The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-08-31
THE STANDARD.



. The Democratic House OF Representa-
tives in Washington has been guilty Of
trickery, hypocrisy and cunning in deal !
ing with the public school question. The
Democratic members of the Senate Of
the United States have shown by their
votes that the Democratic party will
do nothing TO protect our free public
schools from the attacks Of certain rilig-
ious sects which desire their destruction
The assertion of Catholics that justice
and equality demand that portion of
the public school fund should be given
to the support Of their parochial schools,
has been frequent and persistent The
denuncistion of our free public school
system as Infidel and Pagan by Catholic
newspapers and periodicals had been out
spoken and virulent By the passage in
New York of the Gray Nuns Act" and
in the approval Of that measure by Sam
uel j. 1ilden, the Governor, had been
shown a disposition on the part of the
Democratic party to yield to the demands
Of religious sect. In the early months
of 1875 in Ohio, the same powerful party,
under threats of the withdrawal of the
support of the Catholics and by virtue OF
a promise of the "unbroken solid vote OF
nous Geghan law
These things have aroused in the minds
of the people fear that sooner or later
religious sects may succeed in securing a
division of the school fund among them
selves, and the consequent destruction of
our free public schools. Hence a demand
which must be recognized as the voice OF
the people, has been made that q provis-
ion shall be added to the Constitution OF
the United States, which shall make our
public schools impregnable against the
assaults of religious sects and remove
this fre-brand from the arena Of politics.
In his last annual message to the Con-
gress of the United States President
Grant recommended that no sectarian
tenets shall ever be taught in any school
supported in whole or in part by the
State, Nation, or by the proceeds of any
tax levied upon any community"
On the l4th Of December, 1875, Hon.
James g. Blaine, Republican, offered in
the House OF Representatives the follow
ing proposed amendment to the Consti-
tuition, which was Immediately referred
to the Judiciary committee:
ResolUed by the Senate and House Of Represent
dtfUes That the following be proposed to the
several States of the Union as an amendment
ARTTcIE iG. No State shall make any law re-
specting an establishment of religion or prohio-
iting the free exercise thereof; and no money
raised by taxation in any State for the support OF
public-schools, or derived from any public fund
therefor, nor any public lands devoted thereto,
shall ever be under the control OF any religious
sect, nor shall any money so raised or lands so
devoted be divided between religious sects or
denominations. lsee Congressional Record oil
December l5.l
For months the Democratic majority
of this committee and of the House per-
mitted the amendment of Mr.. Blaine to
remain quietly in the files of the commit
tee. About five months afterward the
National Republican Convention was held
in Cincinnati, and recognizing the justice
of the demand which was everywhere
being made for the protection of the
schools from all possible dangers, adopt
cd the follow NJ accommodation
T. The public school system Of the several
States Is the bulwark OF the American Republic,
we recommends an amendmant TO the Consti-
tuition OF the United States forbidding the app
plicaton OF any public funds or property for
the benefit of any schools or institutions under
sectarian control.
At last, on the 4th of August, 1876, az
ter more than seven months of hesitation
and waiting, the Democratic Judiciary
committee reported back to the House
the Blaine resolution, but not until it had
been so ameuded as to rob it of all mean.
ing, virtue and force. 1t was in the words
following:
Resolved on the Senate aud House Of Represent
dtiues Of the United States Of Amerfcd IN Congress
assembled ttOo-thfrds Of each House concttrrinG
therefn), That the following be proposed to tins
several States OF the Union an amendment
to the Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE l6. No State shall make any law re
specting an establishment of religion or pro
hibiting the free exercise thereof, and no money
raised by taxation In any state for the supper
of public schools or derived from any public
fund therefor, nor any public lands devoted
thereto, shall ever be under the control OF AM
money so raised on lands so devoted be divided
between religious sects or denominations.
This article shall not vest, enlarge or dimin
ish legislative power in Congress.
To the Blaine amendment was added
by the Democracy, the proviso: "Thi
article shall not vest, enlarge or diminish
the legislative power of Congress" Wha
bosh To a great people who were de
manding that the fundamental law o
their Government should be so amended
as to relieve our free schools from al
danger of attack by any religious sect
the Democratic House said by this pro
posed amendment: "You can have al
amendment, but you shall have no legis
lation or power to enforce its provisions.
To the great Church, whose unbroken
solid vote this party desired and expect
ed, the Democratic House said by thi
proposed amendment, 1--WE are you
friends. Examine our amendment. |
means nothing By it we will quiet tn
fears of the friends of free schools, but a
the same time they have no more powe
than they had before" When were du
plicity and cunning ever more expertl
practiced in aid Of Jesuitism than in thi
action by the Democratic House of tn
United States2
Fortunately this Democratic cunnin
fraud had to pass through the crucible o
n Senate of whose members a large ms
jority are Republicans. 1t was referre'
to the Judiciary committee of that body
and on the 10th of August that commit
tee reported back the following as a sui
stitute Tor the House amendment;
REPUBLICAN AMENDMENT.
Resolved byt the Senate and House Of Represen
tires (two-thirds of each House concurrin
TO the ieeisiatures OF the several States as a
amendment TO the Constitution of the Unite
the said Legislature, shall be valid as a part Q
the said Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE 10. No State shall make any law rf
specting an establishment of religion or prohit
iting the free exercise thereof, aud no religion
test shall ever be required as qualification I
public property and no public revenue of, no
any loan OF credit by or under the authority {
the United States or any State or Territory. dis
trict or municipal corporation, shall be apprc
priated to, or made or used for the support G
any school, educational other institution
under tue control OF any religious or anti-relip
ious sect, organization or denomination, o
wherein the particular creed tenets OF an
religious or anti-religious sect, organization o
denomination, shall be taught, and no sue
particular creed tenets shall be read O
taught In any school or institution supporte
I'm whole or in part by such revenue or loan {
credit shall be made to any religious or ant
religious sect, organization or denomination
or to promote Its Interests or tenets. This art
Gle shall not be construed TO prohibit the read
ing of the Bible in any school or institution
and IL shall not have the effect to impair right
of property already vested.
SEC. 2. Congress shall have power by apprC
pirate legislation to provide for the preventio
and punishment of violations Of this article.
Here was an amendment that mean