The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-01-19
n1R NcH00LS


American institutions-the publics chools
included, he saya,-ina communication
to the JournalPress, in reply to an edi-
torial in that paper:
1--WE do believe that any training with
out the influence Of religion must in the
long run prove pernicious, and in this
conviction we have thousands of Pro-
testants to share our views. How
man of logical mind, who has not yet
thrown overheard all positive religion,
can think otherwise, is beyond my under
standing. But regretting the detective
condition of our public schools, we by no
means oppose the public school system
J as such. we think that there must be
public. institution for all those citizens
who may differ from us in religion and
feel satisfied with this kind of education.
It is evidently malice to brand Catho-
lis as inimical to American institutions,
because emphasizing the American prin-
ciple of freedom of worship and OF equal
rights for all, they only think it proper
to have an equal share in the states
financial help as they bear the equal bur-
den oftaxation with their fellow citizens.
You say: "The Bishop thinks-the public
school hardship on good Catholics
who are supposed to have their children
educated in their own parochial school. +"
/ do not think so, sir. do not think
the public school hardship. but the in
Justice of being compelled to pay for
schools which we in conscience cannot
frequent, do think hardship,
In other words. he believes in distri-
button of the public school fund among
the several religious bodies, for the main
tenance ofsectarian schools. This would
be to destroy the public school system.
fever religious body in this city should
demand an enforcement of this principle
instead of one school as at present there
would he half dozed or more-a dissa-
patton OF the fund to a degree that
would destroy the efficiency of all OF
them. He says he does mot think the
public schools hardship. but the injus-
tice of being compelled to pay for schools
which we cannot frequent" The distinc-
ton is too fine for average comprehen-
sion. The schools are not burden, but
the support of them is. He who opposes
the support ofthe schools as burdensnme
must logically oppose the thing support
ed-for without the support they could
not exist.
The Bishop, in a letter to the <Wan-
derer," St. Paul paper. threatens Sup
erlntendent Rocholl for expressing an
opinion that free text hooks would be
advantageous to the public school tvs.
tenn. Mr.. Rocholl bases his belief upon
actual observation; he IS powerless to
bring about the proposed change which
he endorses. and yet he is threatened
with defeat at the polls because he be-
lieves that free text books would be a
i benefit. To quote from the eminent pre-.
late's letter:
hear with surprise that Mr.. Rocholl
| county superintendent of schools, TO,
Stearns county, the week before warmly
endorsed MIR. kiehle, and in an unquali
| ned way gave his support to so-called
free text book measure. More surpris
ing yet was the announcement in the
| current number of 1.-The Nordstern" that
that paper felt impelled to give Mr.. Ro
| choll warm praise for his stand.
4 TI.a,- 1~a e. a.
who has not seen further than the line
fence OF his possessions, and who to-
present must use the district schools fol-
the education of his children, who il
such wish agrees with Mr.. Rocholl
But this is certainly not true of TIL
Catholic population, or of the clergy ant
least 81 all true OF his Bishop. At thu
earliest opportunity, viz, at next cleo
ton Mr.. Rocholl will have to give an
swer for his action. All the NOR,
strange is his conduct siuce Mr.. Rochol
belongs to the Catholic Teachers asso
cation, of Stearns county.
| The HERALD has no objection what
ever to parochial schools being main
tanned but does believe that it is con
trary to the spirit of American Insti
tutions, to have them maintained a
public expense The state very properl,
demands universal education, and Faith
er Conway of st. Paul, in very thought
| full article in the New York Independent
of recent date unequivocally spoke il
their behalf from Catholic standpoint
adding that the duty devolves upon tn,
church to educate her children in matter,
distinctively religious. Mgr. Satolli ha.
taken the same position, which is shared
in also by Archbishops Ireland, Keane ant
others. The public school system is mo-
designed to make churchmen, but t.
make citizens capable of intelligently ex
ercising the rights of citizenship. 1
relegates to the family and the churcl
the duty of religious instruction.
THE first vote Of Representative Min
uette publicly recorded was upon tn,
resolution of Robert c. Dunn of Mill,
Laos endorsing the anti-option bill which
Senator Washburn is so gailantly fight
ing through congress. The resolution
put the legislature of Minnesota OF
record as approving the spirit and pur
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