The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-02
Reliqion and Justice.

can be in its conclusions when severed
from its proper connection with revealed
wisdom. The strsngest and most conflict
ing doctrines upon the same subject
are announced by different authorities ~
being incontrovertible, all Of them, proba-
bly,. far removed from the truth as taught
by the Teacher whom Christ has commits
stoned to speak in his name. An Instance
in point has come within our notice during
the past week. In last Sundays MORNING
STAR was published letter from the Pope
to the Xavier Alumni Society of New York,
in which occurs the following passage:
The foundation Of social order and prosperity
in every form of government, but especially IN
that which exists among you are 70 DC Iase 90
religion and justice1.
Here the head of the Church. proclaims
that the basis of prosperity, in every form
of government, but especially in Republics,
is laid in the principles of religion and
justice, and we have even taken occasion
elsewhere to comment on the compliment
to our inst tutions conveyed in the opinion
that they are peculiarly based on such
noble principles. Yet in last Wednesday,
Republican We find totally different basis
for popular government proclaimed in the
most autocratic style by correspondent.
Says the article: t{8
That thorough system Of public education
in every State IL the fundamental basis on
which the perpetuity Of popular governments
can alone be maintained is . proposition that
no one will attempt to gsinsay or controvert'
Here is the wisdom of the world for you.
Observation-Disclosures is the basis Of ma
tional prosperity and permanence. And
yet as learned and intelligent as men could
possibly become, were they all indeed
members of the Academy Of Sciences, they
could never compare In intelligence with
devils. Now, how would a republic of
devils succeed Here we see how men
can fall into such absurdities when they
protest against legitimate intellectual au-
thority, and strike out into total logical
and philosophical independence.
1t is evident that intelligence is an ex-
cellent thing, like courage, energy, perse-
and other qualities which are most
efficient agents of prosperity and success,
but these are only the walls and towers of
the ediice, its basis or foundation must
be laid in the profounder depths of religion !
and justice. Yet the logical folly of this
first heresy is only beginning; the same
ethics launch out into other |
based upon this, just as absurd
and more harmful as they are more practi- |
cal.
Thus they argue that because education |
is so important, therefore it is the impera- |
tive duty of the State to see that it's people
are educated. Now this does not follow at
all, and would not follow even if this erro-
neous estimate of education were a correct
one. We know that religion is the true
basis of the social compact and of all ex-
cellence in government, yet we do not pre-
tend for q moment that it is the business of
government to preach religion to the people,
or have it preached; that is the province of
the Church. Scarcely any government at
tempts to force it's people to be religious,
yet, any day, if Radicalism became con-
WINGED that religion was the foundation of
the State, it would Immediately announce
that it is the business of the State to teach
and even enforce it. How anxious soever
the State may be To promote religion or
education, it does not follow that it may
assume the control of the one or the other.
The same line of deduction would ap-
ply to almost every interest of society.
Almost everything good for the individual,
is by consequence good for the state. Good
food well cooked is excellent for health and
physical development, SO is good clothing,
so are properly ventilated dwellings and
plenty of outdoor exercise the State is
especially interested in the physical devel-
opment of its citizens that they may be-
come better laborers and soldiers and more
valuable citizens. Shall the government,
therefore, extend it's functions to the control
of the national diet, the clothing of the peo-
pie, the proportions of their houses and the
number of hours they shall devote to exer-
else? Yet the same argument which JUS
titles its interference in education for the
public good, would extend its control to
all these subjects.