Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-10-24

shallnot be taught. Now its eScuss i
that English ought to be t.nobt
| 1t Is but step, for the
majority to say that protection shall
1 be taught, or repubicanism taught. This
Is the underlying principle" of the Hoard
crusade against the religious schools.
Zeal for English Language.
The pretense is that the needs of the
young foreign born require that tbey
should be taught English. But thi. is Int
pretense. 1t has long been known that in
some Of the public district schools the law
which requires that instruction shall he
IN the English language has been and is
now dlSregarded, Have the republicans
IN state control enforced this law? No.
Have republican legislatures moved to
break mp this practice? No. On the con-
trary, they have divided the school fund
income among school districts that have
violated the law. One of the
Ahsnriities of the Bennett Law
Is that school board can disregard the law
ana omit 10 give English instruction in
the district school, and be liable 70 no PEN
atty, and for this omission they do not for
telt their Saare of the public money. The
republicans have taken no step to break up
this practice, but, acting on Hoard's
Recommendation, they seek to intermsddle
with the private schools. Ii is manifest
that the blow of the Bennett law is aimed
rather at the patrons of the private schools
than the officials of the public district
schools.
The Law Un-American,
The Bennett law and the spirit that
SnNkh HNlr1's
lean. Few such laws have found place
on statute books. One was enacted in
Pennsylvania many years ago: but il WAS
S2on repealed. One was enacted in New
York, but vetoed. and the Union League.
u republican organization. Joined in pro
test against it Notwithstanding tho
steady impour of foreigners. such laws
have not found place but in exceptional
instances IN American legislation.
It is I'M Democratic
Democracy foundS publc schools. sonar
ate from church, and excludes Sectarian in
Stru'uon. But II tIy1rS religious liberty.
Ii regards private ana religious schools as
great AIDS IN education and IN their wav
rs bulwarSs of the state. II saws that
parents who besides bearing the ppbic
burdens will contribute for conSciencr sake
to maintain private schools, can be trusted
to educate their own childr,L free from
state interference.
Ii Is Unjust and Unnecessary
Unjust because it puts the rude hand of
secular authority in matters that are
purely private; because 1t asserts a right
of dIctauou where only conscience and
parental affection ought to interfere, be-
cause they bear the burden and make the
500 10, l..
dency of assimilation of races and adop-
tion of the prevailing language is best
promoted by friendly relations, tolerant
laws, and removal of all friction by coer-
GIVE laws. As long as there is discrim-
lnatlon against race, an effort to choke
out It's language, 50 long will race preiu-
dice be kept alive and the truly American
spirit retarded The English language
will move on and pervade all.
Nothing can stop it. Law can not hasten
1t no moro than it can hold it back. The
public schools should teach it and the laws
which republican misrule have left to be
a dead letter should be enforced.
IL is Unconstitutional
In spirit if not in strict letter il is
against the spirit and genius of the con-
StitutiOn The constitution of this state
shut out all sectariau instruction from the
public schools and university. But it left
tree the religious people of all
sects II found their own
schools and maintain theta By painest
implication, II Contemplates that they may
regulate themselves SO long as they do
not disturb public order. They NAV reg
ulate their own studies, free from super
vision or visitation of state authority. 1t
is contrary to all American ideas of consti-
tutlonal law for the state to meddle with
them or their curriculum. 1t might be a
good thing for them to teach the consti-
tuition, or the st,te laws 1t would help,
perhaps, their students in the equip
ment of good citizenship. But it
would be an unwarTanted interfer-
ence The protectOnist might say
that his views of political economy shall Toe
taught The free trader might say his
opinions are nearer truth. But it will be
unconstitutional to Interfere either for or
ag glinst the one or the other SO il is in
spirit unconstitutional to inaugurate
Hoard's visitation scheme which is the
underlying principle of the Bennett law
Effect of Feiker'. speech.
All estimates agree that Feker's BIAS
phemy and fendish attack on the clergy
will give the democrats in Milwaukee an
increase of $500 votes All say that the
spirit of maignity and intolerance it
breaths is htly the expression of the NAL
evidence that is invoked against the de-
mocracy this fall in this state
The Good Cause
moves bravely on. From the seventh dis
trict news comes that Thomas is scared.
From the third it is said La Toilette is in
danger. In fact signals of distress ar. up
IN every stronghold in the state.