Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-19
Tuesday, May 10, 1885.

1 THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL POLICY. Perhaps there is nothing in the current ! number of the North American Review l which will be read with deeper and more general interest than the discussion con- cerning the Catholic school policy. This
 discussion is carried on by M C. O'Byrne
 and Bishop John J. Keane.
 MT. O'Byrne points out that the Roman church cannot look with favor on the com
 mon school system of this country, and that
 the conflict between Clericalism and Secular
 ism, begun in Prussia and continued in Italy,
 Belgium and elsewhere, has yet to be waged
 in the United States. He maintains that in
 free countries the secular are much better
 than the parochial schools. He insists that
 the Roman clergy are hostile to our institu-
 tions, and that the public schools, which are
 not nearly so immoral they are often made
 to appear, are the chief means by which our
 youth are kept in harmony with the spirit of
 our institutions. He quotes Gladstone's
 remark that "every convert and member of
 the Pope's church places his loyalty and civil
 duty at the mercy of another" and con
 cludes as follows: Doubtless were American
 Catholics brought face to face with the dilemma of divided allegiance, they would,
 men of other nationalities have sometimes done before them, fulfill the duties required of every patriotic citizen. None the less, however, does it behoove every citizen of the republic to reflect upon the possible, and to measure the inevitable, evils certain to re- suit from interfering with our common school system, whose efficiency in training our children has been amply and triuniphant- ly demonstrated. "If," says the proverb, five are bound to forgive an enemy, we are. not bound to trust him'; and it is impos- sible for us to forget that the demand for a change in our school system comes from those whose first allegiance and duty have been claimed by and mentally conceded to an authority that has steadily and consistent ly opposed that New Civilization which is emphatically and energetically represented and embodied in the Constitution and life of the United States.
 Bishop Keane's reply to Mir. O'Byrne is a very able production, and puts his side of the case about as we'll as it could be put He denies that the whole modern policy of the Church of Rome is opposed to the social and political institutions of the country He in- sists that the education of the young should be essentially Christian, moulding them to live thoroughly Christian lives. He assigns as the reason for not sending Roman Catho- lie children to the public schools that "Cath- olics are convinced that the natural tendency of schools without religion is gradually to wean the young, not only from Catholicity in particular, but from Christianity in general" His idea is that system should be adopted in the United States which is similar to that adopted in Canada and England, as we'll as in Austria and Prussia-a system that se- cures both the universality and the Christi anity of education. He is so much in earn est on the point that, "seeing that govern ment aid is apt to lead to government inter ference and dictation Incl would rather con tinue forever to bear the unfairness and hardship of the present system than pur- chase State aid at the cost of any danger to the thoroughly Christian character and per feet religious freedom of our schools"
 The question involved in this discussion is one of the most important with which this country has to deal. It must be met, and it will be fortunate for the country if it is met in the courteous and fair spirit which char acterizes the argument of Bishop Keans \