The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-02
LIFE OR DEATH FOR THE RE-
PUBLIC.
The Secular Principle I'm Government and
Public Education.

tine SeCuIar PRINCIPLE In Government anu
Public Education.
To THE EDITOR OF TIE SuN-Sir: Several
very interesting letters have been published
In The Sun on religion in the public schools
and various views were expressed in them.
In reply 1t is sufficient for one to say. that
the American Government is not an coolest
sstical despotism. 1t Is q secular republic"
The First Amendment to the Federal Consti-
tuition settles that. That great amendment.
the sheet-anohor Of American liberty. while
guaranteeing perfect religious liberty for all.
at the same time DEGREES entire separation Of
Church and State. There can be no more
deadly. insidious. corrupting and subtle
form Of union OF Church and State than re-
ligion (be the religion what 1t may In the
public schools. The public schools should
be free.
The United States il not Christian Gov
eminent. either by its organic constitutional
structure or Of fact. The First Amendment
above referred to settles the constitutional
phase Of the question. Vital statistics, COM
piled from, the official census. settle the other
phase Of the question. According to the
census. the great majority Of tho American
people are free thinkers, liberals, secuarists
and aenostics. Here are the statistics as
given by the last census:
Voting power OF Protcstants ............. 2500OOo
Voting power OF Catholics. 500 900
OF all other denomln ATOMS. ............. 100000
Voting power OF the people outside Of the '''''''
It may be asked, Why then does the Chris
tian minority ruler" Did you ever see a
militia drive an unarmed and unorganised
Sheep See2 Ecclssiastlcism In government
and public education will finally wreck the
liberties Of any people II things 20 on as
asy ars b. fsa s 1e IN a ii
and Inevitably the United States will be
dragged down to the level Of Spain. Austria.
Tory and Church-ruled En- gland and Russia.
10 government and public education would,
in fifteen years Into a, free. civilized, self
principle would transform the Ottoman
Empire. II would convert monarchical Eng
land itself into republic, hence the, Tory
growth OF the spirit Of secular democracy in
England. to siren CITIZEN the throne and per-
petnate dynastic rule, by placing the children
This issue is worldwide in its Effects The
solution Of the LatlnAmerican problem
turns on IL. hand In hand with taxation OF
anSs pHSSpe Tsry s Of tSs renSS R
public is involved in il. In Germany Bebei.
the leader Of the Social Democracy. has
raised Jn0 banner OF free secular pubic eQu-
cation, with taxation OF Church property.
Every one Is entitled under our free lnsti-
buttons to his or her religious convictions.
be they what they may. But he or she has
no right to call In the law to force their re-
ligious opinions. however honestly enter
tained. down the throats OF others Churches
may occupy a useful place In the social fabric,
but politics, government, diplomacy. tia
public schools and the administration OF cur
public libraries are no places for them.
This Is supremely the age OF reason, Of
science Of wireless telegraphy and the steam
propelled ocean monster and ocean flyer.
II is the age when the mind OF man daunt-
lessly grapples with such stupendous problems
as the tunnelllng Of the Alps. tunnellng the
North and East Rivers and under Manhattan
Island, and even Of tunnelling Behring Strait,
uniting the Siberian railway Of Russia with
the American railway system at Alaska.
Aerial navigation is In sight The automo-
bile Ii already here II is no age for the owls
and bats OF the "dryasdust" dead past.
OF all things, keep the public schools free
Let the minds Of our children be allowed to
swing clear from the enslavng and paralyzing
influences Of religious superstition. with rs
hate-bred spirit OF war. Guard we'll our
public schools, for out Of them, for good or
FOR evil are to come the issues OF life or death
for the republic. G. G.. BAYLOR.
PROVIDENCE, June 2T.