Catholics and the Public Schools.
By Editor
CONCERNING the object of the meeting of the American Archbishops in Rome next fall, Archbishop Alemany, of San Francisco, said to a reporter:— "One of the chief subjects of discussion will be the system of public schools in relation to the Catholic youth. As regards the education of the young, these schools are of inestimable value, but I deeply regret that some attention is not also bestowed upon religious instruction. . . . We ask but little in this respect—less, indeed, than is already granted in Ireland, Canada, or Australia—and that is that a certain time every day shall be devoted to religious instruction. Thousands of parents are eager that their children should be brought up in the precepts of their own faith, and although the laborer is worthy of his hire, our clergy would willingly devote their time and attention to this vital matter without reward, if the Government objected to making a small appropriation for this religious training, that even might be restricted to one short hour each day. We are perfectly willing that these exercises should be carried on under the supervision of a public officer, but it would be far better for the Government to make an experiment with well-chosen teachers, who would combine the usual scholastic attainments with religious training, and then, if it proved to be successful, to extend the system to all the scholars of the Catholic faith. It will be clearly understood that we do not seek the control of this movement, which belongs to the Government." The Catholic Church, having persistently fought the use of the Bible in public schools, is very zealous that those schools should impart a little "religious" instruction. Of what that instruction would consist, any one who has ever seen the text-books, especially those on history, in use in Catholic schools, can readily judge. It will be noticed, also, that they are very moderate in their demands—excessively humble. They are perfectly willing for the Government to have nominal control of the education of the children, if it is only intrusted to them. And they ask for so very little that surely the Government cannot refuse. We remember the fable of the camel and the Arab's tent, and expect to see it acted out to the life in this case. Protestants are becoming very obsequious to Catholicism, partly because they expect much help from that quarter in the coming struggle for Sunday supremacy. Too late they will find out that their "liberality" has cost them their liberty.