The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-10
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PROGRESS OF THE IDEA.

MDfNJ;;' 50 called, for the support OF
secfarian schools, we gave the proposition
our hearty support, because we believed
that 1t was right in principle, equally fair
to all sects and denominations, and because
we thought it would prevent dangerous
and threatened agitation in the near future.
The president, it will be remembered, in
his last annual message, recommended the
submission of an amendment 10 the seye-
raj states, making it obligatory upon them
to support and maintain free public schools
for the education, in the rudimentary
branches, of all children, irrespective of
sex, color, birthplace, or religions and
prohibiting therein the teaching of 're-
" ligious, athestic, or pagan tenets," or
the granting to them by legislative, NUM-
cipal or other authority, of any school
funds, or school taxes, or any part thereof,
or the diversion of such funds or taxes for
any other purpose than the support of
such free public schools.
The amendment proposed by Mr. Blaine,
and introduced in the house December IA,
but previously suggested in "letter to a
gentleman in Ohio" was to the same
effect, but more concisely stated, as fol-
lows: mo money raised by taxation in
any state for the support of public
schools, or derived from any public
fund therefor, nor any public lands de-
Z" voted 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 de-
nominations" The main difference be-
tween this proposition and that OF the
president is, as will be seen, that while the
latter makes the maintenance and support
OF free schools obligatory on the states, Mr..
Blaine leaves that matter for each state to
decide for itself.
General Grant, however, couples the
taxation of church property with his pro-
position, and Mr.. Blaine provides against
an union of church and state, and for re-
ligious federation. Whether the credit of
originating the lea of regulating this mat
ter by the nation, instead of by each state
for itself, belongs to the president or the
ex-speaker, we will not attempt to decide,
and, except, perhaps, for campaign capital
it is not of much consequence. In the
dim and distant future, it may be as inter-
esting and puzzling question as certain
military critics make of the origin of Sher-
mans celebrated march 10 the sea.
Next comes William ]. O'Brien, of Ma
ryland, with another constitutional amend
ment, introduced into the house, January
II, substantially adopting Mr.. Blaine's
amendment relative to church and state,
religious liberation, and the non diversion
of "school money; but enlarging thereon
by rendering ministers and preachers of
the gospel ineligible to any Offices of trust
or emolument under the United States or
any state, or from holding any office in
connection with the public schools. 1t is
difficult to see what possible danger there
can be to the state, TO the principles of reli-
gious federation, or of union of church
and state, by the occasional election of a
clergyman to congress, a state Legislature,
or to other official station. And it is still
more difficult to see, the principle of non
sectarian public schools being established,
why Catholic priest or Protestant cler-
gyman would not make Just as good, If not
a little better, school trustee or committee
man, as alayman-but, as there was proba-
bly, no expectation that such proposition
would succeed, it needs no particular dis
cussion.