Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-02-01
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.

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the readers of the JOURNAL the "Blai
Amendment" ns now pending befor,
the assembled wisdom OF the nation
Whether It's propositions will NEE
the demand Of the friends OF the Amer
lean School System wonld be prematur,
To determine in the infancy OF the dis
cussion. As II progresses perhaps Ger
tain amendments or nmrliorations ma,
prevail but very much will depend upor
how its provisions are understood, tn,
nature OF the opposition, how deep ant
wide tile existence of the moral current
In the minds of the people, how far {
may be pressed into the service of cor.
rupt and corrupting political factions
1t must bear all dispnraging criticisms
1t must win its way to the henSt Of the
common people by the wisdom OF its
provisions, and It's adaptation to remedy
the evils sought for. Only through the
medium of the public journals can the
people with that information necessary
to form an intelligent opinion Of any
public measure, and II the press gencr-
ally could feel the weight of its respon-
sibility as public educator, and seek
only known facts and legitimate deduc-
tions, we would expect and receive an
intelligent verdict on all questions of
national policy.
There is scarcely any use to reca-
pitulate the causes which have led to
the PRONUNCIATION of this measure; a
further discussion will bring these for
ward. Sufhce it to say that they range
over period Of forty years or more Of
our history, and have retarded to some
extent, at least, the beneficient effe cts
which might have been realized from
our public schools.
But let us examine with what candor
and ability we grasp some of the leading
features Of this proposed amendment
Section provides, THAT no State
shall ever make or maintain any law
respecting an establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
With many this provision is under
stood as having already full force with
in the territorial limits of the United
States, and that no danger can be ap
pretended from that quarter but such
is not the fact. Article 1st of amend
ments to the constitution says, Soon
gross shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, nor prohibit
ing the free exercise thereof" It will
be seen at glance that this goes no
further than the power OF Congress ex-
tends. In the internal affairs of a State
Congress exercises no power beyond
that which is delegated by the States.
Hence it is quite in the power OF the
individual State to create hierarchy
in things sacred infringing upon the
general principles of liberty The Govern
ment was intended to secure. Such
was the fact in relation to the State of
Massachusetts, long after the adoption of
the Federal constitution and perhaps
some others of the New England States ::
but the chief danger lies in our imme-
diate future. Utah is knocking at the
door of the Union impatient of admis-
sion, with a constitution which its pres
ent Gov, Caleb w. West said few days
ago in speech before the committee on
territories would establish Mormonism
as the religion of the State, and declared,
"that II Statehood should be granted to
Utah the old non-mormon residents
would have to sell out at sacrifice and
move away" He further named the
Democrats as against a policy that
would look towards admission. His
tory shows" said he, that Mormons
are neither Republicans nor Democrats.
Their allegiance is 10 llieir shurch, and if
the party made the fearful and fatal
blunder of advocating Statehood for
Utah there was not Territory in the
northwest that might hereafter become
State in which the party might ever
hope to carry an election"
Here the danger of such an establish
ment is plainly presented as fostering
ah aheSiuhSO W q power WHICH 10 u
standing menace to every principle Of our
government. This also shows us that as
ameasure it is of more practical value to
the individual State than to the general
Government, because that it would be
easier to bring these influences to bear
within a single State where there would
be more unity of.feeling than could be
found existing in the entire government.
The first article to the amendment of
the Federal Constitution imposes this
restriction upon The general government,
by the power of the united voice OF the
separate States. The general govern
ment now demands through this pro-
posed amendment the same Limitation
imposed upon the several States by their
ratification of this proposed amend
ment. j. WIGHT.
Scotch Ridge, Ohio.
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