The Irish standard., 1894-01-27

I 1''uTRD a x j a. MIA r.
THE CATHOLICS INDICATED.
Senator Kennedy Writes or the School
Question and Catholic Loyalty.
Senator William Kennedy, Of Apple
ton, Wis, recently wrote q lengthy COM
munication to the Post of that city on
secret political organizations Of the a
P. A. type. In his article he paid a high
com plment to Archbishop ireland,
which we reproduce Ia the Northwest"
column, and cleared away many misap-
prehensions regarding the attitude OF
the Catholic Church on the school ques-
ton. He said in part:
The parochial scho> Is IN this country
had their origin, in measure. owing to
the practice in the public schools many
years ago aud which to lesser extent, at
least in some quarters has continued up
to the present time. When q boy I at
tended the public schools and | know
that they were then, in certain sense,
Protestant and sectarian. The Protest,
ant version of the Bible was read every
morning and generally expounded and
explained by the teachers, all of whom
were Protestant, and on several occas-
sions during the process OF such explain
alton I have heard observations passed
not at all fair toward Catholics. The
books in use in the schools in those days
were such that Catholics could not ap-
prove of. The public schools in those
days which I attended were not such as
the public schools of this city now are.
Had the public schools of those days
been aa the public schools of this city
now are, the Catholic parochial schools
would not have multiplied as they have.
In fact tie Catholic parochial schools
became, in measure, indispensable to
the preservation OF the Catholic faith in
this country, and during all these past
years, in a large number Of places
throughout this state, strenuous efforts
have been made to perpetuate species
Of Protestant sectarianism in the public
schools of tbs state. The supreme court
of this state decided few years since
that it was 3 violation OF the constitution
of this state to read the Bible in the pub
lib schools. The judges by whom that
decision was rendered were all Protest.
ants and yet Notwithstanding this and
the fact that the decision was on purely
legal question and in NO sense theologi~
cal, at various times during the year
that followed, Protestant ministers in
conventions held in various parts OF the
country, but more especially in this
state, with terocity and frenzy Dor
derel on something akin to madness
denounced and stigmatized the supreme
court Of the state for it's decision. And
now my dear sir, supposing the decision
had been the other way and that Catho-
lie priests had met in conventions and
denounced and stigmatized the supreme
court of this state, I will kindly ask you
TO tell what effect it would have upon
the Jealous Professionals of the country ?
I wish you, sir, to distinctly under
stand that Determinations alwaNs We
been and still in a measure are exercised
against Catholics in this country. Let
me- give you one of the many illustra
tione. The standing army of the United
States at the present time consists of
about $4,000 men. OF these more than
one-third ara Roman Catholics For
this body of men the government ap-
points twenty five chaplains, OF which
but two are Roman Catholic priests,
while ten are Episcopalian ministers,
Notwithstanding the fact shat there are
not to exceed 1000 Episcopalians in She
whole army. T remember tha time when
Roman Catholic priest was not per-
n1ltted to celebrate mass in tie State
Industrial School for Boys at Waukesha,
and it was largely through the exertions
of the late Hon. Edward O'Neiil, OF Mil
waukee, that this ban, SO to speak, was
removed. 4....-- ga .-3.
Many instances Of a similar character
might be cited. But you may ask me
what do think of Professionals? Well,
sir, will be perfectly frank with you.
think they are just as precious in the
eye Of God as Catholics; will go Still!
further and say that Hottentot dying
and uncared for in the midst OF an Afri-
can jungle may be as precious as either,
for we are all alike the children of God.
You may ask me also what I think OF the
public school system. 1 shall be equally
explicit. The public school system it
literally weeded il all it's aspects from
sectarian influences, with teachers con-
sisting Of all religious denominations and
perfectly competent for the discharge OF
their duties in every way, Is the best
possible system that can be devised by