The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-11-22


the citizen protected in his temporal and spiritual con
Germs, aud secured in quiet and undisturoed GA
stsnes under the broad shield Of gsl aathor ysr ~
guidaree of religion work out his salvation and win
conquer the blessings Of eternal life Such according 70
St. Paul. aud sound sense is the true end the maj a VI
all human society ~ gaam trdaqaaTa ultaH aga".Us
in onini pisats TO this end has power been instituted "
God upon earth and ordered according to various forn
adapted to the genius and the wants o. various nauSIs
and In the observance of this condition precedent OF Tue
existence of human powers founded the respect and
the obedience to which they are entitled.
THE our dear colaboters ia reason why va see the
Catholic Church jasiiying bes ti,r ana s,thdl
Character of uniyersait nni5terng to ALL making her
self all to all porting equally all the waters Of life
which God Is unfailngly lavshing upon her
But our dear coworkers, the Church is personi6ed in
upon men Is realized The conduct Of the Church. there
fore must in this as in everything else be the rule and
the exempar OF Ia the midst of the storms Of the
age we must Ia come measure, share in her immuta.
btyi and ss In the distribution of her st9ces and
her lights OF her comfortings and aet helps she in
way needs the various sshees of government adopted
by various nations as best calculated for their wants
and their interests even 30 we the mniaets 6f God
in the discharge OF sacred dnte1 ought dis
crminae between persona bat SHOULD show ourselves
to be equally devoted to felowbepgs ready
sacrifice life itself for each Of Them without any distinction
of political parties or political opinions making ourselves
all to all as the great SO thar we ay con
vince them to the service Of Christ
But this dearly beloved requires u.s. in our conduct
toward the faithful to remain wholly disconnected from
the opinions of those parties whatever our own convic
life Or in bis daily and official relations with the world
should participate in political discussions and party de-
bes he especially who, in the discharge of the duties of
his holy ministry and particularly in the preaching Of the
Divine Word rgeul Of the respect due to the Christian
pulpit should transform it into species of rosrum,
merely indulge in it in illusions less pointed to
the strfes of parties and the Of politics.
those citizens who deem it their duty to take part in
them-that priest would soon blight his zeal and
faith with the curse of barrenness and battle in anticpa-
on all the works of his ministry applied to those whose
feelings he may have wounded and whose opinions shock
ed by these demonstrations of party spirit equally crm
nal in the eyes of man and of God
We do not ask you dear workers to abure your
own private convictions but do ask you not to
denim unchartably the opinions of Others when those
opinions involve nothing that contrary the teachings
of the Church Look at them in their fair light and not
they may be held ont to you, dis6gured by worldly in
eress disturbed by political malice Listen in
berness and sincerity to those in whose opinions you
not concur, and then those of YOU who sometimes
so unjust 20 your adversaries so harsh towards those
who do not things you see them may to the
conclusion that man, though he think differently from
you, may be an honest and patriotic Then will
the maximwhch too frequently tread under foot and
yet which is the maxim Of the Church-become the
cardinal precept of lives: in unas, d.
bis lberds omnibus ehariasunty In things essential
liberty in things doubtful and charity in all things.
But again. our dear co-aborers, it is not enough that
you should abstain from all intervention in party srites
After securing the confidence of his fellowczens by
temperate and impartial conduct in the midst of political
conflicts the minister of God must exert the inu
Of his sacred functions to win them to the
of order of justice of un:on and peacein word to
the observance of all the duties of the citizen consci
enou discharge of those duties you will bear in mind
is the surest of quenchng civil feuds and closing
the abyss of revolutions and strife.
These duties therefore sacred beyond all calculation
the minister who is the organ of God himself is held to
preach up, in the of Him who has sent him on bis
mission with much zeal and insistency he should
public morality less obligatory than private morality,
and equally important because it is bond of safety
and happiness to the whole of society
Now our co-laborers those duties which 1t is ncum-
bent upon you TO keep In the view Of those in
charge in the love of country and obedience its
law The of all calamtes beloved coworkers,
is growing contempt for the law Hence the tumnlis
blood the resesness of mind the absence of confidence
man. the dread of renewed oatstrophes pressing
upon the social convictions threatening public tranquil
ty or retardng, at least public prosperity. The first
duty therefore, Of the czen-of every who desires TO
live with his feowbengs in the social state and in keep
ing with sovereign eql-es In the obedience paid to
laws Of his country especially when, not conflicting with
the divine law they confirm public order and assert the
rights of each and all of the members OF society. He is
only public enemy, but Is also foe to his God.
The love Of country dearly beloved Is another duty
of the citizen He who what the law prescribes and
shuns what 1t forbids will risk OF violating Its
enactments but he may 20 superabundanty beyond
the limits Of It's requirements Thus then what charity is
justice and counsel to preccp in the religious and moral
order the love of country or patriotism to respect
for the the POLITICAL scheme 10 love 700 Is the
first and greatest of all the commandments even so Is the
Of ones country the first and highest duty OF the cit
izen because patriotism which the principle OF all civic
virtues involves the necessary observance Of the laws He
therefore who cannot make sacrifice Of bis passions to
his country love that country. The citizen whose
soul swayed by self TO merge public welfare In pr
vae interest stepping upon dsobedience Of the laws III
they happen press too closely upon his relhshnes and
ready them at naught whether he eudes them
by fraud II he s weak assal them by violence he is
strong
Preach, therefore, by your words, and above all, by
your example love Of country and obedience to the laws
But we beseech you, Ia the Of God and OF His
hoodremove far remove from the theatre where to the
abpament Of nations enacting the OF tragedy
which may lead fearful catastrophesl From the I'M
shaken height OF y1sr faith look down at dstanoe on
the laentsbe party struggles but be ye ready TO
dispense the pity and the forgiveness which human
and human weakness have right to claim Do not come
down from the mountain, unless it be to work out your
ministry of reconciliation and peace lay the dark spirit
of contention and hate TO bless and TO love those 10
whom you bound by the twofod ties Of common hu
mainly and spiritual guidancel During the conflicts OF
politics amid the excuses OF freedom the OF revou
TONS the crumbug Of thrones and the ruins Of empires
let the voice of the priest like that Of Ambrose appealing
Theodosus be heard only 10 recall the laws Of justice
and cemency the duty Of repentance and aonement Re
member beloved thai when In the succession Of the
upon your lips and charity within your hearts. With
this twood lever raising up the nations Of earth you will
redeem them from their passions and their blindness But
these two divine powers by the exerons Of which you
may draw mankind tho joys OF another world, would
melt away your hands under tho dgsoviDg breath nj
factions parties arrayed in strife Instead OF soaring
with the aspirations Of the spirit dwellings Of light and
love- Of peace and happiness the world must fall back into
abysses Of wretchedness and you the sefaccung wit
Of their gradual sinking into the night Of error and