Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-03-18

| and eleven per cent in Candod'
countries wherein Rome has not con-
trolled the education Of the youth.
When Rome controls the education
Of a country, her interest in learn
| ing for the people dies. The educa-
ton which above all else she de-
sires, is in obedience and subserv1en-
cy, that they may bow and cringe in
fear of priestly pronouncements.
| Many states in this Union have
seen the Handwriting on the WALL.
and have adopted constitutional
amendments to prevent the use OF
public funds for private and sectar-
ian purposes. Among those States
is the old Mother State of Massa-
chusetts.
| Supporting that amendment in
| Massachusetts were some very prom
inent Roman Catholics: David l.
| Walsh, a United States Senator,
Martin Lomasney and William I'll.
| Sullivan. In the Constitutional Con-
vention William Fl. Sullivan wrote
his name high upon the roll OF honor
as a man of courage and man
whose heart beats true to America
and her institutions. On that MEM
orable occasion Mr.. Sullivan said:
'If / were to approach this question
as politician, solicitous about his
I
take no position at all. We're | ap-
preaching it as a politician, anxious
about his future, l should search in
my vocabulary for the most bitter
| words with which to characterize
the motives or the methods OF the
| proponents of the sectarian measure.
| We're / to approach this question a5
a Catholic citizen, I should read from
the fair pages of history Of the deeds
and the sacrifices of my fellow Cath
| olics 8 =. But, Sir, [ do not
approach this question as politician
or as q Catholic. but as an
American. a son of Massachusetts
born here. taught his ideas Of
American citizenship by a Massachu-
setts mother. whose love for Massa-
| chusetts was intensified by the
example of an alien father, an Irish
| Catholic, who came to Massachusetts
at the age of twelve, enlisted in a
| Massachusetts regiment at the age Of
| seventeen and served with distln-
guished va,or from the beginning to
the end of the Civil War. AS such an
American l approach this question,
and 1 urge the adoption of this
, amendment, which is suggested by
the committee, because 1T will pre-
vent dissension, disruption, disunion:
| Massa achusetts into closer communion
so that with inspiring loyalty to
Massachusetts,, with irresistible unity,
we all can sweep onward to the con-
sumation of the glorious destiny OF
! Massachusetts"
All, Mr.. Speaker, is 1t possible that
in this Legislature there are to be
found Protestants who are less pa
triotic and less fair than this Roman
Catholic citizen of Massachusetts?
Can it be possible that with the situ-
alton so plainly before us there are
those in Maine who. for some petty
sectarian purpose, would counsel the
continuing of so dangerous a situa-
ton?
could not support a bill that was
unfair. l could not support Dill
that treated one class Of citizens dl1-
ferent from another class.
There are in Maine private schools
owned and conducted by Roman
Catholics, and private schools owned
and conducted by PrCtestants. A biz
that would bar the Roman Catholic
schools from Stcte aid. but would still
permit the schools owned and con-
Quoted by the Protestants to receive
such aid is discriminatory in its ma
ture, and. no matter what men may
say. the discrimination is plainly up
on religious grounds.
The plea that these schools are
"undenomina tional and non -sctarian
because they have or will have boards
of directors who are not all of the
same denomination, and that they
would therefore be justly entitled to
State aid" is a subterfuge which !
will not support.
To enact such n law would be
travesty upon justice. and wound be
but the sowing of Dragons teeth
which would later spring up to con-
front you.
And. now. my fellow citizens. hav-
ing presented to YOU ample facts up
on which to base a just decision,
beg of you. if you love America and
her institutions, to let no petty per-
Sonal preference, no hope of gain to
any private institution in which you
have an interest stand between you
and the duty which is so plainly
yours. At least thirty states have
adopted amendments of this nature.
and among them are Massachusetts
and New Hampshire. Can it be that
Maine will fail to perform her duty?
And now, Mr.. Speaker, and men,
bers of this House, in closing this
plea, there are two pictures that
come to my mind, and l want you.
also. to see them: | look over to my
left and what do l behold? I see A
figure clad in priestly garb, in cloak
and cowl. and in his hand he holds
the Sword Ct Temporal Power. High
upon the wall there is a motto, and
to it the sword is pointed. That
motto is but one word-OBEI,
OBEY, Underneath that motto there
opens a pathway, and on its wall n
sign is fixed. and a hand points down
the way. The sign reads: Back to
the Middle Ages" Turning into that
path I see men and women with
downcast eyes and air subdued.
see them casting aside books and pa
perS that contain the knowledge
which has been revealed during the
years that men have sought the truth
for Truths sake. Because these
books are condemned by priestly
They are forbidden lest they
learn. Fear fills the air. Obeying
they fear. and fearing they obey.
Lights and shadows flicker dimly
down the way. Light from the stake
where burning Bruno died. and from
the pyrc where the Maid of Orleans
gasped out her dying breath. I lis
ten and hear faint echoes from the
victims of the thumbscrew and the
rack. Rome never changes.
J turn my eyes to the right and be-
mold another figure An Angel in shin
ing garments; and in her hand she
holds a scroll. Upon the scroll 7 see
! words written, and read: THE Con-
Stitution Of the United States of
America" High up on the wall is an