The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-11-13
THE CATHOLICS AND THE
SCHOOLS,

ter IN last tuesday ''GaZette.
His feeble attempts at strength in
argument and severity in expression
were absolutely futile, inasmuch as
he failed to point out any error in
my arguments; he admits, at least,
in an indirect manner, the equity of |
my claims. l know full well that
my suggestions are no legal claims.
But every unbiased mind must con-
slider them equitable according TO
common-sense justice. AS the Board
of Education has rather extended
discretional power, rightly suppose
that this power can be exercised for
a good and just purpose without an
extra law to that effect. Our Pro-
testant Layman is against any con-
cession made to Catholics-not by
dint of good reasons, for such he
cannot find, but on the rather vague
plea that concession, once granted,
would be foundation for new de-
mands. In proof thereof he cites
action of the Catholics in the United
States and points generally to both
ancient and modern history. do
not doubt the sincerity of the writer,
nor do l deny the correctness of a
few of the facts alleged. The state
ment of most of those facts, how
ever, must appear inaccurate, as it
is but too plain that the writer was
misled by historians who, because
of their deep prejudice, themselves
viewed matters in highly colored
light. Perhaps nothing involves
greater difficulty in controversy than
a sound discussion Of historical
facts. For arguments sake, how
ever, l will not contradict (tran-
seat) the opinion of my opponent
that both Catholics and Protestants,
when in majority, have oppressed
the vanquished minority.
Confning our discussion to the
actual state OF Affairs in these Is
lands, let me ask the Protestant
Layman: Would you approve of
such practice? The polished gen.
tleman will doubtless reply, BY no
means would L approve of it. L am
ashamed of my own party's having
acted so. Now L ask, why do you
advise your Protestant major
ity to deny the least concession
to the poor Catholic minority?
Would it not be more consistent
with your liberal views of the Pro-
testants.of these Islands, who are
superior in number, who exercise
all the Government power, and who
are actually the treasurers of the
country's wealth, treated the Catho-
lie minority, of whom out of 10
are poor. with equity and generosity
thereby helping them to have their
children educated according to the
dictates of their own conscience, in
stead of exerting their influence in
the direction of placing obstacles in
their way!
The Protestant Layman says he
cannot undertake to discuss the
doctrinal points advanced by me in
my second letter. He was never in
vited to do so, las a careful perusal
of my letters will show. l have ex-
pressIy excluded the discussion of
the intrinsic merits of our respective
creeds. In my second letter l meant
only to set forth the difference of
our respective doctrines regarding
the necessary conditions for saliva
tion, without attacking anybody's
belief in particular. AS the Protest
ant sects have each their legal right
of acting and of educating their
children according to the dictates of
their conscience, | claim the same
right for the Catholics. And as we
do not impose our Catholic doctrine
upon Protestant children without the
consent of their parents, so we must
be conscientiously concerned about
having the Catholic children brought
up in none other but the pure
Catholic doctrine.
t.. This we consider the most essen
tial branch of education. 1 wish
my Protestant friend clearly to un-
derstand that we have perfect right
to expect from the Government off
cials, Notwithstanding their own per-
sonal preferences or antipathies, i'm
partial justice towards all denomina-
tions. They have not, the right of
declaring any one creed good enough
for all. p. Layman's quarrel is not
with the theology of the church, but
with its ''politics. The fact is that
the Catholic faith and it's moral
principles have been the same at all
tunes and in all places; but / have
never heard of any politics peculiar
to the Catholic Church. Theology
teaches that there is but one true
church OF Christ, and that we ought
to endeavor, for charity's sake, to
bring all men to that One True
Fold-only by strictly honest means.
1t teaches MS to love even our enc
mics, be they personal, political, or
religious. We consider it u very
important duty for parents to have
their children instructed also in the
secular branches, though inferior TO
religion. The peculiar means (poli-
tics) to attain this end must be
adapted to the different circum-
stances. Now, what are the Catho-
| lie notifies abOut schools i'm these