The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-09-12
A CONTRAST MADE BY CARDINAL
GIBBONS IN A SERMON
YESTERDAY.
DEPRECATES LARGE STANDING
ARMIES OF EUROPE.
They Are Drain on the Resources
Americans are By DESERVING the
Farms for the Cities-Word
Picture of Leo XIII.

Baltimore, Sept. S.-Cardinal Gibbons
delivered sermon this morning upon
the result of his observations during his
recent trip to Europe.
1.-The first subject which naturally re-
ours to me-" said the cardinal, regards
my several visits to the pope. Represent
to yourself man in his Seth year, pale
and emaciated, with the pallor almost of
death upon him, and this pallor is in
tensitied by the white cossack and
seuchette which he habitually wears.
His body is also more bent than it was
eight or ten years ago, but his eye is
bright and penetrating; his voice is strong
and sonorous: his intellect is remarkably
clear and luminous; his memory is good,
which enables him to recall even things
accurately which occurred eight years
ago. He has also an astonishing power
of physical endurance, which enables
him to hold audiences with cardinals and
other representatives as well with pri-
vate individuals, and passing with ease
and elasticity of mind from one subject
to another. He is remarkably familiar
with the pubhc events of the day. The
holy father naturally rejoices at the re-
ligious progress of the United States and
takes deep interest in our political and
social institutions and admires our re-
public, as we have authority without des-
potism and liberty without license, our
strength lying in the intelligence and
patriotism of our people. For 10 years
the pope has lived under the walls of the
vatican. He at times retires to the gar
den sand resides in the summer house."
The cardinal here drew a brief COM
m YstC bod
and that of the United States, with re-
gard to the presence of religion in all
branches of our government and the alb
sence in that of France
But" he added, 81 am happy to say
that the spirit of religion is still deeply
rooted in the great mass of the French
people,"
Contrasting the religious liberty which
prevails in the United States with the
lack of it in certain European countries,
the speaker cited instances of civil es-
pionage over religious institutions, and
added:
"Thank God, we enjoy in this country
the amplest liberty of worship and free
dom of conscience. We have fair
field and no favors."
Relative to the government of the PEG.
pie, he continued: I'm continental
Europe the taxes are enormously heavy
and are most minute and searching in
their application. The reason for this
is obvious. The European powers have
immense standing armies which are a
drain on the material. moral and indus
trial resources. We have no large army
unless we consider as such our grand
army of pensioners, whose claims fol
their patriotic service will expire some
time in the next century,. We have NJ
formidable or threatening neighbors a.
our door. The day that q monarchy
would be established in close proximity
to us on American soil would be the
beginning of our troubles"
The speaker admonished his hearers
not to imagine from his remarks that the
people in Europe were poor, unhappy ant
discontinued. On the contrary, he fount
the people comfortably clad and con
tented in spite of the heavy burden Of
taxation. One cause for this, in thu
cardinals opinion, is the fact that the
agricultural districts have not been aban
doned for the cities.
"The people of the agricultural dis
',tricts," he exclaimed, ARE not infected
with the fever that burns in the hearts OF
our farmers. of hurrying from the cOun
try to the city and fastening to get rich
This is serious misfortune with us
Our farmers are abandoning the lands
for the towns.
"In making these comparisons between
our European brothers and ourselves,
said the cardinal. in conclusion, 'it can
not be denied that we have yet some
lessons to be learned from our brothers
in Europe, errors to be corrected, and
that there are some vulnerable spots in
cur political and social armor, but after
making these admissions we have reason
to be proud of our nations past and hope
for it's future. May our glorious repub'
lie continue for ages yet to come, RESTING
under Gods providence in the intelli,
gence of n patriotic and devoted people,