Year: 1872

satisfactory Solution OF q Trouble
somo Question.


The decision of Superintendent Weaver
denying the legal right Of school trustees to
make religious instruction part Of the regular
school exercises will receive the approval of
every fair-ninded man. In this age, when
the spirit of religious liberty is abroad, it is
somewhat startling to find a large body of citi-
zens desirous of exercising spiritual tyranny
by compelling the attendance of children at
religious teaching to which they entertain
conscientious objection. The introduction of
the Bible into the public schools has been the
cause of constant irritation and ill-will between
the different Christian sects and each day
seems only to increase the bitterness of the
parties. The contest at Long Island City last
fall became Serious and something in the
shape of religious war was threatened.
Roman Catholic children refused to be
present at the reading of Protestant
Bible, and the trustees, with an ardor for the
principles of civil and religious liberty beyond
all praise, expelled the insubordinate Catho-
lies. This exhibition of iberality and respect
for the opinions and convictions of others led
to a series of protests on the part of the Catho-
lie minority, which terminated in an appeal to
the Superintendent.


The legal right Of the trustees to enforce the
reading of the obnoxious Bible has been de-
cided to have no existence, as the schools ore
provided for secular, and not for religious, in
struction. At the same time it is held that if
religious people wish their children to read the
Bible the trustees are at liberty to appoint O
time before or after the regular school
business for religious instruction, at which
attendance will not be compulsory. This is
reasonable solution of the difficulty, and will
give general satisfaction to all but the 'unco
guid," who never enjoy complete Christian
peace but when they are prosecuting others for
the love of God. However, as these splenetic
devotees are not very numerous among U.S. the
public can afford to be Indifferent as to whether
they are pleased or not


1t is of the first Importance to the we'll
being of the republic that the public schools
shall be popular with the people, in order that
there may be no excuse for ignorance among
our growing population. In order that they





the children shall be scrupulously respected.
Religious freedom in the widest sense must be
enjoyed by the pupils, not the garbled liberty
which means that every one shall be forced
to accept whatever religious teaching the
school trustees may consider good. To tam
per with the right of conscience is infinitely
greater outrage than to impose disabilities,
nd -
The agitation on this school question was be-
coming really dangerous to the existence of
harmonious relations between the different
sects and we hope that the reasonable and
just decision of Superintendent Weaver will
form precedent that will be followed all over
the country wherever mixed schools exist. It
is so palpably an outrage to compel the at
tendance Of children upon obnoxious religious
instruction that no amount of sophistry can
justify or cover'A. luch violation Of natural
right. All classes are interested in the just
settlement of this question, because there is no
protection that the prosecutors at one point
may not become the prosecuted at another, if
we are to accept the doctrine that the majority
have the right to impose their religious in





when advanced nakedly appears monstrous;
yet this is just what the Long Island trustees
have been guilty of in the case of the Catholic
children under their charge


1t appears these model Christians are not
content with the impartial and highly credit
able decision of the superintendent They
have resolved on an appeal to the higher au-
1r,,y 20 Oh k1,o:.
iege to do evil SO long as they can possibly
hold on. The actions Of these men fur
nish strange commentary on the Chris
tianity of which they put themselves
forward as the champions. There is more of
the cruel and oppressive spirit Of ministers of
evil than Of the gentleness and meekness of
followers of Christ in the conduct of these
Bible lovers. Their obstinate resolve to main
tain the obnoxious system will be condemned
by every one with pretence to liberality.
Such an exhibition Of bigotry is worthy of the
Dark Ages and marks out the actors for the
contempt of all


Whose minds have learned alike to scorn


Big0ts In Rome or England born.


We hope the appeal made against Superin-
OouucAe VeuNcI . ucClSlOu Will De IeJeCCeu,
and that the non-sectarian character of our
public schools shall be authoritatively declared.
All citizens are taxed to support them, and the
course Of instruction ought not to be OBJ
noxious to any sect. This is but common
ustice, and we believe that the good sense and
owe of fair play inherent in the American
people will insist on justice being done in this
matter.


EnVDT