, 1876-12-04

AAG E004lI.aVdUU1o GUN lhU*EhSx.
The issue relative to tLe public schools was
dropped out Of tho recent Presidential cam-
paign, partty bccauso 1t was osershadowed
by other matters Of moro immediate i'm
portanco, aud partly because tho agitators
were disposed to maintain silence in tho in
terest of tho Democratic party. But it will
be serious mistake to assume that no
trouble is TO be apprehendod from tho con-
troversy. There has scarcely over been q
moro specific declaration Of the poaition of
tho Roman Catholic Church In this mastor
than TINT nude tho other evening in Now
York City by Chanoollor PnEsroN, Vicar
General OF that diocese. This gentleman,
who occupies an Office OF dignity and influ-
ouco in Ills Church, delivered lecture under
tho auspices Of " The Young Mems Catholic
Local Union !" on tho gonorat subject Of re-
ligion md education. After dwelling at
length On the desirability of instrnctiug
youth in religious ideas "a matter upon which
most religious people Of whatever sect will
agree), he defined tho position Of hts Church
OIL the public schools as follows:
will state, briefly, the position In which wo
lar Instruction. We hare boan misunderstood, and
often Intentionally so. for Our explanations liayo
not hcrn received with eanaot Of considered With
Justice. We only 1earc to practice our religion,
mud We defy any man to call IN question for our
toya for our country. tLong.coatinued applause
For 1t has been shown moro than oucc In tho array
Of battle and In the face Of death, and 1t will he
shown ngatn, {Apptause.l VIC on!Y ask to prac.
tice our selgon, and our religion cannot md will
not approve Of tho divorce Of education from re.
ligIon. [Applause.] And In 80 doing aro we
touching the rights OF cur nclghborsf Surely not.
There 10 not q Cutho1e in oil this land who would
lny one dngeE ou tho s!gata Of any man before the
law. Rather, hecauao he clafms his own rights,
would ho doicnd the tlghts Of 0thors. We cannot
approve tho divorce of,clucatlon and solglon. md,
IN far a. Our children concerned we must teach
them, with secular knowledge, the truths Of
revelation and The mysteries Of our faith. [1reat
applause neesusu we do this, DO VIC prevent our
ncYhl,oyE from doing 1t likewise, frout not daTny
It at all, ~ they pleasef No. We interfere not
with their rEghts, and surely they, III juatIcp and
IN roaBon. ought not to intoFfcre with ours. [Ap.
plaIso.J HI far ~ the cohlmun schools aro con.
cerned. Il II q caluMny often repeated. and no
doubt to bs repeated STILL that VIC arc opposcl to
schools for thoss who want them. II Il not true.
We arc not opposed to tho common schoo'A for our
rfute4taat fslenda u they aYaat then1, but tauy
will not answer for NJ, fut the schools VIC want aso
taoae In which our children slla1l 10 taught tho
nysterlcs OF thelr faith. Now, in THU country
,hat boasts i4 freedom, shall an Ess and tell mo
'.Ail this 10 ycsy wefi but you ahatf support tho
co.an1on schools, no nnlser whether you like them
OF not mud II you don't wish 10 sena your children
10 tlc.u We arc In the majority, aud you shall pay
aryway"s IL this ln accordance with righteous
ness aud tustico7 II this frpo country, OF u 1t
not! Thcrs only two solutions to this Jilculty.
Either exempt from taxation thosc who do not do
sEe to send thesr children 10 common schools, OF
elss Xss uyery private denoh,Inational school ts
proportion Ut lAa taxua xenosa!ty rai4ol. ZAP
p!ausu.l Whcrs IL tho .llflcul&y In the WAyf
Whcru the objection to either solution! ThcEo can
Justly DO none. sou can exempt u from taxa.
lnn, than Of course we shall hare nothing to cum.
plain Ut. Let thoso who want schools hase them,
hut II thu statp tbtnts 1t best aud nost cxpclIou 10
jmroye tux Tor tho support of elnca!ou, then lit
It divide the sums 20 rnised by taxation In man.
sr agreeable to Itself among nl c}aasus OF ta citl.
zeny. 1t tlsurged A. Nh objection that 1t would be
difficult for w to establish syscm On which taxa
t!on should be divided, ss t|tefo afu n,any poor
Catholics who hhy0 chltltoa 10 pe educated but no
taxable property, personal Ut real estate. Neil,
VIC pnly Aak what IL Just. We are not begging for
adonatlon. but know Of poor Catholics whu
hGsu to help to support tho c6Mmun schools for
rich Psotestanta' sons and have IL help build aud
support Catholic schools besides.
| Tho demand ot tho Roman Catholic Church,
then, Is that thsir people shall Ia released
from taxation for school purposes, or that 8
portion Of the school fund shall be sst aside
for the support Of special schools where
Roman Catholic dogma shall he taught. Suct
IN ultsmatum merely resolves itself into The
] question whether there shall ba any fret