The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-07-19


! ing Of mental darkness and the building
up within a nations bosom of intel
tligent manhood and womanh0Od. Th'
question cannot be raised, how mucl
good accrues to the individual taxpayer
/ the general welfare is richly served, ant
this sufflces. It is scarcely necessary tt
add that the money paid III school ta1
is the money of the state, and is to bs
disbursed solely by the officials of tht
state. and solely tor the specific pur
! poses in view of which it was collected
COMPULSORY Laws.
| unreservedly favor state laws max
ing instruction compulsory. Instruc-
tion is so much needed by each citizen
for his own sake and for that of society
! that the father who neglects to; provide
for his child's instruction sins against
the child and against society, and it
behoo7es the state to punish him. Of
course, first principles must not be for
gotten, and since instruction is primar-
lily the function Of the parent, the state
entering into action loco PARENTS, the
parent enjoys the right to educate his
child IN the manner suitable to himself,
provided always that the education
given in this manner suftices for the
ulterior duties of the child toward him
self and society. Compulsory education
implies attendance in schools maintain.
ed and controlled by the state only
when there is no attendance in other
schools known to be competent to lm-
part insJructi0r to the required degree.
The compulsory laws recently enacted
in certain states of the Union are, to
my judging. Objectionable in a few of
their incidental clauses. These, | am
confident. will readily be altered IN
approaching legislative sessions. With
the body of the laws and their general
Intent in the direction OF fastening
among us universal instruction ana in
most hearty accord.
It were idle for me to praise the work
OF the state schools IF America In the
imparting OF secular instruction. We
all confess its value. It is our pride
and eur glory. The republic of the
United States has solemnlY affirmed it's
resolve that within it's borders no cloud
Of ignorance shall settle upon the minds
Of the children Of its people. To reach
this result its generosity knows no
limit. The free school, Of America
withered be the hand raised IN sign or
it's destructlonl {Applause.)
Can be suspected Of enmity to the
state school because fain would widen
the expanse Of it's wings until all the
children Of the people find shelter be-
meath their cover. because tell of de-
fects which for every love OF the state
school I seek the remedY2
turn to the parish school. Itexlsts.
regret that there is the necessity for
its existence. In behalf of the state
school call upon my fellow Americans
to aid in the removal Of this necessity.
Catholics are foremost in establishing
parish schools. Seven hundred and
fifty thousand children, it is estimated, !,
are educated in their parish schools. A
lack Of material means prevents them
from housing their full number of chill
dren. Lutherans exhibit great zeal in
favor of parish schools. Many Episco-
palians, and some in different other
Protestant denominations. commend
and organize parish schools. The diff
ferent UNCONVENTIONAL colleges Of the
country are practically parish schools
for the children of the richer classes.
The spirit Of the parish school if not
the school itself. ia widespread among
American Protestants, and is made
manifest BY their determined opposition
to the exclusion Of Scripture reading
and other devotional exercises from the
school room.
There is dissatisfaction with the state
school as at present organized. The
state school,, ltA "a said, tends to the
elimination 6 religion from the minds
and hearts Of the youth of the country.
THE TIDE or IRRELIGIoN.
This is my grievance against the
state schools of to-day. Believe me,
my Protestant fellow citizens, that /
am absolutely sincere. when now de-
clare that I am speaking for the veal Of
Professionalism as we'll as for that of
Catholicism | am q Catholic, Of course.
to the tiniest fiber fof nv heart. un-
flinching and uncompromlsinR in my
faith. But God forbid that 1 desire to
see in America the ground which Pro
testantism occupies, exposed to the
chilling and devastating blast of un-
belief. Let me be your ally in stem
ing the swelling tide Of irreligion, the
death knel OF Christian life and Of
Christian civilization, the fatal foe of
souls and OF country. That Is what we
50 80 foor-.tf,o YII afari liannq Uli n,