Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-04-08

very foundations of our government today. We cha
lenge them with the high educational standard achieved
by schools; challenge them with the records OF
the Army Essay Contest published in the daily press
recently challenge them with the record of patriotic
service rendered. challenge them with the names OF
the bravest and the most devoted and the most brilliant
among the and women who fought Americas night
for democracy; challenge them with the records OF
the heroic soldiers who died for liberty at Chateau
ThieTy and in the Argonne Because they dare not ac
cept our challenge brand their much outed one hun
bred per cent Amercanism hundred per cent self
interest and venom look the voters of the State
to rebuke these who to value so lightly their
own liberties that they are willing beray the liberty
of their neghbors.
With all solemnty not only people but
the electorate at large that the element behind this
amendment is playing with fire when it seeks to destroy
Catholic school system No specous appeal OF theirs
to the will of the majority make right that which Is
inherently wrong If the majority We're to vote-which
God forbid it would--n favor OF the amendment, IL
would be either because it had allowed itself TO be de
ceived by systematic campaign of caumny or because
it had grown Indifferent to the dignity of citizenship
We cannot believe that the absurd charges against
the Catholic schools have been seriously taken,
we believe that fellow citizens of other creeds
are in sympathy with the gross injustice entaied by
the amendment We have through the heart-break
ing DAYS of the war together together have fought
and endured. Together in these critical months of re-
construction we working towards the building of
better day Are ranks to be severed unity shat
tered by those undetermined ploers who were silent
and nacven the days OF stress out VINO emerge TO-DAY
from the wartime Obscurity with courage born not OF
patriotism of venom? For they have overreach
ed the mark We have silently acquesced IN petty IN,
rusions upon rights in the past. We have yielded
in the crest of harmony and Embodened by
silence they have pressed their persecution to point
where submission becomes equivalent to cowardlce we
cannot dare not yield the right dsown the duty OF
educating children 1t is of the essence OF par
enthood The Divine Law has set its seal thereon
Education is measured in terms not OF time but OF
eternity It trains the child TO live 1t draws out the
Divine image in its soul it teaches the child to know
God and seeks upon the framework of that knowledge
to build the structure OF life service The public school
does not answer this conviction to the purpose OF edu
cation That is why Catholic parents cannot accept the
public school system The Catholic school is an essential
and integral factor OF Catholic e the school is INSOFAR
able the Church the suppression of the one means
the suppression of the other The amendment in question
therefore may be styled an prescribe the Catholic
religion It's intent rob the little of their most
treasured possessions it means the assumption on the
part of the state of parental duties which before God can
not be Welded il that Catholic parents are to be
legally prevented from fulfilling their most solemn obi
CATION towards their children and towards Almighty God
No majority is empowered to abrogate a Divine Law,
or destroy natural right Coercion is sinister word
it does not breathe of the spirit of democracy; it i'll har
monies with the idea of liberty and when coercion is
directed against the mandate of religion. when it in
vades the sacred precincts of conscience it becomes obi
Gus beyond the bounds of sufference.
We make no threat, make no declaration at the
present time. other than that to affirm with all the en-
phass possible that Catholics integral factor In
the Commonwealth of Michigan protest against this un-
reasoning invasion of rights and appeal TO our lei
low citizens they value their liberties to be toll
Grant of the liberties of their neighbors.
Brethren. we are to be penazed for sled-ength
responding Surely we VIII appeal our cause
to the highest tribunal i'm the land.
Sincerely in Christ.
f. d KELLY Bishop of Grand Rapids