The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-22
CATHOLfc CONSTIPATION.


An average protestant regards the Cath
Ole church as a religious system but lit
tie removed from paganism. The average
citizen deems II an institution in the ma
ture of an exotic, foreign as 10 Its origin,
allegiance, and sympathies. In his opin-
ion the country would be the bet
ter for its absence, and he tolerates IT as
an Objectionable, but unavoidable incum-
brance. They would be surprised. and
doubtless, too. not little indignant, If
told that 1t Is now, and possibly In the
near future Is likely to prove even more
than now. buwark of wholesome and
strengthening conservatism.
There is, probably. in this country. no
more potent Offset 10 the disintegrating
tendencies Of universal suffrage than the
solid, well-diffused. immovabe weight of
the Roman Catholic church. The vox
populi is fantastic. tickle. amenable to
any and every shift of sentiment, gust of
passion. and panic of treDidation.
The church never changes, is affected
by no sentiment. stirred by no passion.
startled by no terror OF the clouds
that lower about the close %
this century. the darkest is that evolved
OF the antagonsm between capital and
labor. wealth and poverty, the thin ranks
of plutocracy and the swarming leglons
of Indulgence. On one side are marshalled
the representatives Of afnassed wealth.
thrifty owners OF property, and men not
rich. indeed. but in the enjoyment Of sub
stantial competence Allied with these be-
cause Of identity Of interests, are their
salaried dependents and employees.
On the other side are arrayed the pro-
letariat. the laborer, the wage Garner,
and a miscellaneous crowd with no dis
tinctive trade or specific employment,
that lives hap-hazard, somehow. anyhow.
In the latter OF the aforesaid grand divi-
sions sundry religious creeds are repre-
sented.
A small but demoralized and dangerous
contingent disavows any form Of faith
or religious belief. and is, for the most
part. affiliated with anarchists, socialists
and similar fanatics. Then. after distribrt-
ing large number among the variously
divided and subdivided protestant denomi-
nations. we have residuum as large.
possibly larger in communion with the
Church OF Rome
This epoch and this country seem to be,
emphaticaly, the day and the arena for
the agtator and the demagogue. Bust
ness is dull, money is tight values ere
survey the field in whatever direction we
will. the outlook is discouraglng. At
such a juncture as this, they and dem
agogues see their opportunity under the
chafe and strain of curtailed employ
ment. decreased wages. and incidental
prvation, the temper Of the laboring
wage-earning masses is almost unavoila-
bly, soured, and in so far more amenable
TO the wiles and suggestions Of mischiev-
Gus, INSCRIPTIONS emissaries who strive 10
array labor against capital, poverty
against wealth. idieness against industry,
any and all conditions against aught hap
pier worther. more fortunate. Sporadic
flames due TO such kindling have burst
forth at different times and places dur
ing the past twenty years, and though
such outbursts were temporarily extin-
guished, sparks are still smoldering. and
at any favorable tuncture can again be
readily lighted. As intimated hitherto. a
large, very large proportion Of the
material upon which incendiary agitators
are wont to work. is In communion with
the Catholic church. Now 70 be humble
Catholic, his church Is indeed a nursing
mother, fostering, guiding, guarding, but
she governs also. To the sinful and err
ing, she can be, and is. gentle and for
tumacious she can, upon occasion. speak
in tones not to be lightly disregarded.
The class asitator and partisan fire.
brand may tell poor Catholic that he
is the tool and victim of the rich. that
property is robbery, that the poor are
the most numerous and consequently the
strongest and that being SUCH they should
rise in their might and wrest from itch
men their money and goods. Profession
al agitators teach such doctrines earnest
ly and diligently, but fortunately for the
peace and quiet of society, their auditor
has 10 listen 10 another Speaker. mis-
church. The church does not confine her-
self TO telling such an one that violence
and rapine are sinful, and that he ought
not 10 resort to such measures for right
Ing his wrongs No. she forbids it. forDids
it sternly, uncompromsngly, by virtue
Of authority she claims is derived from
the great God Of Heaven and earth, the
creator and ruler of this and all worlds.
Such voice, speaking In such tone.
is what is needed at such juncture.
Sad and sore because Of privation and
hardships. and too ignorant TO penetrate
sophistry and fallacies, the poor son or
the church is just in the mood to g'Ve
himself a blind instrument to the hand
OF his tempter, out ioituh",e.S' -, -
hears the mandate OF the chnrch. now
ever hot his passion. and desperate his
ts,nner no cannot shake off the dread
Of his church's frown. inculcated IT his
mother's knee 1t would be sweet in The
frame of mind to which he has been
wrought. to vent his blind passion upon
.rvhoav. everybody more fortunate than
h,nose,f. But he knows that day must
come. when the sands OF life nearly run
out he must stand face to face with
death. on the brink of eternity. Better
The worst. that want, sickness. the inhu-
manity Of man or the malice OF fortune
can infict. than to reach that dread DAY
and hour under the ban Of the church.
This reflection settles the trembling Ial-
ance. He has heard both agifator and
church. but he heeds the church, and so
= rescued from violence. crime, perhaps |
Inc halter. II Is hard to overcsumate |