St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-31
THE PLOT THlCKENS.
What Will Be the Outcome Of
the Educational Disa-
greement?
Archbishop Ireland Says
President Garfield Is Much
Too Narrow,
And Secretary Sherin Says
the Catholic. Potentate
af Wants the Earth.
What the Several Parties to
the Controversy Say Of
b the Affair.

The recent ruling of the National Ed
ucation association managers, which
mobiles the principles enumerated in
its constitution by an abridgment of
the discussion at the annual meeting in
ST. Paul next July, so that no other than
free school topics shall be treated, and
the snub directed to Archbishop Ireland
in particular and those interested in
other schools in general, has assumed
such a status that harmony in the COM
ing convention cannot now be expected,
unless wise heads get together and am
icably adjust the differences that have
arisen. The reference to this state of
facts in the GLOBE Yesterday caused
ferment in this city. The general pub
lie was not aware that such a state of
affairs existed. Those interested in the
convention were discussing the subject
yesterday and were anxious to learn all
the facts relative thereto. With
view of presenting them to
the public GLOBE reporter went
to the headquarters of the Ma
,tloual Educational association yester-
day to ascertain the particulars with
reference to the matter. The chairman
of the local organization, ID. d. Merrill,
being in New York, he could not be
seen. Secretary S. Sherin was found,
however. This gentleman did not seem
entirely at ease over the situation. He
said that it is true there had been rul-
ing made in preparing the programme
that had restricted the scope of discus
sion, but disclaimed any responsibility
therefor on the part of the local COM
mittee, President Garfield being solely
responsible. He stated that Archbishop
Ireland had. at the suggestion of a
friend, been invited by the local COM
mittee TO discuss some subject at one of
the sessions of the convention, which
invitation was accepted. Mr.. Merrill
notified President Garfield of the facts
and received the following letter in
reply:
LAWRENCE, Kan, March 25. 1s89.-Dear
Mr.. Merrill: Replying to yours (and Maj.
Wrights) concerning Archbishop ireland,
kindly make your suggestion a little more
definite. Is it your wish that he present
paper (thirty minutes), or take part In dis
formal addresses fifty minutes), or take part
in the opening exercises on the first after
noon, or simply receive such recognition as
being presented to the association at some
moment of leisure or to be asked to open
some session with prayer.
Rlease recall, also, that Minnesota is al
ready represented ON the programme by
Supt Kiehle and Miss Laughlin (papers)
and Prot McHenry (discussion), to which
should be added seven department appoint
mentS.
/ need not add that will do everything IN
my power to grant your request. Cordially,
JAMES H.. CANFIELD.
In response to this letter Mr.. Merrill
notified President Garfield that Arch
bishop Ireland had signified his inten-
ton to speak on .sParochial Schools"
President Garfield then wrote the fol-
lowing letter:
LAWRENCE, Kan, April 2, 1e9O.-Dear Mr..
Merrill: Raplying to yours of March 10,
win say that do not see how it will be pos
sible to place Archbishop Ireland on the
programme for the subject named, "Pa-
roehial Schools" This theme had its place
ut our last meeting. and there is no reason
for reviving the discussion. nor can be at
all sure now of finding the proper person to
carry this discussion.
Your remark that The will decide the mat
ter before long," etc., seems very strange to
me. You have utjust conveyed to me your
(personaD desire to secure this appointment.
No one has been given the slightest authority
to intimate to the archbishop that such an
appointment will be maze. Indeed, my let
ter to you asking for more complete 1nforma-
ton as to your exact wishes expressed very
plainly my grave doubts as to the possibility
OF such recognition. These doubts still exist,
especially if there is to be an lnsistence on
the theme mentioned above.
l shall be glad to hear from you or this lat
ter point before taking any further action.
Yours, etc., JAMES III. CANFIELD.
These two letters were placed before
the archbishop, who then addressed the
following communication to Mr.. Mer
rill:
ST. PAUL, Mimi, April, 13, 1S90.-Mr. D. D.
Merrill-Dear Sir: beg leave to return the
enclosed letters, which Ihaye found on my
desk, sent hither, kindly, no doubt by your
self.
Mr.. Canfield's second letter I take as a cam
collation. of your own invitation to me TO
present to the convention short paper.
am none the less thankful to you for the
honor you did me in giving me the invitation.
The whole blame of the cancellation rests
with Mr. Garfield, through the lines of whose
letter 1 may be permitted to perceive spirit
far more narrow than we are accustomed to
in the Northwest.
| regret that the convention to which we
all looked forward with a great deal of in
terest, is to represent but one educational
element of the country. Respectfully
Mr.. Sherin, in discussing the subject
further, said:
suppose the association is not expected
to discuss any feature other than the public
school system. AS Methodist, L would OPP
pose Bishop FitZgerald's talking abont about
parochial schools. l admire Archbishop Ire
will do, as we have right TO do under our
constitution, as we please.
When asked as to the claim made that
the association had gone contrary to
former principles and precedent, Mr..
Sharon examined the constitution of
the association, and said:
This provides that all persons interested
in education may become members of the as
ISOLATION. There are lumber of Catholics |
and persons interested in colleges and other
schools who are members of the association. |
Cardinal Gibbons and Bishop Keane dis |
cussed the subject OF parochlal schools at
the meeting last year. There was con-
siderable feeling on the subject then
because of agitation then going on
III Boston. 1t is not desirable that this sub
ject be gone over again this year There are
some subjects taken up for discussion that
are out of the range of the public schools,
bat we eIaim the right to fix the program for
each meeting. President Garfield has but
exercised his perogatlye IN arranging the one
for the coming meeting.
In speaking of the claim made in
some quarters that educators in Mime
sofa had been ignored in making up the
committees, Mr. Sherin said:
All presidents OF colleges, many OF their
professors all normal school principals and
the several superintendent OF city schools
are on the general committee. There are
over thirty st, Paul teachers on the local
subcommittee. There are ten Minnesota
people on the general programme of exer-
eises; seven on sub-programmes, and seven
St. Paul men speak on the first afternoon.
Archbishop Ireland, in discussing the
peculiar position in which he is placed,
said:
Any association of men have a right to
mark out lines for themselves it they choose
to do So Others have nothing of which to
complain; but where there is an association
which processes general principles and de-
yotion to the general interests of the country,
all citizens have a right to hold that associa-
ton to its professions. Observation-Disclosures
al association processes to represent the edu-
cational interests of the country land, so far as
can understand, it has done SO until this
year. We are now Informed that MIR. Can
field proposes new programme, and acts