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

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| POSITION OF PROTESTANT CLERGY.
When the suhject was first aeitated the Protestant
cergy iet similar reluctance concede the secular
character OF the common schools They felt that there
| was no occasion for so sweeping a measure as that
proposed by the rule of the Cincinnati Board OF Edu-
eatloR, and resisted. But second sober thought,
expounded by the court. furnished the only solid
ground on which tho system could stand fast aud safe
| against all attacks from whatever source
In former times the clergy had a conceded authority
IN the schools They better qualified exercise
training OF children, than any other portion Of the
community. This was not confined to the Catholics
| tants generally.
DIVISION OF SCHOOL FUND WOULD BE DESTRUCTION
OF THE SYSTEM.
To divide the school fund would work the destruc-
lon OF the system. Nor would any satisfactory dvis
| ion be practicable. II it were attempted the small
sects and those who affiliate with could hope
ior but little advantage from their share OF the fund
ana none oil the fractional schools resulting from di
vision OF the fund would have moe than mere SEM
Dlance OF the power and usefulnA OF the system in
But the State delegate to any sect the admin
lstraton oil any part OF the school fund. To do so
would be an abandonment OF its duty under our Con-
| sutuuon' besides being palpable violation Of the
Ptlneiple that there must be no union Of Church and
The real difficulty is that our Constitution and the
Roman Syllabus are directly in conflict on the school
question. BY the syllabus our Constitution is "a
damnable orror;" and with the Catholic clergy the
| syllabus is an authority.
| CIVIL POWERS SUPREME.
The Catholic Church has a long history 1t has for
ages shared the power of the State in many Countries
and still shares 1t in 1t is powerful orpaniza-
iioh 1t has taught and believed that its creed was
the only faith and can not recognize the claims
oi any other, and 1t continues teach Our gov
ernmont can make no distinction among the sects It's
position IS one OF absolute impartiaty. So long
| a church does not encroach upon the functions
9t me state, it protects but does
interfere with it. The Mormon religion has peculi-
aIly IN ~ which has been supposed to encroach upon
the province of the state by encouraging bgaDy " But
IN ms country the civil law must be supreme. No
ordinance OF any church stand moment against
IT, The Catholic Protestant alike must Weld 10
the civil laws. Here is the theoretical difficulty with
the Catholic clergy: They owe a divided allegiance
70 tue HEAD oil the Church and to the STATE. And if
there is line between the things in which thev owe
aiIesance to the Pope and the things in which they
owe aesahce TO the civil government it is not always
apparent to the world, il it is to the Church. Here
IS dhculty in practice as well as in theory, the
school question.
PRIESTS MUST NOT CALL THE SCHOOLS GODDESS.
But the Church not be permitted to interfere
with the policy of the State 1t not be permitted
to set aside the civil law on the claim Of Superior
sanctity Nor il be permitted to set aside an de-
p'rtment OF the state Government the ground that
such department Of the State Government is ''god-
nopoze the favor the attributes of the Deity or to
WeId them as its peculiar power against the State or
other Churches II the priesthood Of any Church put
lorth such claim, they must not expect the State 10
recognize it. and much less they Expect 1t at the
hands OF other sects. II has been great mistake in
the Cathohc priesthood to cha racterze the common
schools goddess" 1t comes from a source and
culture foreign to our government
mere was time when such Christians Henry the
ElsHth, OF England, or As Philip the Second OF SPAIN
relying upon his divine right 10 rule, would have
Gharac'erzed republic like ours as goddess" Those
uaSs are gone lhere is anything divine in Ameri-
ca It Is our republican form OF government, II there
Is anything divine in the Republic, it its system Of
C1umOh scuOois II ls time that we should all learn
the lnhrlte folly OF attempting to fasteu upon any
part OF Gods creation our puny condemnation, by
denouncing it as 'goiless." The use OF the term in
reference 10 the schools implies an utter want Of ap-
probation Of the relative position OF the schools aud
the Church in this country.
IF THE CHURCH GOES INTO POLITICS IT VIII BE
TREATED AS A POLITICIAN.
