The Irish standard., 1901-09-28

duly protected. Hence, in this country
Of ours, where skill and industry, abil-
ity and energy, perseverance and thrift
may be so richly and certainly reward
ed, it is of the highest Importance that
the supreme authority of the govern
ment, whose duty it is to protect the
weak as well as the strong, shall be
held in respect and reverence by all
the people.
If the Industrious and strong need
the sure protection of government, the
weak and the dependent need it still
more. There is no class of people who
stand so much in need of the safe
protection that authority can give
them, as precisely those who murmur
at the restraints that authority finds it
needful to impose. The law breaker is
the first to cry out for the protection
Of the law. The most severe punish
ment. that could be inflicted upon the
anarchist, would be to consign him to
the tender mercies of his fellow alar,
chtsts, and withdraw from him the
protection of the law, and the govern,
ment that he, misguided man, foolishly
fancies is his enemy.
1t is presciely at times of national
sorrow such as the present, that people
can learn with profit the imperative
necessity of upholding and defending
the dignity and the majesty of the
government. The more generous and
free that government may be, the
more strongly it appeals to our affec-
tionate reverence.
1t would seem as If divine proyi,
dence, that guards the welfare of men
and nations, permits such shocking
calamities to befall us in order to
arouse us from dangerous torpor, and
to remind us of the pressing duty of
guarding we'll the priceless treasure
of liberty, under legitimate authority,
that we enjoy. We must not forget
that man is chastened by adversely
and that unalloyed happiness and
prosperity are dangerous advantages.
In the glad sunshine of prosperity man
may forget his dependence on God, his
own helplessness, and his need of the
protecting power of Him who notes
the sparrow's fall. Liberty-priccless
boon that it is-may beget irreverence
and contempt for authority unless
those who enjoy its blessings are ever
mindful of the source of authority,
and cherish an intelligent regard for
the rights of God, and the rights OF
their fellow men. Misguided men will
imagine that liberty means for them
the opportunity Of gratifying every
whim, license to ignore the rights of
God, the rights of man, and the claims
Of God, their Lord and Master, upon
their loyal allegiance.
AS people, we have been accused
of irreyerence, and Of want of respect
for authority. 1t behooves us to coll
slider well the charge and to correct
our national failing. Respect for au
thority should be inculcated every,
where among the young, and their
elders should give them the attractive
example Of reverence for authority
and law. Wide spread complaint Is
made, so widespread is it that we are
forced to believe the complaint is we'll
founded, that in our courts OF justice
the sunctity Of the oath is no longer
respected as it should be, or us it was
in the days of, our fathers. This de-
plorable fact gives evidence of grow
ing contempt for the majesty of the
law, for the inviolable majesty Of God,
who is appealed to with unblushing
audaclty to witness q lie.
The shocking crime, at which hu-
manity shudders today, emphasizes
for us, the logical result that ensues
when the weak and the unthinking
become persuaded that all government
and all authority are the irreconcll-
able enemies Of man. The President
ls reported to have said after receiv-
ing his death wound, Poor fellow, he
could not have known what he did"
Surely, no one but most deluded
wretch, or an irresponsible naniac
could hope to cure any Of the Ills
from, which the unfortunate suffer, by
numbering the chief executive Of the
most free and tho most just govern
ment on earth. The violent taking
away of the chief representative OF
authority, can only increase the loyalty
Of the friends Of authority and inspire
horror Of anarchy and lawlessness.
Those who rave at the possible mis-
takes Of these in power and who MUIR
muir over the misfortunes Of the
wretched, would only bring about an
intolerable condition of things, If their
rawlings could WELD amy lasting intlu,
ence in human society. Healthful
principles are needed to strengthen the
convictions and inspire the courage
of the liberty-loving and law-abidins
members of the social order.
These principles should he instilled
into the minds and hearts Of all classes
of the people. All should be impressed
with the conviction that the highest
patriotism demands, not necessarily
the shouldering of muskets in defense
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