The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-07-19

right to educate his child IN the manner
suitable to himself provided. ALWAYS.
that the education given in this manner
suffice for the interior duties Of the
child toward himself and society. Com
pulsory education implies attendance
in schools maintained and controlled by
the state, only when there Is no attend
ance In other schools known to be com
petent to impart instruction in the re-
quired degree" Does this language
need any Interpretation? We trust that
these misrepresenters Of our position
on compulsory education, will be salts
fed with this declaration from the
foremost representative Of the Catholic
people in the Northwest. Like all
other good Christians, Archbishop Ire
land deplores the want Of religion in
the public schools. Non Catholics who
have interested themselves In this mat.
ter also deplore the loss OF this very i'm
portant branch Of our educational sYs-
tenn. But for those who would be salts,
fed with the Bible in the public schools.
careful perusal of the Archbishop's
address which we print on the FIRST
page. we politely recommend. All
agree for the most part that religion
cannot be banished from the state
schools without working an irreparable
injury to the children. The Archbishop
suggests two means of solving the prob
lem, whereby Catholic as we'll as nom
Catholic children can receive religious
instruction therein. He recognizes the
fact that IN the majority Of cases the
parents cannot instruct their children
sufficiently in religion, because they
have no time; and for the hour in Sun
dav school No one will say that that is
enough. The two plans or methods of
settlement that the Archbishop pro-
poses for our consideration, are the re-
suit fee system and the devotiDg Of
certain hours of the day either before or
after school tor religious instruction,
We will here quote the last paragraph
of this learned prelate's able address
which we hope will put quletus On
the ranting anti Catholics Of the United
States who have devoted much time to
publishing to the world that Catholics
are endeavoring to destroy the pub.
lie schools of America. 'tAllow me
one word as a Catholic. have sought
to place on the precise line where it be-
longs, the objections of Catholics to the
state school. Is it fair, is it honest, to
raise the cry that Catholics are opposed
to education, to free schools, TO the
American school system? I do lose my
patience when adversaries seek to place
us in this false position, so contrary to
all our convictions and resolves. In
presence of this vast and distinguished
assembly, to have addressed which is an
honor L shall never: forget, / protest
with all the energy of my soul against
the charge that the schools of the nation
have their enemies among Catholics.
Not one stone of the wondrous ediice
which Americans have built up in their
devotion to education, will Catholics re-
move or permit to be removed. They
would fain add to the splendor and
majesty by putting side by side religion
and the school, neither interfering
with the work of the other, each one
borrowing from the other aid and dig
nifty. Do the schools of America fear
contact with religionp The Catholics
demand the Christian state school. In
so doing they prove themselves the
truest friends of the school and the
state. prolonged Applause.ln