The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-06
sEAT7LE. TUESDAY,. rEH. q


20 attempt 10 persuade intelligent and
candid Americans 70 politically prescribe
Roman Catholics. Recently proposition
was made by some demagogues To give
Catholic schools a share OF the school fund
In New York. Maryland and New Jersey.
This Is done under the Dominion govern
meat OF Canada, and In France and Ger
many the clergy, without distinction OF
denomination. are stipendiaries OF the
state. In the Catholic province of Bavaria
the priest IL certain hours Is privileged 10
give religious instruction TO Catholic chill
dren. In England, where there is q union
of church and state. grants OF money
have been made In Ireland and else where
in aid Of UNCONVENTIONAL universities and
schools
This Is tolerable in England, where dis
senters are taxed for the support OF the
established church. and the practical sup
port OF UNCONVENTIONAL schools in Canada
grew out of the old concessions to French
Canada when 10 was conquered by the
English in $780, Today the province of
Quebec il practically governed in its poll
tics by the Roman Catholic church. just as
the Puritan theocracy in colonial times
practically governed New England with
absolute intolerance. The universities OF
Harvard and Yale were originally nothing
more than church schools. But when our
Federal constitution was formed we
shufIled oil oil vcssiges of union OF church
and state or theocratic government of any
sort. and 1t is n notable fact that the
strongest advocates of this absolute sepa-
ration of church and state were
tho abiest orthodox clergymen of
New England. In the discussions
of the Massachusetts, convention which
accepted the Federal constitution the
ablest advocates of absolute separation
of church and state were the orthodox
clergymen who were members Of that
convention. These men had seen the evils
of ecclesiastical interference with the
affairs Of state and they would have none
of II. They knew that tie union Of church
and state had driven tho Pusitans out Of
England, the Presby terians out of Scot
land, the Huguenots ont OF France; they
knew that the champions of the English
church had generally at the outbreak of
tina revolution stood up for the king
against colonial liberty, and the wisest of
them regretted that tho history Of tho
Puritan theocracy had been disfigured by
such acts of bigotry and intolerance rs
were recorded in the persecution of Anne
Hutchinson and Mary pyar. in the exile
OF Roger Williams. in the crueltes in
iicted upon the Qnakers. in the hanrings
for witchcraft. and these wise old New
England clergymen insisted on the abso-
lutte separation OF church and state as the
primal safeguard for popular liberty.
Fer this reason the American common
schoo! aader tAe lae cannot be denoml.
national schoo, we raise the public money
frem men Of all faiths for their support.
and children of al faiths attend them. be.
cause they are secular schools; we cannot
divide the public school money among de.
nomlnational schools or vote money in
aid Of such schools without violation oi
our fundamental lav, which enioins total
separation Of church and state. Nor can
We. without yioatica OF our fundamental
Law. conduct these public schools in any
way which permits of religious exercises
that require the use of denominations
books or the enuneiatiop of denomlna.
tsanai religions doctrines. Ii is true ,ha,
sometimes ia our history teachers have
violated the spirit Of the American public
school. but wherever appeal has been
taken - the courts, the courts have sus
tanned the fundamental doctrine ag on,
American constitution; the separation oi
church and state under which no publi,
money can be divided among aeaonina-
tienal schools; and no religious exercise,
eau he held that are instinct VITA demon,
national doctrine or dogma.
The Intelligent Catholic clergy Of Amer
lea understand this. aud for this reason IN
New York state the spellissy bsll 10 enabg,
the religious schools of the different
churches 60 participate In the dlstributlor
of the public school fund is strongly on
posed hy the Roman Catholic hserareh,
al the kmplge stale. Archbishop Corri
gan has publicly denounced it as mos
unwise. and the Roman Catholic bishop,
generally are Of the same opinica. Croker
the Irish Roman Catholic leader of Tam
msny Hall, denoaaces IL, and il has no OF
sanisea backing. religious or political
and no chance whatever Of ever paSsin,
the Nes York legislature The vas
hsay q intelligent Roman Catholics az
opposed to il as one of those Subjects that
has no business 10 our politics. because i
is in eostempt II cur fundamental law
and The spirit al cur free American lust.
Nations, which 10 not tolerate any lexisla
ten that Is in violation of oas total sepa
ration 81 church aad state.
Rev n- AsFv, q hsgojei Presbyterian @.
New York city, AsS heen sharply sealle,
down" ~ the lsadlas journals Of sosa
parties IN New Work eisy tor hls ckles
statement taat tie Sps.lissy hlA Was al
''&ttsmps ~ Rene 10 destroy shs ratll,
sSaeol system. sAieA vii. he mss,