Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-05-30
Letter from the South Ridge.

NEW BAVARIA, O., May 27th, 1889.
EDIrok NoRTHwEsT:-It is now over year
since that considerable agitation was caused
in Pleasant township over the establishment
of the South Ridge Special School District.
To relieve the minds of many who may not
know the facts in the case or who may inn
agine 'bear in the bush," will try to give
a short history of the much discussed sub
ject.
In the spring of 1888 it became apparent
that two new school houses had to be erected,
one in sub-district No. 7 and one in No. G. The
people of these districts came to the sensible
conclusion to unite them and build but one
house-as near as possible in the center of
this territory-and to place the school on a
higher grade than the common sub-district
schools and try to extend the term beyond six
months. They circulateda petition and pre-
sented it to the board of education, praying
to be set Off as a special district under the
laws of the State. This petition was signed
by each and every one who, as parent or
guardian, had any interest in the welfare and
education of the youth. None but actual tax
payers were taken on said petition. As the
school house in sub district No. 8, of Marion
township adjoining, was also too small to ac-
commodate all its pupils, a petition was pre-
sented to the board of education of that
township praying to be set off and annexed
township. When the board of Pleasant town.
ship met, said petition was duly present ed,
voted upon and lost. And why? Simply be-
cause said petitioners were all Roman Catho
lies, citizens and tax payers of course, b ut
Romanists! 1t seems that their rights were
sought to be trodden down at once. few
days after this 1t was found out that the pub
Lie record of said meeting had been tampered
with-it having been falsifed on its face. 1t
was also ascertained that the township clerk
as clerk of said board had not been sworn,
nor had he presented his bond as clerk, and
that one of the sub-district clerks composing
said board had never been qualified.
Upon the face of these facts another meet
ing of the board was called, at which all the
members appeared. The clerk was duly
qualified; presented his bond, which was ac-
cepted, and the sub-district clerk qualified
1t was held as a foregone conclusion that the
first meeting was certainly void, and the
board reorganized and proceeded as if no
former meeting had been held. The said Pc
tition was again presented, voted upon and
passed by vote of 4 to 0, those in the mega
tive not voting. The measure was declared
carried. At special meeting of the board
of Marion township held later, said petition
was passed by a unanimous vote and the
special district was established. The people
therein afterward met and held an election
according to law. The directors appointed
their clerk aud treasurer and reported these
| facts to the County Auditor, together with
a plat of the special district and the certif-
Gates from the presidents of both township
been set of as a special district. The board
of education of said special district reported
their levy to the Auditor, but it was found
that it was too late to place it upon the dupli-
cate for 1888. During July the clerk took
the enumeration and fo1nd the district con-
tanned 175 unmarried youths of proper school
age; and horrible to contemplate! were all
Catholics. Upon this enumeration the dis
trict treasurer drew the proportionate share
of State funds, but the boards of Pleasant
and Marion townships elected this spring. re-
fused to allow this special district its share
of the money received by the levy of 1888,
for the reason it would go to the support of a
sectarian-a parochial school.
Well, if the eclectic series of text books of
Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. are sectarian, and
their adoption and use IN school, stamp it
parochial, then may the Gods protect us tits
true, that the directors not being able to
furnish suitable building, rented the old
temporary Catholic church, near the new
church, and fitted it up as school room; but
it is also true that the Catholic minister never
yet entered said school in his capacity as
SUCH Nevertheless, the howl is kept up aud
the wish and will of the people is sought to
be trampled upon by few who find their
plans crossed. Why, even Judas has his dirty
finger in the pie, as will be seen by last weeks
issue of the "AdUocate" of Lies.
The above, Mr.. Editor, are facts and truths
and ought to be brought before the people as
they really are. The officers of said special
district are men of intelligence, and as full of
patriotism and love of American instituti ons
as any that can be found. No one need to
fret that by the establishment of special
school district under the laws of the great
State of Ohio, the constitution of our fore
fathers, brought down to us inviolate, will be
shaken to pieces, simply because the people
in said district happen to be Catholics. Oh.
no! TRUTH.
Stick to Your FlanneIs.
IBoston Courier.
Stick to your asnnels, Tom,
Till the end Of May;
Don't take them of, my boy,