Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-02-08
ARTICLE

ARTICLE.
.o Section l. 40 state shall ever make or main
tam any law respecting an establishment of relic
Ion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
~ SecLl9n 2 Each state in this Gnion shall estab
Llsu Lll tam system OF free public schools
adequate for the education Of an the children Tv
ing therein, between the ages of six and sixteen
years inclusive in the common branches Of
knowledge, and in virtue. morality, and the min
clplee OF the Christian religion. BuG no money
raised By taxation imposed by law, or any money
OF oCner property or credit belonging to any m1-
nlc!pai organization, or TO any state or to the
United states, shall ever be appropriated, applied
~ gwen 70 the use or purpose Of any school, in
sClCuGlon, corporation or person. whereby instruc-
ton or training shall be given in the doctrines
teneLs oelleIs ceremonial, or observances peculiar
- eLy sect denomination organization, or society
Delng, or claiming to be, RELIGIOUS in ITS cbarac
SsL nor sheLI such peculiar doctrines, tenets, be-
heI, ceTemOnials or observances, be taught or in .
cuIcated In the free public school.
section 3 To the end that each state the
HnlLed states, and ali the people thereof, may
nave and preserve governments republican in
form ana IN substance, the United States shall
guarantee 70 every state, and to the United
system OF free public schools as is herein provid-
Section 4. That congress shall enforce this
article DY legislation when necessary.
Without considering the first ques-
tion which a lawyer would ask about
the construction Of these four sec
tions-hOw it would be possible to
prevent the establishment of a reIig-
ion and at the same time require the
establishment and maintenance of a
system Of common schools in which a
religion shall be taught-the great
question Of the people is-shall we
have a national religion?
It will, probably, be agreed that
teaching the principles Of the Christ
ian religion in the public schools
could be done without interfering
with the teaching of religion by de-
nominations in the churches, but com
mon observation is directly to the
contrary. What are the principles of
the christian religion, and where will
we go to find them laid down SO plain
~ as to be understood? Is it not a
fact that non-prOfessors are better
agreed than are professors as to what
those principles are? And if that be
true, shall the nOn-professors be the
teachers? If not, where shall we 90
to find them, and could they agree
among themselves? Briefly, would
it be possible to secure unanimity in
this matter? And if not, would it be
wise to establish a rule of conscience
which any portion of the people do
not subscribe to?
It is true that definitions of the
principles Of the christian religion as
given by any well meaning person
could be adopted and practiced with
out injury to personal morals; but
that is not the issue. Has one man
the right to dictate to another man
his religion? And if not, have the
majority a right to perscribe a nation
al religion? If it be said that christ
ian doctrine is only a high order of
morality, then why not use the words
principles Of morality instead of
principles Of the christian religion ?''
And if that language should be adopt
ed, would it not be well to define
these words so that these people
would know just what is meant and
so that there should be no latitude
allowed teachers?
It will not do. Religion is sacred
to It's professors; but let them enjoy
what they desire In this matter, and
employ teachers of good character IN
the public schools; then public NOR
atty viii not suffer, and the people
will take care Of the principles Of the
christian religion. There must not
be a national religion In this country.