The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-12-12

| BISHOP MCQUAID of Rochester ha
contributed to The Forum an article OF
the school question. 1t seeks to belittl
the goddess school" and to prove tn
practice of supporting them by take
drawn from the pockets of those who d.
not avail themselves Of the privileges
they afford violation OF justice. Tn
claim is made that those who supper
parochial schools must be relieved from
the burden of taxatioa necessary to main
tain the secular schools. 1t is assumed
| that all Catholics believe in the churcl
school. 1t is singular, if this is so, tina
no layman has thus far risen to explain
the position of laymen on this question
But it is manifestly not the case as tn,
large number of Catholic children in til,
public school abundantly proves.
The bishop consoles himself in his posi-
ton by stating that there are evidences
of discomfort among several denomina
tions, and he evidently thinks that il
time they too will demand relief from
the taxation necessary to maintain the
schools which do not afford the religious
training they would give their children
Here the reverend gentleman is moi
skilled in reading the signs of the times
and he differs widely from the editor O
so able a Catholic paper as the Citizen o.
Milwaukee which argues that any expec
tation of alliance from such sources is
vain and delusive.
The principle upon which the public
school is maintained is of too long stand
ing, its justice has been too long recog
nized, and the system of public education
has attained such strength and magni
tude under its operation that nothing
short Of dissolution of our government
and return to barbarism can suffice fol-
abandonment OF that principle.
But its advocates while glorylng in its
strength should not delude themselves
by Understanding the Importance oIsne
system that is sometimes pronounced I'M
American and dramatically opposed to
the spirit of popular education. ParocE-
al schools too represent vast amount
of capital and are expressions of religi-
Gus feeling too deeply rooted to be re-
moved by argument or appeals to passion.
Each system has grown up under the
free flag Of this country, and it is now too
late for the advocates of either to ask for
a Modification OF the principle upon
which either was founded. Both sys-
tens must work in harmony, and each
should become the complement of the
other IN making intelligent and virtuous
citizens differing in creeds but united on
tho immutable principles OF ethics. 1t
is idle to talk of adjusting taxation to
meet the wants of sects or individuals.
Al taxation is imperfect and unjust, but
il is with what is practical that we are
here concerned not with the ideal. Bishop
AcQuaid summons Herbert Spencer to
his support and apparently fortifes his
position by quotation from the great
evolutionist. But Spencer's Social States
Is an ideal work written for the ideal
moral being, but until the millennium is
nearer at hand the author of that cele-
5rated work would probably answer the
bishop on this question as he recently
answered an adhereut of Henry George,
that IL the present state of man the theory
is inapplicable however just or desirable
i may be.