Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-12-15
NO INTER REFERENCE

We had 10 preparation 40 article in rela.
ton To the proposed interference with the
public school fund, but the subjoined re
marks Of Judge McSherry 80 clearly and
strongly harmonic with our own views,
and 30 forcibly and eloquently illustrate the
unwise and dangerous proposition of di.
vision Of the free school funds between the
public schools and the Roman Catholic
parochial schools, that we have concluded
to give them 10 place Of our own Ema
mating from such prominent and, we may
aid, isolated a plane, clearly defined and 70
the very root OF the evil Of such q measure,
they will be read with interest;
81 am bitterly and intensely hostile TO the
whole scheme. l am q Roman Catholic, but
because l am ii does not follow that | ap.
prove or indorse every wild or visionary
measure which religious zealots choose up
on their own responsibility to inaugurate.
at is most unfortunate that this agitation
has been started. IL can result 10 no posi-
bile good and may lead to the disintegration
of existing political parties and to the lorna
ton Of new ones based solely upon differ
ences OF religion. Should this occur the
syitators Of this scheme would be ground tp
powder. No one would specially object to
this IL they were the only sufferer But
aside from this the scheme is utterly Jude
fensible. The school tax is levied Tor a
specific purpose, viz for the maintenance jl
the public schools, and Tor nothing else. aud
no Legislature has the moral or the consli
tutionai right in Maryland to direct por
tion Of the fund to another and different use
II would be breach of public trust 10 do
this. The money 80 raised can no more be
applied TO denominationsl schools than to
religious denominations, and IL is but short
and an easy step from the one misapproprIa
ton to the other. The public schools are
intended to be secular and not religious
They could not lawfully be maintained al
the public expense If they were not purely
secular. They are provided according To
the settled policy Of the State for all her titi
zens who see fit to avail Of them. No one
is compelled to attend them. II any Class Of
the community sees fit not to attend them,
that circumstances gives that class no more
claim to have portion Of the funds levied
for the support Of the system applied TO some
other schools than does the different fact
that q certain other class whose Religious
convictions do not allow them TO seek re-
dress for injuries through the courts OF law
give to that latter class the right to claim
exemption from contributing by taxation
tn the support Of the very courts which they
cannot 10 conscience make Use Of Eccles.
astics ought TO be the last people 10 the
world to advise or advocate the adoption OF
scheme which depends for lie success up
on msappropriation Of public funis. Aud
when II comes TO the point that this is at
tempted il is time for every Catholic lay.
man to raise his voice in vigorous protest.
] believe the Catholic lsymen Of the coun
try are almost unit in opposition ID this
proposed interference with the school fund,
ani feel an abiding CONVICTION that they
viii 0ever tolerate the diversion OF single
dollar o: that fund.
There is, therefore. no need Of alarm on
the part of any one that Catholic laymen
will ever consent to this unlawful measure.
! say unlawful measure because have NOT
the slightest doubt that the whole scheme,
even ifit were enacted by the Legislature
into the forms of law. would be uncons,itu
tionsl. II is ne. necessary 10 ~ into the res.
sons upon which this conclusion is fouuded,
but they are AMPLE rtI'T