The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-06
bishop NIcQuald ON the question OF rublic
Schools,

Bishop NIcQuaId an the Question of Pablo
New FORK Herald. ''"'''
A vigorous attack upon the public
school system appears In tho December
number OF the Forum over the signature
OF that loarued and courageous mGdi@Y.
alist, Bishop B. ]. McQuaid, Of Roches.
ter. His statements are sure to attract
general attention, coming US they do
upon the heels Of the Catholic lay Con-
gress in Baltimore,
The Bishop attacks the schools upon
three distinct grounds: They are based
upon the principle OF State paterualisn.
They are goddess and therefore inade'
quate in 4 Christian community. They
are partly supported by Catholic tax.
payers, who cannot in conscience allow
their children to attend them. These
are the main points urged by the prelate.
1t Is asserted that in the city Of RoClles.
teralone the children attendingparochial
schools equal 473 per cent otthc number
In the common schools.
Hence, were the Catholics to disband
their paroChial schools and throY their
/. $40 children on tue city, school taxes
would have to be increased more than
47i per cent, or more than $4,000, with.
out counting the cost OF the fourteen or
fifteen new school houses, together
with the lots on which 10 build them,
furniture, etc.
After warmly commenting upon this
aspect Of the issue Bishop MCQuaid de.
clares that not only the scholars educated
IN the parochial schools equal III every
respect to those trained at tho public ex-
pense, but they usually graduate at a
lower age. He insists that instead OF
dividing tho youth Of the land from each
other the paroChial system encourages
rthe democratic notion OF friendly
equality" while the State system tends
to separate children on tho lines Of pov-
erty and wealth.
The present attitude OF the church is
thus summarized:
Catholics do not ask for division OF
the school fund. Indeed, they fear the
State, They ask simply for their own
money, uDjustly taken from them for
the education Of the children ofin6dels
and evangeliCals. Be this amount much
or little, it Is theirs by every principle
Of common Justice, and this, and not one
dollar OF any one elss's money, they ask
Tor. II this arrangement cannot be
affected, then let the State pay for re-
suits In secular education In any school,
paroChial, private or corporate, furnish.
ing the State with tho requisite con-
ditions OF buildings, furniture and com.
petent and Cerlillc0ted teachers and in.
struCting pupils in such branches OF
secular learning us the State may require.
II one or tho other OF these plans Is not
acceptable TO the majority oil the Ameri-
can people, then let us return TO funda.
mental principles aud throw the burden
Of schooling children on parents, where
Il rightly belongs. We ought by this
time 10 see how dangerous II is to break
away from sound principles In running
democratic institutions.
Bishop MGQuaid seriously errs when
lie assulncs that the idea Of public in.
struction is inspired by charity. The
State establishes FREQ schools and makes
education compulsory simply rs a meas
ure Of MISREPRESENTATION. Before putting
he ballot IN the hands Of citizen II Is |
necessary to furnish him with sufficient
knowledge TO use his high political
privilege intelligcutly. Public schools
he vital. part oil republican govern
nent.
The State Cannot leave such an inte-
rial part OF It's system to private super
,iBion In which II has no voice. Nor
An tho training OF children for the
lulies OF citizenship DO intrusted 10
,arents. The reports Of truant officers
nd others familiar with the facts show
hat thousands Of poor and ignorant
,arents are unwilling TO lot their OIL
Dring spend any time at all 10 the
Chooiroom. They would gladly BaCri.
ICe tho future Of the child Tor the sake
/ the pittanCe II might earn or tho ses.
Ice II could render at home.
II would 10 difficult to collect taxes on
religious basis. This Bishop MCQuade
Mn readily admit. To make member.
hip In any particular church q reason
Dr tho non.payment OF school taxes
pOull create distressing and aCrlmoni.
tls contests,
7 In his undoubtedly sincere crusade
he worthy bishop arrays himself against
no vast majority Of his co.rellgloniStS In
lie country. II would DO unjust 10
mink otherwise. There arc few who
. so far
III mas, ID lhntuan vhh haa hia u,iiVaF