Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-24
Church and State.


STRUGGLE FOR THE CONTROL. OF THE SCHOOLS
IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
A series of dispatches received by the Eecre-
| tary of State from Minister Thomas o. Osborn.
at Buenos Ayres, describes an interesting
episode In the nature of a struggle between
| church and state in the Argentine Republic for
the control of the normal schools, strugI
which soon became the dominant issue in
national politics and absorbed much of the
| attention of the government and the people.
In the normal schools of that republic estab-
as an. q, and supported by the nat,ona! govern
from the United States, are employed. On
April 25, 1884, DIR. Clara, Catholic ecclesiastic
letter prohibiting, among other things, the
sending of Catholic children to schools where
Protestant teachers were employed. The ma
| respect and INSTRUMENTATION, took the matter
up, and after The exchange of several notes be-
the minister Of the
ferred 1t to the attorney general for his opinion.
The attorney general, in Q long report Civ
and the church, gives the opinion that the gov
eminent which confirmed church nominations
could discipline and dismiss. President Rocca
accepted this opinion as sound doctrine and
issued a decree dismissing DR.. Clara. This was
followed by sharp discussion in the press and
duced caliing for ali the eorrespondence. Not
withstanding the decree, DIR. Clara refused to
accept his dismissal, and continued to exercise
issued second pastoral, in which he asserted
that it was his duty to obey instructions from
Rome rather than the laws of the national gov
eminent.
People are now divided into two parties.
clerical and anticlerical. Congress passed q
session, providing that in the schools of the
national capital there should be no sectarian
test or teaching. In the discussion Of the
ship hot debate took place on section relat-
ing to the suppression Of the seminaries for the
education OF priests and Minister DE Wild
made it known that the president, by withhold
ing supplies, was determined to press the
question to the point of separation Of church
DR.. MaItera, the apostolic delegate, anathe.
matized the Normal school at Cordova, of
which Miss Clara Armstrong, an American
ing been requested by Miss Armstrong TO re-
move the anathema. consented on condition
that she secure certain pledges from the min
was sharply reprimanded by the minister, who
told her that the government employed her to
teach sciences. and that DR.. Maltera had no atl-
The minister called upon DIR. Maltera for an
explanation of his interference with the laws
and authorities Of the country. and, as the
sent the apostolic delegate his passports,
and required him to leave the country
within tWenty-four hours. The order was COM
at is quite probable" writes Mr.. Osborn
in his last dispatch, that the president sent
call for Convention to smend TIE con.
stitation in order to relieve the state from the
One of the early incidents of the struggle was
procession Of more than 1000 ladies OF the
first families Of Buenos Ayres, which marched
exclusively BY WOMEN, praying FOR the rej se
house. which prohibited the Coaching Of 'S SeIis
Immediately taken By "snap Judgment" and
the bill was rejected by one vote.