ty, and primary principles
of literature, science and art, the standard of knowledge, and the
American flag and its essential principles as the standard of
patriotism. Our American school system is like a great paper mill,
into which are cast rags of all kinds and colors, but which lose
their special identity and come out white paper, having a common
identity. So we want the children of the state, of whatever
nationality, color or religion, to pass through this great moral,
intellectual and patriotic mill, or transforming process, and thus
lose their foreign peculiarities and come out not as Germans, Irish,
English, Huns or Poles, but as Americans, having the common identity
of morality, knowledge and patriotism that is essential to true
American citizenship and good government stamped upon their minds,
and when they pass through this mill of purification they then begin
to lose confidence in the heathenish doctrines of Catholicism.

In a government where the people are the rulers, intelligence and
education are necessary to maintain the nation's stability. Under
this belief, the public school system of the United States was
founded.

Following are expressions of prominent Americans on the general
subject of popular education:

President Hays: "I am firmly convinced that the subject of popular
education deserves the earnest attention of the people of the whole
country, with a view to wise and comprehensive action by the
government of the United States. The means at the command of the
local and state authorities are in many cases wholly inadequate to
deal with the question. The magnitude of the evil to be eradicated is
not, I apprehend, generally and fully understood."

President Garfield: "Next in importance to freedom and justice is
popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be
permanently maintained. Its interests are intrusted to the state and
to the voluntary action of the people. Whatever help the nation can
justly afford should be generously given to aid the states in
supporting common schools, but it would be unjust to our people and
dangerous to our institutions to apply any portion of the revenue of
the nation of the states to the support of sectarian schools. The
separation of the church and the state in everything relating to
taxation should be absolute."

Dr. Strong: "Free schools are one of the cornerstones of our
government."

Washington's Farewell Address: "Promote them as a