The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-04-09
TRUE PRINCIPLES.
Good Citizenship as Defined by
Cardinal Gibbons in North
American Review.
PATRIOTISM AND POLITICS
Party Lines Indispensable as a
Means of Preserving Po-
Htical Purity.

litical Purity.
A late number of the North American
Review contained the following from the
pen of Cardinal Gibbons:
have no apology to make for offering
some reflections on the political outlook
of the nation; for my rights as citizen
were not abdicated OF abridged on be-
coming Christian prelate, and the sa-
cred character which X profess, far from
lessening, rather increases, my obliga-
tions to my country.
In, answer to those who affirm that a
churcbman is not qualified to discuss
politics, by reason of his sacred calling,
which removes hin from the political
arena, would say that this statement
may be true in the sense that clergy
man as such should not be heated par
@isan of any political party, but it is NOT
true in the sense that he is untitled by
his sacred profession for discussing polit-
ical principles. His very seolusion from
popular agitat1on gives him vantage
ground over those that are in the whirl-
pool Of party strife, just as they who
never witnessed Shakespeares plays per
formed on the stage are better qualified
to Judge OF the. genius of the author and
the literary merit of his productions
than they who witness the plays amid
ths environment Of stage scenery.
1t is needless to say that write not
merely az churchman, but as citizen;
not in q partisan, but patriotic, spirit;
not in advocacy of any particular party,
but in vindication Of pure government.
There is moral side to most political
questions, aud my purpose hare is to con-
slider the ethical aspects OF politics, and
the principles of Justice by which they
should be regulated. * X
EVERY MAN LEADS DOUBLE LIFE.
Every man in the Commonwealth leads
y dual llfe.a private life under the
shadow Of ths home, and public life
under the Bgis of the state. AS a,father,
s. husband, or a son, he owes certain dl-
ties to the family, as citizen, he owes
certain obligations to his country, These
civic virtues are all comprised under the
geueril name, patriotism.
GOOD CITIZENS ARE LAW ABIDING
Love Of country shows itself in the
citizen by the observance of law and the
good use of political rights, and in those
that, for the time being, govern, admins
tration. Ministers of religion manifest
their patriotism, not only as citizens, but
also as spiritual teachers and leaders Of
the people, by intoxicating the religious,
moral, and civic virtues, and by prayer
to the throne Of God for the welfare Of
the land
The Catholic Church in our country ie
not unmindful OF this duty. A prayer
composed by Archbishop Carroll to beg
Heavens blessing on the land and it's
rulers, 3 masterpiece OF iturgical litera-
ture, is recited every Sunday at the sol.
emn service in some parts of the United
States, and notably in the Cathedral at
Baltimore, in which the custom has
never ceased since it was introduced by
Baltimore's first Archbishop over one
hundred years ago.
LOVE FOR THE STAR sPANGLED BANNER.
Patriotism finds outward and, 80 to
say, material expression, in respect for
the flag that symbolizes the country, and
for the chief magistrate who represents
it. Perhaps, it is only when an Ameri-
can travels abroad that he fully realizes
how deep-rooted is his love for his ma
tive country. The sentiment of patriot
ism, which may be dormant at home, is
aroused and quickened in foreign lands.
The sight of an American flag flying
from the mast If ship in mid-ocean or
in some foreign port, awakes unwonted
emotion and enthusiasm. + = + ~ =
AMERICAN COLLEGE, ROME.
Americans are in the habit of visiting
Rome every year in large numbers. The
greater part of them on their arrival in
stinctiyely repair to the American Col
lege. Perhaps the name of the college
attracts them, perhaps, also, the consci-
BUSINESS that they will hear their mother
tongue. And when they enter it's por-
tails, where they are always sure to find
warm welcome from the genial rector.
their eyes are gladdened by the familiar
features Of the Father Of his Country =
X 3fs i x K 4
4. LOVE COUNTRY NEXT TO GOD.
Next to God, our country