merican sentiments which they peculiarly need. Nobody questions
their constitutional and legal right to do this, and to do it by
denouncing the public schools. Sectarians have a lawful right to
say that these schools are "a relict of paganism--that they are
Godless," and that "the secular school system is a social cancer."
But when having thus succeeded in dividing the schools, they make
that a ground for abolishing school taxation, dividing the school
fund, or otherwise destroying the system, it is time that its
friends should rise up in its defense.

We all agree that neither the government nor political parties
ought to interfere with religious sects. It is equally true that
religious sects ought not to interfere with the government or with
political parties. We believe that the cause of good government and
the cause of religion both suffer by all such interference. But if
Sectarians make demands for legislation of political parties, and
threaten that party with opposition at the elections in case the
required enactments are not passed, and if the political party
yields to such threats, then those threats, those demands, and that
action of the political party become a legitimate subject of
political discussion, and the sectarians who thus interfere with
the legislation of the State are alone responsible for the
agitation which follows.

And now a few words as to the action of the last legislature on
this subject. After an examination of the Geghan bill, we shall
perhaps come to the conclusion that in itself it is not of great
importance. I would not undervalue the conscientious scruples on
the subject of religion of a convict in the penitentiary, or of any
unfortunate person in any State institution. But the provision of
the constitution of the State covers the whole ground. It needs no
awkwardly framed statute of doubtful meaning, like the Geghan bill,
to accomplish the object of the organic law. The old constitution
of 1802, and the constitution now in force, of 1851, are
substantially alike. Both declare (I quote section 7, article 1,
constitution of 1851):

"All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their own conscience. No person
shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support