New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-04
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAILS
PUBLIC MONEY AND sEcTARIAN SCHOOLS

GENERAL NoPCAN.s OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
To the Editor OF The Tribune .,,,u-
SIR. The question of prohibiting by constitu.
tional provision the use OF puohc money ~ a'u
~ectarian institutions as Ii now STANDS peioie va.
Constitutional Convention Is quite anomalous
The committee having the matter III cL"i s.
adopted and reported 70 me Son. i,h that
proposed By The National League lot tHe
lection Of American Institutions, with the ioi-
lowing commentator Of II:
In tho opinion Of the committee there Is no ne
mand from the people OF the state upon tne oo'.
vention unmistakable widespreau M anu I'd rea
son as that the public school system OF the sta t
shall be forever protected by o
and that public money shall not ne used directly or
to soarh no give the
strongest expression possible TO ,hese m fl~or ~
the p0es seG;G ar in our opinion conclusive
and the objection that Il VIII resu, IN ri nro
hbion would Imply upon Inc n art or " 70 re-.
enacng 1t hostility or even nd ME- anI absurd
In adoptng this section the Convention Will IN our
opinion most effectively aid all that IS hisnes, e
that STATE education must necessarily be secular II,
its nsd IS left Spsn beySna gpe n 2e
family the Sunday-school and the Cnurch.
This is certainly clear. strong and wise. but
after thus committing itself so uhequlVocaIs -
the doctrine Of absolutely prohibiting uses oil pup
lie money for sectaran schools. the committee
with a singular Inconsistency. ADOPTS ana ieoo''
mends to the Convention the following ciause'
This section shall apply TO schools IN lhst h
tutons subject 10 visitation and inspection by the
State Board of CHARITIES.
This last clause Is very Objectionable ioi 1ra
sons which may be conciscly stated as follows;
First-It IL In plain violation of the estaolisneu
American principle Of the absolute sepd'"tiol
of Church and State than which none Is mere
thoroughly characteristic of our poicy as 'eo-
ple and none more to our credit go -
second 1t Is wholly inconsistent with the pre-
viously proposed amendment prohibiting 'he uSe
of public money for sectarian schooiS. HOW
such = raring Inconsistency as TINS could DC
adopted by a committee Of men inteHss'l
enough to be intrusied with the formation oi
Constitution for the State II Newly ork Is utter
~ ineyplicablc After recommending the huop-
ton Of an amendment absolutely prohinl.ins
state aid for sectaran schools they turn 1T me
diatelv about and append Ia II a clause ailo"inb
| this uso Of public money. After arguing IN the
strongest languag, in behalf of the principe
| they recommend a clause absolutely IN N'oia'io"
| Third-If this clause should be finally adopsd
| II wound ernbody In tn Constitution itsct me
nr,ncple of favornG public aid to seciafiah m
stitutions and would thus vitiats the 'nurr W..
strument rendering 1t un-Anerlchn ana ""o"f
nut Of accord with the National pony. -,
| Fourth-This clause is odous to the wh"ie p'uE
| of Protestant Christians IN the Sla'e ol ~,
ynrk-all II whom have. by resolution peNtl""
and otherwise pronounced IN favor ol ,he p'"-
| hihi,!on ~ public MONEY for sectarian sc'u"'s.
| Fifth-The cause II adopted, VIII open me way
! 20 counflcss abuses and b, the occasion OF acr-
| nlonious dispute and Of the INTRODUCED N mo cur
| poli;!cal life II scctar.an c"ntr .N'lH''S va -
| most bitter character. TIE adoption " M w
| amendment proposed by the National league
| viii have a tendency 10 exclude sec'ar!anlsn rom
| polit!cal controversy II II does not wAo.y r.
| move ia contamination dcVouty - D.
! wished" $4,000, -, 49,
| Slxth--If this clause should be- adopted hy We
! Convention & viii necessarily array hEhl.' Wv
| cme,i,n,i"r vas, body Il conscientious voters
| who will be unwilling q accept II containing 'h''
| gross piece If malicious m'iiacval!sm. .,
| Is IL too much 10 hope thai TINS digniheI p,uS
| ~, mon intrls,ed with tho work u remoiel.ine
| .or tho Frurre state !ts Fundamental law, ara 81
| put,ing it into complete harmony on TINS FunJ''.
| with the best sentiment of our day. VIII 'u'P.
! such an amendment ~ viii carry mo PRAGUE y.
! ofgnct the principle of the entlr" separation ~
! church and state? 40 other course IS consistent
| with statesransh!p. patriotism. wisdom or Po-
| "'''A T J. MORGAN.