Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-09-09

est Of the home and of the future.
But his attack on the American public school, one
of a regular series OF such attacks daily becoming
more numerous we feel bound to resent and oppose.
The public school of America does not need any
defender 1t underlies the countrys progress, 1t is
the one hope Of the cOuntry's future Only knowl
edge, exact knowledge, briHgs progress.
But any clergyman or any religion that attacks the
public school does need defender, for such clergy
man or any religion that attacks the public school
does need defender, for such clergyman or such
religion, if it speak with authority, conesses fear
of knowledge, which means fear OF truth.
tn the attack on the public school is stated that
the public ia which education in facts is separated
from the nculcation of religious belief accounts for
the lack Of morality in the people. Crimes Of one
anoth are pointed out as the result Of the public
school, in which spelling, arithmetic, geometry and
other departments of fact are kept distinct from the
religious training, which includes miracles and be-
lief.
/ We shall show how unjust and foolish is the at
tempt to connect individual crime with the splendid
benefcent, national public school system.
/ The newspaper which contained the attack men
toned on the public school told also Of a young
army officer, named Murtaugh. This young man
had dfsgraced himself through fraud and had been
accused of conduct unbecOming an officer, and also
of being common thief.
It happens that this young man got his education
/ in religious school, school in which religion /;
taught with geography etc.
\ Would it rot be stupidity unjust TO hold that re
giObs school responsible for this unfortunate young
man predicamenti
That same newspaper contained an account of 8
young woman confined in the city prison, accused
OF forgery and other crimes. That young wOman't
education was received ia a religions institution
Would it not be unjust to hold the good, earnes
women who taught her responsible for her mora
shortcomings!
! Czolgosz who murdered President Mckinley, wa
- l. .-a-4N-
American public school. Would it not be stupit
crime to hold the religious school responsible io
the murderl
The public school, in which all the children o
the nation may meet on equal terms is the nation
glory and greatest hope
II There are religious schools Of all kinds, Baptist
Methodist Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and others
in which children are well educated, and in which
in accordance with-their parents' desire, religion
teaching is added to the other branches Of instruC
tion.
These schools are we'll managed, they do grea
good, they should be treated with respect. The
should be paid for by those who want them.
4 But the public schools also should be treate'
with respect and especially by ministers Of religion
The constitution Of the United States iOrbids th,
recognition OF any religion by the government, whiel
means that all religions should be treated alike
fusty and impartialiy.
Common sense aud common Justice demand tha
when ell the people are taxed for the education 0
childhood religion should be left out OF the school,
course that no faith may be offered.
wherever Professionalism, however Indirectly, i
made ieatOre Of the public school justice and righ
are violated.
The Protestant, the Catholic, the Jew, the atheis
AL forms Of religions. all forms Of belief and 0
unbelief-shOUld find in the public schools thl
most intelligent inculcatiOn Of established facts.
Those who wish their children to receive an edu
cation in which facts and religion are mingled hav
the right to do they please, bat they should do
at their own expense.
! The man who attacks the American public school
be he clergyman or layman, attacks the welfare 0
this country, although he may not realize IT, and b
attacks also the standing Of bis own religion il th
estimaaOn Of the great majority Of American cit
liens.
Admiral Dewey advocates a large increase il thc
navy. Il looks to q land lubbeF as through VI