The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-05-28
Good for NOTHING.

In reporting, in our last Issue, . few
words addressed to some visitors by our
Most Rev. Archbishop, after his return
from Europe, we repeated his quotation of
an old italian saying, that " good people
are good for nothing" There can be no
doubt that there is a good deal of shrewd
observation and homely wisdom implied in
this apparent solecism, and that it has an
application not only in the country of its
origin, but to some extent iH others also.
Good people sometimes are SO much
averse to squabbling that they actually fall
into heresy of goodness and become
Quakers. They get to be 80 meek that
they won't fight at all. They are 80 much
impressed with the beauty of being smitten
on both cheeks, that they will not combine
to protect either society or the Church
from outlaws and desperadoes. They have
become SO unresisting that they will not
defend even principle and faith. This is
being recreant to their most sacred duties
through mistaken notion of Christian
meekness. 1t is being SO good as to be
good for nothing.
Again, they have a morbid idea of Chris
tian poverty. They find so exalted q mo-
rality in the idea of surrendering not only
the coat but the cloak likewise, that they
stand quietly aside and let robbers and
maraaders plumber ad libitun, provided
their own private pocket be not touched too
deeply. They will stand by and see con-
temptible minority of braves despoil the
Church sacrilegiously strip the convent
of it's possessions and the altar of its orna-
ments, with nothing but q timid gesture OF
depreciation, when, if they were gifted
with the manhood which true Christianity
inspires even in the feeble, they would
have power to laugh these evil doors to
scorn. Like the patriot who was fred with
see all his wife's relations spill the last
drop of their blood for the country, these
Christians are so apostolic in their ideas of
poverty that they are willing to see every
body robbed but themselves. They, too,
are SO good that they are good for nothing.
In effect many persons forget that cour-
age is one of the highest Christian virtues,
and cowardice more dsgraceful, even, in
the eyes of God than in the eyes of man.
No man ought to fear the wicked, but in
defence of his rights and those of his
| neighbor, and especially those of God, he
ought to be perfectly fearless and willing
to sacrifice everything. He ought to love
the wicked while hating and opposing their
wick
In Italy, there is doubtless, large ele-
ment of infidelity and rebellion against
10. 80 Of, icso
and statesmen, who, while despising Pro-
testantism, hate Christianity because it
reproves their immortality and interferes
with their ambition. These men are ex-
tremely bitter and aggressive. They are
restless and untiring in their efforts for evil.
Without scruple or remorse, they hesitate
at no villaiDy or treachery and establish
such character for desperation that timid-
" inclined people are frightened by the very
shadow of their displeasure. The faithful
Catholics of Italy are in a vast majority
over these evil spirits, but their Christian.
i;ty is not of the stamp that makes martyrs
In our own country there might be q
little more spirit AMONG Catholics as such
In this very city there has never been {
| O8Y wDG0 Cu0 CHGnOilC VOIS, UT even
resolute fraction Of it, could not have Sc
cured Catholic rights ON the school ques
ton. But when was there ever q combina
ton of even two men for that purpose
In municipal elections, there is general!
nothing at stake but the spoils. No ques
ton of national politics woDld be directl.
affected by the issue, whether Democrat o
Wing or Republican should be elected, ant
the shifting of good round Catholic vot
. to either side would secure its success
? Any side about to get beaten would con
sent to do justice in order to secure thi
? vote and its resulting victory.
t Aud year after year passed on and no
, even one club was organized with this oh
b Iject in view, while Catholics continued t.
b labor ON under the yoke of heavy and use
c less taxation 1t is we'll to be good, bu
we ought to avoid being good for nothing
j even as politicians.
a Next Sunday evening, juno 4, the Fair fo