The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-04
A ca.houe Thinker on Social Problems.


and the men Of the Revolutionary era.
M.w.H
A Catholic Thinker ON Social Problems.
Mr. ST. GEORGE MIvART discusses in the
current number OF the NmeteeIM Century the
revolutionary spirit now 30 active. and ex-
amines some Of the claims urged In the name
Of social reform. On more than one ground his
conclusions deserve particular attention. The
writer has secured place Of honor among con-
temporary men Of science, yet he has at all
times opposed the materialistic philosophy and
proclaimed his adherence TO the Roman Catho-
lie faith. Tho views OF such man not only
exhibit the results OF study and insight but
they may be thought to mark a strong current
Of opinion in great religious community.
Although Mr.. Mivart has distinguished him
self in more than one field Of inductive reason
ing. he has no patience with the application Of
empirical theories to human society lie does
not pretend that VIC can draw from abstract
considerations hard and fast lines 10 anticipate
and regulate mans actions. and he does not
overlook what iollies aud crimes have been
committed in seeking 10 realize Utoplan no.
tons without regard to circumstances Of time
and place. But that is no reason. he anlrms. for
erecting empiricism itself into a political ideal.
We should. at least try 10 DO rational. and not
regard our compulsory acqucscence in the
continued existence Of mischief and imperfec-
ton as II IL were thing to be proud or In
decd. he finds the index and voucher Of an adj
vanced civilization in the transformation Of
primitive. unconscious evolution into u self
conscious. earnest. and deliberate development
Even Rousseau's theory OF the social contract.
for example considered as "a body Of principles
disclosing the true aim ami goal OF social leg
islation. is pronounced OF high utility by this
Catholic writer. although its falsity as an his
torical fact has been conclusively established.
Viewed ideal for the future. TO be- held
steadily before the statesman and reiormer. no
osteems 1t a pregnant truth. Neither can he see
anything ridiculous in the so-called inherent
rights OF man proclaimed 10y Anacharsis Ciootz
who, 1t viii he remembered. claimed 10 hold a
seat in the French Convention as the repre-
sentative Of the human race. OF course. u
student like st. George Mivart knows well
enough what little bHss can bo found for such
alleged rights in embryonic social conditions.
but he will not impuHn their essential sacred
moss on that account. or dispute tho wisdom of
their recognition as groundwork OF politi-
cal freedom. And he points out that although
tue doctrine Of the social contract Is denounced
as an historical absurdity by those scientists
who trace the origin OF human society TO the
gradually more persistent herding OF anthro-
poid apes. not the lass has il become the charter
and bible OF progressive and liberal common
wealths. Whatever may have been the physi-
cal origin Of man. his nature is at present capa-
| bic Of approaching the beauty aud value OF po-
| litical Ideals. and Of steadily approaching to
their exhibition in TACT.
What is still more surprising than the en-
dorsement OF Rousseau is Mr.. Mivart's affirm
| ance that the much decried expressions which
condense the programme of French radicals
| liberty. equality. fraternity-represent princi-
| piles to DO accepted aud furhered by every law
maker. What he has 10 say about equality,
| whose recognition as an end OF practical leGis-
| lation has been So often resisted in good faith.
| will be- found especially striking. He dserimi-
mates between tho desire begotten of envy, and
| tending TO n process Of summary dwelling the
! desire to be- equal to your superiors and SUI
peror to your equals. and. on the other hand
the wish to diruse widely as possible not
only material welfare but the intellectual
aesthetic. and moral benefits sometimes monop-
olized by Glasses in a community He holds
equality in the latter benevolent sense to DO not
only admirable. but Indispensable as AN ideal
| toward whose fulllment our efforts should he
directed. OF course the assertion. even
thus qualified. Is likely TO provoke opposition in
many quarters Too much weight however, in
| his judgment. has been given to the patent
facts OF congenital inequality, and he thinks
| the inference drawn from them can be- reduced
| to an absurdity. since II We should model our ao-
| tons upon these data OF herodity. tho naturally
weak and ailinR would be further enieebed
| tho hard Of hearing would DO improved into
stone deafness. and tho blind with one eye
would be totally deprived OF sight. Contrari-
wise. the whole course OF human activity-the
scope and warrant Of all philanthropc effort
| - l..s. a
the defects existing in the world or in human
nature as We find II. In the opinion of one
scientist at all events. such cons derations out
weigh all arguments based on congeni,al differ
enee. and make the ideal OF equality q most
desirable one to keep before us, as a promoter
| Of substantial improvement. and the promise
of still greater ameliOration in the future.
Those who arc familiar with the principles
| protested by the so-called Christian Socialists
OF Germany will note many points OF coin
cidence with the doctrines thus put forth by this
English Catholic 1t will be- observed also that
| Mr.. Mivart here takes an attitude toward some
| OF the ideals Of modern reform almost identical
with that assumed by Pope Leo Kill in his late
encyclical. In that document the Pontifi do
nounced the materialistic philosophy which
has sometimes been made the root and war
rant Of revolutionary claims rather than any
OF the specific social and economical deduc-
lions. Certainly st. George Mivart's acceptance
OF the social contract as an axiom would sat
isfy most refOrmers for although the earlier
followers OF Rousseau were Jacobins not So
cialists. individualists as opposed to commun-
lists. the essence OF both systems Is contained
in his famous formula. His disciples can differ.
after all. only rs to the relative expedieney and
efficiency OF different machinery.