The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-19
MGR SATOLLTS ADDRESS.
Inc Most Important Pronuncfamentc
in Recent Years.

Inc NIOSC important Pronuncfamentc
in Recent Years.
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.1
There should be no haste to pass iudg-
ment on the address of Mgr. Satolli en-
| oodyIng the views Of the Pope on the
suOJect OF public schools in America. If
we mistake not, there is more statecraft
IN TINS document than in any other Papal
pronunclamento of recent years. Ii il lie
not specious, it is nevertheless subtle, its
ar OF candor being well calculated to dis
arm ordinary suspicion. That the head
OF the Catholic Church feels constrained
10 speak in terms Of friendliness of the
publlc schools of this country is simply
| indicative of the fact that the Pope
IS aware TO what an extent the independ-
ent Catholic citizens Of the United States
laVor and support a system of free educa-
ton, the inestimable value of which ex-
perience has taught them.
Inc time has come when the Catholic
Church realizes that it cannot antagonize
the public schools without offending and,
TO some degree, estranging thousands Of
Its own members, who eagerly avail
themselves of the privilege of securing
to their children the benefits OF a system
OF education that seems to be the best
adapted TO the practical needs of Ameri-
can citizens. Concessions are therefore
necessary; but, examining Mgr. Satollis
words as impartially as possible, it seems
e41e'S viz COllCCSSIOuS are Oh q SOrU
that promise increased advantages to the
Catholics III the future power to regulate
The public schools by their own ideas
There Is peculiar craft in the declara-
ton that there is no repugnance to Cath
ollc children learning the first elements
and the higher branches OF the arts and
the natural sciences in public schools
controlled by the State, . but the
Catholic Church shrinks from those feat
ures of the public school which are OBJ
posed 10 the truth Of Christianity" It
might be to the purpose were the public
informed specifically as to those unchris-
tian features which ARE removable" and
which, presumably, are other than the
co-education Of the sexes, to which obiec-
ton is raised on moral grounds. In the
face of this charge of unchristianity
against some features of the public
schools and the avowal that the provis-
ions of the Baltimore Council are vet in
force, in which was the command to
Catholic parents to send their children
ito parochial or other truly Catholic
schools" in order ito shield and secure
them throughout childhood and youth
from the dangers of a merely worldly
education" there is some reason to doubt
if there be perfect wisdom and equity in
the proposition to establish IAN agree
ment between the bishops and the mem
bers of the school board"
AS the public schools of this country are
nOn-sectariau, as any form of religious in
struction is prohibited, and as the Catholic
Church would be greatly incensed were a
Protestant bishop recognized adviser
of the school board, this proposition is
rather extraordinary, to say nothing
more. AS citizehs, the Catholics have
the same rights with ProtestantS of
discussing matters that pertain to the edu-
cation of the young, since forms Of religion
do not change the complexion or value
of citizenship, but anything looking to the
establishment OF religious right in
favor of any particular church, either
to confer with or influence the School
Board officially, is not only inimical to
the schools themselves, but is opposed to
the constitutional spirit of this country,
The religious education OF youth NAV
be cared for independently of their prac-
teal education, and though it is highly
important that the moral and spiritual
welfare of youth should be Zealously pro-
( tected at all times, special instruction Of a
religious character has no essential plan
Id the problem of public school educa-
ton, and therefore there is no need of the
representative of any particular creed
acting as mentor to a school board. We
see 1ar-Of peril to the public school
system i'll the very plausible proposal
to issue a State certificate OF di-
ploma TO persons who are to teach
III parOcnial or other private schools.
w me IL Is True ILLS IllgnJ Ienu 10 IN
crease the efficiency and improve the
standard of those schools, it would also
result inevitably in raising up a tormid-
able competitor with the public schools,
and one over which the State would have
no control whatever.
Let everything be done that may be to
improve and strengthen to usefulness the
public school system; but whatever is
done to improve that system or to create
an irresponsible rival to it cannot be
favorable to that first aim of the public
school, the making OF good citizens.
The educated, thinking Catholics long
ago found out that the American public
school is an institution they can well
afford to patronize by making their chill
dren partakers of its acknowledged ben
etits and inestimable advantage of thor
Ough education. They and their Protest.
ant friends accord in the opinion that the
public school system can get along and
should get along without church domina-
ton or interference of any. sort other
than that wholesome ethical superstition
which makes for a common morality
Folsom Items.