The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-09-27

cure the unconditional repeal of a
COMPULSORY law which has for its sole
| purpose instruction of AL children Of
The state III the language and history
of this their adopted country, / have {.
Y:ciit to suspect that there is some
thing III the movement that is not eX-
actly American, nor III harmony with
thc prime lies laid down by the fathers
Of this republic. fApplaase.
This eccla: ss:stical opposition is sig
.ii.c&rt, and gives color to the s;:sp:c-
,ia III tie minds Ct many that the ii
! trIa0atane Jesiit:c..l clement of the
! Roman Catholics III America, with its
| .ncient enemies for allies, deems itself
f., sufficiently strong in the republic to
adopt u more aggressive policy. and
assert the dangerous and unc0nstltu
| tlon:;i doctrines defined LII the St liaDus
not c0yertly III words, but openly aEG
dtiianily III acts. lArilause-I Mr
/ ..res;Ge nj, il may he that the seeds
/ Of great events lie near the surface OF
! T., times" Mess the question that
! i, now up fer discussion is settled in
h 1rmOny with the principles of this
1 government there VII be conflict be
/ TIVE n The Jesultic.il hierarchy Of the
/ Vatican. armed with the sy llabns, ANA
+ the American people. who are resist
4 ng with seeming indifference.
an net an ;,iarniSt. | would net
be 50 interpreted. | have no reason 10
fear tie ultimate consequences. |
firmly believe that Catholic citizens
Will take care Of the issue, if It comes,
and | have no fear of their stand
Thy may be misled by religious zeal,
or driven hy Protestant hlgotry. tenn
peraly, lat they will not continue in
that course very long. They are pat
r.otic. This country and its institu-
! tuions are as dear TO them as to any
cl rs Of citizens. American Catholics
ar intelligent They know the his
/ toly and CIV i.Zation Of Italy, OF Spain,
Of Austria and Of Poland, they know
the educational institutional OF those
Countries, and they do not covet such.
4 LArIlause. |
/ ii this point Nj Thayer was inter
ru2tcd hy President Cantield's gavcl
dropping, as his time had expired, but
almost every one in the audience
shouted so on and the President
IS eating, aIr. Tlaycr RESUMED amid
hearty applause, saying:
The true American, whether he be
Protestant or Catholic, native or for
cign born, naturally sirinhs from the
introduction OF religious questions
into politics. This is not to be won
dared at, when we call to mind the re
ligIous wars and prosecutions which
lie or his ancestors experienced.
American legisiitOrs, with 4 com
m9nda!ie weakness, have made the
Ir9at!est possible concessions on the
side Of religious liberation. The cues
/ ton that is up fer discussion is not
/ primarily Il religious one. 1t is a CUES
ton that concerns civil rights. The
civil supremacy of the people is denied,
and the men who are protesting most
/ vigorously and efIcctually against the
usur;ations Of the hierarchy are not
htretlCS, are not enemies 81 the tatho-
lie church, but are American citizens
and members Of its own communion,
I Who have contributed to its wealth,
responsibility and glory.
! | do bot know now 1t may be else
where, hut in tie CATHOLIC diocese of
Green Bay, y is every CATHOLIC priest
is required to establish Il rarochial
school near his church, and Catholic
parents Of this parish are compelled to
support il and to send their children
] to II for instruction. Only by consent
j of the bishop ctn any Catholic parent
be permitted TO send his child to any
other school Many Catholic parents
Of that diocese know what dlsObe-
dicnca to such church authority means.
Mr. President | am forced to admit
that such a compulsory law and the
methods adopted for its enforcement
are decidedly TN American.
7 The real question that demands set
Element IS the one presented Ill the
preliminary paper. When we shall
Sj.ccGcd, aud succeed We must, III de-
t@rm;aing the scope of that education
which the state has right 10 pre-
scribe and enforce ami which it must
provide in its common schools, and
have established the right attitude OF
the state toward parochIal schools, the
( opposition II state schools compulsory
laws, and their enforcement Will ,,isap-
pear. Tie state must, think, insist
, ullan its right and ddty to secure to
It's citizen Youth an elementary edu-
cation and efficient instruction III the
language and history OF this country.
Laws enacted 20 secure tie inherent
right Of the child 70 the advantages of
such an education must impose upon
parents AMI guardians the primary
duty OF providing, in school of their
own choice, for their children or
wards the prescribed instruction. If
this instruction can be best provided
III 4 private or parochi2l school, We'll
end good. Time, place and clrchm-
stances are incidental and lmnaterial,
81 long as the clili receives the ca'l-
clti0n that qualities him for the duties
OF citizenship. Laws which relate to
III enforcement Of the prescribed ed
3 Itf. II -, ~
respect to the rights OF the family and
church IN the matter OF religious edu-
cation and worship. The state is pro
hibited from imposing duties upon
churches, and must not interfere with
freedom OF religious instruction or
worship. The church, on the other
hand, must not pat itself or its par
Ochial school across the legitimate
pathway OF the state and Gbslruct IFS
progress. Tie right to worship Al
mighty God according to the dictates
Of ones conscience must not be
abridged, but the free exercise OF this
right must not include a conspiracy
against The government, nor conceal Il
Hot - turn over The sovereignty OF the
state 10 the saveign pontiif of the
Vatican OF the Mormon prophet of
Utah.
! The seci.1ar state can not impose
upon tn" church the duty of instruct
ing children III what pertains to the
rights duties aid needs of citizens
That duty rests primarily with the
parent, and involves the right of the
child and the right Of the state. To
impose this duty and secure these
rights, just compulsory laws should lie
enacted and enforced. Applause.
( There IS no other grounl that the
state can occupy and maintain an eX
i't&ilce that VIII guarantee religious
liberty and political freedom. If the
I3rochial school shall assume TO give
that education Which the state pre-
+ scr.heS its secular door must hs open.
There ought net to he amy mystery or
uncertainty aho.it that. There ought
not 10 be any conflict between the
I church aud the state or between
church scaIGl5 and state schools.
'f'tf.ara Mill MT no " han larpiriirp and