The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1917-08-25

bigotry imbuing tho broad Chris
tiGn and democratic spirit Of toler-
arce that Is voiced in tho FUNDA-
MENTAL LAW Of our land. Mol
they are the children Of the TN
American Roman CGthollo pdrochial
schools ,Ohioh, 1nhappily for tksss
children, no less than for tho Tep,lb-
10, inculcate the anti Christian and
anti-democratic spirit Of bigotry and
fanadcal hate 30 strenuously that We
find this sergeant who Is evidently In
sympathy with the parochial school
students declaring that there are
thousands Of these children rsodA to
murder q Methodist, especially when
they hear him singing those inspir-
ing gospel songs which are dear 10
the hearts Of millions Of American
people.
Now If these boys had had the
benefit of the education given In our
magnificent non-sectarian free school
system it is not at all probable that
even the influence Of the priest and
the centuries Of teachings Of re-
ligious intolerance that lie behind
them would have caused any such
exhibition Of Rome's condemnation
and ever present intolerance Of free
dom Of religious discussion as wal
here evidenced and which this polio,
official asserted uas 90 formidabl,
that The police could not control IL
The Fruits Of Two Educationa
Systems
To the thoughtful student Of his
tory and the intelligent friend o
Christian humanitarianism there Is |
tragic side to this educational ques
tion quite apart from Its democracy
destroying influence, and that is tn
deplorable influence upon the younl
mind seen In the planting Of tn
seeds of hate where there should b
planted the Christian and democrati
seeds of love and tolerance. Coul
anything in more direct and posi-
tive opposition to the teachings o
Christ Jesus be conceived than tos
toring IN the young tho spirit o
deadly hate and murder which bios
somed forth in this thoroughly char
acteristic papal exhibition Of into
erance in which they dared to ir
duge In criminal acts; aots ,ohic
they must haze knot0n should hdv
laid them Hdble to prison sentenc
for murderously assaulting men an
women who had done them no harm
and whose only offense was that the
interpreted the teachings Of th
founder Of Christianity diiferentl
from the way their priestly teacher
interpreted II. To dwarf, to stun
and dehumanize the mind Of Il
young In 90 cruel manner Is one ,
, the gravest evils Of parochial educ
tion, second only to It's destructive Il
fluence upon our Fundamental demo
racy.
It is a fact that no true Americs
should overlook that no children
any part Of the land trained IN u
public non-sectarian school or wit
in any Protestant school, imbu'
! with the spirit Of our democratic r
{ public, have brought reproach on q
! nation or any Of our rnunicipaliti
} by such lawless exhibitions Of bigot,
and religious prejudice as have
D scores Of instances marked the nc
3 Of political Romanism In our lai
within the past few years.
( The public schools foster the spil
) Of respect for law, order and I
} vital rights Of others which I
( fathers Of the government sought
5 safeguard by writing them In I
I forefront Of the consultation Of I
s United States. Only the products
D the un-American, intolerant, pal
8 chial schools and the children Of
5 church that promotes them mai
Z this country UNSAFE FOR D
5 M0CRACY by exhibitions Of cri
; inal lawlesmess In the organized
( forts Of Rome to stihe freedom
5 religious discussion.
3 The Priests Truthful Confessi
3 Another confession that calls
3 special notice Is that Of Father Gia
< bastini who held that III t'a, Me-
B odists persisted In preaching tn
9 sermons in his part OF the city tn,
K might be blood-ahed" because "TH.
3 WAS THE WAY OF HIS Pc
g PIE"
4 No truer words were ever utter
q than the closing part of the prizes
q confession, "that was the way Of
3 people" History and experience Z
z quently prove that It hasIalways b.
b Rone's way, save when Of nscess
@ or for prudential reasons she
X trained for a time from sntorciT
b Freedom Of religious uttersnce
g not possible and never has been p
X sible when Rome has had the poN
q and has dared to resort to force.
B fact Of history is less open to ~
H ton than THE. The present day
n lightaned student Of civilization