The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-28
Wisconsin Catholics Formulate
Their Platform.
BITTER WORDS sv BISHOPS
Objection to Teaching English in the
Parochial Schools.


MILWAUKEE. May 27.--In the convention
OF German Catholic societies this morning
several speeches were made Fl. J. Spann-
horst. of ST Louis. said the Bennett Law
presented political question which Cafho-
les conid not ignore. because is directly af-
fccted the welfare OF their institutions
Bishop Fiasch. In an address. referred 70
the Bennett law and upheld the rights OF
the church 10 go into politics when its in
terests were attacked.
He was followed by bishop Katxer. OF
Green Bay. who attacked the Bennett law
in the bitserest manner. lie said the law
practically denied the right of child to
obey its parents by putting its claims before
those OF its parents. Friends OF the law, he
said, tell Us that child has rights which
the state must see accorded it, but
its parents have more interest in child
than the state. The governor ana his '.lit-
tie German boy" will be well taken eaSe OF
by their parents il the state will let them
alone. As the bishop proceeded he warmed
to his subject. and fairly brought his hear
ers TO their fee: by the intensity Of his
manner. He became angry. pathetic. sar-
castle By turns. THE matter Of teaching
English, they tell US, is what we are fight
ing" be exclaimed. hat this is not 50.
English is now taught in our schools, bat
if the state has right TO tell US we must
teach English it will coon be telling us
what we shall eat and what shall be on the
table for the family dinner. They are
all OF class. These laws. whether in
Wisconsin, Illinois or Massachusetts,. at
tempt to interfere with personal and
parental rights. Carried out to their
logical conclusion they would be very
dangerous to the church and society.
This Bennett law" the bishop continued,
was conceived in the minds OF free think
ers and those opposed to the Catholic
church and her schools II was told re-
Gently" he said, by Mason, that the
Bennett law was first suggested by the
Masons- The man said: Il could prove
it to you If ! did not put so high value on
my head. that the Bennett law was first
agitated in the grand lodge of Masons in
the state OF Wisconsin"
The applause which followed this state
ment was deafening. and the bishop had to
stand fully half minute before he could
continue. In closing. he urged his hearers
to oppose al measures like the Bennett law
TO the best Of their ability. and stand
firmly by the church.
Al the afternoon session the f0liowine
resolution was unanimously adopted:
In view OF the attacks upon the most sacred
rights Of parents which have recently been be-
gun we ara compelled to present to the people OF
this state the following dec aration: First-By
state and national law parents are entitled and
In du'y bound TO provide for the ducation Of
their children; therefore we claim for parents
the riRhs 10 select such schools for the education
OF their children ~ they are convinced will best
promote the welfare OF their children.
Second-ln case parents neglect this duy the
state Is jus'ifed In comp Ling them BY appro-
pirate legislation 70 discharge their duty. The
state may Z 50, when parents are unable 10 pro-
vide for education OF their children, assume thi
duty. From this results justification of CON-
puIsory school attendance under the above
mentioned conditions. the necessity OF public
schools and the right OF general taxation for
ths ir support.
Thsra-we declare tha: we make no claim
upon the public schools for the support Of
psrochical and other private schools. As citi-
xens aud taxpayers we insist on our right even
II a. the risk of being decsied as enemis Of the
public schools. to protest against any misuse
and waste cf this fund.
Fourth--As we make no claim on the support
OF tne state for our paroehial and private
trol over onr schools. We only grant IL the
right Of inteffefence with the management OF
private schools If these collide with public
ord or The law OF moraia
Fifth-Becaase the soesiled Bennett law vio-
lates the aforementioned principles and un-
nsce ssariIy ard unjustiy sursaiis cur rellg Gus
liberty. weAereby declare ourselves for uneon-
IN re is contained In this law has been long ago
offered By other laws. and Therefore We cannot
recognize from IL any Other intention but this
20 coznpci citizens who pr vide for the ecncar
ton Of their children TO adopt the methods Of
these who hate their religion ard nationality.
sixth-we tbert FORE also decisre that. without
regard to former party connections. we viii
oniy vote for such candidates who pledge the M
selves to work for repeal OF the law.
BAprisTs THINK nlFFERgNrLx.
CHICAGO, Mas 27-At today's meeting
OF the Baptist Hsme Missionary Society,
Rev. ID. K. Colby Of Ohio. presented an
account of missions in Mexico. He
lamen,ed that only 5000 Mexicans were
Protestauts.
Rev. Foster, Of tEe Methodist Episcopal
church. brought fraternal greetings. In
the course of his remarks he said: War
viii result If the English language be not
taught in the public schools"
The com mittee 20 whom was referred
the petition OF the National League re-
ported favoring its objects The league
seeks to secure constitutional and legisia-
tive safeguards for the protection Of the
common school system and TO prevent all
sec;arian or denominas.onai appropriations
OF public funds
Rev. Ii. A. Dale. ef Illinois. reported a
temperance resolution deploring the results
of the recent decision OF the supreuss court
and boring that congress would pass such
laws ss viii render the decision inopera-
tive.
Resolutions were adopted condensr.ing
lotteries and declaring that no state should