Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-10-12


that ths tr-zth shall make "a tree. Th&
sehool propositkons q Mgr. Sstoki
uhieb are ths Toies u the koly f4-hkf
eneoaraRs Catholics ~herr thsy h~se
psroehial schoois 20 nakt s~ssy
effort - bring them ep ~ de
standard Of the most sAssIcsa
gra.tes II pablio sdacsllon. bs N
fornas The bishops. the eierxy and
the lsity that IL u ths ~ish Of he hely
father uhsrs The c.thslies hare nee
the ne.ns - provide the education q
their ehildren. that the ehiidrsn nlast
not BE kept In i<noranes. that they are
psrfectly FRYE - attend these schools
By their individual right Of Liberty OF
ronsclnnce. that these ehifdren and
their psrsnts mast not be treated WITH
hArshness by seclesissties and THAI
r.eithsr abe children nor parents shall
10 threatened b. eeelezissties With
spiritual penaltiek IL seems 20 me-
that thls Il clear and sathoritAtiye
t. the head Of the csthoilc church does
not regard our pabiie school system a.
Goddess "a a. menace la any way -
the souls Of Catholic ehzidrcn- Why
then should hot-headed. even II intel
ligcnt. Catholics protesting 60 respect
the Authority Of the holy Sc. pat them
selves IA position Of apparent oppo-
alton 70 the highest authority
Of the Catholic ehnrch and that
which l. regarded by Arnericans
ss the greatest Of American In
~.ss..sf- -. ...s.4f. .-&<...I.p IA
seems ~ me that all th0ughtful
American citisens viewing theAdecision
Of Leo Kill In support Of their right
% maintain their public schools and In
support OF Catholics who take ad-
vantage Of their great power as eduea-
tors for their children. and In partieu-
lar the American non-CatAolic>. need
have no fear from the Csthslis church
eondemnins OF opposing the public
educational system Of tbs eonntry, and
that American justice eoolIy and calm-
IL viewing the situation viii not esn-
surs or oppose the minority Of their
Catholic fellow citizens. because few
hot heads lift their voices against an
institution which tho holy father as
the supreme authority OF the church
recognizes as = most potent factor To
promote the welfare. happiness and
enlightenment OF the citizens OF this
great country.
Eventually II the state legislatures
est statistics that tho Catholic
schools now in existence give
as perfect an education as the
most advanced OF the public
schools. and Ia addition 10 all this
by deep religious teaching appeal To
the heart Of the child. instructing IL IN
the highest patriotism and love of our
institutions. much of the prejudice now
existing against Catholics individually
and as body will disappear. The
state will never consent 10 a system of
education suggested by Catholic gem
tlemen in New York some weeks ago.
His plan of visitation of paroehial
schools by the local authorities and
the allowance per capita TO scholars of
certain standing from the public
school fund will be received by nom
Catholics of all denominations with
great suspicion aud as only an attempt
70 get control of the public money.
Rev. DIR. Da Costa. very scholarly and
respected Episcopal minister. in an
alyzing the plan of DIR. Welsh, the
editor of two Catholic papers in New
York. says: 'Dr. Nelsh's plan. though
silllfuuy woried. Is fallacious. l
have always regarded our public
schools as the most important instru-
ments for welding together the differ
ent elements In our population am
therefore opposed To any such plan as
that suggested. The Catholics have
no grievance in this matter. Their
children can come % the pablo
schools We teach morals there. not
religion IL. however. Catholics prefer
70 send their children where they will
receive special religious Instruction.
IL is their own fault IL they have To
pay for IL" THOMAS j. DucEY.