Price: $125.00
SKU: 92278
ARTIST: Thomas Nast
PUBLISHER: Published by Harper's Weekly. July 3, 1875.
MEDIUM: Wood engraving,
DATE: 1875.
EDITION SIZE: Image size 20 3/4 x 13 5/8" (52 x 34.7 cm).
DESCRIPTION: Columbia, the female personification of America, gives warning to the Catholic clergy, who seek tax dollars for their parochial schools. She points to a mural of a tigress mauling a man who tried to run off with her cub. Above it reads "The tigress protects her cubs." Behind her, in a crib labeled "Public School," are two young children reading a scroll, "The A B C of a Republican form of government." <br><br> At this point in American history there were no laws governing what kind of schools received state funding. This meant sectarian schools were able to receive tax dollars to administer a religious education. The artist, Thomas Nast, felt this was wrong and often cited Separation of Church and State. He believed religious funding took away from the American people because money that would have gone into assisting the public was instead being spent on religion. <br><br> On top of the sectarian school issue was a general hatred of Catholicism. Rome was, as it had always done, trying to spread its teachings throughout the world so that it may control it. This brought about disdain for its churches and followers. The Irish were some of the most prominent supporters of Catholicism in America and were often mocked and belittled in editorial cartoons during this period. So while any sectarian school could seek state aid, the resentment of the Catholic Church made it a focal point for the school funding debate. <br>br> In the cartoon, in the hands of one of the clergymen, is a paper that reads "Surrender your American Goldless infidel education to the infallible Roman guidance by order of the Pope. First allegiance to the Pope of Rome in all countries. The church is the teacher of teachers."
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Good condition save for minor scattered foxing.
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