Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

232 DANGER IN THE DARK.
Romish priests ask for a division of the public school
funds? Protestants cheerfully submit to taxation for
educational purposes, because they regard education
in itself a blessing, as it unfolds and enlarges the
mind; but Romanists esteem a purely intellectual
education, unmixed with the mummery and gross'
absurdities of their religion, as worse than useless."
" Do you pretend to say Catholics attach no importance
to education ?"
"To be educated in the doctrine, and traditions of
the Romish church, they reckon highly important j
and in fact, to confer such an education as that is
manifestly the main design of all their schools and
colleges. That the Hierarchy really stand opposed to
an education that invigorates and liberalizes the mind,
is evident from the general tone of Catholic journals
with reference to the common schools. One of these
journals, published at Chicago, Ill., recently contained
the following remarks, addressed to Catholic
parents: 'Rather than serrd your children to the
state schools, let them go uneducated; better that
they remain unable to read-a thousand times better!
Sooner let them grow up boors, and become hewers
of wood and drawers of water, than be placed in
those miserable sinks of iniquity, the free schools.'
Certain priests in tMs city recently held language in
reference to the schools, compared with which, what
I have just read you would appear decent, ever
respectful. "
"I grant such langnage is very unbecoming and