The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-16

Cullcu sStdleS-lle AuclcuL Otuef Ol
Hibernians-is about to meet in con-
vention in the city of ST. Louis it may
be opportune in this special A. o. H.
convention issue of the Irish Stand
ard to impress upon the delegates,
and in fact the entire membership of
the organization, the vital Importance
of being at all times and on all occa
sions ready to combat that evil which
above all others, perhaps, is the most
menacing to Christianity in this fair
land of ours and in far off countries
beyond the seas. The evil Of Social
ism.
Not only is it continually gnawing
at the vitals of the Christians faith,
but apart from it's onslaught on the
religious life of the nation it is the
veritable enemy of every principle
which has made for the dignity of
labor; those principles which have
been the bulwarks of the uprightly
conducted labor organizations Of the
country.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians,
with it's great and growing member
ship made up to the greater extent of
manual toilers of the land, may be
mighty force in fighting this social
lstic enemy of Church and country.
To be ready to meet the enemy it is
necessary that we be properly armed.
No weapons of greater suficiency for
the attack can be found than the
teachings on the subject of some Of
the great dignitaries Of the Catholic
Church. Foremost among them is his
Holiness, the late Pope Leo XIII. In
his great encyclical of December 2Sth,
1878, he said:
A BANEFUL ALLIANCE.
'You understand as matter of
course, venerable brothers. that we
are abiding to that sect of men who,
under the motley and all but barbar-
GUS terms and titles of Socialists,
Communists, and Nihilists, are spread
abroad throughout the world and
bound intimately together in baneful
alliance. No longer look for strong
support in secret meetings held in
darksome places, but standing forth
openly in the light of day, strive to
carry out the purpose long resolved
upon, of unrooting the foundations of
civilized society at large.
''These are they in very truth who
as the sacred text bears witness, de
file the flesh, and despise dominion
and blaspheme majesty They leave
nothing scathless OF uninjured of tina
which human and divine laws alike
have wisely ordained to insure thu
preservation and honor of life. From
the heads of states to whom, as TIN
apostle admonishes, all owe submis
sion, and on whom the rights of au
thority are bestowed by God Himself
these sectaries withhold obedienc
and preach up the perfect equality o
all men in regard to rights alike an
duties. The natural union Of man an
woman. which is held sacred eve
among barbarous nations, they hol
in scorn: and it's bond whereby fam
ily life is chiefly maintained, the
slacken, or else yield up to the swa
of lust. in short, spurred Oh b
greedy hankering after things pre-:
ent, which is the root Of all evils
which some covetlng have erred frol
the faith, they attack the right {
property, sanctioned by the law G
nature, and with signal depravit!
while pretending to feel solicitor
about the needs, and anxious to salts
fy the requirements Of all, they strai
every effort to seize upon and hol
in common all that has been indivit
ually acquired by title Of lawful ii
heritancc. through intellectual or maj
ual labor, or economy in Twin!
These monstrous views they proclaim
in public meetings, uphold in bool
lets, and spread broadcast everywher
through the daily press. Hence til
hallowed dignity and authority
rulers has incurred such odium on tt
part of rebellious subjects that evi
minded traitors, spurning all contro
have many a time within rece1
neriod boldly raised impious hand
against even the very heads {
states.'
NEAR VERGE OF RUIN.
In the same encyclical the believe
Leo continuing says: "With sue
doctrines spread far and wide, an
such license in thought and action,
is no wonder that men Of the mo:
lowly condition, heartsick, of a hui
BILE home or poor workshops, shout
fix their eager eyes on the abodes
the wealthy; no wonder that tra1
guilty no longer prevails in publ
or priyate life or that the huma
race has been hurried onward to we
nigh verge of ruin"
Dwelling on the same subject tn
lamented pontiff further said: "a
regards the maintenance Of publ
and private tranquility, Catholic wis
dom, sustained by both divine an
natural law, prudently provide
4h,ourh x,,bot n holds and teache