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


wants and requirements of life. For
the Socialists wrongly assume the
right of property to be Of mere hui
man invention, repugnant to the ma
tural equality between men, and,
preaching up the community of
goods, declare that no one should en-
dure poverty meekly, and that all
may with impunity seize upon the
possessions and usurp the rights of
the wealthy. More wisely and profit
ably the Church recognizes the exist
ence Of inequality amongst men,
who are by nature unlike in mental
cndowments and strength Of body,
and even in amount of fortune; and
she enjoins that the right of prop
erty and of it's disposal, derived from
nature, should in the case Of every
individual remain intact and invio-
late.
CHURCH THE SAVIOR.
"She knows full we'll indeed that
robbery and rapine have been so
forbidden by God, the Author and
Protector of every right, that it is I'M
lawful to covet the goods of others,
and that thieves and robbers no less
than adulterers and idolaters are ex-
cluded from the kingdom Of heaven.
Nor does she, on this account, loving
mother as she is, omit solicitude for
the poor or fail to provide for their
need, nay taking them to her arms
with maternal affection, and knowing
that they in manner represent the
person of Christ Himself, who ac
counts as done unto Him any benefit
conferred upon the lowliest among
the poor, she holds them in great ac-
count, brings them aid to the utmost
of her power, takes thought to have
erected in every land in their behoof
homes and refugees where they can
I be received, nurtured, and tended; and
takes these charitable foundations I'M
der her protecting care.
Moreover she lays the rich under
strict command to give of their
superfuity to the poor, impressing
them with the fear of the divine judg-
ment which will exact the penalty of
eternal punishment unless they succor
the wants of the needy"
THE CHURCH PREPAYMENT.
Toward the close of the encyclical
Leo gave this admonition: "NIore-
over, it behoves you to strive earnestly
that the children of the Catholic
Church venture not to lend their
; name, nor in any way give counten-
ance to this hateful sect, but on the
. contrary that by worthy deeds and
| honorable line of action in all particu-
, lars, they show how well and happily
human society would prosper were
the individual members distinguished
!, for the regularity Of their conduct and
> for their virtuous life. Finally, as
f the confederates Of Socialism are
/ sought mainly among those who oc.
l cupy themselves in business pursuits
/ or give themselves to manual labor
l and who, wearied out by sheer hard
: work, are more easily entrapped by
V the hope of wealth and promise OF
v prosperity it seems expedient to en-
V courage associations for handicrafts
j. men and laboring men, which placed
!, under the sheltering care Of religion
4 may render the members content witt
f their lot and resigned to toll, inducing
f them to lead peaceful and Tranquil
:, life"
$ In later encyclical, that of May
+ Is, 1891, on, '"The Condition of the
n Working classes" the venerable Pom
d tiff referring to the "hard-heartedness
l. of employers and the greed Of un
l. checked competition" said: "Tt
l. remedy these wrongs the Socialists
:. working on the poor mans envy Of
n the rich, are striving to do away will
= private property, and contend that in
e dividual possessions should become
e the common property of all, to bt
f administered by the state or munich
e pal bodies. They hold that by thus
l. transferring property from private in
|, dividuals to the community, the pres
It ent miscellaneous state of things will b.
S set to rights, inasmuch as each citi
# zen will then get his fair share O.
whatever there is to enjoy. But thei
contentious are so clearly powerles
d to end the controversy that were the!
II carried into effect the working maj
Il himself would be among the first t.
It suffer. They are moreover emphati
It cally unjust. because they would ro1
l. the lawful possessor, bring Stat'
d action into a sphere not within it,
f competence, and create utter confu
l. sion in the community.
c THE QUESTION OF PROPERTY.
n ut is surely undeniable that, wher
II man engages in remunerative labor
the impelling reason and motive Of hi
e work is to obtain property, and there
s after to hold it as his very own. II
C. one man hires out to another his
: strength or skill, he does so for the
i purpose of receiving in return what II
s necessary for his sustenance and edu
l>4> u