, 1879-01-12
Cl1 u RCH AND STATE.
GEN. GRANT AND TIE copkoN1ASs.

~--N~-*N
To the Editor ot The Tribune.
CHICAGO. Jan. 8.-Whcu the Corkonians in-
suited Gen. Grant for sentiments expressed In
TINS country in favor OF the separation Of
Cm1rch aud State. they were no more than true
to their religious training and the traditions Of
The Mother Church, and I have respect for their
candor. To be Roman Catholic one must be
i'll fayor Of subordtnuting the Stats 10 the
Church. Its head makes no secret Of his claim
to universal supremacy, and, in this age OF hy-
pocrisy aud sham, his frankness and cahdor are
standing rcproof to the hollow mockcry of
vain prct.nses and false names by which men
and nations SO often cover their real objects.
The Pope believes he has Divine commission
for governing the world, and boldly proclai1ns it,
he thinks he is entitled to universal aud un-
questioning obedience, and he frankly de-
mands it.
True, he sometimes seems to compromise, or
capltufate; but it is only as 4 temporary expe-
dlcnt,-a cautious retreat to insure final viz
tOry,-and the Coykonians but illustrate the
true policy aud position OF the Church. Nor
can We Imagine that their conduct was mere
ebulntiou oi bigotry on the part Of the ignorant
masses. They do not read political speeches
made in the United States. Few OF them read
at all; aud rs their information comes through
the priesthood, it must be that, in Cork, they
1cel strong enough to lay aside that prudence
which governs the SOUS OF the Church in places
where there is a large element of Professionalism.
The occasion is good for calling attention to
that separation OF Church and State which these
foreigners deprecate; md i close look shows
that it is all sham. In the State Of New York
millions have been appropriated to the support
OF Catholic schools. In Minnesota they are
supported ont OF the general tax fund. while
they use textbooks prepared BY priests in Aus
ira, aud directly intended to sap the founda-
tions Of Rcpublicanism. Our whole common
school system is rapidly passing into the
hands Of the Roman Church. Protest
anlsm is excluded as scctarian, while Popcry
is steadily aud steathly taking possession, and
our people fold tbelr hands and congratulate
themselves on anti-sectarian laws which are as
much dead letter, on our stA;ute-books, as il
they had never been written.
We refer to Grants Dcsaloines speech, as If
that settled the question, while tens OF thou
sands Of Roman Catholic school officers sud
teachers are using our school fund for the
propagation Of Ronauism as against Repub~
Icanlsm.
But our school taxes are not the only public
moneys diverted to sectarian purposes; for all
our taxes are levied with view to the support
OF the Church; not only OF tue Roman Church,
but OF every other Church. Other countries
levy taxes to support some one denomination;
but the United States taxes all her citizens Tor
the benefit Ct every church, and thus fosters
that reckless extravaganza which has plunged
the whole Protcstanism Of the country into
ruinous DEBT.
That Catholicism is not in the same condition
is owing to its unlimited power Of taxing lis
members and its unexampled adroitncss in
spelling the Philistines; but our system OF in-
direct tithes aud religious taxation Is rapidly re-
dacing US II the condition OF those Catholic
countries whose gorgeous cathedrals LOOK down
upon upon the mud-nouses OF the people. AL
ready our towering church edifices mock at the
crowded, squalid dwellings OF the poor, aud the
man who is struggling to keep thin, pine cot
tage as a shelter for himself nnd children must
pay ruinous tax on his home. that cut-stone
towers and stained-glass windows may look
down on his struggles and his poverty.
Church and Stare will never be divided while
the Church refuses to bear her share OF the
common burden. ! know it is argued that the
Church repays the State by making men better
citizens, but this is an open question. Does the
Roman Church make her mem bers better citizens
than they would be without her lanors! think
not! We have no evidence that the members Of
that Church are worse, by nature, than other
people; yet they supply very disproportioned
reason to suppose that the Catholics Of New
York would have iuaugurated the great riots
of the War it they had not been Catholics, or
that those Of Plttsburg would have burned the
railroad property If they had been members OF
any other church or Of no church: That
enmity to Republicanisin shown o. the Cork
onians, in their insult to Gen. Graut, crops out
in all our great riots, in our Mollie Magulre
murders, and general enmity TO law and order
shown By our foreign Catholic population. j.!
But the Catholic Church Is not alone in its
failure to render service to the State for the
substantial benefits received. Every church
which teaches that fnith in q creed, and the
observance ! Of formulas is OF more inpor-
tance than that morality in which alone the
State is concerned, is guilty Of fraud! It takes
national aid without giving an equivalent, and
every good citizen should demand that all such
churches pay their full share Of taxes.
JANE GREY Sw1ssuELM.