"Examine the Catholic almanacs, the census of the various States, or those of the United States, and ascertain, first, the number of Catholics in the country; second, the number of those between the ages of six and twenty-one years; then divide this last number by the number of Catholic schools, including colleges, academies, convents, parochial and private schools, and the _quotient_ will be what? _Indifference to Catholic education!_ In other words, this simple operation in vulgar arithmetic demonstrates that in no country claiming to be enlightened can be found _thirteen millions_ of Catholics with such an inadequate number of schools as we have, or are likely to have, if a policy widely different from that which prevails at present be not _early_ inaugurated and steadily pursued. It is, indeed, true--and I willingly, cheerfully admit the fact--that most of our priests, and nearly all our bishops, are exerting themselves zealously, strenuously, and with marked success, in the cause of education. But _not all_ the priests; _not all_ the bishops are enlisted in the cause; nor are all in _positive_ sympathy with it. All may be, perhaps are, agreed in believing that Catholic education is necessary; but _all are not_ agreed as to the necessity of Catholic schools in which it may be secured. Unanimity exists as to the _end_, but not as to the _means_ to that end. And this lack or absence of unanimity, especially among those whose peculiar province it is to shape and direct Catholic sentiment, has produced, and continues to produce, the most injurious consequences. "Many of the clergy are _not_ opposed to the Public Schools, nor do they feel reluctant to publicly make known the "faith which is in them," when an opportunity presents itself. Many are opposed to these schools, but theirs is a _negative_ opposition; that is, they are not in favor of them. They believe that Catholic schools are better and safer, but they do not consider it a duty incumbent on themselves to undertake the labor and trouble inseparable from the establishment and direction of parochial schools. These reverend gentlemen are simply neutrals; that is, _if men may, or can, be neutral on such a subject_.