The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-08

State, for the sake alike of CIVIL and fe-
ligious freedom" 1t also referred TO
''the public schools which the
Democratic party has cherished from
their foundation, and is resolved TO
maintain, without prejudice OF prefer,
ence for any class, sect or creed, ana
without largesses from the Treasury 10
any"
These national pledges serve to show
not simply the approval of the states
men of both parties of the principles
sought to be secured by the proposed
amendment, but the fixed and substan..
TALLY unanimous opinion in its favor OF
the American people, whose intelligent
Devotion to These American Principles
was appealed to by the national plat
forms of the dominant political parties.
Since 1876 other public questions have
crowded out the consideration of these
principles, while at the same time their
violation in many directions has become
an increasing peril.
The consensus of patriotic opinion
throughout the country clearly indicates
that this Sixteenth Amendment ought
now to be pushed to the front and to be
kept there, until the principles it embod-
les are adopted by Congress and ratified
by the several States Legislatures.
The fact that the principle was imbed--
ded in the body of the Constitution and
that soon after it was specially recog-
nized and further applied in the First
Amendment makes it difficult to OPP
pose, except on other than fundamental
grounds, the adoption of the proposed
Sixteenth Amendment 1t cannot be de-
MED that there is occasion for it. There
has been contest after contest in the
legislature of several of the States over
the introduction and progress of bills in
violation of the principle of non-sectarl-
an legislation, and in the majority of
the States there is no CONSTITUTE onal
guard against such measures. We hold
that there should be such guard in all
the States for these reasons, among
others:
l The absence of constitutional pro-
hibition is a temptation to sectarian
greed. There are denominations which
upon principle refuse to profit by public
appropriations. They hold that the
Church and the State must be kept sep
arate and distinct and that it is for the
good of the Church itself that it should
be entirely free from all entanglements
with the State. But this is not true of
all denominations, particularly those
which have enjoyed the use of State
money in the support OF certain denom-
national institutions established for
most worthy benevolent purposes. 1t is
hard to relinquish such financial assist
ance. It develops mercenary spirit.
No established church ever processes dis
establishment Learning to depend on
the public treasury a certain greed is
aroused, and the tendency of this greed
is to grow, and ever, to increase its de-
mandS.
Secretarian legislation brings the
church into politics. This is
HurtfuI Both to Church and State.
There is no bitterness in politics equal
to the bitterness which sectarian ques-
lions introduce. They rouse the most
deeply rooted prejudices, and make sec
tartan feeling a pivotal point in cam
paigns, and sectarian advantage motive
in elections and in the proceedings OF
legislatures.
81 Politico ecclesiastical controver-
sizes are against the public good. They
not only disturb the public mind, but
they may crowd more important and
more legitimate public questions into the
background, and bring about needless
and harmful complications. We want to
see sectarian matters forever banished
from all governmental issues whatso-
ever.
The following is a brief statement of
the work of the National League since
the last official report:
~ A
been appointed at the centres of popula-
ton in the various States, thus furnish
ing a medium for extended correspond
ence and organization.
(2) Our principles and 10Th Amend
ment have been adopted by two national
conventions representing the various
patriotic American orders, many of which
are doing active work in our interests,
securing the cooperation of more than
1900, 900 voters.
~ The League concededly is princi-
pally responsible for effectirg the divorce
between the United States Government
and the Bureau of Catholic Indian Mis-
sions, which was the only explicit part
nership which the National government
sustained with any religious sect.
a. Personal letters and documents
were sent to all of the members of the
United States Senate and House of Rep
resentatives, preparing the way for the
introduction of the 10Th Amendment into
the 52nd Congress.
~ Letters of instructions to secreta-
ries, suggestions to supporters, and forms
of memorials to be addressed to individ-
ual Senators and Representatives were
sent into all the States, in response to
which over 300, 900 autograph memorials
from citizens have been presented, and
the work of preparing and sending in me-
MORALS is still in progress.
(6) On January IS, 1892, the 18th
Amendment was introduced into both
houses of Congress and referred to the
respective committees on the Judiciary.
1t was presented to the Senate by Hon. 0.
HI. Platt of Connecticut. and to the House
of Representatives by the Hon. VIM. M.
Springer of Illinois.
(e) On April u, 1892, the League was
granted hearing on the 10th Amend
ment before the committee on the judi
ciary of the House of Representatives,
and before subcommittee of the COM
mittee on the judiciary of the Senate.
The League was represented by the Hon.
VIM. Allen Butler, chairman of the law
committee the Hon. Charles Lyman, of