Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-11-21
The CATHOLIC School 0us.tion.

1t is not altogether without apprehension
that we hear, from this quarter and that of
the Catholic clergy seeking to control the ed
ucation of the rising generation. There is
nothing in the history of those nations whose
education the Catholic church has controlled,
to inspire the friends of republican institu-
tons with anything like confidence. Cathol-
ocism, if it means anything, means allegiance
TO the Pope first, loyalty to the State after
wards. As Joseph Cook said quite pithily
some time ago, the school question, is the
thin end of the wedge.
The Catholic clergy are. by no means Anx-
ious that their people specially tax them
selves to have the children educated-but
they are anxious to control the education I;
because they see very plainly that, good
common school education, while it may fit
for good citizenship in the Republic, is by
no means certain to make docile and tracta-
BILE Catholics. With them good Catholic is
of far more consequ- ace than a good citizen
If Republicanism means anything, it means
self-government, and our common school
system is organized with the idea, ana for
tho purpose, OF preparing for good citizen
ship fitting youth to become relf-reliant
thinkers and actors. But self-reliant, indie
pendent thinkers and actors have in all ages
of the Church been her most dangerous enc
mics. So far forth as a man dares to think
outside of or beyond the formulas and rules
of the Church, he becomes bad Catholic
and IN element of danger to the hierarchy.
1t is from the instinct of self preservation
tI,,A H.. Il. II l.. L. 4
of the mind of the rising generation those
influences and ideas which tend to make in
dependent and self-reliGnt men and women.
If that could be done at the public expense
by controlling the common schools, it would
be done there and when and where the ma
jority are Catholic it will be done, if the
church remains true to her policy consistent
ly pursued since the days of Constantine the
Great. There is no reason TO expect that a
church, whose boast it is that she never
changes will deviate from q policy which
centuries of trial have proved to be so sue
cessful in raising up devoted adherents. Re
publican ideas and institutions are in the
very nature of them inimical to the fundt,-
mental principle of Catholicism unquestion-
ing loyalty to authority-suc an authority
as regards itself above and beyond any need
of showing reason why. There is no natural
sympathy between the two institutions; they
are logically hostile to each other. And if
there be no open rupture between the two, it
is not because there is any spirit of tolera-
ton in the church, but because her policy is
to bide her time. When she secures good
working majority, and the tendency is that
she will do so in fifty years in some of these
Eastern States, she will dictate the policy of
the State, and make laws to suit herself. If
she does not then will she have changed the
policy she has systematically followed for IF
teen hundred years.
America has got through with one baptism
of blood, because there was not wisdom or
foresight enough at her birth as a nation, to
crush that relic of barbnrism which so be-
sotted the people that the bosom of war alone
could purify her. She may not be wise
enough to-day to see the seeds of as deadly
war being sown, in the fostering and shell
tering of ideas and institutions which no toll
Grant, moral indiTerentism can appreciate
But if all signs do not fail, America is as sure
in time, to repeat the experiences of some of
the eligious-war-cursed nations of Europe
as the Catholic church is sure to adhere to
her age-long policy. Why was it that that
astute statesman, Prince Bismarck, SO rude
ly shook his fist in the face of the vicegerent
of the Lord, and sheared the church of so
much of her power and crippled her influence
in the political affairs of Germany? For on
To- h.not,g. 10 bor
dency to be detrimental to the interests of
the state. Not that she favored anything
like political institutions opposite to those of
Imperialism; she delights in Imperialism
when she can successfully influence and con-
troll the policies of the Empire Her very
central idea is Imperialsm-a poltico relig-
ious Imperialism, whose emperor would rule
earth and heaven. And if Bismarck found
her dangerous to the state, where can she be
| harmless
The rising republic of France has just gone
successfully through political struggle with
her, to shut out her influence from the schools
there. Why? For one reason only-be-
cause from long, bitter experience France
has found Rome's influence hostile to the
best interests of free state. Yet there are
not wanting sapient American statesmen so
broad and tolerant that they are willing to
accept all the risks aud can see little or no
danger
We have an unwavering faith in the efiica-
cy Of free, unrestricted exercise of the fun
damental and essential principle of that re-
volt from Rome which gave Professionalism
and free states to the world faith in the ef.
hcacy Of this principle perpetuating the he.