The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-06
A Boiling Pot.

guilty Of the Canadian people. This con-
trast, says the Times, is most striking to q
tourist, and not more striking than agreeable
on the Canadian side. We give the follow
ing extract:
We deal only with facts. Tho tourist who
comes from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New YORK, or
New England, into lower Canada, passes from
restlessness into peace Not few Of the citizens
Of the United States sensible OF these truths,
though they are. not unnsturally, slow to con-
fess them. They come up to Montrea! ana go
down the st. Lawrence, and their jaded spirits
recover the tone lost in the jarrinG and Glaring
life of their own cities. The
American tourist, like the stranger from Eng
land, steps into Canada, and passes at once into
another world.
The Times does not undertake to snalyse
this state Of things, but admits that it will
be set down to the discredit Of the United
States. There is an intimation that 1t will
have something to do with the race and re-
ligion of the populations, for In speaking of
Canada it refers to the French Canadians
and afterwards includes with them in the
same category of peace and tranquility GER
tain French and Spanish settlements in
Louisiana and Florida.
There is doubtless q good deal in this
suggestion. The simple French and Spanish
populations referred to have retained their
religion. Even though many individuals
among them may not be very pious or
practical Catholics, they are influenced in
their philosophy of life by the prevailing
religious doctrines of their surroundings.
The people are taught that contentment is
the great boon of this life; that enough of
It's goods is better than superfuity, and
that wild, restless, eager, sleepless chase
after wealth is not only a sin but gross
stupidity. This being their settled convio-
ton the habits of the whole population be-
come attoned to it, and they take the
world easy"
There is, however, political aspect to
the case, and, though the 1Spses was dis
creetly silent on that point, it evidently in
tended that loyal deductions should be
drawn. In Canada there Is the calm of re-
| pose, with US there is perpetual change.
Nothing here is permanent. Even in gov
eminent, in those departments where all
other countries pride themselves on stability
and certainty, with us there is constant
agitation and succession. France is said to
be q revolutionary country, but even in
their worst experience, the French people
maintain the stability of those institutions
Their financial credit is always looked to
even when the sans culottes and Red Re-
publicans have charge. In the same way
their judiciary system is held sacred and
every function not essentially political is
discharged by men thoroughly competent,
chosen and retained by reason solely Of
their competence. In England, it is we'll
known that public service is a profession
from which no one will be dropped during
good behavior.
Now, in this boiling cauldron Of official
life in the United States, what is our expe.
rienceR The whole MACS is in perpetual
movement like the waters of volcanic lake
bubbling above sulphurous fres. There il
no stability, no repose, no permanence il
any department whatever Of government
On political questions it is natural tina
popular sentiment should change. VIVA. i
policy now may not be good policy to NOR
row, or may not appear such. AS porula
opinion changes on these topics, it ia ais
but natural and right that governmsn
should change, where it is understood tina
> the people govern themselves. Therefore
in ali political, that is, legislative, offices
change is to be expected and desired.
y But the same reasoning does not apply t
y Judicial and Executive offices. The highet
. Executive official with us is, it is true, ais
:, political in his powers. The President b
g reason of his veto power is branch of tb
q Legislative Department and is not limite
J., in his functions to the mere execution
n the laws. In shaping our foreign policy
If has also political functions; but apart fro
n him and his Cabinet, the whole ExecutiI
g Department of the country in all its ran
- ihcations through the Custom House, Il
Post Office, the War and Navy department
=. etc., is merely administrative and has I
N direct connection with the popular will.
,r takes the popular will ssit finds it express'
~ ba IF Tho nama r1ust