Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-19
TRUE AND FALSE CIVILIZATION.

If the numerous benefits of which we have
Just reminded you, and which owe their orr
gin.to the ministry of the church and its salu-
tary influence, are really the results which
human civilization ought to produce and
glory in, it cannot be said that the church OF
Jesus Christ abhors civilization and repulses
its advances; for it Is to the church, on the
contrary, that entirely belongs the honor of
being its nurse, its patroness, its mother.
Furthermore, the kind of civilization which,
on the contrary, would be repugnant to the
holy doctrines and laws of the church would
be only such IN appearance, and should be
looked on as a mere name without substance.
We have a remarkable proof of this among
the populations on which the light of the
gospel has not shone. In their life species
of exterior culture may be perceived, but the
real aud solid advantages of civilization are
not to be found. 1t cannot be regarded as a
perfection of civil life to see an audaclous dis
dain of all legitimate power; neither can we
salute by the name of liberty the pursuit of
disgraceful and unhappy course leading to
the unchecked propagation of errors, the I'M
hindered satisfying of the worst passions, the
IMMUNITY with which crimes may be commit
ted, and the oppression of honest citizens of
every class. These are false, erroneous and
perverse principles; they can assuredly be of
no assistance in rendering human nature per-
feet, or in making 1t more prosperous, for
''sin maketh nations miserable" On the
contrary, it is absolutely inevitable that these
principles, after having corrupted the spirit
and mind, will, by their own natural infiu-
ences, precipitate the people into all sorts OF
misfortunes, that they will reverse all legih-
mate order, and thus, sooner or later, lead tc
the final destruction of the state and of the
public tranquility.
THE WORLDS DEBT TO THE PoNTIFFs.
IT, on the other hand, the works of the
Roman ponti6cate are contemplated, what
can be more Ubiquitous than to deny how well
| and nobly the pontiffs have deserved of all
civil societyp Our predecessors, DESTROYS of
contributing to the welfare of the people en-.
gagged in struggles of every description, sup
ported the severest trials, and never hesitated
to expose themselves to the most arduous
difficulties. With eyes fixed on heaven, they
never bowed the head before the threats OF
the wicked or debased themselves so far as to
consent to be seduced from their duty by
| promises or hattery. 1t was the apostolic
see which gathered up the remains of ancient
society, which had been destroyed, and re-
united them. The see was also the friendly
torch which Illuminated the civilization Of
christian times, the anchor of safety in the
midst of the most terrible tempest5 which
ever tossed about the human race, the holy
bond of concord which united far distant
nations of different customs, and, In fact, the
common center at which were sought
advice and promises of peace, as well as the
| doctrines of faith and instruction IN religion,
And more, it has been the glory of the Ro-
man pontiffs that they constantly and un-
ceasingly opposed themselves as a wall and
a rampant against the return of human soci-
ETY. into the degradation of superstition
and barbarism. Would that God had grant
ed that this salutary authority had never
been neglected or repudiated! The civil