Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-24
DUTY OF THE HOUR
OUR FREE PuBllc SCHOOLS


I1o 1c<I0n % t1e pfo<cstAnt mtnislurn %
Baifinors q last Monday in regard %
plscing Themselves % record against say
dsision Il The schooi fund In favor Of
sse>arisn scbooIA aud your editorial Of
lsst Wednesday uorning commsnting
thssson. Ia which ,ou have tzksa the
osIy patriotic stand that enn be main
talnsd fos ths Rest intsres and welfare
- eur republic. 10 most gratifying The
sDatinsats you there expressed are the
ssnrinsnfs az al true. liberty loving
Aneric2ns sho hold dear the institu-
tions when are 90 peculiarly American,
than which u al our Institutions that
Of oar free. non sectarian public schocd
systsm II. probably. most dear. That
The pnb.ic mind needs 10 be educated
n the Dangers that threaten our schoois
add other 81 our cherished Institutions
and principles. 80 essential 10 the per
petuity q popular governmsnf. ! have
Tor soms time believed No one Who
knows shat Americ4nism means viii
question Tor q noment that the Tree pub
nc schools must DO preserved az all
hazards. But not ali such aro aware
that they are threafened with irsidious
great measure L regret 10 say that as
yet but few Of our public journals have
bad the courage TO even announces with
the emphasis which has characterized
THs HERALD where they stand on thls
moet important question, and fewer still
have pointed out wherein the danger
lies and, from whence 10 proceeds l
fully APPRECIATE that 10 point out the
overt acts Of attack and the means
adopted for that end 10 q matter requir-
ing special observation and study which
IL difficult 10 accomplish or secure In tho
ordinary rush and push so essential to
the furnishing Of current news
A popular aphorism is. God takes
care % children. fools and the United
States This 10 . sentence which .
fftirg the acts add conduct Of many--I
Was about 20 say a malority--of M.
"Uuele sam u a great big. good
nztured fellox. The American people
are indulgent Money getting 20 alb
sorh~our attention that No give little
heed % attacks upon our institutions
until the destruction 10 almost. IL not
cutie. accomplished Then in most
eases We meet. resolve well, adjourn, 70
home and cease our efortz That N the
American way Of doing. We expect our
resolutions 20 do the work. The HER-
AID has met and resolved -our public
school system, must remain free from
ssctsrian influence. aud In its conduct
the stats must not be interfered with
Your subscribers all cay. Yea verify
desire 10 discuss with your subscribers
this important question You know the
nrst smendment % the constitution 90
cures 70 us all . free press and freedom
Of speech So long a free speech and
discussion are conducted in . respect
fni. dignified and truthful manner all
true Americans will respect 10. however
much ws may differ - 10 premises
bssic principles Individual conscience
and conscientious principles are sacred
rixhts Of each individual That IL salt
Sovereignty. II am denied free con-
scisncs am not q sovereign In repub-
lean form Of government each person.
IN theory at least. u sovereign. Tho
sovereignty Of our government 10 10 tho
people individually or collectively.
The person who II denied the
right 70 exercise freely bis judg-
msnt and conscience is not
. sovereign; his conscience Is an en-
fercsdonc, no h not q freeman Any in
fiusnce. therefore. which takes away
this self sovereignty 10 foreign 10 the
principles suuncizfed 10 the declaration
% Independence and our constitution; il
10 un-American-
There n public conscience or sovcr-
signify. That is TESTED by majority q
indVidual conscieuccs or sovercignties
Individual and the minority of the pub
BIC science mnss give way to tho major
ity conscience. Msioritiss rule except
IN the United Stats senate 10 repabli-
canism. In making up this majority
conscienes. self sovereignty should be,
II supreme. II any one. or any member.
are denied this self free EXERCISE Of con-
science. democracy fails. both in thcory
and practices. For no one has the right
10 bring 30 this majority oonscisnes
more than his single sovereignty. II
one person. who may be an alien, may
eoercs. BY threats OF otherwise. tho en-
ercise q snothar's. or the collective eon-
science Of any aaembcr In the discharge
Of that sovereignty. through the elective
franchise. that oos dictator WELLS al
influence which. IN time. must result
dizastrously 10 popular government III
". thersfors, enaiaently fitting o. inquire
II there are forcss 70 work which tend %
deprive Our citizens Of that free exrr-
~ the prosperity Of representative GOV.
eminent II We 6nd such for:as Al
work. 70 - the boundch duty of every
true American % do all IN his poeer %
stamp il out A traitor indeed would
ne be who vould stand by and $50 such
force thriving. growing iuipudsnt and
defiant While ssking and receiving gov.
ernment support THIS question IL in.
dividasi. tree conecierire. and the right
b. be eft - EXERCISE u freciJ, ~ On ele
nentaFy and so essential O. the yre~rr
Walton q uar Institutions that have
fxelf somswhst a. length that | may
not Be misunderstood hereafter | think
Al will recpxnize THIS elementary prin-
cspai as bedutely es-enfisL shail at.
TACK 10 ene's religion: that ~ a sacred
coastitusiopnl right q each ind sidnal
But dcay - any one the right D. con
pei me. o. snother. of the child "a any
one. - b.coue q Jew % gsntile. ns~'hod
ist 90 presbyterian. hsptiss or Rnmsn
Catholic l deny - any en~ tlls rlgh,
g. ssk eooernsnent all % make sscta.
rian- in our susiJ and political hfe
t'esernment hs=inoriGht - aid sieoents
ukssse s,ie tendency - 81 compass 10.
d>~tracfien. That which would h
beneficial IA The perp-taify % nna.
srxy - positively The me~t iniurisus IA
Ia ~ eject upen q republican form q
anxeFnment Ibs pafochisl srhocf u Z
forsiRh notbcn. and vii dss--ln WAY
where there n q unilsn q STATE and
church and in = monarchy.
Esery civiiiatiuo and nakior has its
- "A.