Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-30
STATE AID FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
An Appeal Made In Maryland by the
Authority of Cardinal Gibbons Bisho OF
Dame Obippts.

An Appeal Made In Maryland by the
Authority of Cardinal Gibbons Bishop
Doane Objects.
BALTIMORE, Mo-, Nov. 26.-An APP
peal for State aid for Catholic schools,
issued by the high authority of Cardinal
Gibbons, has caused tremendous stir in
this city, and is destined to enlist the at
teGtion Of the entire country, Its, per.
haps, the first authoritative effort 10
force this question upon any American
State. The idea is to agitate the question
before the assembling of the Lesisla-
ture, in January, when the State will be
asked to give the parochial schools a
share of the school fund that is bienni.
ally distributed.
The circular, which is being generally
distributed, begins by declaring that
Catholics are not opposed to public
schools so far as they impart a good
secular education, but that this edu-
cation, to be complete, must rest ON
religion as the basis of all practical
morality.
The system of education in England,
Ireland and in the Canadas," the cir
cular goes on to say, combines State
and denom;national schools, supported
by the public purse. The only differ
ence 10 that in Europe the patrons of
the UNCONVENTIONAL schools are required
to build schoolhouses at their own ex-
pense."
PROTESTANT AUTHORITIES QUOTED.
Protestant authority is then cited to
show the benefits to be derived from
teaching religion in the public schools,
President Eliot of Harvard being named
among others.
The circular has caused talk through
out the State and aroused much antag-
onism to the proposed scheme. Efforts
have been made before to secure share
OF the public school money for Catholic
schools, but they were generally aban.
doned before the issue was fairly raised.
BISHOP DoASE VIGOROUSLY OBJECTS.
ALBANY, N. Y, Nov. 26.-Bishop
William .. Doane. of the Albany Epis-
copal Diocese, said to-day, speaking of
the proposed bin to beintroduced in the
Legislature, asking State aid for pa
rochial schools, and the similar project
in Maryland Z
"The State provides sufficient educa.
ton free for all, and compels all chill
dren to receive il, but the State knows
nothing Of any particular education in
any religious belief. The American
way to promote education is to increase
the number of common schools and not
to subsidize private enterprises for free
education.
II am abundantly satisfied that such
proposal would be resisted to the
death and rejected. There is not the
slightest interference in any common
school in America with any particular
religious views or with any rellg.
ious teaching. State money can.
not be used to support any denomina.
tional schools because it cannot be used
to further the interest of any religious
body. Such course would only foster
the rivalries of sects and break up the
unity of our educational system.
"rhe Roman Church is really on trial
in America. If she makes open avowal
of an attempt to interfere with public
education she will receive, and, in my
| Judgment, deserve the unanimous yer.
dict of the more than 50,000,000 people
in America, who are united in theil
| determination that no religious body
shall control the education of the
country"