The Irish standard., 1890-07-19
Ills ]
Continued Frs,sn Eirst pess. !.

teachers. 1t is no homer Ter Che re-.
naming fifty millions 20 profit tor
themselves OF the taxee paid Nv the ten
millions. The cry that the stata
schools are open to them, il they silence
their consciences. is not q defense that
will hold before the bar OF justice. The
aspect OF tho case is the more serious
when We consider that those ten mil
lions are largely among the poorer
classes Of the population, and that they
are sincerely and loyally deslrous 70 OBJ
tain the benefits of the state school, II
only the obstacles be removed.
It is no honor to the American repub.
lie that she be more than any other ma
tion foremost in efforts to divorce re-
llgion from the schools. No country
goes in this direction as far as ours.
We have entered upon terrible ak
pertinent; the very life Of our clviliza-
tion and Of our country is at stake. l
know not how to account for this con-
ditlon Of things, passing strange u
America. Neither the genius Of our
country nor its history gives counte.
nance to it. The American people are
naturally reverent and religious. Their /
laws and public observances breathe
forth the perfume OF religion. The
American school, as it first reared it's
log walls amid the villages Of New Eng
land, was religious through and
through. The present favor to non
religious school is, verify believe, the
thoughtlessness of a moment, and 1t
will not last.
I solve the difficulty by submitting it
to the calm judgment Of the country.
No question is insoluble to Americans.
which truth and justice press home to
them. Other countries, whose civlliza.
ton we do not despise, have found a 80.
luton. I instance but England and
Prussia. We are not inferior to them
IN practical legislation and the spirit of
peaceful compromise. Suggestions OF
mine must be necessarily crude In
form. and local and temporary in appli-
cation. I will, however, speak them.
I would per,neate the regular state
school with the religion of the majority
Of the children OF the land, be it as Pro.
testant as Professionalism can be, aud /
would, as they do in England, pay fos
the secular instruction given in denomi'
national schools according to results
that is. each pupil passing the examina
ton before state officials and in full &C.
cordance with the state programme
would secure to his school the cost OF
tuition of pupil in the state school.
This is not paying for the religious IL
struction given to the pupil, but for the
secular instruction demanded by the
state. and given to the pupil as thor
Ough,y as be could have received ln tbs
state school.
Another plan: would do as Protest.
ants and Catholics in PoughkeeDsia,
and other places in our own eouDtry,
have agreed to do, to the greatest salts.
faction of alt citizens and the great ad~
vancement aforementioned int erests. En-
Pouqhkeepsie the city board rents th2
building formerly used as parish schools
aud from the hour Of 8 a. ID. to p. m.
the school is ia Every particular stats
school-teachers' engaged and paid by
the board, teachers and pupils exam
ined, state books used, thesdoor always
open to superintendent and members OF
the board. There is simply the tacit
understanding that 50 long as tbs
teachers in those schools. Catholic IN
faith, pass their examinations and do
their work as cleverly and as Loyalty as
other teachers under the control of the
board, teachers OF another faith shal.
not be put in their places. Nor are they
allowed to teach positive religion dur
lug school hours. This is done outside
the hours for which the buildings are
leased to the Board. The state, it is
plain, pays not one cent for the religious
instruction of the pupils. In the other
schools Protestant devotional exercises
take place, in fullest freedom, before
tile usual school hour.
Do not tell me of difficulties of detail
in the working out of either of my
schemes. There are difficulties; but
will not the result be fullest compensa-
ton for the struggle to overcome thera?
Other schemes more perfect in concep.
ton, and easier of application will,
perhaps, be presented in time; mean.
while let us do as best we know.
Allow me one word as Catholic, /
have sought to place on the precise line
where it belongs, the objections OF
Catholics to the state school. Is it fair,
is it honest, to raise the cry that Catho.
lies are opposed to education, to free
schools, to the American school systsna:
l do lose nv patience when adyersaries
seek to place us in this false position.
so contrary to all our convictions and
resolves. In presence of this vast and
distinguished assembly, to have. ad.
dressed which is an honor I shall never
forget. [ protest with all the energy Of