The Portland daily press., 1892-01-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

American State Papers Bearing on Sun
day Legislation, compiled and annotated
by William Addison Blakely, Counsellor
at Law. (New York and Washington:
National Religious Liberty Association.)
This collection of State Papers, which in
cludes declarations and resolutions
passed by Provincial assemblies, writings
of Jefferson and Madison, reports of
committees in Congress on Sunday mails
and debate on same subject, together
with decisions of several State courts
upon the constitutionality of Sunday
laws, and the use of the Bible in the pub
lie schools, is published for the purpose
of promoting certain objects, for which
the National Religious Liberty Associa-
ton was established. These objects are
to protect the rights of conscience, to
maintain total separation between re-
ligion and the civil government and by
means of the platform and the press to
educate the public mind on the relations
that should exist between the church
and the state.
The publication is undertaken at this
time because, as the editor explains,
reaction is taking place which is likely
to result in ''the revival of the religio-
political ideas of medieval times.'' His
attacks are especially directed against
Sunday laws, which he declares uncon-
stitutional and inconsistent with the
spirit of our institutions and the princi-
pies and declarations of its founders.
Notwithstanding the declarations of Sir
Matthew Hale, Blackstone, Lord Mans
field and other legal luminaries, he con-
tends that Christianity never was part
of the common law of England or of this
country, and cites among other things in
support of his proposition the language
of article two of the treaty between the
United States and Tripli, said to have
been framed by an ex-Congregational
clergyman, which reads as follows, Gas
the government of the United States of
America is not, in any sense, founded on
the Christian religion, as it has in itself
no character of enmity against the laws,
religion or tranquility of Musselmans, ;,
etc. To most people this bold statement
of our government in State paper will
come with some surprise, and yet study
of the national constitution must compel
the admission that as nation we have
no religious preferences,.if in fact, we
have any religion at all.
HELEN KELLER. This attractive mon
ograph is published as souvenir Of the
first meeting of the American Associa-
ton to Promote the Teaching of Speech
to the Deaf" and is dedicated to the
members of that Society. A very inter-
esting, but brief, account of Helen KEEL
ler, and of the methods employed in
teaching her to speak, written by Miss
Sarah Fuller, Principal of the Horace
Mann School for the Deaf, to whose skill
the success of the attempt is due, is fol-
lowed by fac SMILES of two letters writ
ten to Miss Fuller by this wonderful
child, whose portrait makes fitting
frontispiece for the book. These letters
would be remarkable, both in thought
and expression, for child of ten years
in full possession of her faculties, and
when one remembers that Helen has been
totally blind and deaf from the age of
eighteen months, and that, as her educa-
ton was not begun until she was SEVEN
this command of language and ease and
accuracy of expression are the results of
only three years. instruction, the marvel
almost surpasses belief.
Nothing could with greater propriety
have been chosen to commemorate the
founding of the new Society for Speech
Teaching, than the record of the success
full accomplishment of the well-nigh i'm
possible task to teach intelligent speech
to child both deaf and blind. And
such an achievement may well encour-
age those who are endeavoring to con-
vince the public of the practicability and