The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-22
THE FAaIsAuLr SCHOOL PLAN.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 2L-The aban'
donment of the so-calIed Fairbault par
ochial school plan at FaIibault, Mlnu., has
attracted SO wide comment that Arch
bishop Ireland has at last consented tt
talk about it, and in an interview az
said:
''The Faribault plan lives and is stronger
to-day in promise of future health than II
has been at any preceding uime Ie ]:
true that in the city of Falrbault ltsell
there has been what l trust l may term
temporary suspension of the conditions OF
friendliness under which it was possible
to institute the plan, and this being the
case. the pastor of the church, Rev. j. D
Conry, under advice from myself has de-
cided not to place his parish school for the
coming year under the management OF the
public school board. But this is mere
local incident in the history and In the
life CT the plan. In fact, 1t illustrates one ol
the features of the plan, which is that To-
cal conditions changing it lies IN the power
of parish or public school boards to recede
from any existing alliance. While the
plan has sessed TO work in FaIlbault, II
has been introduced very successfully 10
other places of the state of Minnesota, ana
is in full operation in hundred places
throughout other states.
''The 'Faribault plan is an honest effort
at reconciliation between parish schools
and state schools, thing to be fondly de-
sired by all fair minded and patriotic cltl-
Eens. Americans deal with conditions
rather than with mere theories. 1t is a
fact-whether people like to hear it or not
that a large number of citizens main
tain for their children schools independent
of state control. This imposes upon them
heavy burden, and is not what the best
interests of the state call for. A plan
ANA raf ia
schools, without "A sacrifice of the rights
and privileges of the state, would he a wei
come boon to the commonwealth. Tne
tFaribault plan was proposed as posi-
BILE and advisable compromise for many
cases-its promoters not Offering 1t as
universal or final. The acceptance Of the
plan in several places indicates hopeful
growth of mutual good will and necessary
forbearance among different classes of
citizens. The plan has met with opposi-
sion among extremists, Catholics and nom
Catholics. This was TO be expected The
decisions in Rome and the declarations of
Monsignor Satolli have put an end to
overt opposition among Catholics Tie
fact is now established that the Catholic
church is not AZ war with the claims of
the state to direct the secular instruction
of the children. aud only desires that this
be done in some manner that would not
impair the religious faith OF the children.
The Catholic church has made a long
stride in bidding for peace and general
understanding.
"The rumOr spread around in some
quarters that / advised the abandonment
of the plan in Faribault in obedience
to instructions from Rome is utterly and
absolutely false. 1t is, / think, my priyi-
lege to know well the mind Of Rome on
the school question in America, and l
have never misrepresented it, and never
gill misrepresent 1t to my fellow citizens
OF America. And SO, whatever happens
in one locality Of Faribault, the 'Faribault
plan survives, and inasmuch as it is an
augury of an era OF general peace and con-
ciliation, its march shall ever be forward.
1t is but one part in the decided and
official policy OF the Catholic church ia
America TO go onward bearing in one
hand the book of Christian truth and in
the other the constitution of the United
States"