The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-15

extent, in very absolute monarchies, where
divine right is supposed to have centered
all power in a certain favored few az Ar
appeDdage Of their sacred persons, and tc
have left the vast multitude az the property
and chattels of these privileged ones, OF
very little better. But it seems strange
that such views of government could ever
gain any footing in a repnblic-a country
where, on tie very theory OF it's social
compact, all civil power GENES directly
from the people, whether originally from
God or not.
Yet so it is. A majority may have just
as despotic ideas Of its Inherent power as q
Sultan or q Gear. Because civil society has
right to make and enforce regulations for
citizens in their relations to one another,
regulate the private interests of the indi
vidual, and, therefore too, it. may go still
further and regulate his relations with God.
If the State-whether controlled by a
popular majority or by personal depot
has the right to enforce education upon a
child, it has on the same principle the
right to enforce upon a man it's own ideas
of health, of ply steal development, of
business economy, of religion itself. If it
can say to its children: "you must learn so
much of grammar" it may say to it's men
"you must take 30 much exercise, you must
eat such and such food you must venti-
late your room in such a way,"etc. There
are plenty of little despots, enthusiasts for
pet theories, furious riders of hobbies, who
would like above all things to use the Gov
eminent as an instrument for forcing their
wisdom on a stuped Get ofignoramuses who
don't and won't know what is good for
themselves. They would soon have every
body eating Graham bread aud swinging
on the trapeze.
This Juror of enforced, or compulsory,
education is one of these hob ies, only il Is
a vastly popniar one. There are plenty of
rejecting men, however, who see that it is
merely good idea run mad that no mat
ter how good thing the education may
be, the compulsory element is despotism
pure and simple.
We are happy to find SO able polemic
as the N. Y. Sun taking rational view of
30 grave matter. So far as America is
we cannot believe that the
heresy of compulsory anything, except
honesty, is more than mere mania, which
has caught the people by surprise and will
disappear before the light of reflection.
Such articles as recent editorial in the
Sun on that subject will go far in the direc-
ton of the sober second thought. We have
room to cite the following fragments only ::
A compulsory education law has for some
time existed in New York. y
We learn from q report of the Safe Teachers
assoc Iaton that it is su bstanti imperative
In the rural districts. The result will of |
course, be deplored by those persons who be-
leved the measure essential to;tbe security and |
we'll. being of the community; but there are
others, We need not say, who regarded the ex-
pertinent as grave divergence from the true |
junction Of government and who therefore |
nay not regret IT'S partial failure.
lew and hitherto untried direction is sure to |
'nl all others by an iuexorable and, so to speak
organic law of adjustment and development |
And another weighty consideration il that, |
although individuals may not de q particular |
hing 80 well, on the average. as Official func-
tionaries, it is yet desirable that il should be
lone by them, rather than for them, as q |
means to the mental discipline of the commu-
nifty. If compulsory education laws have mis-. |
carried in this and other States, it is because |
hey are net summoned into being by o dis
tinct and decided public demand, but run |
'onnter to principles which we believe the |
American people are not prepared to discard |
n favor of theories fostering habits of en- |
'roaohment on the part of Government, and |
labits of dependence in the governed.
Playing with Fire.