The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-11-27

! Under these circumstances, my differ
/ ence with the Catholic church seems to
be radical and irreconcilable. That
! church appears to hold that some meas
| ure Of control over the general school
| system Of the country is necessary 20 the
1 proper performance OF its own peculiar
| work, and the public schools, supported
and paid for By all the people, regardless
| Of religious belief, legitimate channel
| through which 10 exercise Its Influence.
/ This is something | cannot approve OF,
I or consent to under any circumstances.
l should feel equally bound to oppose
anv similar claim on behalf OF the Angli-
can church, orany other ecclesiastical or
ganization whatever.
regret that nv letter has extended to
so great length, and am quite well
aware that much OF it consists OF re-
statement OF matters previously adj
vanced. My apology for this repetition
is the seeming failure OF the Bishop to
grasp my ideas as set forth in my two
former letters Otherwise there would
have been no excuse for his writing rs
follows: "0ur Protestant Layman is
against any concession to Catholics-not
by dint OF good reasons, for such he can
not find, but on the rather vague plea
that concession. once granted, would
be foundation for new demands"
This is not correct statement OF my
position. 1t should have been clear to
any one reading my second letter with
even ordinary care, that in addition to
the risk OF future complications, which,
by the way, was put forward in a man
- TT.
jected to making concessions, upon
grounds distinctly identical with those |
have indicated above. l could see no
argument of either necessity or equity
which required US to make any conces-
sions, when the church demanding them
was already receiving full justice, and |
enjoying perfect equality, both in theory |
and in practice. The Catholic church |
has, under our laws and public policy, |
everything which any other church or
ecclesiastical organization has, every |
thing which any one OF them asks for, |
and everything which can be granted |
without compromising principles which |
are as sacred to Protestants as any article |
OF his faith can be to the Catholic The |
idea that the Catholic church has
superior rights of any kind, or has any |
claim, moral or legal, to be treated differ
emily from other religious bodies. we
reject in toto, and rejecting the idea, we
reject, OF necessity, all plans, and pro-
jects, and policies deducible therefrom,
or based thereon.
In view of the professions OF intended
fairness and liberality which the Bishop
has made, and of his earnest appeals in
the name of the rights of conscience,
think it perfectly fair to ask him a few
questions.
First. Supposlng the circumstances
were all reversed, and the Catholics were
as entirely dominant as he saws the
Protestants now are, and the latter as
poor, as weak and as helpless as he
the Catholics to now be
would he considert that justice demanded
the granting, and would he be in favor 1
OF granting to Protestants the same
he now claims for his own
people?
Second. Should he be personally in
favor OF so doing, will he tell us whether
the same would be in accordance with
,he general rule and practice of the
Catholic church in such cases?
Third. Ii he is prepared to answer
his second question in the affirmative,
will he furnish some proof Of the correct
less OF the statement, and point out the
in which, the Catholics being ..
Is much in the ascendant as he says the
Professionals are here, grant to the latter
he concessions which he in his turn is
low asking, or give them more liberty in
my way, than he and his people are now
Enjoying in these Islands?
Ii the Bishop is as fair and candid as
lie processes, and doubtless believes him
elf to be, he should be prepared to 8
nswer these questions promptly, square
Y, and without equivocation or evasion. !!
Trusting that shall see no occasion l
o again trespass upon your space, I sub
cribe myself
\ Protestant LAYMAN g