The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1894-02-26
CITY.
AMERICANISM.

For the last two are three years there
have been two are three excitements in
this country which have gone on
quietly and little has been said of them
outside of the localities in which they
have occurred; and yet they contain
the very germs of the entire over
throw, the veal or the woe of this
great nation, by sapping the very
foundation principles upon which the
superstruction of free government
rests. The American Protective associ-
tion was built upon misapprehension
as to the means to be used to meet the
situation and Numerous Catholic organi-
cations have been formed to meet that
order. AS yet this excitement is but
mere rill stealing down through the
peaceful meadows. Soon it must be-
come roaring cataract, roaring,
brawling and sweeping all before it
unless it is met. Let this matter 60
and civil war of the bloodiest and
eruelest character will be the sure out,
come.
There is no doubt but the inception
of the difficulty comes from the adroit
effort of the Catholic hierarchy in the
United States to defect the free school
revenues to the support of parochial
schools. They claim that the taxing of
Cath olic citizens is unjust unless these
same citizens shall be allowed to say
how the schools supported by the taxes
shall be conducted. In other words,
that fair share of the money so raised
shall GO to the support of church
schools. OF course their position is
shrewdly taken and their views are
adroitly urged, but yet the bold fact
remains that that church must have
what it deems fair division or trouble
will come of it.
OF course Americans, those citizens
of any birth or decent who value the
liberties of the people, who value Amer
icanisM aud Uth never consent To tbis
idea, will never bind to it. will fight to
the bitter end before they can give in
to the idea Of taxing the people to build
up schools IN the interest of any relig-
lous sect, combination, or school of
moral ethics. Americanism conter-
plates only an educated constituency.
As under the A; rican theory the peo.
pie are the ruIei., hey must be intel
ligent to be able 10 rule intellieently.
Thus it is that We Establish free schools
and manifestly hese must be non-sec-
tartan, non-poi lical nd free to all.
The schools ests g.i5leu Jy the govern }
ment cannot be .urnei over to the /
domination of any church any NJ re
than they can be tlrned over to |
The tender care of silher the republican !
'r the deRocratic party. ANY at ii
'empt to do this will result in trouble. t
We cannot too jealousy guard the Il
ION -sectarian and non political char. Il
lcter of our public free schools. ii
These constitute the very sheet an. 81
hors of the liberties of the "
eeple and our Sattolias, Irelands is
nd church grandees. of whatever IL
anne or sect, must keep their hands off
ur public free schools. They NAV ~ ~
'tablish as many denominational IT
,hools as they like, at their own ex- laI
snse, and conduct them as
ley will, but the schools for
hich the government taxes the
'ople must be kept free and untram.
eled, untainted by sectariaDism ne
be whole genius of our government is ar
on this idea, and before rec
y church may lay its hands upon of
school funds or invade the schools ca
th its own peculiar dogmas. tba ' Ine
ole fabric of American freedom will Tt1 IT%
mble into the dust. ira,
his great American government re- gal
res but few qualifications from DEP
her Its native or foreign-born citize n OF
the principal are, hands off from OF
public schools and utter abstin. the
e from all efforts to unite church ecu cen
state. These two matters UNDER -
ID, and an American citizen has all aII2,
liberty he can well stand up un- yer