The record-union., 1891-09-26
THE GERMAN CATHOLICS AND
THE SCHOOLS.

should declare in favor of the restoration
of the temporal power of the Pope is not
surprising. 1t was what there was reason
to expect, and they might have saved
themselves trouble by brevity of ex-
preston upon that point.
The declaration in the platform protest
ing against unjust legislation interfering
with the right to educate their children
is, of course. aimed against such laws as
Wisconsin's Compulsory Education Act,
the merits of which have been fully dis
cussed in the RECORD UNION. The law
is reasonable and just, and ought to be
upon the statute book of every State. It
simply provides that only schools shall
be recognized, attendance upon which fills
the requirement of the law-compelling
every child of school age to attend some
school at least six weeks in each year
where certain elementary studies are
taught in the English language Against
that the protest is evidently directed.
1t was an il-advised policy that sug-
gested the protest as plank in the plat
form. If the German Catholics, or the
Lutherans, or the people Of any other de-
nomination or creed, are prepared to join
issue with the people of the United States
upon that proposition, the latter will be
found ready, and will settle the dispute at
The ballot-box with emphasis. The Eng
lsh tongue is that of the nation, in it the
laws are enacted and expressed, the de-
crees of the courts issued, and all legal
process runs in that language If these
protesting German Catholics wish to
teach their children in the parochial
schools, no one raises the slightest objec-
ton; but it is insisted that the children
shall read the history of the United
States in the English language and be
qualified to read the laws of the country
in the same.
All this pother about compulsion to
this end being infringement of natural
right is silly. There is no right possessed
by any of the people superior to the law
necessary for the maintenance of society
under stable government.
We demand full right and liberty to retain.
Nllhout interference, our German mother
tongue, together with the language of our
country. At the same time we protest most
cml hlticalIy that for this reason the cry of
1oteigHlsm is raised against US, and that at
tsnpts are made at denying equal rights with
other American citizens.
This is another plank in the platform.
Who has ever attempted to prevent Ger
mans from retaining their mother tongue?
Who has even suggested that they should
not retain it together with the language
of our country? The rider to this
sounding platitude about the cry of for
eignism and the denial of equal rights to
German Catholics is thin Cruel.
The congress falsified deliberately and
etudiously when it declared that any one
in this free land has attempted to deny
the German Catholics equal rights with
other American citizens. 1t was put into
the plank for buncombe, and to touch
the sensibilities of the unthinking and
ignorant in the church. and suggest to
them that they are martyrs, prosecuted
for religion's sake, and altogether abused
and oppressed.
The truth is, that behind all this mask
ing there is covert assault upon the free
schools and the system that demands
that children in the nation, whatever the
nationality of their parents, shall be
taught TO read, write and speak the Eng
lish tongue, for wise and lofty purposes.
The declaration that Education with
out religious basis can be but produc-
tive of evil results" reveals the animus
of the congress. 1t is opposed to the free
school system, and it means whenever il
deems its strength is sufficient. to make
the attempt to overthrow it, That is the
long and the short of all this bush beat
ing about deprivation of natural rights
If the American system, which has
brought us to our present prosperity, and
has made it possible for German Catho-
lies and all others of the oppressed of
Europe to find here a home of unsIr-
passed opportunities, with unequaled
tolerance, free thought, a free press, and a
broad field of Independent action for
every being worthy TO enter into our
heritage, does not answer the desires of
1hese protesting German Catholics, the
gates stand open wide and no one re-
strains them from departing, to return to
monarchical systems, with their class
distinctions and denial of the equality of
manhood