The times., 1897-04-08
CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION.
A Patriotic Lecture by Archbishop
Keane Delivered In Rome.

Keane Delivered In Rome.
gives an account of recent lecture In
that city by Archbishop Keane. before
distinguished audience IN the Palestrina
hall The archbishop talked for over an
hour on the very attractive subject of
Christian civilization.
The chair was occupied by the Hon. and
Most Rev Monsignor Stoner, archbishop
tituIar of Trebizond. on the platform
were several archbishop and prslates,
among them being Monsignor Cesare Sam
bucetti, archbishop of Corinth; Monsig-
nor Stanley; Monsignor ID. j. o'Connell,
domestic prelate OF his holiness, late
rector of the American College; Very Rev.
Dr. w H. 0'Connell, present rector or
the same, and several others
The lecture OF Archbishop Keane was
so wide In its reach, so attractive In Inc
examples quoted, so convincing in the as
sertion of the principles underlying the
structure of real civilization that { was
great intellectual delight to hear and
grasp
In respect OF what had preceded its
composition it had certain resemblance
to the great work Of Austin Caxton, which
Bulyver Lytton describes i'll his noyelof THE
CaxtOns" Its design was 30 immense, and
toward it's execution learning SO vast and
various had administered that il appeared
as opening new vistas of thought and
imagination for its hearers to contemplate.
Beginning with that splendid example of
early civilization, presented by Greece five
centuries before the Christian era, the
lecturer drew brilliant picture of that
halcyon time, when literature, poetry and
the arts all rlomished III degree and
with a perfection such as has never been
attained in any nation before or since.
1t was with evident knowledge and with
keen sympathy with what was rnerItorious
in this civilization that Archbishop keane
dwelt on it lovingly. But he did not hesi-
tate to point out the weaknesses and the
errors which 1t had within il, and which
were dinned into the ears of the Athe-
mans by Socrates until, in their indigna-
tion and impatience OF his reproaches,
they doomed him 10 death IN Older TO 81
lence him, making him martyr 10 pa
triotism and the well-being OF his country
But it was III ms ex position OF the prin-
ciples OF Christian civilization that his adj
mirable method was displayed. Regarding
as the basis of this new message to the ma
tions. the Christian principles of love OF
GOO and love of ones neighbOT, he traced
the several attempts OF men to make these
principles the rule OF conduct and the more
numerous attempts to wrench these prin-
cipIes to personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in its
various forms and under its many pleas
In reviewing the eXeesses and hfIita-
tions committed by men. especially by
practical application OF principles differ
ent from those OF the Christian dispense
tion the archbishop was led to make
rapid review OF the prominent evils OF So
ciety flowing from the excesses or aInbi-
tions OF rulers.
Coming down to the present day, he
showed in a mastery analysis the aims
OF Leo XIII. in his eDcyclical letters, to
restore the balance OF business and right
between the governed and the governors,
between the employers and the employed,
between capital and labor
Finding striking examples of tyrann on
the one hand, OF liberty degenerating into
license on the other, in the history of the
various nations OF Europe, he came TO the
consideration of the princi pies and aims OF
the Constitution of the United States.
Then, In a burst of patriotic eIoquence,
he depicted the safeguards that the wisdom
of the ancients of the nation prepared for
for tile due and just relation hips OF the
Government and the people, one TO the 9TH
er. He, in brief but scathing terms terms,
told how when Caesarism sought 70 estab-
Iish itself there, the people rose in their
might and said to it: ''Caesarism, you go
homer And, again, when excess of liberal
ism seemed to rush into anarchy, the wis
dom Of the nation pulled it up short, and
saved the people from the results OF ex-
cess.
The great safeguards made with a view
to maintain the balance of individual right
and national freedom had made Of the
United states a nation founded on princi-
pies that come uearestto the basis of Chris
tian civilization.