Year: 1876

biscop PURCELL, which we copy elsewhere,


defining the attitude of the Catholic Church
in reference to the public-school system Of
Bishop says, there is nothing to object; the
tone of the letter is fair and conciliatory.
There is only one passage that seems to re-
quire any comment. It is this:


No doubt justice and equality would ent,tle the
Catholic people Of this country to exemption from
taxation for the support Of other schools or TO
share of the public school funds in proportion to
the number Of pupils in the schools, but even this
claim we are disposed to waive in your favor.


We cannot but regard the manner of ex-
preston adopted by the Archbishop as sig
nidcant - EN," ho says, by which he evi-
IDENTIFY means the Catholics, ,-'s waive this claim
r. C., to division Of the school moneys] in
your favor" In whose favor? In favor Of
the American people and their support of O
free and non-sectarlan system Of schools
Are we to infer that Archbishop PURCELL
draws line of demgrcation between Ameri-
cans as class and the Roman Catholics as
q class? Does he mean to. convey the idea
that the interests of the Roman Catholic
Church are naturally separate, distinct, and
independent from the interests Of the people
of this country? Does he mean that the mem
bers of the Roman Catholic Church owe
an allegiance to their Church which is at
least independent OF, and perhaps superior and
antagonistic to, the allegiance they owe tho
American Government? It is only upon
some such theory that many persons can ac-
count for his deliberate separation Of Catho-.
lie citizens, speaking of them as "sce," from
the general American public, whom he ad-
dresses as s'you." It is an unfortunate and
dangerous classification it is too much like
tho position assumed BY BEN Hill in Con-
gress when speaking in behalf Of the cx-
Confederates and justifying the horrors of
Andersonville, during all Of which he con-
stantly spoke of "we" and "you," thus
separating the people of the South from
the people of the North. It is
not any wiser for Archbishop PURCELL
to establish sectarian distinction between
the Roman Catholics on the one hand and
the American people on the other than it
was for BEN HILL to maintain the sectional
distinction between the Confederates and
the people of this nntion-


It is difficult to believe that Archbishop
PuRcELL's concession is very sincere, SO long
as he believes that "justice nnd equality
entitlo the Catholic people of this country to
exemption from taxation for the support Of
other schools THAT is, the American free
schools], or to share OF the public-school
funds in proportion to the number Of pupils
III the schools" Il it is the sentiment OF the
Catholics of this country that they are entitled
to this by reason of ''justice and equality"
then there is no question but they will
assert their claim whenever they feel strong
enough to enforce its recognition No peo-
ply, with both might and right on their side.
ever yield to weaker antagonism which they
believe to be in the wrong. To do so would
exceed the capabilities Of human generosity.
Properly interpreted, therefore, the declara-
ton of Archbishop PURCELL seems to mean
that the Catholics waive their claim for the
present, in order to avoid controversy in
which they might prove to be the weaker
party; aud that they will bide their time,
waiting for an opportunity to insist upon
what they claim as right.


But vhnt considerations of "justice and
equality" warrant the Catholics in setting up
s'claim" to part Of the school funds for
their dogmatic schools? Have the Method
lists, who are very powerful body, claimed
any share of the funds to maintain their dog
matic schools? Has any portion of the
school fund in any part of the country been
set aside to support Episcopal. Baptist, Lu-
theran, or Presbyterian schools? Are the Jews
released from their proportion Of taxation for
school purposes in order that they may bo
free to establish their own dogmatic schools?
Can Archbishop PURCELL cite any particular
sect or denomination that has been endowed
with special exemption. or been given part
of the school fund for sectarian aud doemat-
ic uses? If not, then how is it that 8: Justice
and equality" entit!e the Catholics to priv
ilege not enjoyed by aay other sect? He
begs the whole question. It is only
upon tile assumption, indicated by his
use of "we" aud "you," that the
Roman Catholics in America form distinct