Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-15
ROuSIN6 HEARING
On Constitutional Amendment Pro-
hibiting Sectarian Appropriation.
lsas Hsasfass o. ssiaiss iii ~ cs-Iasss-
aaes lssisiatisa.

These was Al interesting AMI lar geiy A.
tended hearing before the Judiciary CON.
mistee Tuesday afternoon. the subject sefns
the petitions for constitutional aaneisa.
mens prohibiting seetarian appropriations.
Mr., l.. y. Dennesf. who has been one Of
the chief movers IN the interest Of the pro-
rsssei amendment opened the discussion fer
the petitioners. lie desired the conn. itses,
to a,fte that the movement vas Mons eetsY-
ian anA non parsisan and he wished the com.
Hsittee 10 sste the personnel OF those wl10
faTerssf the movement. flsirty-xix out Of
tsse ~ states have an Amendment like shis
Two years ago the appropriations made by
the Legislature for ssesarian institutions
aggregated about $50 600.
Judge symonas Of Portland was the rsexr
speaker. lie said that az Il citizen of ttis
ssste be took deep interest in the matter
This did not invite any relig;ous discussion.
The bitterness of religious Controversy made
the darkest pages IN history and should be
sE0sded. This controversy We wish TO arsx
out from the asd 81 politics. This move.
msnt ia strictly non-paftissn and noil-see-
tarian.
The American consultation haa always
been 10 accord with the print.i-
pie vliieb this movement il trying To ineog-
parate in our STATE constitution. But here
10 New England if the early days there
was practically gn.oe Of church and state
anil the condition nos prevailing in the
State Is survival Of that period. This
present condition IL ari&ingly and giaFiugiy
lneonsistent with the principle Of religious
equality. The giving Of money raised from
a LAX IN the Whole people TO ienomina-
tional institutions is unjust. The public
money should BIZ expended on pablo
schools, and anything in these schools that
does violence 10 the consciences of any at.
tending them should be removed from the
schools.
Rev. Matt =. Hughes Of Portland made a
ringing speech ia favor of the anne niment
lie made brief but very pertinent survey of
the reasons which had inclined him as a
citizen 10 regard this movement with favor.
He ct'ed the political conventions of the
Republican and Democratic parties back in
lsls wheg both put planks in their plat
forms against sectarian appropriations. At
the conventions Of the leading religious
denominations. save one. this amendment
had been accepted. 1t is only through the
State that we are able 10 obtain popular,
universal education. II had never been
successfully obtained through denomina-
tons. There IL not q denominstional school
in Maine but what was founded for sectarian
purposes. DO you suppose, that in the
early days of Methodism when they were
struggling and had poor financial supper;
that keDt's Hill Seminary wasn't founded
to educate Methodists2 And when that
school or any other UNCONVENTIONAL school
asks for an appropriation from the State it
asks aid for that which was founded and is
maintained primarily for sectarian purposes,
and secondarily for educational purposes.
I've got To get down on my knees at the
mourners' bench and confess that I've
sinned, and 80 have others, and shed tears
in proportion to aid you've granted us.
Laughter The State is like Mormon
elder, who it is said is obliged to distribute
his favors equally among his numerous
wives or else there is trouble
in the family. And the State
is Obliged to treat all alike or there is
trouble brewing and the constituents uf the
leg slator may not return him another year
to the enjoyment of his pripeely salary and
emoluments of office. You can't make
this matter OF policy or of expedient. but
should come right down to the bedrock of
principle. The great good which the de-
uominational academies have done Is nearly
past. Then there is this point You who
raise the money from all the citizens of the
State hold it in trust as trustees for State
purposes. You have no right to expend it
except for the benefit o. all the people.
o. Is. Clason, ESD, of Gardiner APP
peared in opposition to the propos' Il amend
ment He thought there must be some
thing back OF IL. He was un.guivocally
opposed TO it.. Maine has no State univer-
sity but when she started on her statehood
she told the denominations IN go ahead AMI
build schools and the State would help them
out by so doing il wasn't the object of thd
State To try and build up UNCONVENTIONAL
schools. What object had the State in aid
ing Bowdoin College, Colby, and Bates
College bat that her boys and girls might
have the opportunity for liberal eduea
tom ! got my education from one of
those institutions aided BY the State and
never had any UNCONVENTIONAL tenets forced
upon the. This amendment has been
adopted in those states that have state uni
yersities.
lie thought it perfectly safe to trust the
schools with the American people, lie
would ask If the policy of the last 10 years
in this State had heen detrimental to the
best interests of the State. 1t was useless
for this Legislature to attempt to legisaie
for some possible contingency that might
arise in 50 or 100 ears.