The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-23

has no more TO do with the Christian testi-
mony than the moral character of the
sacrificed rooster has to do with the testi-
mOny OF the Chinese. Tho Tribune
Is well aware that Its source Of pure
morals cannot be read through by course
by any preacher to his congregation. un-
less, perchance, by some chaplain In pen
itentiary where only males are confined.
and even then he would be running grave
danger of making his hearers tenfold more
the children of crime than they were be-
fore II he did not administer some power
full antidotes Of treachery. spoliation,
rape, and murder 1t IL simply amazing
that O secular newspaper should seriously
advocate making any religious book n
part of the public school curriculum"
Our New York contemporary, by the
same process Of reasoning. would rule
Shakespeare out of the public schools.
even in an expurgated edition. The
text of Shakespeares plays contains
occasional expressions that are now re-
garded as blemishes; the literature OF
Shakespeare has been occasionally
equalled elsewhere, and his moral
away with Shakespeare. But, the great
majority of Americans believe that the
reading and study of judicious selec-
tions from Shakespeare plays in the
public schools tend to the development
of better citizenship; and, being in u
majority, under republican govern
ment they are entitled to have their
way. Thus, likewise. with the Bible.
Popular government rests on two great
foundation walls-one. the Intelligence
1t protects itself by teaching its young,
its future citizens, how to be intelligent
citizens. 1t should double that self
protection by also teaching them how
to be moral citizens. Intelligence with
out morality is vain. Intelligence with
out morality will not insure the stabil-
ity OF the republic; hence the free
schools Of the republic must teach
morals as well as trigonometry; teach
the golden rule as we'll as cube root or
differential calculus. And the easiest
way to do that Is to teach undenomi-
national and non-sectarlan portions Of
the Bible, for there is no other book
that contains the sermon on the Mount
or the Deoalogue.
This whole controversy, so far as 1t
Is sincere, probably arises from mis-
conception of the purpose of the Amert-
can free public school system. DIR. Ly-
man Abbott. in the April Century,
clearly outlines that purpose, In an ar
ticle which we recommend all persons
to read. He asserts. in brief that the
state has founded the school simply and
solely in self defence. 1t does not force
its male citizens to undergo military
service, as is done by certain govern
ments in Europe, because we have no
material foes threatening our republic.
The foes which threaten here are false
ideas and vicious principles. To resist
these our citizenship must be educated
educated mentally; educated morally.
The state has a right to compel its citi-
zens to go to school. 1t has a right to
compel its citizens to fit themselves
mentally for the duties of citizenship.
1t has, therefore. an equal right to COM
pei them to fit themselves morally for
those duties. 1t is indeed, the states
most sacred duty to insist upon such
on the part of It's citizens.
And the Bible, as the source of morals,
as the source of the republican idea of
popular government, as therefore the
source OF the nations strength may be
judiciously read in the schools of the re-
public, whenever a majority so decide
The violence which this reading will
do to the sensibilities of small minor
ity will be more than atoned for by the
increased security 1t will insure to their
and to their civic rights. No
man can object to moral instruction,
whatever his sect or creed. The read
ing of the Bible in the schools to the
extent herein indicated Is justified by
the principle, supreme in democracy,
of the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der; and q contrary decision by dozen
courts would not alter this vital princi-
pie one iota.