The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-08
The Divine Element In Government.

RURNlNG ETAh AMI CA1nV
The Divine Element In Government.
Ono of tho saddest subjects Of contempla-
tlon for q man who would like 70 retaiu |
some respect for human sagacity, 10 the
position towards God and His Church taken
by most Governments Of the present day.
They make open war upon God, upon the
obedience due Hirn by men and upon tho
principally Of His Church, under tho in
zane impressiou that there 10 necessary
conflict between the 10y atty due To God ana
that dine to the Government.
In reality, II it were not for the influence
constantly exertsd upon men by the Nero
knowledge of Gods existence, all human
governmsnt would be an iGpossibility. IL
men did not have como idea that there 10
to be future Life, they would be uncon-
trollabics Governmsnts count upon the
obedience Of their subjects, but what is
the handspring of that obedience It's
the fear of doing wrong, and tEis fear does
not spring chisAy from the apprehension
Of human pnnishment. Force can never
take the place of conscience. You may
L
that they can scarcely violate any law, yet
into what depths Of vice and infaEny they
may be sunk &C the same time All that
IL then wanting to them for crime, 10
the opportunity. If all supernatural re-
straint were gone, if men feared nothing
bus temporal punishment, how soon Op-
portunity would offer for the preparation
OF crime with safety. In fact If all men
were willing to commit crime, the govern
ment itself would share in the general ten
dency aud would not even forbid 1t.
The sense of future,accountability is then
necessary to the preventien of crime and
even to the prohibition of it>by govern
ments. Without it society would soon sink
to the license of beasts of the field and goV>
eminent would be unknown. The strong
est would rule, and every one would do
whatever he could do with impunity.
Now the stronger mems faith in God IL
and the mt ore active and habitual their obedi-
dienoe to Him, the more facility every gov
ernment will have in enforcing its just laws
! the more powerful It will be; the more sue
cessful and the more honorable.
How strange then that they should b
, 90 blind as to be jealous Of the honor dat
: to God and rather incline to favor Infdeli
ty aud rebellion against Him! Govern
q ments will reply that they oppose onl!
/. the Catholic Church and do that becaus
;, IL arrogates to itself power over mans con
sciences, which IL not really given to it b.
,. God. But this 10 evidently o mere pretext
:, for the real tendency Of all such govern
70 ments 10 plainly In favor Of Inadelity sn'
Z. against God Himself. ..
N Not only do they oppose the Catholi
Church, but they distinctly repress tho In
dependence Of every seetarian organization
They make mere eHlgiss Of the scots whic
they patronize and deprive them Of 81
!, vitality while keeping up in them an appear
% anee of existance. They will not perMi
. any Chureh-so oalled-to claim or exer
ID else any power which 10 not entirely undo
their control.
" In other words, they have reduced Pro
10 testautism down to its active and distinct
" i've principle, which is that there 10 such
. thing 40 Christian truth bet no such thin
!. % Christian Church. They will not admi
u that God has organized in the world an!
" Visible representative Of His spiritual au
= thority. They are, then, guilty of the foil!
Of expecting mere abstract revelation o
. truth to control the convictions Of mo:
y and educate their faith.
Terrible mistake! Foolish jealousy
Their egotism pushes aside as rival tina
spiritual magistracy which alone can con
arm their own power and insure the Per
manence Of their own rule. Very we'll, lax
madmeu they rush on, and the faster the.
60, the sooner they will como to their ira
gieal end. They voluntarily tear dow
the barriers of human passion they shall
o soon see what a savage beast it IL. The.
COW the wind and soon shall reap tn
whirlWind.
The Weakness Of Professionalism.
| We havo hardly