The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-05

Identical with the reasons advanced By
DR.. Mckim
Carrying Mails on Sunday.
This question of church observance
was gone over very carefully seventy
six years ago, in the memorable re-
port made by Senator Johnson of Ken
lucky, when the question of carrying
the United States mails on Sunday was
before that body. and his report was
so clear and exhaustive along all the
lines for which the opponents of DE-.
Mckim are contending, that il would be
wise thing to republish that magnia-
cent specimen of American statesman
ship. so that for all time to come the
Jealous churchmen viii find better en-
ployment than to invade the civil rights
Of American citizens
The public schools OF our country have
been looked upon, and deservedly so, al
the grandest contamination of human
wisdom, and there being no doctrine
taught, conserves 70 their preservation
and to their usefulness The public
schools are part OF the machinery Of
the state. The taxes to pay the teach
ers and maintain the systexa are de-
rived from all the citizens and not from
any special class, and for that reason,
the civil or religious rights of any Of
the citizens, is contrary to the spirit
and genius OF our institutions and con-
trary 10 the guaranteed rights of the
individual under the Constitution Of the
United States
This principle has been brought to the
attention Of a large number of our
state courts, and has been invariably
that If the Board of Education should.
through some mistaken idea of their
duty, try to enforce the teaching OF
religion in the public schools, this ques-
of American liberty to the highest court
or our land TO be there, once and for
all, settled, not in a haphaZard way.
but through an exhaustive presentation
Of all the precedents and facts underiy-
ing this important and vital question.
Unworthy Argument.
No one regrets more than I do that
DR.. McKim should have placed himself
in such an indefensible position, as far
as his attack is concerned, with those
who differ from him. To arraign any OF
his opponents on the score OF being
Jews, Adventists or Germans Is Tia
| worthy of an American or OF a Chris
tan minister. 1t seemed to me that I
was back in the SOS when the Plug
ug!ies were burning and numbering
foreisners on the score OF their religion
Indeed, one is almost constrained to be-
| lieve that the good doctor is worthy
descendant Of these Know-Nothings.
The doctors case must be desperate,
| indeed. when he assumes an offensive
attitude against those who differ from
| him in creed and those who were born
| on the shores OF other lands. Yet, what
| paucity and dearth OF knowledge OF
American history does II exhibit 10 claim
\ frNr n
have no conception of the American idea
! that they are foreign born, that they
are aliens. that they are Jews and Ger
mans-when these very Jews and Ger
mans, not only from the founding OF
the Government. but up TO the present
moment, have contributed their Drawn
and brain in upbuflding this Govern
ment-in peace and in war have stood
and have aided in preserving the coun-
| try and the Constitution, when many OF
| those to the manner born, attempted 10
| destroy both.
An Old Story.
when you come in contact with bieotry
and prejudice. It is the old story of
Leasing in his immortal Nathan the
Wise" When the church patriarch is
told how good and noble and humane
| ~
was, at matters not, the Jew must be
burned,''
1t has been this way for many. many
centuries, though when our opponents
have been worsted and public reason has
been against them. the last resort was
| TO attack the Jew, which again reminds
me OF the wise Dogberry OF Germany.
who when a case was brought before
| him in VIII IN the plaintiff claimed dam
ages from the defendant on account of
having thrown stone which shattered
! his window, the defense was that Jew
had passed in the street and had he not
lodged the stone, the window would not
have been broken-and the Dogberry de-
cided the Jew must pay the damages,
which is identical with the reasoning
| of Dr.. McKirn.
But. let me state, once and for all, as
I stated at the first public meeting, and
as have stated in all my life. am not
opposing this matter from the stand
| point of my faith, but from my inaliena-
| bic rights as an American citizen, pure
and simple and if any one of my faith
| were to attempt any infraction of the
! civil and religious rights of any other
man, / would be as prompt to oppose az
1 am at this moment. In short, let well
| enough alone!