The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-22
WORK IN THE SENATE
Open and Palpable Opposition TO the Com
mon School System Ofthe United States.
Mr.. GALLIAGER on OCCULT INFLUENCES
The sectarian Indian School Matter
she Subject Most Interesting to
Senntors-Mr. Thurston Asserted
shat the Policy Should BE to Keep
Church aud State Divorced.

Washington April 21.-Senate.-The
Indian appropriation Dill occupied thu
attention of the Senate during the great
er part of to-days session. The discus
sion as to appropriations to pay for
legal services" rendeInd to the "old
settlers of western Cherokees" resulted
IN the rejection-yeas. l5: nays, 36-of
an amendment offered by Mr.. Chandler
allowing the claimants to bring suit on
the Court ofClaims and in the subse-
Quent adoption of the committee amend
ment for payment of specified amounts
TO about fifteen claimants. After that
matter was out of the wav the question
OF sectarian Indian schools came UP and
gave rise TO rather interesting discus
sion, which was not concluded when
the Senate. at $50. adjourned until to-
morrow
at O'Clock the PETER bond resolu-
tion was laid before the Senate MS 'un-
finished business" pro forma, but Mr..
Hill was on the alert TO see that It was
passed over according to the understands
ing of yesterday
The seciarian Indian school matter
came up on the amendment offered by
Mr. Cockrell. which declares 1t to be the
settled policy of the Government to make
no appropriation whatever for the educa-
ton of Indian children lin secta.ian
schoo!s as soon as provision can be made
Tor them otherwise and requiring such
provision to be made before 1895
Mr. PettiSrew expressed his willingness
10 accept Mr. Cockrel's amendment
quoted Il letter from the Commissioned
OF lndlan Affairs, stating that II would
require a period of two wears and an en-
pendtiure of $1,000, 900 10 supply schools
and teachers for children now attending
sectarian schools. and intimated that
some Senator'S were afraid to do what
was right lest they might offend some
secret organization.
Mr.. Gallng'ar Rep). of New Hamp-
shire, spoke In favor or the House pro-
positions in denunciution of what he
, called the open and palpable opposl-
don to the common school system of
the United States" He repudiated the
insinuation of occult Influences" and
said it did not apply to him. But he
believed that. in this matter. the people
had come 10 the parting of the ways.
II had hecn a reproach and shame that
the Government of the United States
had been violating not only the spirit,
but the letter OF the constitution in the
matter of appropriations no sectarian
institutions.
In the spirit Of patriotism and justice
he advocated the proposition OF the
House. declaring II to be the intent OF
the act that no money appropriated In
1t should be paid for education in sec
tartan schools. That was the American
doctrine. Church and State should be
absolutely and cternally divorced.
Mr. George Dem., Miss.) also favored
the House proposition and opposed MIR.
Cockrelrs amendment. He asserted
that the Baptist Church had opposed
all appropriations, and had uniformly
from the beginning refused TO dcfile
its hands with any such fund.
Mr.. Kyle advocated the Cocirell
amendment. lie spoke with approval
OF the missionary work done by the
al 10 ia,
and suggested that Il couple of years
should be allowed TO permit that Church
TO maintain It's schools among the In
dians at its own expense.
Mr.. Thurston CRep.. Neb) professed
his profound respect for every religion.
but asserted that 1--WE are all determined
from this time on that the fundamental
policy Of the Government shall be recog-
nized. that Church and State shall be
and remain divorced"
Mr. Gray Dem.. Dcll expressed his
surprise at hearing the solemn warning
and invocation OF the Senator from Ne,
braska TO fright us from our propriety'
in dealing simple justice to class of
self-devotcd Christianr American citi-
Zens. He sent to the clerks desk and
had read extracts from recent ad-
dress of Archbishop ireland, declarins
that there is no room in the United
States for a conflict between Church
and State: and he said that those ideas
would do credit to the ministers OF any
denomination. Mr.. Gray thanked God
that there was room in this country for
all minations-certainly for all
Christian denominations. PROTESTANT
ISM" he declared. "s not bigotry, and
Christianity is not fanaticsm. They
are both consistent with broad common
sense and true American spirit. Edu>
cation by Baptist teacher, Protest
ant minister or Catholic priest Is bet
ter than no education at all.
The foundations Of freedom in this
country were not laid in any way to for
bid the mere touch of a Christian minis
ter as If it were polluted-Christian MIN
listers have performed great part In the
past history of the country. and / am
not willing that the law shall treat with
Insult and o3ntumely portion OF the
community which has devoted itself to
teaching the Gospel of Christ. whether in
the Catholic Catedral or in the Metho-
dist Baptist. or Protestant Church"
MIR. Thurston said he was at a loss
to understand how anything he had said
could an2use the Senator TO such pitch
OF defense for one particular, religious
denomination. He had said no word,
and made no suggestion that could be
traced as pointing to any denomination.
The Senator from Delaware could go on
I'll than ha (1,hur-torN In