The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-15
PRICE TREE CENTS.


For nearly forty years we have been con-
verssnt with newspaper discussions, on all
sorts of topics, political, social, literary and
religious, and in sill that long lapse of time
we have never met with such an instance
of palpable and glazing mi.atatement of
the views Of other men as that upon which
we are now commenting. II made in good
faith it shows ignorance, most complete, OF
the subject presented; if done with de-
signed purpose to msrepresent, il is most
detestable fraud.
But this man forsooth has conscientious
scruples against contributing, by the pay
ment OF taxes, TO sustain the reading Of tho
scriptures and and prayer in the public
schools. II this be so his conscience is in
fair way to be pretty extensively oppres-
ed, as indeed it has been from the begin
ming until now. There is not a term of
court in the state that is not opened with
prayer, no daily session of the legislature,
in either branch, is begun without It; the
states prison has its salaried chaplain, TO
read the scriptures, and preach aud pray in
the presence Of Its inmates and all this 10
paid for BY taxes drawn, in part, from the
pocket of this complainant. And yet it so
happens that neither our Legislators, or our
courts, have ever discovered that this was
"violation of conscience" or "vf guar.
anteed rights" because thus all were ''com-
PEELED to support religious worship, by q
tax upon their grand list" Upon the same
principle the Quaker might say that his
guaranteed rights" wcie violated because
the taxes which he paye, aid, in part, to
sustain tho military establishment of the
state. So the man who honestly believes
that the moderate use of Intoxicating drinks
is right or that the entire suppression by
law Of their sale is wrong-ard we suppose
there arc e few such left yet-mght COM
plain because his guaranteed rights" were
invaded by the prohbitory liquor law. So
men who believe in polygamy might COM
plain in the same strain, of the laws against
bigamy and adultery. But there is almost
literally no end to the illustrations that
might be given in this direction The prin-
ciple which lies st the foundation OF this
complaint is subversive of all civil society,
and utterly precludes companionship under
a common government unless all are OF one
mind, In regard to all subjects that pertain
to the civil condition, and the moral con-
duct of men.
Besides, 1t is to be remembered that
there is a conscience on the other side of
this question, that has rights as we'll as on
that of those who sympathize with this cor
respondent. There are muldtudes of men
and women, and those too among our best
teachers, who believe that it is not only their
privilege, but their imperious duty, to read
the scriptures and pray in the schools that
are committed to their charge. They would
regard 1t as a sin against God, to omit these
things. They would deem the neglect of
them great wrong done TO those who are
under their care. We are not now saying
whether they are right or not, in entertain
ing these views. II is enough that these
are their conscientious convictions. Have
they no right of conecienca2 Are they
accordance with what they deem an imper-
alive duty? May they not read IN the ears
of their youthful charge, the inimitable
words of Him who spake as never man
spakc, and who said "sufier the little chill
dren, and forbid them not to come unto
me for of such is the kingdom of Heaven"
Where is Q more intense bigotry than which
would forbid them to commend the little
ones, who cluster around them, to that
great shepherd of the flock who ''will gath
er the lambs in his arms, and carry them in
his BOSOM" while they entreat him to bless
them in the life that now IS, and to prepare
them for glory and joy in that which is yet
to come.
Yet more we beg to remark that if the
spirit of this resolution is to be carried out
you must reject, or emssculate, every series
Of reading books that has ever been seen
| in the schools. There is not a single such
series, from the days of the American pre-
ceptor and the Columbian orator, down to
the very last that has been recommended
by the board of education, that does not
commend the holy scriptures, and inculcate
reverence for their authority, and certain
examples of petition addressed to Him who
is the hearee of prayer. You must create
a new literature for our schools before you
can accomplish what this movement con-
templates.
We have much more that we should be
| glad to say In this connection, but we fear
that this communication is already too
long, Vermont is a christian common
wealth. Christianity IS part of the CON-
mon law of the state, and no man, and no
district and no town has the power or the
right to exclude tie statute book of chris
.ianity, or the morality of christianity, or
the devotions of christianity from the pub
lie schools of the state. LEX.