San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-07-18
iialefnl Effects OF Sectarianism on our
schools-.-Good Words-from HS.Gov.
ireland.

I,aleiul Effects OF Sectarianism on our
schools-.-GoOd words-from Ex.Gov.
Ireland.
As is pretty well known. we have
not always agreed with Gov Ireland
nor have we over hesiiated ~ express
oar difference with him, or any one
else, when such expression seemed 10
be dcmaLded. But we arc always
better pleased to concur than differ
and hence wo arc glad TO be able. TO
quote john Ireland as IN authority
| in support Of our views on tho school
question, especially as we know he
has many friends among our church
people and others OF this county.
He is a prophet OF their own and
perhaps if they will not accept the
truth from us, they will hear and
heed him.
In February last, the people OF
Arson, Jones county, having deter
mined to build good school build
ing, called the OK governor to address
them on tho subject. This he did,
and we shall make some extracts
from the address as published in the
newspapers. And first read his start
ling testimony as to the evils Of Sec
tarianIsm in school matters. He
said:
Thirty. eight years ago located in
the town of Seguin. We had two
large colleges, which turned out a
GOOD class of scholars yearly. Tho
female college caught fire and was
burned down, but IL subscription was
taken by the light Of it's burning
walls sufficient to rebuild it. To-day
that female school is in the hands OF
negroes and the male college is in
tho hands of the Jesuits. This state
of affairs is sad commentary upon
our people, and should be warning
to your people. These schools were
flourishing under the care OF capa-
BILE faculty until local discussions
arose through UNCONVENTIONAL jeal-
ousies. As population came in and
churches became powerful, they quar-
relied as to who should control those
schools, and they began to wane and
finally persisted. Please bear in
mind that attach no blame to the
different churches; for thore are mono
who witness the growth OF religious
influences with more pleasure than
your speaker. Let me beg your diff
, ferent denominations never to bring
, up that subject in the school. Don't
do it. When you do it, you strike o
death blow to your educational In
terest, and under tho constitution
YOU have no right to do it. l be.
lieve denominations schools are good
where churches are wealthy and pros
porous enough to sustain them. Until
then, never mention it. Don't do 1t.
We confess to no small degree OF
qualification at finding the position
we have taken on this subject thus
sustained. Read again his warning
against bringing UNCONVENTIONAL dit
terences into schools. "When goa
! do It., he sars, "you strike q death'
} blow to yow educational Interests,
AND UNDER THE CONSTITUTION YOU HAVE
NO RIGHT TO DO IT. And he sums all
up with the exortation "DONT DO
IT," He properly makes an excep-
ton where churches are wealthy and
prosperous enough to sustain them
he should have added-and WILLING
: to do it without seeking aid from the
public school fund.
} We give some more sentences from
tho ox-governors address, showing
: that he has correct views on the
great subject of general education
Hear him:
Go on and build your school house
, L am not opposed to taxation fol
: school purposes, but am only advis'
q ing you torely upon yourselves, and
be thankful for what you receive from
the state.
No other state has such an educa
0 tional endowment, Sl2,000,OOO per
manent school fund, darwing an aver
, age of 5 per cent. interest; half tha,
: amount also from the sale OF school
lands, and 25,000,000 acres yat fol-
4 sale. want to SEQ all the people
5 educated; education is the grea
BULwARK OF CIVIL LIBERTY. L expect
to return to Arson again soon in thu
future, and when 1 reach your town
I hope to see q good school building
here.
Wecannot doubt that, holdi ng thu
above views, John ireland, If residing
here, would favor our proposed new
public school building. Since h'
hoped to sec good school building
in the little town of Arson, away on
on the frontier, who can doubt tina
hew would rejoice to see one in Sal
Marcos, near his own home, snC
where he has many friends'
Tho Colorado Citizen says: "W