Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-28
| GERMAN CATHOLICS.
The Bennett Law Bitterly Denounced in
/ Their Convention.

Their Convention.
MILWAUKEE, May 27th.-In the Convention of
were made H J. Spaunhorst, of st. Louis, said
the Bennett law presented political question
the Catholics could not ignore because it di-
rectly affected the welfare of their institutions
Bishop Flasch referred to the Bennett law,
and upheld the right of the Church to go into
politics when its interests were attacked.
He was followed by Bishop Katzer, of Green
Bay, who attacked the Bennett law in the bit
MED the right of child to obey its parents by
putting its claims before those of the parents.
Friends of the law. he said, tell us that the
corded it, but the parents have more interest in
the child than the State. The Governor and
his little German boy will be well taken care
OF by their parents If the State will let them
alone. AS the Bishop proceeded he warmed to
the subject and fairly brought his hearers to
their feet by the intensity of his manner. He
became angry, pathetic and sarcastic by turns.
THE matter of teaching English they tell us,
is what we are fighting he exclaimed, "but
this is not SO. English is now taught in our
schools, but If the State has right to tell us we
must teach English, it will soon be telling US
what we shall eat and what shall be on the
family table for the family dinner. They are of
a class, these laws, whether in Wisconsin, IL
linois, or Massachusetts,. They attempt to in
if carried out to their logical conclusion would
be very dangerous to the church and society
This Bennett law the Bishop continued, "was
conceived in the minds of free thinkers and
those opposed to the Catholic Church and her
schools" He was told recently, he said, by a
Mason, that the Bennett law was first suggested
by the Masons. The man said: 81 could prove
1t to you If did not nut SO high value on my
head. That Bennett law was first agitated in
the Grand Lodge of Masons in the State of Wis
consin.'
The applause which followed this statement
was deafening and the Bishop had to stand fully
half minute before he could continue. In
closing. he urged his hearers to oppose all
measures like the Bennett law to the best of
their ability and stand firmly by the church.
AT the afternoon session the following resolu-
tons were unanimously adopted:
In view of the attacks upon the most sacred
rig hts OF the parents which recently have been
begun by the Nativists and adherents of Pater-
nalism, we are compelled to present to the peo-
Pile of this State the following declaration:
First-By device and natural law the parents
are entitled, and in duty bound, to provide for
the education of their children: therefore, we
claim for the parents the right to select such
school for the education of their children which
they are convinced will best promote the wei.
fare of their children.
Second-In case parents neglect this duty, the
State is justified in compelling them by appro-
pirate legislation to discharge their duty The
state may, also, when the parents are unable to
provide for the education of their children,
assume this duty from this result (A), justifica-
ton of compulsory school attendance under the
aforementioned conditions; (B), necessity OF
public schools (C), the right of general taxa
tion for their support.
Third-We declare that we make no claim
upon the public school for the support of
parochial and other private schools; but, as
citizens and Taxpayers we insist on our rights,
even at the risk of being decried as enemies OF
the public schools, and to protest against any
misuse and waste of this fund.
Fourth-As we make no claim on the support
of the State for our parochial and private
schools we deny that the State has a right to
exercise any control over our schools. We only
then grant it the right of interference with the
management OF private schools If these collide
with public order or the law of morals
Fifth-Because the SO called Bennett law
violates the aforementioned principle, and
unnecessarily and unjustly curtails our religi-
Gus liberty, we hereby declare ourselves for an
unconditional repeal of the law. Whatever
good there is contained in this law has been
long ago offered by other laws, and, there
fore, we cannot recognize from il any other in
tention but this: To compel citizens who pro-
vide for the education of their children to
adopt the methods of those who hate their re-
ligion and nationality.
sixth-We. therefore, also declare, that with
out regard to former party connections, we
will only vote for such candidates who pledge
themselves to work for the repeal OF this law.