The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08


tage Of their great power as educators
for their children. and in particular. the
American non Catholics need have no fear
from the Catholic church condemning or
opposing the public educational system or
the country and that American justice
coolly and calmly viewing the situation
Will not censure or oppose the minority
OF their Catholic fellow citizens, because
few hot heads lift their voices against
an institution which the Holy Father as
the supreme authority Of the church rec
ognizlng as a most potent factor to pro-
mote the welfare happiness and enlight-
ment OF the citizens of this great contry.
I'd Galley DEFEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Eventually Or the state legislatures
should be made to feel by honest statis-
tics that the Catholic schools now IN
existance give as perfect an education
as the most advanced of the pubic
schools, and in addition to all this by
deep religious teaching appeal TO the
heart CT the child, instructing u In the
highest patriotism and love OF our ins|i-
tutlons, much Of the prejudice now exist
ing against Catholic individually ana rs
a body will disappear. The state VIII
never consent to a system or education
suggested by Catholic gentleman IN
New York some weeks ago. HIS plan OF
visitation OF parochial schools py the
local authorities and the allowance per
CAPITA 10 scholars Of certain standing
from the public school fund will be re-
ceived by non-Catnolics OF all denomina-
lions with great suspicion. and as only
an attempt to get control Of the public
moneys. The Rev. Dr. Da Costa, very
scholarly and respected Episcopal minis
ter in analyzlng the plan or Or. Welsh'
the editor OF two Catholic papers In Ne"
York. says: "Dr. Welsh's plan, thoug"
skiIfulIy worded, is faliacious. have
always regarded our public schools rs
the most important instruments for weld
ing together the different elements IN
our population / am therefore opposed
10 any such plan as that suggested. The
Catholics have no grievance in this mat
ter. Their children can come to the pub
lie schools We teach morals there, hot
religion. II, however, Catholics prefer
to send their children where they will
receive special religious instruction, 1t
Is their own fault If they have TO pay
for It,"
Some OF the reasons given by DR.. Da
Costa for opposing DR.. Welsh's plan ere
as follows:
: Public interests OF every description
into the hands of a single class Of re-
ligionists." DR.. Da Costa further ndds
that he would object to the Episcopal
Hans having in their power plan such
as that suggested by DIR. Welsh, md he
saws: Frankly. / do not believe Episco-
palians. under these circumstances, would
be able to maintain the standard how
existing I'm the public schools-that the
system would be abused"
DR.. Da Costa voices / think the Views
and convictions of all intelligent Ameri-
can non-Catholic citizens. The church
could never stand up under the opposi-
ton.
The public can clearly see that when !
Dir. Da Costa says all public interests !
here I'm New York are passing into the |
hands Of a single class OF religionists he |
means that Tammany political organi- |
cation here in New York would seek |
farther 10 make use of the public and !
other schools as an agency 10 Increase
its power pandering to the Catholic ele- |
ment in the metropolis. In the interests |
OF the church we cannot even afford to be |
suspected Of any such utilization and non |
Catholics must not forget that If we are |
a power here in New York or in any other |
large city we have not this power through !
out the country. But II any locality can |
be held up as a terrible example OF wha, |
we would do If we had the power we /
must not be surprised II the majority OF |
the American people are frightened when
bigots and those prejudiced against the |
Catholic church present this local busa-
boo. 1t seems TO me that It IS almost
high time for all Catholics. ecclesiastics
and laymen, TO settle down 10 our work
with intelligence, thank God for the bless
ngs we enjoy under the constitution,
cultivate with renewed energy, devotion
TO the country and fits interests, and avoid
even the slightest appearance Of antagon-
sm developing our religion IN keeping
with the liberties OF the country; going
forward and onward I'm the words OF Mgr
satolH with the constitution Of the United
States directing us i'm our political duties
and the word OF God and the voice OF his
,hurch. I'm our religions. Thus directed
we will do our whole duty TO God and
Dur country and fulfil to the letter the
spirit Of the constitution and merit the
respect and confidence If our non Catholic
fellow citizens.