The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-02-22

Here is the issue. Public school
education is democratic education
The fight against that system is be
ing waged by and for Catholic par
ochialism, which Is the essence OF
monarchy.
Fundamental American Principles
On Trial
How is it possible for any paro-
chial power to obstruct public
schools in America? The answer goes
deep-to the very vitals of our insti-
tutions. The truth, terrible and ter
rifying, is that our institutions have
not yet been solidly and lastingly
established. The basic principles Of
Americanism are yet on trial. The
failure to provide, adequately and
democratically for public school edu.
cation lies SO much In the strength
Of the opposition as I'm our own ma.
tiOnal weakness.
God knows that the cause of edu-
cation, standing alone, is sufficient
to Justify a life and death struggle
with the hierarchical elements anita
gonizing it's attainment; but this
controversy involves other fundamen-
tails; our triumph over parochialism
and propog anda must include other
and even more fOundatIOnal van.
quishments.
In the present crisis we are con-
fronted by conditions rather thar
theories. Theoretically, at the very
beginning, this nation safeguards
its institutions through the separa-
tion of church and state. Actually
that was never accomplished.
The pioneers who made America
had before them the tragic conse-
quences of church control of govern
ment. They, at least their immedi-
ate ancestors, knew from personal
experience the perils and persecu-
tions of religious controversy. They
saw clearly the faithful truth that
religious warfare was always the
eliminating result whenever and
wherever a powerful church left the
spiritual field and entered the gov
ernmental. They knew that every
temporal invasion by a religious or
ganization had invariably left a
blood-stained trail of selfishness,
cruelty and oppression.
Therefore, in founding this Repub-
lie, they intended that there should
not be then or ever, any religious
interference with the government,
nor any governmental interference
with religion. Somehow, the en-
basis came to be placed upon the
second, leaving the first more a mat
ter of implication. The Constitu-
tion provides for the utmost religious
freedom, which was wise and just;
it did not, however, in specific, iron
clad language, guard against reli-
gious license in the field of govern
ment. 1t was no more and, no less,
the intention to do one than the
other; but the fact remains that the
basic law was left too open, too
much subject to abuse, with respect
to churchly Entertainments upon SOW
ereignty. For generations, little
harm resulted. Now, suddenly, after
half century Of unperceived growth
the un-American power that develop
ed out of the one-sided freedom has
arisen to curse and confound our eff
forts in behalf of democratic educa-
ton.
In other words, we have not yet
brought about the separation of the
church and state I'm this country. II
you want proof, undisputable, unim.
peachable proof, it exists in the fact
that today, there is a parochial pow.
er than can and does say to the cleo
tors and legislators of America:
Thus far shall you go, and no farth-
er on this issue of education. Propa-
ganda and propagation through the
schools, are prerogatives of Pope and
priesthood. Public welfare is subor-
dinate to the temporal interests of
the hierarchy"
l say to you them say to all
America that the winning of this
fight for democratic education in