Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-07-16

lie, of course, to the tiniest fibre of my
heart, unhinching and uncompromising
in my faith. But God forbid that [ de-
sire to see in America the ground which
Professionalism occupies exposed to the
chilling and devastating blast of unbe
lief. Let me be your ally in stemming
the swelling tide of irreligion, the death
knell of Christian life and of Christian
civilization, the fatal foe of souls and Of
country.
''The state school is non-religious 1t
ignores religion. There is and there can
be no positive religious teaching where
the principle of non-sectarianism rules.
1t follows then that the child will grow
up in the belief that religion is of minor
Importance, and religious indifference
will be his creed. The great mass of
children receive no freside les
sons, and attend no Sunday school,
and the great mass OF the
children of America are gro wing up
without religion. The state need not
touch religion; but for the sake of its
people and for its own sake, it should
permit and facilitate the action of the
church; but it hinders this action. Let
the state look to itself The mind which
it polishes is twe-edged sword-an in
strument for good or an instrument for
evil. 1t were fatal to polish il without
the assurance that in all likelihood it
shall be an instrument for good
gu say the state school teaches
morals, but morals without religious
principles do not exist. Secularists and
unbelievers will interpose their rights.
| do not impose my religion on them,
nor should they impose their religion
of secularism on us. Again there are
differences among Christians, and Cath
olics would not inflict their belief upon
nom Catholics, nor should Professionalism
be inflicted upon Catholic children.
Some compromise becomes necessary.
Taxation without representation is
wrong, and while the minority pays
school taxes their beliefs should be re-
spected America is trying to divorce
ligion pervades our systems and the
school was originally religious through
and through
''As a solution of the difficulty would
permeate the regular state school with
the religion of the majority of the chill
dren of the land be it as Protestant as
Professionalism can be, and | would as
they do in England pay for the secular
instruction given in denominational
schools according to results-thatis, each
pupil passing the examination before
state officials and in full accordance with
the state programme would secure to his
school the cost of the tuition of pupil
in the state school.
Another plan: [ would do as Pro-
testants and Catholics in Poughkeepsie,
I'll III,
have agreed to do, to the great satisfac-
ton Of all citizens and the great ad-
vancement of educational interests. In
Poughkeepsie the city school board
rents the building formerly used as
parish schools. and from the hour
of 8 A. NJ. to that of P. NJ, the
school is in every particular
state school, no religious instruction
coming between the hours named. and
the school being in charge of the city
school board.
'In conclusion / protest against the
charge that the schools of the nation
have their enemies among Catholics.
The Catholics are loyal to the country,
and demand the Christian state school,"
The committee OH nominations re-
ported in favor of the following officers:
President, William r. Garrett, of Nash
field, of Lawrence, Kas.; w. H. Beadle,
of Madison, S. D.; Mrs. D. L. Williams,
of Delaware, o.; j. NJ Baker,
of Denver, Col; T. A Futrall,
of Mariana, Ark; John I. Buchanan,
of Kansas City; H. S. Jones, of Erie,
Pa; Mary E. Nicholson, of Indianapo-
lis, Ind; j. r. Preston, of Jackson,
Miss; E. B. McEiroy, of Salem, Ore
NJ. c. Fernald, of Orono, Me-; Solomon
Palmer, of Montgomery, Ala; secre-
tary, E. II. Cook, Of New Brunswick,
n. j.; treasurer, J. NJ. Greenwood, of
Kansas City, Mo-; and a director from
each state represented in the conven-
ton. The report was adopted.