The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-01-12
CARDINAL GIBBONS
On1evilsl Of Was and the Menace of
Big Armies.

Big Armies. -
Cardinal Gibbons preached sermon
last Sunday (the feast Of the .Epiph-
any on the subject Of peace and
war. In the enormous armies of Eu-
rope he saw a standing menace to the
peace of the world, as we'll as a men,
ace to its morality. Imperialism he
considered grave evil, and he hoped
the American nation would never al
low it to gain foothold in the United
States. Sounding his message for the
new century he hoped to see adher-
ence to the teachings of the Prince of
Peace put an end to all war.
In the course Of his discourse Car
dinal Gibbons said:
Before the advent Of Christ war
was the rule, peace the exception
throughout the world. But, although
wars are less frequent and less in.
human in the Christian dispensation
than in Pagan times, it must be con-
fessed that we are as yet far removed
from the millennium Of universal
peace.
"And at this moment, after an enor-
nous expenditure Of men and money,
England is endeavoring to bring to a
successful close her war with the
South African republics. It is stated
that this campaign will cost England
$GOO,OOO,0OO.
"And how does our own country
stand on the subject of war? AL
though the corner stone of the consti-
tuition is peace with all nations and
entangling alliances with none, we
have had on our hands four wars in
the century just brought to a close.
We have recently closed the war with
Spain, which resulted in the loss to
her. and in the acquisition by us, Of
all her foreign possessions.
"When we read Of great military
campaign our imagination revels in the
contemplation of the heroic achieve
ments of famous generals. We listen
with rapture to the clash of arms, the
shouts Of the victors and the sound
of martial music. We seem to catch
the spirit of enthusiasm by which the
combatants We're animated.
"But we take no note of the shrieks
and agonies of the soldiers weltering
in their blood on the battle field. We
have no thought of the sick and
wounded lying in hospitals and pris-
ons. We are unmindful of sorrowing
wives and mothers at home weeping
and signing for the loved ones far
away. We do not picture to ourselves
the homes made desolate, the 'Rachels
bewailing their children and would
not be comforted because they are
not
SIS it not mockery of justice and
scandal to the Pagan world to see
two Christian nations cutting each
others Threats in the name of Chris
tan civilization? Is it not an outrage
to contemplate one nation forcing by
the sword her laws, her government
and political institutions on another
nation in the interests of trade and
commerce, as if merchandise and dol
lars and cents were Of more value than
human lives?
SIS it not monstrous to see strong
power invading weak one and seiz-
ing her territories on the hypocritical
plea of rectifying her boundaries? This
rectification Of boundaries is very
old practice, and is polite name for
robbery on large scale.
'The old Roman empire 1000 wears
ago was constantly engaged in recti.
flying its boundaries. 1t did not stop
till it had annexed all Of Europe and
a good slice Of Asia and Africa. But
the day Of retribution came at last
The warlike tribes Of the north swoop.
ed down like avenging eagles on that
decaying and corrupt body-the Ro.
man enpire-and rectified her bound.
aries over again. The empire was dis.