The Church must be content with being protected
IN its worship and in the enjoyment Of its opin
ions; but IL must be taught to beware how il attempts
70 interfere with the proper functions Of the state II
II seeks to become political party it ex pect to
be treated as partisan; and any political party
which is willing TO use the secaran zeal OF partcu-
iar ShuToh 10 promote It's political power becomes
Justly obnoxious TO the suspicion Of all other Churches
II not TO their opposition The Democratic party at
the present time lies under That impuatOu II that
party and the Catholic Church nave conspired to ac-
qure and share political power, they can not conf
plain that other secs and other parties are becoming
Jealous OF their rights.
GRAND DEsIDERATUM
We come, then to the grand desderatum OF our Re-
pubHc-popular education, free and universal. WiIh-
out this it would be ephemeral. No could rely
masses, there would be adequate restraints upon
the brutal passions. There would be no checks upon
demagosues. Tyranny would grow up in our midst as
naturally as weeds grow in uncultvated garden
The people would be easily overreached and utterly
unable 10 detect the lmDOsltiOns and frauds
them, and sooner or later the popular form Of govern
ment would give place a despotism as the Roman
Republic gave place to Cesarism, and the French re-
puDlcs nave so often given place to an empire. lgnO-
rance is the mortal enemy Of republic 1t not only
breeds every form OF crne which is the COM
monty assigned Tor supporting schools by taxation, but
1t deprlyes the ballot OF its power, and renders it
source OF the greatest danger. Ignorant voters !
are always liable, in the hands of demagogues and
wicked a5prants to power, unwittingly to do in |
mite wrong 10 their country But keep in vigorous
operation the public common schools and make their |
ignorant the people may have been, intelligence will
gradually take possession of the land Liko The snn
in the solar SYSTEM which and enlightens the
most distant planets, the comm on school system, in
full operaton will gradually disperse the clouds OF
light OF universal intelligence. / the term COM
mon schools 10 comprise the system OF pubic schools
with all lis improvements and departments; not
limited 10 us present scope but with Its growth and
improvement in the future, well as in the past. on
this common school education rests faith in the |
republic Though there may be thousands who still |
vote blindly the number will grow less the COM
mon schools all over the country exercise their legit-
mate, uhperVerted influence upon the mass OF chill
dren who grow up in them Hence it is the bounden
duty OF free republic to maintain the common school
system clear OF all sectarian control at every hazard
This obligation, fear, is too lightly regarded by
some even who are not influenced by religious consd
erations; who are far enough from wishing TO
unite Church and State. They think OF the nigh
taxes, and conclude that thousands who pay no
taxes derive greater benefit from the common Schools
than men OF large estates who pay the most This
seems to them unjust and unequal. They see but
dimy the broad benefit of the schools to the public,
|
OF the children. They realize the value Of education
the children personally but forget the stake which
the public has in the investment. Many depre-
cate the constant improving character OF these public
schools as involving too high cost
TO be paid by taxation. They say: "Why.
these schools are exrayagant! They furnish almost
a liberal education. 1t is robbery OF the
men Of property" Here is undoubtedly room for diff
ierences OF opinion, among persons even who not,
on account OF religious opinions, voluntarily support
ing parochial schools. But they who oppose the i'm
proved schools do not realize how much the commune
y suffers from apprehensons OF theft and robbery
and murder, and that good schools the very best
prophylactic against crime that the chief COM
plant against our Republican Government is that inn
positions are pracced at the polls ignorant voters.
We may pass laws after laws TO detect and punish
frauds on voters, but no legislation will prove adequate
I'LL good education becomes universal 1t is greatly to
be regretted that the Catholic children not in the
common schools with the approval of the Catholic
clergy because u necessarily casts the influence of the
body OF the Catholic membership, who able 70
share the full benefit of the schools in favor
OF limiting the scope OF common school instruction to
the lowest possible amount.
=. But do not sympathize with those who fear that
the schools Will become too good. good and even
liberal education oil any young man woman re-
gard public as well as a private blessing and as
a he n al gta To