The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-22

lheV. DAVID James Burrel, ID. u. IN New YORK
IL az Observer
Why should the coming or going of
This man be. of any particular interest to
the American people? A month ago he
was comparatively unknown prelate.
To-dayw we are discussing him over our
tea tables. Why? What has he done?
Or what does tie propose TO do? 1t is
doubtless true that his visit has to do
incidentally with the settlement of the
McGlynn case and the other disagree
ments of similar nature; but his main
purpose is of much broader scope. Tt
was announced by Monsignor Satolli
himself in the recent Conference of
American Archbishops at Baltimore.
Having been presented by Cardinal Glib
bons as an apostolic delegate from the
Vatican, he informed the metropolitans
in an august conference that he had been
commissioned by the Holy Father to
speak to them on the question of, Catho-
lie education. He read and explained
fourteen propositions, which he laid be-
fore the archbishops for the settlement
of the school question. He then went
on to say that he had been charged Dy
Leo XIII, to inform the metropolitans
that as it has been customary with the
Holy See to appoint apostolic delegates
to reside permanently in countries where
the Propaganda has made favorable pro-
gress, it was the Pope's heartfelt desire
that now permanent apostolic delega-
J. IL y L Il ~ = k1I
States. at&
The Pope's Purpose.
It thus appears that his immediate pur-
pose is to advise with the Roman Catho-
lie people of this country as to their
proper attitude towards our public
schools. Twice before, within the dec
AIDE, we have been similarly honored. 1t
will be remembered that Mgr. Capel was
sent out by Leo XIII some years ago ito
pursue as he said, "a careful study of
the American system of education"
The result of his Investigations was
summed up as follows: "Your school
system is inadequate for Roman Catholics
and they are going to leave it.
There are good many Catholics in this
country. Suppose the church should
send out a command to the state schools
(the school authorities) in every parish
to establish and support parochial schools
and send all Catholics to them. 1t could
be done by the utterance of word as
sharp as the click of trigger Strange
words these, on the lips Of an unaccredit-
ed ambassadortof Roman prince. The
American people have not as rule taken
kindly to admonitions with the click of
trigger in them.
Still more recently Mgr. O'Donnell
came to this country with the same pur-
pose to investigate our educational sys-
tenn, so that he might return to Leo XIII
and report Ito use his own language)
s'what the attitude of Roman Catholics
in America ought to be toward the pub
lie schools" Is this impertinence or
not? "a Leo XIII. is not merely the
alleged vicar of God, but a secular prince
~ Our national free school system is a
vital safeguard of the Republic. It is
the solvent, and practically the only one,
by which the heterogeneous elements of
our population are combined into one
American blood. 81 The unsectarian-
ism of our educational system is it's dis
tinguishing feature. the secret of it's
power, the very essence of its life. To
sectarianize it in any manner would be
to destroy it. % There is only one or
ganization on American soil that dis
tinctly antagonizes our non-sectarian
system Of public schools; to wit, the
Roman Catholic Church An overture
of peace has been made by the dignita-
ries of that church known as the Fart
bault Plan, in which demand is made
for portion of the public funds in sup
port of schools conducted by Sisters of
the Holy Visitation. This is the measure
which Mgr. Satolli is instructed to up
hold with all his might-with all his
might as plenipotentiary of the Papal
See.
Archbishop IreIand's Attitude.
He comes to the rescue of. Archbishop
Ireland, the father of the Faribault sys-
tenn. There are Protestants who think
that Archbishop Ireland is broad-mind-
ed champion of American principles and
a friend of our educational system. In
order that no injustice may be done, let
him speak for himself. II am" he says
in an address before the National Educa-
tionaI Association, ''the friend and adj
vocate of the state school," Further on
he says: This is my grievance; the
state school is non-religious. There can
be no positive religious teaching where
the principle of non-sectarianism rules"
Again: Il put the question: Ought we
not to have in connection with the school
religious Instruction." Again: ''Well
meaning men have proposed as remedy
that there be taught in connection with
the school common Christianity. This
will not do; Catholics in fidelity to their
principles cannot accept common Chris
tianity." Again: "Some compromise
becomes necessary. / would permeate
the regular school with religion. 1
would, as they do in England. pay for
the SECULAR instruction given in denomin-
ational schools according to results
So then. whenah he says: 'sIbelieve in the
state school, he means the English and
not the American schools; and his pro-
posed compromise is the adoption of
the English system of UNCONVENTIONAL
schools supported at the public cost!
Still further, he says: ''The Catholics
demand the Christian state school,
This is the archbishop's atltinaatlm.'
He believes in the Estate SCHOOL, and
tt,,rotects'' with all tho anerUv of his