The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-20

tragedy IN our midst CHlLO LOVER.
Communication
The Freeman vs. Citizen.
To til: Editor Of tie .Wateh,nan and Sout6ron::
In i,s issue of 5ih inst /, the freeman pro-
nounces an ez eat6edra decision on the subject
of City Council having appropriated 5000 to
aid a seciaran school II says, Council is
right Of course, that settlesit!
Butt take the liberty of dissenting from
the Freeman although [ do 80 in fear and
trembling, and will venture to discuss the
question briefly, because OF the principle in-
VOWED in the action of council, reminding the
Freeman in passing that it assumes strange
position on this subject for paper that is
always advocating ''equal rights to all, and
special privileges to none." This gift, MT.
Editor, is in the nature of especial privi-
Ie9e," in my judgment.
If it be not such, but 8 Fright then all
our other schools and colleges should likewise
receive gift of $500 from City Council SO as
to be pat OF an equality with this proposed
Northern Presbyterian Mission School. The
Sl2 or SIS annually received by the city for
taxes on this proposed building, will be for
ever Offset BY the SIG of interest lost by the
city in giving the 5000, for that is what the
money is worth annually at per cent? The
Freeman, Mr. Editor, was talking through his
hat when be got off all that high-souoding
nonsense about the city getting its money
back in taxes IN very short time.
And now, for the principle involved
The city is the State tn pG1oo. The State
and the city are both alike committed by their
own act, to maintain common or public
schools for the education Of the children.
Back of this action stands the principle that
the State four city, recognizes its duty to
educate its children fos citizenship,
free from religious bias or prejudice. Back of
this lies the turther principle that in this coun-
try Church and St>te shall he forever sepa-
rate, principle that is fuodame tai, may
say, and ut the bas.s OF the constitution Of
our country, as no one knows better, than the
editor ofSthe freeman
Now in other parts of our country, and
especially with reference to Governmental
denomina,ional bodies so great has been the
that ''Na,ional League for the protection OF
American Institutions has been formed, the
object of which is by proper legislation, TO
aid to denominational schools OF whatever
sort, because il is believed that such aid IS
inimical to our American Common School
System, and that it's tendency is to dislnte-
CRATE and destroy the common or public
schools by the dispersion and use Of the funds
properly belonging to them tor sectarian ends.
This League is endeavoring to have passed
a XVI amendment to the Constitution incor-
porating provision prohibiting aid by State
or Nation to any religious denomination,
society, or institution which is wholly or IN
part under sectarian or ecclesiastical control.
Among its members may be mentioned the
eminent Presbyterian divines, JOSIAH Strong,
(suthor of "Our County and its Perls,
among which this uery subject is reckoned!)
James Woodrow, W. 81. Grier, of Due West !;
the equally eminent Methodist, Doctors James
H. Carlisle, Bishop John F. Hurst aod John
P. Newman, and others OF other denomlna-
tions, among the biggest and bralnest men IN
this or any other land.
Now, Mr. Editor, the mere fact that this
movement is sustained by men of the charac'
ter | have indicated, and others like joseph
Cook, President Gilman Of Johns Hopkins, ).
L. II. Curry, the Peabody Trust agent, Rev
Richard S. Storrs, President l.. Clark Seelye,
D. D., should, think, give the freeman
pause, and suggest to its editor the proprlety
of thinking before he speaks and OF looking
before he leaps But. Independent OF that
editors action, | would here and now relfe-
rate my objections, and request City Council
no, to commit itself to the wholly un-Amer-
ican and indefeasible principle OF extending
city aid to sectarian school.
The matter is of sufficient importance to ar
rest the attention of all relectiug men, tor the
principle involved is Of momenioos and tar-
reaching importance Upon it will yet turn
a Presidential election, and, possibly, the
destiny of this whole country, l venture 10
think, and so thinking, further venture 10
place this matter before the public, and II 90
no, succeed in arrestlng public attention oy
this brief notice of the subject, ] shall again
ask leave to trespass on your columns, Mr'
Editor. with further information, until your
readers shall have an intelligent appreciation
of the situation, and realize what tney are
committing themselves to when they acqnl-
esce in action such as that taken by our City
Council.
will only add that hope may not be
understood as censuring the members OF olly
Council or imputing motives the least unwor-
,hy TO auy Of them, for have not the s'lght-
est idea of rejecting iDjuriously on them or
any of them, but trnst may be allowed
without offence to ask them to review their
action, o. at least to examine into the very
grave issues involved in it, without reference
70 auy particular school or denomination
CITIZEN.
The Edge6eld Advertiser ecstatlcally
declares: .Eugeue B. Gary will be
sworn into Office as Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court Of South Caro-
lima on Monday, July 9th, aud on the
following morning, just as the king OF
ohovo the horizon. sLet her