The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-09-01
Shadows Of Days that Were.
SIGNS OF THINGS TO BE.

bivoHac or march, for the duties aud the
dangers of both. She never lays her one
weapon down. 'Tfs ever in her band,-
sometimes . sword now folding her
heart from hates assaults,-now flashing
with stainless sheen, in combats where its
wound gives life,-and, anon, glea ming in
bloodless victories of mercy in che faces of
surrendering foes. That weapon is q
Cross.-aud that Cross not only tells the
story of Him who died on its arms but,
also, at once and forever reveals the history
of Her who lives by 1.-THE Queen
Church, His Bride, who, with Calvary's
crimson conservation on. her, bears that
Grassland bearing it must ever suffer its
own suherings,-and snfYsripg them-can
never be destroyed by Satan, Man or
Desth. ea.. -
From the sublime nuptials of Good Fri.
day down to the burial of the Universe
the Queen Church, wearing the royal Pur-
pie of the Passion, marches, battles, tri-
umphs. There is not q day of her way
that che does not meet with a new assault
ard another assaifant.
sometimes, q law,-sonetimes, a sacrament.
But her faith fights on aud wins. Some
times, her faith is unattached, but her
faithful children are the object. of assault.
Now, apparently for one reason,-now
for another,-but, always without any.
Sometimes the attack is directed against
their lives, - sometimes, against their
an ~ oh xlasr
temporal rights.
The philosophy of universal federation
accepted by modern nations gave hope that
much of the persecution endured by the
Church, would be her fate no more.
At least, there was promise that, in the
civil and political order, Roman Catholics,
if not lowered with new privileges, would
not he disturbed in those rights, which this
age regards as common to every man.
The intellectual battle of truth against
error, we Know, would go on, but the war
of man against man,--of governments
against the Head or members of the
Church, We thought or had some semblance
of reason to think, had ceased, at least, for
our generation.
But we have been disappointed. The
lately founded Empire of Germany, pro-
fessedly liberal in politice,--and thereby
giving assurance that the political rights of
all, would not only be secured, but en-
larged and professedly Protestant in re-
ligion,-tbereby guaranteeing to every one
the fundame en- tai right of choice as to the
faith and it's practice, cOntradiets its pro-
LESSONS, violates its compacts, mocks it's
own assurances and commits an act of
despotism more in consonance with the
days of Nero than with an age which
glories in being the age of the rights of
men. i...r
Without an examination,-witho
trial,-without testimony, without the
proof of crime, the willy Bismarck who is
the Emperor of the Emperor William, de-
prives of civil and religious rights, body
of men, the lowest of whom is his superior
in all things that 60 to constitute good
citizsn. These men are condemned merely
on account of their religious character .
and Germany's Parliament says they shall
have no German rights as citizens,-they
shall have no christian rights az Catholics;-
they shall have NO Catholic rights as
Jesuits.
Before the triumph of the Empire they
had rights.-tbe right to follow the Ger
man armies into battle,-the right to ex-
pose themselves ito daugers,-the right to
minister in infectious'Lospitals,-t right |
to care for the wounded aud to tend the |
dying but, after the triumph they have
but the right Of banishment.
This is an act of treason against the
political principles of the nations. The
act is committed, tho Jesuits are out
lawed ;-~and what say the nationsq
If there be one to protest,-let us hear
10.
There is none. The nations look upon
'he outrage and their silence gives con-
sent to it.
If the nations are silent,-will not men
speak out against the crime. If they do
ct US hear them.
Men speak to the world through the
Press.
The Press, they say, is the guardian of