secured by
universal education." Before we discuss these questions, it may be
well, in order that there may be no excuse for further
misrepresentation, to show by whom this subject was introduced into
politics, and to state explicitly that we attack no sect and no
man, either Protestant or Jew, Catholic or Unbeliever, on account
of his conscientious convictions in regard to religion. Who began
the agitation of this subject? Why is it agitated? All parties have
taken hold of it. The Democratic party in their State convention
make it the topic of their longest resolution. In their platform
they gave it more space than to any other subject except the
currency. Many of the Democratic county conventions also took
action upon it.

The Republican State Convention passed resolutions on the question.
It is stated that it was considered in about forty Republican
county conventions. The State Teachers' Association, at their last
meeting, passed unanimously the following resolution. Mr. Tappan,
from the Committee on Resolutions, reported the following:

"_Resolved_, That we are in favor of a free, impartial, and
unsectarian education to every child in the State, and that any
division of the school fund or appropriation of any part thereof to
any religious or private school would be injurious to education and
the best interests of the church."

An able address by the Rev. Dr. Jeffers, of Cleveland, showing the
"perils which threaten our public schools," was emphatically
applauded by that intelligent body of citizens.

The assemblies of the different religious denominations in the
State, which have recently been held, have generally, and I think
without exception, passed similar resolutions. If blame is to
attach to all who consider and discuss this question before the
public, we have had a very large body of offenders. But I have not
named all who are engaged in it. I have not named those who began
it; those who for years have kept it up; those who in the press, on
the platform, in the pulpit, in legislative bodies, in city
councils, and in school boards, now unceasingly agitate the
question. Everybody knows who they are; everybody knows that the
sectarian wing of the Democratic party began this agitation, and
that it is bent on the destruction o