The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-10-11
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND.



system.
Following is an extract from an address
delivered by Archbishop Ireland before
the National Educational Association at
ST Paul on the 10th of July, 1890:
STATE SCHOOLS.
| Will be permitted to make at once nv
profession OF faith. | declare most un-
bounded loyalty 10 the constitution of my
country. | desire no favorS. | claim no
rights that are not in conSonance with its
letter and lis spirit. The rights which the
constitution allows do claim. and iii doing
SO | am but The truer and more loyal Amer
lean. In what | may say to this diStin-
guiShed audience, the principles of our
common American citizenship shall in
spire my words. l beg that YOU listen to
me and discuss my arguments in the light
of these principles.
| am the friend and advocate of the state
school. In the circumstances of the pres
ent time | uphold the parish school. | do
sincerely wish that the need of il did not
exist. | would have all schools for the
children of the people state schools.
The accusation has gone abroad that
Catholics are bent on destroying the state
school. Never was there an accusation
more unfounded. | Will summarize the
articles of my school creed; they follow
ali the lines upon which the state school is
built.
The right of the state school to exist.
consider, Is Il matter beyond the stage Of
discussion. | most fully conccde il. TO
the child must be impaired instruction in
no mean degree that the man may earn
for himself an honest competence. and ac-
quit himself of the duties which society
CXactS from HIM for its own prosperity and
lie. Tins proposition, true in any country
of modern times, IS peculiarly true in
America. The imparting OF this inStruc-
ton is primarily the function of the child'S
parents. The family is prior To the state.
~ \ II nf IS
under the care and direction of the
parent the child shall grow both in body
and i'll mind. The state interyeneS when
ever the family cannot or will not do the
work that is needed. The states place i'll
the function OF instruction is loco pdfentis-
AS things are. tens of thousands of chill
drcn VIII not be instructed If parents re-
main solely III charge of the duty. The
state must come forward as an agent OF IN
Structi0n. else ignorance Will prevail. In
deed. in the absence of state action, there
never was that universal instruction which
we have SO nearly attained and which we
deem necessary. In the absence OF state
action believe universal instruction would
never in any country be possible.
State action in favor of instruction im-
plies free schools III which knowledge is
conditioned in the asking; III no other man
ner can We bring instruction within the
reach OF all children, Free schools. Blest
is the nation whose wales and hilisldeS they
ad0rn. and bleSt the generations upon
whose souls are poured their treasure. No
tax is more legitimate than that which is
levied for the dispe!iing of mental darkness
and the building up within nation $
bosom of intelligent manhood and woman
hood. The question cannot be raised, how
much good accrues TO the individual taN-
payer: the general welfare is richly served.
and this SutfiCcS. 1t Is scarcely necessary
10 add that the money paid i'll school tax IS
the money of the state. and Is to be dis
burSed solely by the officials of the state,
and solely for the specific purposes i'll view
of which it was collected.
COMPULSORY LAWS.
| unreScry edIy favor state laws making
instruction compulsory. Instruction Is ST.
much needed by each citizen for his own
sake and for that of society, that the
father who neglectS to provide for his
chiid'S instruction sins against the child
and against society, and II bchooVeS the
state to punish him. OF course, first prln-
cipleS must not be forgotten: and since in
Struction is primarily the function of the
parent the state entering INTO action TOGO
PARENTS. the parent enjoys the right to
educate his child in the manner suitable To
himself, provided always that the educa-
tipn given i'll this manner Suices for the
ulterior duties OF the child tow ard himself
and society. Compulsory education I'M
plies attendance in schools maintained
and controlled by the state only
when there is no attendance in 9TH
er schools known to be competent
to impart instruction in the required de
gree. The compulsory laws recently en-
acted in certain states of the Union are. 10
my Judging. Objectionable i'll few of their
incidental clauses. These, | am confident,
will readily be altered III approaching leg
islativc sessions. With the body of the
laws and their general intent in the dliec-
tIon of Fastening among us universal III
Struction am III most hearty accord.
1t were idle of me to praise the work OF
the state schools of America in the lmpart-
ing of secular instruction. We all confess
It's value. 1t Is our pride and our glory.
The republic of the United States has sol
emnly affirmed its resolve that within its
borders no cloud of ignorance Shall settle
upon the minds Of the children of It's peo-
pie. To reach this result Its generosity
knows no limit. The free school of Amcr-
ca-wIthcred be the hand raised in Sign of
lis destruction, ApplauSe.