The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-24
The Protection Of the School System

In0 FrOUecJlOn OF tho ScnOOI system
An association called the National Leagu
for the Protection of American Institution
has been Incorporated under the laws Of thi
State. The venerable JOHN JAY is the Presi
dent, and associated with him as officers o
supporters are many very respectable gen
tlemen. both clergymen and laymen.
The proclaimed object OF the League 1!
more particularly the protection OF the pub
lie school system and the prevention of the
diversion Of public funds for sectarian and
ecclesiastical purposes. Tho complete
separation Of Church and State" says its
declaration principles, is essential TO the
integrity Of our State institutions and the
peaceful enjoyment by our citizens Of all
nationalties and Of differing faiths of liberty
OF conscience, freedom of worship. and the
right Of self-government."
But these priceless privileges are already
guaranteed by the Constitution Of the United
States, and the Constitutions Of the several
States. They were won for us by the strug-
giles of our fathers and an amendment to
the Federal Constitution, such as the League
proposes. Is not necessary to procure them
now. The suggested amendment. moreover
does not at all settle the controversy over
religion in the schools. 1t forbids appropri-
atons for sectarian purposes but it does
not forbid religious instruction in schools
supported by general taxation, the very
bone OF contention.
The main question Of difference would
continue to cause discord and provoke re-
ligious animositles, the bitterest which d.
vide society," II there is any danger threat
AnfnO gnhnpl
from the demand. whencesoever it proceeds,
that religious instruction should be pro-
vided in the schools to some extent, greater
or less. But the League does not oppose
this demand. and the sentiment Of large
part OF its members has been openly in its
favor, provided the teaching be agreeable
to their own religious opinions. 1t insists
upon the rigid exclusion of sectarian or de-
nominational teaching" but not OF religion
altogether. Yet there is no religious in
Otruction which Is not sectarian or denom-
national, according to tho views Of a great
part OF the people. or which can be provided
without interference with their religious
freedom" II 1t be satisfactory to Roman
Catholics. 1t Is offensive to Protes-
tants, and the same tho other way. II
1t suit Christian believers, ii outrages Jews
Buddhists, Agnostics, and unbelevers.
Probably the Rev. DR.. ROBERTS, In his
opening sermon before theh Presbyterian
General Assembly, expressed the opinion
OF the great majority OF the League
when he said that some non-sec-
tartan religious instruction may be in
troduced, as in England without inter-
fering with the rights or disregarding
the conscientious scruples Of any" But 1t
cannot be done. for in this republic there Is
no union Of Church and State, as there is in
England, and all religion IS sectarian in the
sense In which tho preacher and the League
use the term. Even the reading of the Bible
and Christian prayer, as experience has
shown, cannot be introduced with
out offending conscientious scruples
Yet DIR. ROBERTS and those for whom
he Is the spokesman think that they
are going to the furthest limit of liber-
atty In their proposed compromise. They
onot for moment tolerate any suggestion
that religion shall be excluded wholly from
tho public schools They are determined
that religion shall be introduced, and the
iault they find with the system now Is that
1t Is too purely secular.
Yet nothing is more apparent than that
the existence OF the schools depends ON The
total exclusion OF religion from them. For
bidding public appropriations for sectarian
purposes will not save them, unless they
are made wholly secular in their in
struction. Instead of becoming more re-
ligious, the last vestige OF religious teach
Ing must be removed from them. As
they grow more numerous with the growth
OF the population, the differences Of opinion
as to religion increase and become more
irreconcilable. Even II Professionalism and
homanism came nearer together in senti-
ment as to the subject, unbelief and belief
other than Christian would stand out in
rebellion. Nor does It seem now as if
Protestants and Catholics were reaching
any such agreement for DR.. ROBERTS
bitterly assailed the Roman Catholic clergy
as the persistent enemies of the school
system, and the manifesto OF this League
Is so framed as IL provoke the hostility OF
The Roman Church. against which it is
very plainly directed.
SO far. therefore, from conserving the
school system, the League Is unwittIngly
working for its overthrow. II is multiplying
enemies u The schools and Iutensilyiug Their