The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-08-20

not only TO De formed into clJIZenS, DuJ also ana
especially, to be educated in good men and
good Christians, and our Church believes. in
| oil earnest, with Guiz"t. the celebrated Pro-
testant statesman of France, that education
can by means be separated from reli gious
| influence Therefore, whilst leaving your
schools and their management peacefully III
your own bands. we claim the right of having
schools of our own, from which religion shall
| not be excluded. bat be allo we'd to exercise its
| ssln tsry influsnce on our youth.
| 4. We claim the right the plea that We
| are a religious body in this free country, those
| Constitution most solemn v guarhn tees the free
exercise of religious belief to all its citizens,
| and the fullest personal freedom n regard to
the dictates of conscience. Now, there Is not
| more essential or n more precious liberty than
that of paren 10 to educate heir children in the
manner which they think will make them
happy for time and for eternity. Therefore. the
Catholic people, with logical sequence, CLAIM
the protection of the Government, so as not to
be molested in their schools.
S. We say protection. No doubt, justice and
equality would entitle the Catholic people of
this country to exemption from taxation for
the support OF other schools, or to share of
the public school fund in proportion to the
number of pupils in their schools. But even
this claim we are disposed to waive in your
favor.
g. You can have no reason to fear the effect
of our system on the com mou wealth, because
experience has proved that the students of our
colleges, acad emies and schools are as good and
useful citizens those who come out of
your institutions. And ii in every other
branch of human action you admit the princi-
pie of competition and believe in it's beneficial
influence, why should you exclude it from edu-
cation, and deprive yourselves of the benefit
which emulation would prodncef
Z. We fear that notwthstan andng this sincere,
precise aud solemn declaration. there will yet
be found fanatcal men and political speakers
who will endeavor to excite their hearers by
asserting the imaginary opposition of the Ca
tholic Clergy to the Public Schools of the
country. 1t is Que of the misfof tunes of this
world that it cannot get rid of men who, Ii ke
Don Qnixotte. are peIpetualiy fighting against
wind mills, under the plea of Imminent dangers
to their fellow Such men do not wish to
know the truth, and though we repeat it q
thousand times that we DO not oppose their
schools, any more than We adore image, r
trust more in the Blessed Virgin than in the
merits of Christ they Will tnousapd times
renew the charge and swear that do. We
do not expect to silence auch men; bat we ap-
peal TO all fair minded citizens not to he led
astray by the ed or ignorant ranting of
men who would blind them for their own
political ends.
We ask favor OF privilege. All we ask is
to be let alone in following the dictates of our
own conscience and you cannot refuse this
without undermining the Constitution, and
preparing tie way for the loss of the same free
dom for yourselves.
Americans! willing to rally with Won
under the flag and Constitution, and mai ntain
them with our blood, We have done hereto
fore. Bot we cannot help fearing that both are
in peril, whilst q large number of our fellow
citizens in and cut of Cffce, allow themselves
to be influenced by fanatlcal or elf-interested
politicians. or by infidel and revolutionary for
egners, who come to with the proud pre-
tension of teaching US what republican govern
ment is, about which they know nothing them
selves. All we ask is that you will not go to
such men to learn what we aim at, what are
our sentiments. Give us u fair bearing, and
receive THE declaration as the sincere express
sion Of our true principles. which we make be.
fore God and aneu, actuated by no oLher motive
than one desire for the welfare and progress
and PerpetDiLy of our country, snch the
Fathers of '76 made it, and intended that it
should remain.
Your sincere friend and lover of the American
Republic, JOHN b. PURCELL,
Archbishop of Cincinnati.