The Labor enquirer., 1888-04-14
ANTI-CHRIST.
Preston Tries TO Prove Jesus
cne Of the Dangerous
Classes.
CHRIST WAS A RADICAL,
The Church Says Whatever Is Is Right
and VIII Eternslly Damn You
II You Say Nay.

For the Enquirer.
An interesting article appears
in the April Foyxm, by Monsigol
Preston. on Socialism and the
Catholic Church" 1t is interest
ing because of the remarkable
conservatism, narrowness and
bigotry bristling forth on every
page and of the revelation of the
dense and impenetrable gloom
and ignorance in which one Of
high position is enshrouded. Be
tween his intellect and consistency,
logic and truth, hangs a dense
cloud of awful thickness. =
He says that socialism contra
venes morals and violates the laws
OF God because its main principle
-"the abolition Of private prop
erty-is contrary to the constitu-
tion of civilized nations" and to
the teachings of the Catholic
church. He acknowledges that
the present titles to land are only
good because society submits to
what past generations have chosen
to throw upon it, but he assumes
the infallibility of our forefathers
and says to deprive one class of
privileges granted which may in
effect make one class the slave of
another, would be robbery.
There is no standard of morals.
Every age and race fix a code for
themselves. What is right in one
decade may be radically wrong in
the next and what is followed as
truth by one class is abused as
the teachings of the devil by an
other. We cantherefore only aim
to consider the interests and hap
piness of all and embody into law
that which will best minister to
this object.
Among the savages of the low
est order the ideas of justice are
exceedingly crude; but as the
scale of humanity rises and grad
ually develops into what is known
as civilization, we see higher ideals
of right and justice. Every gen.
Grafton reaches a higher plane
than the former. The errors of
philosophers of moral and physical
science, of even a half century
ago, are plain to the ordinary
twelve-year-old boy. Their theo-
ries, and suggestions are none but
objects of ridicule, when in the
light of art, science and learning
of to-day their shallowness is re-
vealed. Yet, Notwithstanding the
growth and development of mind,
Preston in effect says: THE pres
ent, Notwithstanding the teachings
of experience, cannot lift from its
shoulders burdensome and obnox-
ious laws without violating Gods
laws. Whatever is, is right. With
such an interpreter of divine law
as this T. S. Preston, no wonder
the most advanced philosophers
of the revolution make their war
cry: mo God and no Master"
The Creator of the universe explic-
itly states that "the earth have l
given to the children of men," In
the absence of specifications it is
to be supposed that this was to be
divided equally limited only by
the. responsibilities in life, such as
perhaps resulting from the num-
Der of those dependent on one.
The language is unmistakably
clear. For one class or a few to
now claim that they have the only
natural right to the earth is mon
strous, heathenish, irreligious,
blasphemous.
The basic principles of socialism
propose nothing that is not taught
by Christ in the New Testament
M. Preston denounces communism
as anti-religious. Yet Christ
taught that same doctrine in a
more radical form than nineteenth
century philosophers have YET
enunciated it. Those who are SC
desirous of following Christ tina,
they will go under the water be-
cause he went into the water. ant
A.. ::... b;~