The record-union., 1893-03-06

The aims of the National League for the
Protection of American Institutions, and
the unsectarian and non-partisan charac-
ter of its work, have been set forth in the
RECORD-UNIoN.
The league has an enormous member
ship, and has upon its rolls foremost bus
mess men, statesmen, scholars, church
men, authors, poets, presidents of col
leges and universities, officials and citi-
zens generally. In fact, it is one of the
most quiet yet powerful patriotic organi-
cations ever formed.
Its petitions to Congress, the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States it proposes and the open and patri-
Otic work of the league, are matters with
which the public is familiar.
Through the courtesy of James NJ.
King of New York, the General Secre-
tary, the RECORD UNION is supplied with
the letters addressed to Cardinal Gibbons
and to Archbishop Satolli, which have
not before been given 10 print. The let
ters are given without further introduc-
ton:
To James Cardinal Gibbons, archbishop
Of Baltimore, for the Conference Of Arch
bishops Of the Roman Catholic Church an
the USited States: The undersigned have
been instructed by 1.-The National League
for the Protection of American Institu-
tlons" TO address you the following re-
spectful communication.
The following objects for which the AS
sociation we represent exists are thus
stated in Article II. OF the Constitution:
The objects of the League are to Sc
cure constitutional and legislative safe
guards for the protection of the common
school system and othor American insti-
tutions, and to promote public instruc-
ton in harmony with such institutions,
and to prevent all sectarian or denomina-
tional appropriation of public funds"
We are seeking to promote the passage
Ofthe following amendment TO the United
States Constitution, TO be known as the
XVI. amendment:
"No State shall pass any law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibit
ing the free exercise thereof or use its
property or credit, or any money raised
by taxation, or authorize either to be
used, for the purpose of founding, main
tanning or aiding, by appropriation, pay
ment for services, expenses, or otherwise,
any church, religious denomination or
religious society, or any institution, So
ciety, or undertaking which is wholly, or
in part, under sectarian or ecclesiastical
control"
We also seek the amendment of the
Constitutions of the various States in
conformity with the fundamental princi-
pie that in this country the functions of
the church and State are, and should be,
kept distinct and separate. We believe
that it was unquestionably the intention
of the founders of the Republic to secure
the free and untrammeled development of
religious belief without hindrance from
State control or help from State patron
age. The first amendment to the United
States Constitution, which was proposed
NV fAVng To a | = a n
various States, September %, 1889, and
which was ratified by tue States from 11S9
to l79I, contains the following provision
Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion. or prohibit
ing the free exercise thereof"
The object of this amendment was to
exclude from the consideration of Con-
gress any proposed law respecting an
establishment of religion" Each church
was to be left free to work out its own
destiny without governmental Interior
ence or aid. On various pleas, however,
this principle has been departed from,
in both National and State Legislatures,
by grants of public money which was
collected from the whole people, for aid
ing charitable or educational institutions
which are under secJarian control. The
principle being virtually allowed that if
one denomination received such aid, an
other might claim and receive the same,
the amount bestowed in each case depend
ing not only on the facilities of each de-
nomination for doing such work, but also
on the aggreSsivenesS and political infu-
ence OF the petitioners. The growth of
this evil custom, so diametrically
opposed to the fundamental prin-
ciples of the Constitution, and so
threatening to the peace of the COM
munity by introducing questions
of denominational preference into our
civil legislation, is illustrated by the fol-
lowing table which shows the amounts
appropriated by Congress to various re-
ligious bodies for the support of Indian