The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-11-27
The Press.

The spread of bad books, bad papers,
bad pictures, bad tracts and leafiets-is the
secret of half the misery of the age. They
swarm, locust-like; books against faith,
books against morality, books against order
and government, tracts for the million, full
of poison for the million, sensational ac-
counts Of the violent, sensuous descrip-
tions of the sensual. Of all evils this is
most difficult to meet-most ubiquitous,
most hidden, most easily escaping the hand
of the suppressor or punisher. The dis
turber of the peace may be arrested the
public doors and speakers Of sin may be
restrained; the bad book or the bad paper
flies everywhere, is read secretly, can be
studied at leisure and pOred over, spreads
it's principles unpublished, and can scarcely
DO brought under public law or public
opinion. Tie press, in its evil aspect, is
the fitting instrument, the true outward
expression of the secret society. 1t is es-
pecially insect-like in its work, and there
is no might so powerful as the multitudin-
GUS might of insects. Rome to-day is in
chains, in large measure through the insect
subject the London Tablet pertinently in
forms us that the world knows its power
and uses it; secret societies and open
societies alike use the press against the
4,ChGrch. Enormous gums are spent yearly
upon printing and spreading papessagaiast
truth and order. Firstrate ability, great
! wealth, wit, learning, the most enticing art
in the preparation of books, the quick
teaching of pictures, all are furnished
without stint upon the work of destroying
souls All is the reverse of that which
once was. The press of old time was the
copying chamber of the monk. The book
and the leafet were in the hands of the
Church. The painting, the glowing illu-
mination, the beautiful writing, all were
on the side of truth and the hand of the
writer spread abroad the truths of Heaven.
Printing is, after all, only more rapid
writing, and this weapon has been snatched
out of the Churchs hand. The spread of
principles is on the worlds side now, and
the hand of the writer scatters the seeds OF
hell rapidly, SO that the corruption of
thousands may be the work of u few hours,
in all languages, SO that the foul seed is
strewn broadcast over Europe in less time
than the diligent monk of old could have
labored through page. What have we to
oppose ali this? The old undying powers
of the pulpit and the confessional with
such strength as the world cannot have
but not the modern copying chamber, the
power of the press, or not at least in such
a A. u,sr tnx Inns
it. We must consecrate the press anew
to God and bless it to the work of the
. Church meet book with book, and paper
, with> paper, and leaflet with lcafet; fol-
there is no art of man which is accursed
and tt lie press can be ballowed as all els'
has been. If the bad seed has been sow
, broadcast, let us reverse the parable ant
over-soM> the good seed. 1t is an impress
sion with many that they may or may no
at pleasure exercise their plain duty in fos
t tering and disseminating the antidote t.
the poisonous carnations from an unhal
, lowed press. This is great mistake. T.
f disseminate Catholic truth, which shall fl
;; among thousands of the poor, is wor
deserving as much toll and care as til
r grand sermon of the great orator in tn
h pulpit-more secret-with no applause an
v no fame, but as solidly and truly usefu
. The need of opposing by like means an
y with like power, the modern energy of tn
}; press, must be Obvious to all who give til
i subject the least reflection. Catholic cor
science needs to be impressed more than
seems to be at present with the full impoi
A of this truth. His Holiness Pope Plus tiI
n TX. during the sessions of the Hcumenic'
= Council, spoke strongly of the necessity {
sc supporting a Catholic press-more particr
n larly in the communications addressed
AZ Very Rev. DIR. Vaughan, of the Londo
'n Tablet, and Mons. Veuiilot, of the Emrers
Yet We haye known Catholics ready
h. subscribe thousands to establish and su
ar tain a political press who would conten
"a. plate with equanimity any embarrassme
a. of a Catholic organ-say of the MoRNIN
STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER.