Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-07-17
VOL. VIII. NO. 45.
NATIONAL EDUCATORS.
The Convention st ST. Paul oficcrs Elect
ed--ArchbIshop Ireland's Paper on Conn
pulsory Education.

days session OF the National Educa
tional Association was attended by an
other immense crowd. The COMMITTEES
on nominations reported in favor Of tho
following officers: President William
r. Garrett, Of Nashville, Tenn vice
presidents, James II. Canheld, of Law
renee, Kan; w. r. Beadle, Of Madison
S. d.; Mrs. ID. i. Williams, Of Della
ware, o.; j. NJ Baker, Of Denver, Col
Il. Fulare Of Marion, KY; John
Buchanan, Of Kansas City Mo-; II.
Jones, OF Eric, Pa Mary f. Nicholson,
of indianapolis; J. p Preston, OF Jack
son, Miss, f. b. MeEiroy, Of Salem,
Ore; NJ. c. Fernald. OF Orono, Ne, and
Solomon Palmer, of Montgomery, Ala
secretary, f. H. Cook, Of New Bruins.
wick, N. j.; treasurer, J. M. Green
wood, Of Kansas City, Mo-, and di-
rector from each State represented in
the convention.
The report was adopted after an un-
successful attempt Of Mr.. Vail, Of llli-
nois, TO substitute DIR. +. W. Hewitt, OF
Ohio, for president
The first subject OF the morning was
Compulsory Laws and Their Enforce
ment" Archbishop Ireland, Of St Paul,
read the first paper on the topic The
State School and the Parish School; Is
Union Between Them ImpossbleY'
Archbishop Ireland said in substance:
/ will be permitted to make at once my
profession of faith ! declare most un-
bounded loyalty to the Constitution OF my
country. l desire no favors. / claim no
rights that are not in consonance with IT'S
letter and its spirit. The rights which the
Constitution allows do claim and in so do
ing am but the tTuer and more loyal Amer
lean.
/ unreservedly favor State laws making
instruction compulsory. instruction Is so
much needed by each citizen for his own
sake and for that OF society that the father
who neglects TO provide for his chd's In
struction Sins against the child and against
society and II behooves the State to punish
him OF course, first principles must not be
forgotten, and, since instruction Is primarily
the function of the parent. the parent en-
Joys the right TO educate his child In the
manner suitable to himself, provided al
ways that the education given in this man
ner sufiices for the ulterior duties OF the
child toward himself and society. Com
pulsory education implies attendance nc
schools maintained and controlled by the
State only when there il no attendance in
other schools known to be competent to I'm
part instruction in the required degree. Tho
compulsory laws recently enacted in Ger.
tain states of 4he Union are, So ssy judg-
ment, Objectionable in few Incidental
clauses. These am confident III readily
be altered In approaching legislative ses-
sions with the body Of the laws and their
general intent In the direction OF hastening
amongst us universal instruction, / am in
most hearty accord.
The secular instruction In the State
schools Is our pride and our glory, and re-
gret that there Is a necessity for the exist
ence OF the parish school The spirit OF the
parish school, II not the school itself, Is
widespread among American Protestants
and II made manifest by their determined
opposition to the exclusion OF Scripture
reading and other devotional exercises from
the school room.
There Is dissatisfaction with the State
school as at present organized. The State
school, il is said, tends 20 the elimination of
rel igon from the minds and hearts Of the
youth OF the country This is my grievance
against the State school Of to day Believe
me, my Protestant fellow citizens, that am
absolutely sincere when now declare that
am speaking ior the veal Of Professionalism as
well as for that OF Catholicism. ] am Catho-
lie. OF course to the tinlest nber Of my
heart, unfinehlng and incorporating in
my faith. But God forbid that l desire to
sec In America the ground which Protest
antlsm occupies, exposed to the chilling
and devastating blast OF unbelieL Let me
be your ally In stemming the swelling tide
OF lrrellgion, the death knell Of Christian
life ana OF Christian civilization, the fatal
foe OF souls and Of country.
The state school Is non religious 1t ig-
nOres religion. There is and there can be
no positive religious teaching where the
Of non scctarianism rules. IL fol-
ha tgi ~, in
the belief that religion is Of minor impor-
tance, and religious Indifference viii be his
creed. Toe great mass OF children receive
no nresido lessons and attend no sun
day school, and the great mass Of
the children OF America are growing up
without relig ion. The State need not teach
relig ion, but for the sake Of its people and
for is own sake it should permit and faclli-
tate the action Of ths Church, but IL hinders
this action. Let the state look TO itself The
mind which il poishes IS two. edged
sword-an instrument for good or an instru-
mcnt for evil 1t we're fatal to polish it
without the assurance that In all likelihood
IL shall be an instrument for good
You say the State school teaches morals,
but morals without religious principles do
not exist. Sccularists and unbclievers VIII
intcrpose their ghts. do not impose my
relig on on them, nor should they impose
their religion OF secularism on u. Again,
there are uluereuCts among CHRISTIANS ana
catholics would not inflict their belief upon
non Catholics, nor should Protestsntism be
inn cted upon Catholics. Some compromise
becomes necessary. Taxation without rep
rcsentation Is wrong, and while the mlnori-
~ pay school taxes their beliefs should be
America is trying to divorce re-
igion and the school, although rcllg lglon per
yadcs our systems and the school was origin
ally relig Gus, through and through. Asa
solution Of the difiiculty, / would pcrmcate
he regular State school with the religion OF
.he majority of the children of the land, be
4 as Protestant as it can be and ! would.
Is they do In England. pay for the secular
Instruction given in denominatioual school
according to results-that Is. each pupil
pass ing the examination before statu ufil-
'isls and In fun accordance with the State
would secure 70 his school the
'ost OF the tuition Of pupil IN the state
'chrol Another plan; / would do as Prot
estaHts and gsthoii5s la PagFskeensle
md other places in our own country have
igrccd Co do, 20 the great satisfaction ot an
concerned and the great advancement Of
Interests. IA rourhkccps.c the
Jay school board rents the but ding formur-
y used as parish schools and from the hour
u nine a. tn. TO that OF thre p. m. the school
igious Instruction coming between the
iours named and the school being in charge
'f the city school boart.
ln coucius ION. protest against the charge
hat the schools Of the Nation have their
ncmies among Catholics. The Catholics
rc loyal 90 the country and demand the