The record-union., 1893-12-20

18th, prints the following:
LET JUSTICE BE DONE.
It is proposed to circulate the following
petition in the 90l parishes of the State OF
New York, and secure the signature OF
the majority of the voters OF the State:
To the Legislature of the State OF New
York:
Petition of the taxpayers and the peo-
pie of the - Assembly District The
petition of the parents and friends OF the
children attending the parish schools at
tached to the church of - shOweth that
we, the undersigned, desire to bring be-
fore the Legislature parental claims ana
grievances in respect 10 the education OF
our children, for which we crave consid-
Grafton and redress.
AS the State has made education COM
pulsory, we desire to insist upon fuller
recognition by the State of the parental
right given by the law of nature, to edu-
cate our children in schools which pos
gess our entire confidence, without our
being subjected on that account to tinan-
cial loss or embarrassment. Our conscl-
entious repugnance to send our children
to any but Catholic schools for their edu-
cation is insuperable.
The continually growing difficulties
placed In the way of the maintenance OF
our Catholic schools, by the increasing
numbers of children who attend them,
make it every day more difficult to main
tain those schools which alone meet our
legitimate requirements.
The compulsiOn to pay rates towards
the exclusive support Of schools which
our religious convictions do not approve,
is an injustice which we pray your hon
orable body to redress.
Your petitioners, therefore. humbly
pray that the school fund be distributed,
in due proportion, to every school whose
Rffioinnnv iylG GaaIJla q ms shall
isfy the Education Department OF the
State-proper facilities being afforded Tor
securing the right disbursement OF the
money paid over from the rates, while
the Catholic management of our schools
shall remain intact. And your petition
ers, as IN duty bound, will ever pray.
REMEDY FOR EDUCATIONAL GREW
ANCES,
The following bill will be proposed by a
Republican Senator at an early session of
the next Legislature:
An Act for the Promotion of Education
throughout the State of New York.
drafted by Denis A. SpelIissy Of the
New York Bar
The People of the State of New York
represented in Senate and Assembly do
enact as follows:
Section l. That whenever any individ-
ual, or body or association of individuals,
or any organization of persons, incorpor
ated or unincorpOrated, shall have estab-
lished a school for the free education of
youth i'll the primary branches of educa-
ton, to wit, reading, writing and arith-
metic, and such school shall have been in
existence for the term of at least one year,
with not less than fifty pupils in regular
attendance, and shall have been submit
ted TO satisfactory inspection and exam
ination thereof by the State or local Board
of School Trustees, or such other persons
as may from time to time be designated
tOr the purpose, the person or persons,
association or organization conducting or
managing such school. shall be entitled
TO receive from the State or city, or cOun-
ty, or district, each year a share of all
State and other moneys now directed to
be apportioned and distributed among
the common schools, the same to be ap-
portioned and distributed among them as
directed to be apportioned and distributed
among the common schools by Chapter
300 of the Laws OF 1864.
Section 2. Such sums shall be paid an
nually from time to time; provided, that
such school shall be always open at rea-
sonable times for inspection, as aforesaid,
and that the pupils shall have passed a
satisfactory examination at such stated
times as may be determined by the Board
of School Trustees in accordance with
usages and regulations in force for the
public schools of the State.
Section 3. The provisions of this Act
shall apply only to primary and grammar
schools, or schools in which the course of
study is substantially equal to that in
use in the public schools of the State.
\ CATHOLIC SCHOOL CIRCULAR.
The New York Tribune of November
26th printed the following from its Balti-
more special:
a circular on the school question, said
to have been inspired by Monsignor Sa-
tolli and issued by Roman Catholic citi-
zens under the direction of Cardinal Glib
bons, has been sent to members of the
City Council of this city, members of the
Legislature and other city and State Off
GERS. 1t will also be distributed among
Protestant as well as Catholic citizens of
Baltimore. The purpose of the circular
Is to create sentiment in favor Of the ap-
portionment of State school funds to Cath
olic schools. 1t is understood that these
circulars will be distributed in every State,
the Legislatures Of which meet this win
ter. The Catholic authorities IN each of
these States will note carefully the effect
of the circulars upon the public mind. If
thought to be favorable to division Of
the school fund, bills making such pro-
vision will find their way into the legis-
lative bodies.
at must be understood" reads the cir
CuidT, kudb We &dluOllCS are uOb OD-
posed to the public schools so far as they
impart good secular education, but we
believe that education, to be complete,
must rest on religion as the basis of all
practical morality. Man, created in the
image of God, has a longing alter inn
mortality and aspiration TO seek first the
Kingdom of God and His justice. The
religious and secular education of the ris-
ing generation is an object of the greatest
importance. 1t will be a barrier to inn
piety and q most effectual means of incul-
eating obedience to the laws, and of pro-
noting peace and order in society. The
system of education in England, ireland
and in the Canadas combines State and
denominational schools, supported by
the public purse.
''Since 1t is considered by all that relig-
ion is an essential element of civilization
and the bulwark of civil government, we
consider that the State in its educational
system should have regard for the right
of parents to accord to them the religious
freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.
As the law now stands parents who pre-
fer parochial schools as places OF educa-
ton for their children are deprived OF the
benefit of their taxes as far as educating
their own offspring is helped by them.
They are also led from motives OF charity
TO educate the poor OF their denomlna-
ton. This threefold tax is very onerous.
urlnefnore, the system OF education
which the State adopts presents TO our
minds a grievance very much to be de-
plored, the absence of religion in the pub
lie schools. We wish it to be understood
that it is not our purpose to interfere with
the public schools. We only desire
modification Of the present common
school system, so that the conscience OF
parents be respected, and that even
handed justice be done to all citizens,
that none be taxed without deriving
therelrom corresponding benefit. and
that public blessings may be commen-
snrate with public burdens"
THE OTHER SIDE.