Year: 1870

Defence Of the "Sectarian Fund,' So.


called.


To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-


This fund has been IN existence only one year. but
the immense amount Of good that has accrued from
1t stamps at once as beng beneficial. The law mas
been repealed, the repeal to take effect next Novem.
be and the results will speak for the good or evil OF
this repeal.


TO the phi!anthroplc head OF one man was owing
in great measure the birth of this appropriations


to the Union League Club OF New York, Is owing Its
repeal. Let them have the honor.


With regard to the objections brought forward in
religious as wen as political circles against this ap
proprlation they can be classed under two distinct
heads. The religious objections arise from clouded
understanding as to the real use of this fund.- but the
political objections the result of studied, wilful
Misrepresentation.


To the religious objection we VIII now devote


little space. The great objection is that this appro
priaJlon necessitates q union OF Church ana State;
but the utter faiacy OF this kind OF reasoning is
plain to the most illogical mind. Can there ever be
q union OF Church and State when the number Of
denominations reapng benefit from this charity is
about as numerous as the spouses OF the muchly-
married Saint" Brigham YoungS Does 1t look
much like a union when we see q Jew, q Catholic
and numerous Protestant sects receiving alike this
charity? The idea of speaking OF this Appropriation
|


Again, 1t Is sad that this appropriation Is stab
at the public school system Tnis also be shown
10 be baseess fabric. The public school system Is
altogether voluntary; but for education to be uni
versa, as Is needed under republican form OF
ernmcnt. II must be compulsory. Now, how Is that
to be obtalned2 Not, certainly, by enactments.
How, then2 Well, 1t has been proven beyond


doubt, by the statistics Of last year. that this appro
priaon is the nearest approach yet IN conjunction
with the pubic Schools to universal education.
But some Pharasaical creature here may say,
''rhen why have the public schools at all if the
nfnrn nnlA Ia
seatsp p0 Does the fact OF there being empty seats


in the public schools compel children to I'LL them
There more ihan twenty thousand children in
this city, who win be again thrown upon the town.
next year unless private charity can be used. The


vice. but or Will the officers OF these schools go
around and hunt up the really needy, the suffering
poor, who cannot send their children to the public
schoolsf The Howard Mission does this; the


Catholic priest does this the trustees OF charitable


institutions do this They visit the novels Of poverty,
and as Is too often the case, OF crime also, and
really drag the children To school, ana often feed
and clothe them also.


.But that is their BUSINESS some will say. or


course IL Is, and they do not do IL for temporal
ward. still money is necessary evil and all belief
| teaches us to make friends with 1t.
The Board Of Education, at recent meeting, an


ticpated one OF the results of this repeal in mega
| tive way by stating that the number OF vagrant


children had wonderfully decreased last year, owing
to the appropriation OF money to other than public
| schools.


Another objection raised is that fraud is practsed.
II this is so tnen there Is no such thing honor in
either religion or politics. We know that 1t Is gene


rally believed that to be politician the frat requisite
| Is 10 enter into o compact With your conscience,
whereby you not to be held accountable for any
thing you may say or do; but that makes no diner
ence in this case.


commissioner was appointed to distribute this


fund whom even his political enemies had to respect
and admire. Under his direction blank forms OF APP


plicaton were prepared, and II any one thinks that
fraud well be perpetrated lei him read the Dies


tions that have to be sworn to- These are the chief


religious objections, 80 far adduced against the ap
preparation. Possibly there may be other reasons
| yet come OF which We are now In bssful ignO-


rance. II the sooner they are brought forth the
better.


more difficult to answer The objections are based
upon political necessity III this way:-Ihere is q
sckly fungus in this city called the Union League
Club which plant has been under the care OF nu
merOus gardeners until at last the best botanical


doctor that could be found suggested that the repeal
| covered another Alta vela, and at once the work


men began their task. Success finally crowned their
efforts but 1t will be 30 long before the medicine Will
be applied that the excrescence may droop beyond
redemption.


This Is the only objection that is brought forward
| politically, and as II IS cardinal belief In politics


that 'the ends Justify the means we can vi course
| only give the Union League Club that credit which
| Is que on account OF this repeal.


The appropriation Is charity on the part OF the
| city OF New YORK TO some OF her really destitute
children and Is no more stab ut the pubic school


system than was the relief heretofore granted by the
Board OF Aldermen TO charitable Institutions ana
| churches bid for union Of Church and State


The statistics will prove the good that has accrued
from this charity. The results Of the repeal VIII
| speak plalner than words can express.
| Religious Notes-(;cneral and Personal.
Correspondents communicating with us upon rcli-