The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-05-27
The Conscience Of Childhood.

raging over the battle. field of words like
an Achilles of talk. Mr.. Gambetta, like Mr..
Blaine, ia opposed to the Church. He is
an enemy of Gods Church and of it's indu-
ence upon the consciepces of men. The
Church is spiritual and looks to the lie
eternal; Messrs. Gambetta and Blaine are
wordlings and their philosophy looks to
this life only. Not recognizing a future
existence, they see no use for Church ;
not believing that there is such a thing as
a divine commission to teach truth, they
naturally regard the claims Of the Church
in that direction az a frsud and an imper-
tinence.
Mr.. Gnmbetta holding these views finds
himself associated with all enemies of the
Church, from whatever quarter coming.
He is allied with and supported by FREQ
Masors and CarbonaIi, Nabobs and Com
munists, Protestants and Vcltaireans,
Philosophers and Petroleurs. Whoever Is
wicked and rebellious, whoever is conceited
and arrogant, whoever is ambitious and
interruptions. whoever is a worshiper of
the world and its power, is naturally q
meekness of the Cross, the philosophy of
Humility, has no charm for such naughty
and ecornful spirits as he. He is not will
ing to zee his countrymen dominated by
such il fuences, nor his country's destiny
fashioned after such an ideal. If Mr.. Gam
beta limited his objections to all direct
by tho Church in politics, he
would be doing wisely and for the hest in
terest OF the Church itself; but he obj ects to
tho mere presence of the Christian religion
as q guide of morale he objects to the indi-
rect influence on politics which must neces-
sarily flow from the prevalence of Christian
doctrine.
Let it be remembered that this distinc-
tion is not merely nominal ; 1T is real and
immense. Direct inter ference of the Ca
tholic Church in politics is, strictly speak
ing, an impossibility. There is no Church
for such purpose. First, there ia no Pope.
If the Pope should Individually meddle
with the politics of France or this country
It could not be in bis spiritual capacity; it
would be simply as a man. No infallibility
would guide his course. The Pope is
nfallibIe only when teaching the ,ohole
Church; never when enupciating doctrine
'r decision upon local affairs or adapted to
. particular issue only. A General Coun-
nj, with the Pope at its head, would be in
he same condition. What, then, would be
\ 30 called Interference Of tho Church
simply q personal movement by church.
men. The B shops or other dignitaries of
\ national church might attempt to inf1u-
snce the national politics, and, if the Con-
of their country made them Sena-
ors e1 o.gicio, they woald have right to
10 30 but if they aesr med the right by
virtue merely of their spiritual functions it
would be detestsble usurpation. 1t would
be usurpation as shameful in them as it
would be disgraceful to the people if sub
nitted to. But in no case could it be
possibly called an action of the Church.
The Church is not go organized as
70 be able to give any light upon actual
political questions. 1t would be merely q
clerical usurpatiou, and, We may add, one
that there is no likelihood of ever being
Still, Chrietian doctrine is universally
; Christian philosophy vita
Iizes the whole fabric of society. Tue Pope
says er Cdthedra that the doctrines of
Communism are wrong he does not say
that it is wrong to vote for Gambetta; {;
yet all good men will hesitate before
voting for any one holding such doctrines.
Why7 Not because the men are pro-
scribed along with their doctrines-for
they are not; not simply because the doc
trines of these men ale wrong in them
selves, but because those doctrines are
dangerous as we'll Hs wIoug. A Catholic
knows them TO be wrong because the
Church says so ; he then through his own
reasoning Judges the m to he dangerous to
society consequently he would not vote
for any advocate of such doctrines unless
to prevent still greater evils. Now it is
evident that in this process Of reasoning,
ending in political conviction, the first
premise was furnished by the Church. The
general condemnation of the error of
Communism was % mere spiritual truth !;
it WAS not at all political: vet the kpoRl-