The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-01

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conservative. and the destructive. The for
mer builds up, the latter pulls down. vir-
the il always conservative. It despises self
Indulgence, and despising it, is able to look
beyond the gratihcaton Of the. moment to
the truer and higher interest Of social vital
ity. It is willing to submit to reasonable
restraint of natural liberty for the sake of
public order and security, and recognizes
authority as the great principle of the social
compact.
Vice, on the contrary, is self indulgent
and short aighted in it's policy. It is impa-
tient of ell restraint, and rebellious against
every authority. This impotence of, re-
straint is the element of, all disorganization
and anarchy.
History is but monument of this truth.
The grandeur of the mighty nations of an
tiquity was founded ON o well recognized
authority, and stern adherence to virtue.
The patriarchal governments were absolute
in their power, and strict in their Observance
of religion. Even after the knowledge of
the true God had become obscdfed among
men, the moral impulse of faith still re-
tanned much Of it's Vigor, and gave birth to
many noble traits Of natural virtue. Baby
Ion, in its magniAcence, allowed the effects
of most wonderful industry and enterprise
Is existing prior to its ago of luxury. Cyrus
founded his great empire on the strictest
principles Of Justice and self-control.-
Greece has given ms the name Of Sparta as
a synonym for heroic contempt of pleas
ure, and Roman virtue was ncorruptible
during the days when Roman greatness was
growing to maturity.
Gradually, however, the original impetus
of natural virtue had been growing less
powerful and less general, until finally, it
persisted entirely, as a public quality, With
the degeneracy of the Roman people. Hea-
thenism had drawn its folds closer and
closer around our race, until finally it ap-
.peared to have crushed out all truth and all
virtue. Anarchy seized upon the world, and
universal barbarian was fast settling over
all men.
= In the meantime, however, another germ
of life had descended into the bosom of
society-another spark of living fire had
been sent down, which was to kin6le into a
great fame of regeneration. The Saviour
had come and left with us His truth-the
element of a new virtue and q new civili-
cation. The young Church had to breast
the surges of the sea of barbarian which
was overwhelming everythingsin darkness.
She came to society in the moment of it's
decay I'M dicaN1ufinr
for centuries, and finally the Church tri-
umphed. The tide of destruction was
stayed, light commenced to gain upon the
darkness, the life of civilization was saved,
From that moment the reconquest of the
world to virtue, to order, to civilization was
Gradually The good work pro-
crossed, until the faith asserted it's benefi-
cent sway over all the principal nations of
the world. The influence of the Church
was decidedly conservative Human learn
ing, buried under the ruins of tho old world.
had been exhumed-the vices of Paganism.
which attacked alike the family and the
throne, were kept in check-citizens en-
joyed fuller liberties, and governments more
security and strength.
The conservative principle of the Church |
was her authority, by which she was able |
to maintain the restraint necessary to social |
order.
Then came Professionalism, with it's denial |
Of this authority. Its claim to existence |
was a war upon the conservative principle
Of Christianity. Within its boundaries vice |
might raise its head again, unawed by any
power, subject to no restraint but that i'm
posed by due regard for appearances.-
Let 1t but take respectable name, and it
would not Lack its train of protested follow
ers. There was "no one to make it afraid ;ml
no one to tear the veil from the false pro- |