The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-01-02
An English View OF the Message.

The London Spectator, which always
treats American affairs with candor and
good temper, and generally with intelli-
gence, finds it obvions from the Presi-
dents message that Gen. Grant Is still
% candidate for u third term, and be-
lieves that his; proposal for a new
constitutional amendment will great
ly increase his popularity. "The ef-
feet Of this amendment" says the
tax very heavily throughout the United
States all those who hold religious
education to be OF the essence. Of q
proper schooling, since they would not
be able to avail themselves for their
children OF the free schools for which
they were taxed, and would be obliged
to tax themselves still more heavily
ssSaos IN nhgS Gef ssy he sp1 ns ka ID
Hp'h''I t IS precisely % this this Incidental con-
sequence OF the suggested amendment
which will render 1t very popular just
now in the United States. The alarm
about Romanism, which has almost ex-
hausted itself on this side OF the water, is
Just beginning on the other, and q pro-
posal which In some States would put
Romanism at great disadvantage, and
do good deal, In the case OF the poor
Irish, to force the children into secular
schools, would excite real interest and
perhaps even enthusiasm throughout
ablest Of the English wecklies Is worth
noting. It shows a misconception OF
some OF the facts In the case, but q very
shrewd Judgment OF, the President 8
PURPOSES, and o correct estimate OF the
sentiment to which he has appealed
We do not see that the President 8
amendment would add anything to the
burdens uf the opponents Of secular
education. He proposes, indeed, that it
shall be made the duty OF every State
to provide free unsectarian schools.
But It Is the duty Of every State to do
that now. The common school system
is already established throughout the
Union. The schools are unsectArian
and several of the States even go
further than the President proposes,
and make education compulsory. The
aid which has here and there
been given to church schools has
generally, II not invariably, been with
drawn. Constitutional amendments
prohibiting the appropriation OF public
money to institutions under the control
of religious denominations have been
adopted in some Of the aates, and will
| doubtless he adopted In others when
ever the occasion arises. The proposed
duAcuuUtcuJ tllcIClbIc Ouly COIlIIIhiluS
the States to do what they are doing
already, and what the General Govern.
ment could not in any case compel
them to do.
But II Gen. Grants scheme Is useless
as measure OF practical legislation, il
may become effective as q political de-
vice. Undoubtedly there are thou.
sands s-though not SO many as the
Spectator thinks-who will applaud
anything that attempts to s'put Roman
ism at disadvantage, and give their
| suffrages heartily to President who
tries, In however laundering q way, to
force the children of the poor irish
into the secular schools" They value
Gen. Grants proposal, therefore,
not because 1t promises to strengthen
the schools, but because it seems
to them an expression Of hostility
to the Roman Catholic Church
Whether the school systemris best de.
Tended, the happiness, prosperity and
brotherly union OF the people best Sc.
cured, by thus blowing upon the embers
Of religious strife, we leave the good
sense Of the community to determine
For our part, il the General Govern
ment is to meddle with church and
school at all we prefer that it should dc
SO In Mr.. Blaine's way, which needless.
ly affronts nObody's susceptibilities
while it accomplishes all that the best
fri ends OF the schools can desire.-N
Y Tribune