The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-11-06
RELIGION IN STATE SCHOOLS.

EDITOR BULLETIN The "Adver-
tiser" of the 27th inst. contains an
article in reference to my communi-
cation of the 18th. Being an edito-
rial of the Government paper IL
seems to have practical bearing
which calls for some reply.
The editor is not well posted in
Prussian affairs, since he thinks
that PRUSSIA has found good reason
for abandoning" the system of de.
nominational religious instruction in
public schools, etc. The fact is
that the general system has never
been abandoned, but merely modi-
fed during the Kulturkampf. The
Falk laws were enacted, not for q
good purpose, but as instruments to
force the Church authorities to ac-
knowledge the supremacy of the
state over the sacred rights of re-
ligious liberty for its people. The
authors and principal instigators
were mostly rationalists, with whom
our respectable Protestants of Ho-
nolulu would scarcely sympathize,
except in the opposition TO catho-
licity.
In Prussia, like in other countries,
there are people who claim unlimit-
ed liberties for themselves with
out showing the least respect
for the most sacred rights OF
their neighbors; they claim even
the privilege of crushing every
opinion differing from their own.
The writer in the "Advertiser'
seems to have well understood my
augmentation and its practical con-
clusions. He at least indirectly ad.
mits the correctness of my reason,
ing, since he does not try to prove
me in error. Nevertheless, he fatty
denies my conclusion--not by any
logical deduction; but for the sim.
pie reason that the English-speaking
world will insist on excluding re-
ligious instruction from the public
schools. He does not say whether
that practice is right or wrong. Pro
badly he supposes that might makes
right. Our severe Judge decides
likewise that the state will never
materially assist independent pri
mary schools. L challenge him a.
unfit to sit as judge or juryman, be-
cause he has made up his mind il
favor of one side before even hear
ing the full evidence and argument:
of the other side. Do not deprive
me of the consolation to trust in th'
high sense of justice of the honora
bic Board of Education and of tn
sensible public. They see that in
dependent schools are not in oppo
sition to the government, but rathe
, help; that all schools in fact, bot
) public and independent, are intend
ed for the benefit of the children.
/ cannot understand why tn
Advertisers" insists on having tn
Bible as a text book in state school
from which religious instruction i
} excluded. l have explained VIII.
Catholics object to it consistent.
with their conscientious belief
Have not we as good right to &C
according to our views as others
My opponent seems practically t
agree with me, that the use of tn
whole Bible is not fit for children
He supposes very sensible teache
guiding his pupils in the s~lectio
and explanation of the most conve
nient passages. Now, as the teache
will naturally have his own theolog
ical notions, which cannot fail
influence him in his teaching, sue
use of the Bible would not produc
multiplication of heresies, but
r would increase the sect to which th
, teacher belongs. Is this fair soll
tion of the question?
What j said about the multiplic'
= ton of the sects, is the logical col
l sequence of the supposed inAepen6
r ent investigation (Which no sensib
7 man practically admlts.) If theI
l be something absurd, who is respol
e sible for it! The absurdity lies
r the theory of independent investig'
s ton. HERMANN,
4 Bishop of Olba.
+, Hon., Oct. 80.
s.-a-@~--~--~..-------.=