Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-05-21
COMMENCEMENT cR,rrcrsm.

Enron RnrunLicAs I'll have carefully read
all the criticisms, or rather lamentations, (or OF
criticisms there we're nono), passed upon the re-
cent Commencement exercises Of tho Leonard
school, and patiently waited to 500 II more would
be said but no one having touched upon the
salient feature Of the entertainment, / ask por-
ilon of your valuable space, to give you my views
! refer to the cool cnrontery with which the
Catholic portion Of the audience were insulted by
the enusion Of one speaker, about the bigotry,
ignorance and superstition Of Catholic countries
and Catholic ages the thralldom from which
Luther broke the massacre Of 81. Bartholomew,
and lot OF similar twaddle, the exact strain Of
which cannot hit upon, for | am not sufeiently
familiar with certain class Of Poitlco Religi-
Gus Sunday School books and pulpit ranters. l
shall not object to his insulting the intelligence,
by holding up tho Roger Williams -persecuting =
Quaker siash hing witch burning Puritanica blue
laws Of New England as the fountain head Of
civil and religious liberty, as possessing that
liberality and comprebonsiyeness Of view which
enables a man TO have convictions Of his own,
and yet be willing that others are free To enjoy
theirs and which, more than any written CON
sttution, Is the palladium Of our liberty, which
their whole history stamps them as 10 narrow and
llliberai that they never yet entertained an opin-
lon, social, religious, or political, which they did
not endeavor to force upon others; and who, as
far from appreciatlng the teachings Of Christ. In
their sublime and comprehensive charity, have
ever proven themselves incapable Of grasping
the principles Of our country's Constitution,
though but the product Of human effort, which,
instead Of being what it.is,'man's noblest effort,
to secure TO nation It's liberties has ever been,
when narrowed down TO suit their little capacity,
q means Of inlicting upon this ration their own
llliboral views OF this will not complain. II
he Ia. x.tahas IN farada Ma
Ignorance before the public, be Is Welcome to do
so, even though no shocks our intelligence but l
most emphatically object to the prostitution Of
our public school system. with Its liberal, far
reaching charity, by making II the gutter through
which bigotry or sectarian hatred shall low and
insult any portion of that schools supporters and
outrage the sense ofjustice Of every rlght-feeling
American. The public school system. In It's prop
or conception, Is too important factor In our
institutions, too essentially necessary to the pcr-
peiuity Of our form ofgovernment, for us to pass
BY without protest, any effort on the part Of big
otry to jeopardizo Its place In the warmest ahee-
tions Of the people. 1 rejoice that cause for COM
plant Is not frequent. Most Of those connected
with our schools appreciate the spirit Of the in
stitution and accordingly administer 1t and IN
the instance to which refer, would ascribe all
to a lack Of good breeding and cheap and IL
liberal education, derived from some source other
than the public school, and careessly overlooked
by his teachers, were II not that be has bceu un-
der the tutelags Of one who has never yet shown
himself capable Of apprecating American sonti-
ment who cannot teach history without infictipg
on his scholars the dirty outgrowth Of his sectarsn
bigotry, or geography without, 10 his sectional
hatred, insulting Democratic scholars who, were
II not for the authority behind which he hides,
would show him how cheap and contemplate
both his sentiments and conduct are who could
not run a campaign for the Superintendency
without, rantng about Inhdel and Catholic
combinations, attempting to excite sectarian bit
terness, only attempted for the honor Of the peo-
pie, the effort recoiled upon his own head;
who advocates the Bible in the public schools,
and compulsory cducation--g glorious combination
to ono who New Rngland-like would ierce bis
convictions upon others regardless Of their rights;
who, in advocating the latter causes, makes
speeches at Institutes, abounding in unfavorable
comparison Of Catholic with Protestant cou ntries,
thereby insulting his fellow teachers, where
every effort should be In behalf Of harmony aud
good will who cannot even allow those who diff
fer from him on the Temperance question to es-
cape with only an onslaught of logic, but must
vituperate landlords, and strive TO bring obloquy
upon the signers Of license petitions. Consider
ing all this, incline to excuse tho young man
who only followed in the footsteps Of his pre-
who have so long subjected our children to
an influence that starts them in life thus warped
and narrowed In their views who have so long
subjected them to such indignities because they
follow the religious or political views Of their
fathers. do. after those indgnations have culmi-
mated in the sweeping insult to every right feel
ing citizen which has called out this article, Ger
tfy to the above list Of qualities and send II and
their possessor to the meridian Of Germany, or,
which is about the same, far as cogeniality and
appreciation are concerned, to blue law Con-
necticut or negro loving Massachusetts, who're
he will soon find employment for his peculiar
talents as leader Of a Kansas colonization, or
other equally benevolent scheme aad in his stead
give US Pennsylv anians one whose convictions,
We care not what they are, are 80 held as to be
compatible with the enjoyment of others in theirs,
and who appreciates the fact that the Constitu-
ton Of country Is but the mental makeup Of its
people, and that far beyond any written guaranty
Of our liberties, is spirit which he will feel call
cd upon to inculcate-a spirit Of liberty, equality
and justice. CITIZEN.
Clesrheld, May l4th, 1879.