The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1912-02-24

their convicuon that the public
schools should b protested by cen
Gliluilonal safeguards AID that pub-
Nc moneys should not Be used for
srctsrian propaganda- N connection
win an eflort 20 meet this desire OF
the people. Ne have 10 record one Of
the most shameful chapters IN Amer
lean political ptrty history. the facts
never having hereiofore been authen.
tically and chronologically stated.
In May. 1886. the writer was ~
oussted. by very high authority IN The
republican party. 20 consult with aole
and patriotic men with vhom he had
besn associated IN securing consti-
tutlonal changes In stals conslitu-
tlons 70 protect the schools and pro
hfbit sectarian appropriauona. and
TO formulate an appropriate state
ment for tho republican party plat
form conoorning tho school question"
The consultation vas held tAnd here
let n BE- noted that not . man con.
suited was a member of the Ameri.
can Protective Association. This
fact has an important bearing upon a
document soon TO appear IN this mar
ration.)
Tho citizens consulted determined
20 recommend the reanirmation OF tho
declaration OF the platform Of 1875
as follows:
''wo reafnrm the declaration Of the
platform OF 1875:
"The public school system OF the
United States n the bulwark OF the
American republic. and. with a view
60 its security and permanence. We
recommend an amendment 70 the con.
stitution OF the United States. for
bidding the application cf any. public
funds or property for the benefit OF
any schools or Institutions under sec
tartan control"
This was accompanied by a letter
containing the following:
"The reasona for proposing this
form Of action are as follows;
Il. II Is simply a reafhrmation OF
The attitude OF the parry taken In the
centennial YaaE,-1ef6 ~ %,
- II commits the party 70 nothing
new and therefore furnishes no basis
for antagonism.
80. II is a dignlned. seltrespecting.
and concise putting OF the princl-
Piles involved.
- While, on the one hand. Il will
give satisfaction 10 the rapidly grow
ing patriotic sentiment OF the coun-
try, Il viii furnish no new basis OF
attack from any class OF citizens.
90. Since the declaration In Ques-
ton was put In the platform OF 1876
nineteen states have either adopted
new constitutions or amended old con.
stitutions In accord with the princi-
pies here enunciated. until Il has
come to pass that forty-two OF the
forty-hve states have riEad constk
tutlonal provisions protecting the
common school funds, and twenty
seven Of the states prohibit sectarian
appropriations: and both houses OF
the present congress have made de-
ciaration that hereafter the policy OF
the national government must accord
with these principles.
&C. The best sentiment OF the citI-
Eenshlp OF the country is undoubted-
~ arrayed In an unsectarian and nom
partisan way on the side OF the free
of the absolute separation OF church
and state on all matters pertaining
% taxation.
-. The democratic party will also
be appealed to. to put In its platform
q declaration on this same line Of
principles"
The letter and the prepared plank
were sent as directed on June 2, 1896,
70 the prominent men suggested. The
convention assembled ut St Louis
on June 18th, 1896. The newspa-
pers throughout the country
giving digest OF the platform before
its adoption contained a plank en-
bodying the principles suggested In
the above plank. and members Of the
platform committee declared that the
committee had taken favorable ac-
ton upon ~ On June "a. the daily
press contained the following from
ST. Louis:
The following telegram was re-
ceived by Chairman Carter OF the re
publican national committee from
Archbishop Ireland:
"Sk Paul. Miun-, June II.
TO Thomas II. Carter. National Com
mitteeman. st. Louis Mo.
The clause In the proposed plat
form Opposing the uso of public mon
ey for sectarian purposes and union
Of church and state Is unnecessary and
uncalled for. II Is urged by the A.
p. A. Its adoption win be taken as
concession 20 them. will awaken re-
iigious animosities In the country,
and viii do much harm. The repub-
lican party should not lower itself 70
recognize directly or indirectly the A.
p. A. hope the clause. or anything
like II, will not be adopted.
John IRELAND
"A gentleman was told by q prom
inent member Of the committee that
the paragraph declaring against ap-
propriafions from the United States
treasury for sectarian purposes would
be Incorporated. and that the COM
nittee had taken favorable action