The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-16
RESOLUTIONS
Passed by the Catholic Congress
at Chicago.
A Declaration Of the Convictions Of
the American Catholics
Respecting Their Relations to the Church
and the Institutions of tho Great Repub-
Mc-They VIII BE Read by All Irre-
speotivc OF Religious Belief

hespecting Tneir Rotations to the Cnufcn |
and the Institutions of tho Great Repub-
lic-They VIII he Read BY All Irre. |
speotivc OF Religious Belief |
CHICAGO, Sept. 11.-Saturday was the
final and most important day in the
Catholic congress. The result of
the weeks deliberations vas to
be embodied in platform
covering all the important SUBJ
jects considered. Intense interest
was manifested in the report of the
committee and what action the con-
gress would take on the report
Scarcely had the congress been fully
brought to order when the matter came
to focus
THE RESOLUTIONS
Judge Thomas A. Moran, of Chicago,
chairman of the committee on resolu-
tions, read the following as the report
of the committee:
The Columbian Catholic congress OF the
United States, assembled in Chicago in the
year Of grace ono thousand eight hundred and
ninety.t three, with feelings of profound graft
tude to Almighty God for the manifold bless
ings which have been vouchsafed to the church
in the United States and to the whole Amer
order have found their compcndious expression
in the marvellous exposition OF the Worlds fair,
held to celebrate the four hundredth anniver-
sary Of the discovery Of this continent by tho
great Catholic navigator, Christopher Colum-
bus, conforming to the custom OF such occa
sions, adopt the following resolutions:
First-We affirm the resolutions Of the
Catholic congress held in Baltimore November
IL and IL, Ammo Domino, one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-nine.
Sc Second-We declare our devoted loyalty and
unulterable attachment TO our holy father,
Pope Leo XIII, and we thank him for sending
us special representative, and we enthusiastic
cally hail his apos tolic delegate as the hostage
OF his love for America and pledge Of his
paternal solicitude for our country and its in.
stitutions. 1t is the sense Of this congress that
the vicar Of Christ must enjoy absolute inde.
pendence and autonomy In the exercise Of that
sublime mission to which, in the providence Of
God, he has been called as the head Of the
church for the welfare of religion and human
ity.
Third-We congratnlat te our hierarchy on the
wondrous growth and development OF the
church throughout the United States--the re-
suits, under God of the united wisdom and un-
selfish devotion OF those true shepherds Of the
Christian flock, and we pledge to our bishops
and priests our unfaltering devotion and fdel-
ity
Fourth--While the signs OF the times are
hopeful and encouraging, and material pros
perity is more widely dirused than in
any previous age, we should be willfully
blind did we fail to recognize the existence
OF dangers to the church and to society re-
quirins most earnest consideration. Ameng
the most obvious of these dangers is
the growing discomfort among those who
| earn their living by manual labor. spirit OF
| antagonism has been steadily growing between
| the employees and employed that has led In
| many instances to deplorable results. The
remedies suggested vary from the extreme OF
anarchial revolution to different types of state
| socialism. These remedies, by whatever names
| they are called with whatever zeal and sin
cerity they are urged, must fail wherever they
clash with the principles of truth and Justice.
We accept As the sense of this congress and
| urge upon the consideration of all men, what
| ever be their religious views or worldly oecupa-
| tions, the encyclcal of holy father, Leo
| XIII,on the condition oflabor, dated May IL, AID
1871 In the spirit OF his luminous exposition
OF this subject, we declare that no remedies
can meet with our approval save those which
recognize the right of private ownership of
| property and human liberty. Capital can not
| do without labor, labor without capital
| Through the recognition of this interdepend
| ence and under the Christian law OF love and by
| mutual forbearance and argument must come
| the relief for which all good men should earn
| estly strive.
Fifth-We strongly indorse the principle Of
conciliation and arbitration as an appropriate
remedy for the settlement OF disagreements
between employer and employed to the end
| that strikes and locll-outs may be avoided; and
| we recommend the appointment by this con-
| gress OF q committee to consider and devise
| some suitable method Of carrying into opera
| tion q system OF arbitration.
Sixth-We suggest to our clergy and lnity as
o means of applying the true principles Of q
Christian morality to the social problems that
| have now attained such importance tho forma-
tion Of societies or the use Of already existing
Latte ~ thDltp
| sound literature and the education of their
minds on economic subjects thus counteracting
| the perntcious effects Of erroneous teachings;
| and we especially recommend the letters of our
holy father, particularly those on political
| power, human liberty nnd the Christian consti.
tuition OF the state. The condition of great num-
| bers OF our Catholic working girls and women
in large towns and cities Is such as to ex.
pose them to serious dangers and
temptations, and VIC urge as meritOri-
GUS work OF charity. as well as Of justice,
tho formation OF Catholic societies for their as
slstance, encouragement and protection We
| advocate also the continued extension of Catho-
lic life insurance, beneficial and fraternal socie.
| ties The work that such associations have al
ready accomplished warrants the belief that
| they are founded upon true principle
Seventh-One of the great causes OF misery
and immortality is the indiscriminate msssing
| OF people In cities and their consequent crowd
Ing into tenement houses, where the children
| are from infancy exposed to every bad example
and corrupttng influence. This evil has drawn
the attention Of legislators In foreign countries
Wo believe 1t Is q wise charity TO help the poor
TO help themselves and therefore advise the
adoption OF appropriate measures TO encourage
and assist families TO settle In agricultural dis.
| tricts
Eighth-In d,scharging the great duty OF
Christian charity the Catholic laity can and
should do much by personal service 20 supple
ment the admirable work Of the religious orders
devoted to charity: and We urge them to Join or
otherwise encourage the conferences of st Vim.
cont De Paul and kindred organizations for tho
rendering OF systematic aid to the needy. And
| wo would recall to the minds OF all people the
ttrne'honored Catholic practice OF setting apart
rom their incomes proportionate sum for
| charity.
Ninth-An obvious evil to which may be
traced . very large proportion OF the sorrows
that affict the people Is the vice OF intemper.
snce. While we believe that the individual
should be guided in this matter by the dictares
Of . right conscience, We can not too strongly
commend every legitimate effort TO impress
upon our fcllowneh the dangers arising not only
from the abuse but too often from the use of In
toxicattng drink. To this end we approve and
most heartily commend the temperance and to.
| tai abstinence societies already formed In many
parishes, and we advise their multiplication
and extentioR. We favor the enactment OF ap.
| prcpriats Legislation 10 restrict andreyulate the
sale ofintoxicsting liquors and emphasizing the