The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-01-27
CHURCH AND STATE.

President Grants Des Moines speech
Blaine's Amendment to the constitution,
together with all that has been brought
to the surface of agitation in relation to
our public schools and churches in re-
cent campaigns, has made it obligatory
upon Congress to take cognizance of
these problems and bring them IN dis
tinct issue before the people. No mat
Ter how carefully politicians have eniea-
vored to crowd back these questions, or
striven to leave them a lightweight le-
gacy to future generations, like the ghost
in Macbeth it will not down and must
be met courageously by the present age
and disposed of definitely for all time to
come. By dispatches from Washington
we learn that Charley Williams, repre-
senting the LIST Congressional District of
our state in the House of Representa-
tives, on the 18th inst. proposed an i'm
portant modification Of Blaine's amend
Inent which is designed to settle the
whole subject matter in controversy, and
national politics. Blaine's amendment
provides that sno money raised by tax
alton in any state for the support of pub
lie schools, or derived from any public
fund therefor, nor any public land voted
thereto, shall ever be under the control
of any religious sect nor shall any mon
ey SO raised or lands SO devoted be di-
vided between religious sects or demon
nations" Williams amendment adds
the following Neither shall money
raised by taxation in any State be ap
propriated for the maintenance of any
sectarian school or any sectarian institu-
tion." The practice has grown up in
all the states of incorporating est. Ma
rvs, est. Peters," s'St. Johns" ETC.,
charity schools or institutions, which
are simply Catholic schools. Recourse
is thus had to the Legislature the next
year for appropriations for these CHART
able and benevolent institutions. Local
politicians yield to the pressure, and
vote thousands of dollars out of the gen
eral fund for these purposes. The evil
has become very great in New York,
Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and other
states Blaine's amendment does not
reach this class of cases.
William proposition, striking, as does
one of the most glariHg frauds and thefts,
to which our state has been subjected year
after year, no doubt, is based upon some
of his own personal observation and ex-
perience while member of our State
Legislature. No sooner are both Hous-
es of our Legislature organized than up
jumps a Senator from Milwaukee and
member of the House to introduce a Sc
ries of bills asking for appropriations
for the support and maintenance of
number Of Catholic institutions, plead
ing charity their object, but III reality
are known to be recruiting stations for
winning converts to the faith of their
church. The men who introduce these
bills are less the representatives of a
constituency of citizens than those of a
specific religious denomination. In this
manner thousands upon thousands of
dollars have been pilfered annually from
our treasury /; every year renews this
specie of robbery, and every year adds
n fortune to the possessions OLA religious
denomination which our laws exempt
from taxation. There ought to be no
limit to charity. Our state can well af
ford to take care of its unfortunates.
When cities and villages are unable to
assume these duties, it ought to step in
and lend its aid. Let it be understood,
however, that the state is the proprietor of
such Hospitals, Orphan Asylums, and
Homes of the Friendless; that every in
mate continues to remain the costolian of
her or his own religious views, faith, or
belief and that, without consent, no one
will be permitted to open a mission
upon such inmate for purposes of con-
version. All who have watchedthe mani
pulations of what representatives the
h-Bishopric of Milwaukee contribu-
ties annually to our Legislative body with
interest, will not fail to recognize the
necessity, experience and justice enbodi-
ed in the notifications Mr.. Williams
suggests to Blaine's amendment. 1t
strikes at the root of all the evils I'M
der which our own and other states have
long suffered.