The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-20

tween ncshhors, and that has existed all alons
| here.
| "Sucli hold the uGwarIantcd, unauthorized
| and unw>e action of Mr.. Barrct to be, and,
| jealous OF onr constitutional rights as citizens,
and Of still greater natural rights - parents,
and demanding that they be respected, we protest
| aga ins, that act and condemn it. We respect
fully ask you to refuse your approval or sanction
| of it, and we petition YOU to forbid any prnc'-
| pal teacher hereafter 10 introduce into the
| school work commencement exercises any
| thing that ignores or d>rcgards our said nights,
which the same for all citizens and parents.
! "Wc have always deprecated religious troubles
| among nciehbors when we have heard OF them
| in other communities and we have always prayed
| that onr community might never be afflicted
| with religious diSco,d. which only stirs up ram
cor and bitterness among men. We trust and
| pray that such blight may never fall upon liz
| here. In opinion the best way to obriate
| such rnsprak.b misfortune is TO clearly dcine
! the duties ot the principal aud teachers and put
| such restrictive limitations on their authority
| aS will not impair the efficiency of their WORK.
| We iv" here, aud here we have all our earthly in
| tr,rsiS-our homes, our work, our church and our
| last resting place. Here expect 10 lay down the
| burden, OF life. and here want to live and die
| in peace and harmony with our neighborS. frn-
| rpalS aud teachers come and go. but citizens re
main and all We have are our just rights and
, these we love and cherish. and these we ask you
! to respect and project
That petition couched in respectful Ian
guagc moderate in demand, and based on one of
| the most sacred and invioablc rights OF citizen
ship. The right Of petition carries with it tho
| right to consideration ot the pttiiio ion. or II II
| meaningless and Dead Sea tIuit To the citizen.
| It will surprise all lovers OF Justice and fair
| play, therefore, to learn that when that petition
WAS read its acceptance was hatly refused, ~
| al ,l,,fI.A .taI
! ". Grant, that "lhe principal and teachers shall
lie forbidden hereafter to introduce into th4
| school work ar the commencement exercises any
| thing that ignores or disrsgardS the rights OF
! paIentage and citizenship" and even the ohor
ON the part OF the petitioners 10 allow the boari
| 10 eliminate anything obiectona in phrase
| oosy without affecting the object OF the petit
| lion and all with the contcmptuouS remark that
| the school board would have nothing whatever
| 10 do with the subject.
| The hppancy and a,roganc" with which thu
| iu-t demJnd Of SO many taxpayers was ignored
| and thrust aside without consideration warrant
| tine conclusion that the majority oi the JernlyH
school board assumed the ,ght OF the petitioners
| 10 depend Oh them and their good pleasure
| Those petty autoclats clothed with the power
| ol day must realize, however, that the rights
| Of citizens and taxpayers ore above the creatures
| of Law; that they exist IN Justice and equity
| which neither they nor the law may set aside,
| and that the officers Of the law are 10 give dli
| recognition to what is independent oi and above
| them. Aud it is a Just inference that they VINO
| have thu, trImped upon the nights of Catholtr
| taxpayers wouli, il they could wipe out the
| guarantees Of these nights from The charter ~
| Ciyil liberties. the constitution of The United
| states, When the children growing up today
and those OF other general ions, who so little I'M.
| dcr,tiud the mon,rou> bsotry of a certain Nm.
American association, now happily detnnct that