabilities
or what was known as the "Catholic EmancipationI
became great and most exciting question between
the Tories and the Wings. The conservative Tories
Robert Peel at their head maintaInsa anG Si
nnsetIle the monarchy and ruin the en-
Pire They were then in power. The Wings main
policy of the Catholics, they not to be deprived
Of their civil rights merely on account of their re-
tinued, till, in the process of time and politics the
popular mind took turn decidedly favor OF Catholic
emancipation when, after tremendous conflict of
aster by the Tories in of any relaxation of
Catholic disabilities Parliament prorogued. In
Tory Ministry came in with bill in favor OF Catholic
emancipation, declaring that it was the
and that they alone could carry il OUT and therefore
II was important that they should remain in Office
lhe W ulBs were surprised, ana somewhat embar-
Tassed, but insisted that the measure should be en-
trusted TO its friends and not to its historic enemies
They said that the record of the Tories had been such
that the friends OF emancipation could trust them
gust OF popular opinion had led them change their
ground TO keep in office but that Ms the popu-
lar sentiment should undergo another change on that
subject they would desert, and disappont the friends
OF emancipation, and the cause would be more hope
less than ever,
This passage in the his tory of English parties, and
similar passage In the history OF the reform bills in
that country, by which the rotten borough bystem |
illustrates NV ha |
Democratic party in Ohio Of that plank of the Repub
llcan platform Shich relates to the schools and its
claim to hold aud acquire power by carrying out Re
publican principles on that subject,
CAN TIE DEMOCRATS BE TRUSTED WITH TUE SCHOOLS
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES?
The Republican party might iorego the honor of |
being in office. If the Democrats could be trusted with
she carrying OUT of Republican principles. But love
OF oihee is their ruling passion. Can be quite sure
that II some close contest should arise in which the
Catholic clergy could turn the scale favor of one or
the other party, the Democratic politicians might not
be tempted TO yield something to them the schools
or school fund, as consideration for another political
yictory2
/ seCtarianisn introduced into uolitics