The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-10-30
The chdrch and the REPUBLIC.

n the Church and the Republic.
The Papal zouaves are fighting gallant
for the French Republic. Is not this
stunning blow0 those ingenious Protes,
ants who do all their fighting on side is
sues3 These side issues are general
adapted TO the local prejudices of the com
munity to which they are addressed. Thu
In Republics these jealous patronizers of
false religion assert most positively tina
Cathoicity is opposed to Republicanisu
and is the intimate friend and supporter o
tyranny and despotism. In vain you cit,
them to instances of Catholic Republics
and show that public freedom has been tn,
work of the Church introduced as grad
ualiy as the necessities of the occasion re-
CURED. We should like to hear how these
gentry elude the conclusions that seems sc
patent from the part taken by the Papal
ZoQaves.
1t may be said that these Zouaves are
Frenchmen and therefore fight for France
True, but then they are not obliged to
fight as Papal Zouaves. They might break
up their organization and attach them
selves to other existing corps. Instead of
this, they retain their old formation, their
officers and their complete identity. Would
they do this if the Republic were disa-
greeabIe to tho Pope7 Would they insult
him by an open transfer of themselves in
the most unmistakable manner to a cause
which he reprobates7 Their fealty and
devotion up to the last moment render
such an explanation impossible. They are
even now devoted heart and soul to the
wishes of the Holy Father and would do
nothing that could in the least CONF romise
him or show disregard of his preferences.
The Pope cannot have reprobated the Re-
public, he cannot even look upon it with
disfavor or the Zouavcs would disband and
fight under another organization.
Even the adhesion of Garibaldi has not
the ardOr of the Catholic popu-
ton of France in the defence of their
country under its present form of Govern
ment. The clergy are extremely active in
urging the people to a proper discharge of
heir patriotic duties. The present Repub-
ic has not adopted the guillotine for its
'oat- Of arms; it is not sy nonimous with per-
ecutlon and anarchy. There is vast diff
erence between the Red Republic and the
cal Republic, between organized crime
nd organized law.
The Pope has publicly recognized that
10 Is nowhere SO fully Pope as in the
United States. No imperial intrigue, no
oval Jealousy there impedes his full and
nrestrained communication with his
eople and control of their consciences,
lis experience with concordats made and
roken is enough to satisfy him that re-
ublic which leaves untouched the spir-
ual affairs of its people is much more ia
orable to the Church than a monarchy t
hich Intermediates with them and assumes a
q unwarranted control over them.
The truth of the matter simply is that '
le Church does not prefer or recommend c
~ one form of Government as COMPARED t
18th another. Each kind may assume a s
iritual authority in conflict with that of v
g Church and each kind may lend it's v
'wers to the propagation and generation II
the truth. The genius of the people
nst dictate their appropriate form of gov a
nment. To some the empire is adapted, J.,
others the monarchy and to others the a
public. In different stages of intelll- tt
nee and moral power the same people p
uld find all the different forms best suit a.
to their wants. But it is gross igno- p
ice and prejudice to say that the Church b'
opposed to the Republic. n;