Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-20

md an effective realization EXCEPT under |
the breath of the Christian spirit
MAKES MEN EQUAL. |
whereas, visible nature gives lessons
ana examples Of inequality exclusively.
revelation teaches that men. all under
the same title children OF God are EQUALS
IN the view OF their common Father.
ana under His commandments. This cs-
Sthuai equality gives, and alone may
give a basis as well as a reason for
equality OF all the members Of nation
IN the view of the power that comes
from God and In the view of the posi-
i've law. the Justice OF which resides
IN conformity with the divine precepts.
practically, civil and political equality
mas reality and solidity only I'm so far
as Is respected the divine Paternity that
IS the origin and warrant Of universal
equality. OF the dignity Of the human
personality.
On the other hand, experience shows
that every man is necessarily beholden
TO social frame and thereby engaged
in relations that necessitate subordna-
ton to a rule and TO an authority. Ex-
pcricnce teaches nothing more. IL Is the
Catholic doctrine which gives to man the
certainty that, created I'm the image and
likeness OF God, he has an intelligent and
free viii that, called upon TO exercise his
HN'lNiNN uuhtT lltNhIADlt SOiludTltltS anu
dependencies. he is free TO do or not to
do an act and is thus the responsible
author Of his acts
INSPIRATION LEADS TO LIBERTY
Catholic doctrine leads him thus logi-
cally into pursuing, like the normal de-
velopment of his dignity. the growth Of
the role OF his will. and into seeking this
growth in the only path that the condi-
tons Of life open TO HMM participation
in the functions Of power, i'm the making
Of the laws, the double necessity Of which
imposes Itself upon him. This progress is
not truly TO be realized and TO be made
fecund except in 80 far as men maintain
communication with the divine light from
which comes 10 them, with the intelli-
gence of their personal dignity, the no
tion Of the positive characteristic of
liberty.
The democratic regime increases the
obligations Of the simply faithful toward
the Church, and extends the field of their
devotion by making Of them active mem
bers OF the governmental body and by
opening TO their efforts access TO the
higher ranks of the civil hierarchy. 1t
| imposes upon them share in the duties
/ appertaining>tO the sovereigns, and Gre
ates for every one OF them personal re-
4 sponsibility in the situation of the
!
! ascendency which they know how to take
as citizens, on their collaboration in the
! common work, and on the conviction
which they know how to impress that the
! fruitfulness Of their civic cooperation
\ proceeds from their entire fidelity to the
| inspirations Of integral Catholicism.
J CATHOLICS ARE THE CHURCH.
| Where the State is obliged TO consider
! Catholic citizens il is-even when II pro-
claims itself exterior and superior TO all
| religiOus cOnsidcratiOn-Called upon TO
| consider practically the Church itself. IL
| IS thus that in fact, thanks TO the play
! Of democratic institutions, Catholicism,
! Systematically ignored in certain cases,
! or in others debarred from the distin-
guished position wherein it was held by
| The ancient regime, has taken or retaken
! a growing place in public life, In spite of
the laicising Of European initiators IN
/ modern States.
Nonsipnor ireland writes Of his last
voyage in Europe. where, he says, he has
/ seen everywhere expressions Of good viii
/ extended toward the realization OF Chris
| tan democracy. He has been in Rome
/ He knows that Leo XIII. speaks always
/ with sympathy Of the methods and of the
/ actions in government that characterize
the United states and their democratic
/ organization.
XII. TO Cardinal Gibbons about Ameri-
canism He draws from it an admirable
programme Of action in the United States
DEMAND FOR COMMON RIGHTS.
We live among a divided society, dn1
So We place ourselves reSOlutely on the
eiounG of common rights. IL is the at
l t.tudc that the Brazilian bishops have
| recommended since the fall Of Dom Pedro
and that Europeans take in countries
/ where the unity OF faith has been broken
/ That method OF action is the one thai
| eutails-in the hypothesis of multiplicity
Of confessions of faith-dstinction be
tween religious society and civil society
and the duty 20 render unto the one anc
the other the things that are due tt
them.
II is the method of action that the cir
] ctmgtances inspire and impose when
minority or matOrity-the Catholics fOrE
| only portion of a natural organism
They cannot be politically exclusive. II
the face of them and beside them othel
forces and other ideas rise. Not to sec
them or 10 act as II one did not see
them, is TO work in ignorance and in I'M
j prudence.
To consider all the realities, 10 claim II
the OCality Of citizens a government Of
Justice and Of equality for ALL which in
| sUrcs effective respect for Catholic con
/ sciences, for their convictions and fol
their obligations. and thus to safesuar(
| in fact, the rights Of the Church ant
/ of religion. 20 mingle intimately with ma
uonal life and present ourselves. in ac
! cCrCance with the commandments of oul
faith themselves, as cO-operators in th'
common wOrk-such is our plan OF con