The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-09-06
CathollcIty and Radicalism.

we often see, in the public Journals
remarks implying that there is, amon1
Catholics throughout the country, a genera
opposition to Radicalism. This seem
strange, as Radicalism claims to be tn
inspiration of political party, and tn
church never takes sides in politics; yet
there could hardly be unanimity of senti
ment among Catholics on purely politica
grounds. Is there, then, hostility between
Catholicity and Radicalism!
In reply to this, we might simply ask
question, which we saw gravely put in ont
OF our city dailies a few weeks ago: al
Radicalism party or a sect I" If tn,
former, simply, then there is no hostility
II the latter, either simply or in combina
ton with politics, there is hostility.
| The Church has not been instituted to
decide questions of civil nature, or vested
with lnfallibility, save as to things divine
Whether or not the States had the constitu-
t'onat right to secede; whether perpetual
maintenance of the Union would be desir-
ab!e as policy; whether or not the Presi-
dent ought to have been impeached, and
whether the Southern States lost their
status by the war, are all questions foreign
to her Jurisdiction. They are not included
within that charmed circle of science to be
illuminated by perpetual light from the
Holy Ghost and confided to her ministration
when told to go and teach all nations. The
things that are Gods she guards jealousy !;
the things that are Caesars she cannot touch
without invitation, and not then with MI
thority.
But she can never tolerate the invasion
OF her peculiar province by any sect, even
though it claim to be merely philosophical.
She says to it: Construe your written con-
situations, interpret the laws of man; but
touch not the "higher law" with profane
hands: come to me and I will unfold it's
pages to you.
Now, though Radicalism may exist in
this country as policy, it certainly exists
as creed-a creed which worships at the
shrine of its own reason and justifies bad
faith by higher law. In the first sense, it
may demand the consideration due to a ma
Eonal party; in the latter, it is simply a
moral disease. Radicalism of this kind is.
in its origin, Puritanical in it's object, dis
honest; in its means, revolutionary; in it's |
effects, destructive.
1t has no respect for the opinions of it's |
EQUALS, no reverence for the compromises of |
ocietyi based on the lessons of experience |
md the self-distrust of true wisdom it has |
10 liberation for a calm conservatism that
'tops short of it's own frenzied extremes. !
md herein it is Puritanical. 1t disregards
ny law or constitution that does not ex-
ress Its own caprice of the moment. 1t may
ave subscribed that constitution as a sacred
it may have sworn to sustain
hose laws; but then it was minority, or
may have since changed it's mind. Now,
ls majority-it has power. That law
nd that constitution stand in it's path
way with them! 1t openly disregards the
'credness of compacts intended to protect
minority, and in this it is dishonest. 1t t
revolutionary in its means, for it urges
ne branch of the government to usurp the 1
motions of another, and to act outside of +
known powers. The history of Radi- a
llism is that of all lawlessness. Disorder, 8
ASSIGN, rapine, bloodshed, and ruin must 7
ways follow, as they always have fol- f
wed, where law has been dethroned and q
price exalted in its stead. The self suffi- n
ency of it's reckless folly is soon buried r
a bloody grave, guarded by the armed Il
ntinel of some new -fedged despot. Il
In all this, the Church is necessarily OPP Il
'sed to Radicalism. They are the two W
ampions of the old contest that has been u
aged from the beginning-the contest be- f.
zen good and evil-between light and W
rkness. The law of our existence is pro- @,
ess, not perfection. Human progress g.
ust be slow and painful. The defects of al
e edifice of society are in its foundation. M
'move them too hastily, and the building it
Is into ruin. True wisdom has always w
en- patient and willing to labor persever-