The Irish standard., 1904-08-27

forms which recognize and forestall
the reasonable demands of the people,
and to do so not for motives of en-
pediency or fear, but for reasons Of
right and justice. Such was the case
when Europe was Catholic, when there
were but few labor troubles, although
the gigantic workingmen's guilds, bet
ter organized than are the labor unions
of to-day, extended their influence
everywhere nj protecting and uplift-
ing the workman, but at the same time
rendering anarchy impossible because
of the religious idea in which those
organizations We're conceived and by
which they were strengthened and per-
petuated. The attempt to resuscitate
them by the present Protestant en-
pire of Germany is tribute to the
wisdom of the past; the failure to do
so is an admission of the weakness of
the religious spirit in the workingman
of to-day.
Unfortunately we have but one ex-
ample at the present time of q govern
ment acting under such inspiration,
but it is sufficient as an illustration,
viz, Catholic Belgium, whose great
manufacturing interests and condensed
population seemed to afford a most
promising field for a Socialist propa-
ganda, but in which Socialism has not
been able to secure foothold because
of the Christian solicitude of the gov
eminent in providing for the needs of
the people and in supporting the UNI
dertakings of private philanthropy.
Socialism, in spite Of it's gigantic eff
forts, has found itself anticipated
there, while the safeguard of religion
among the people prevents the ex-
cesses into which great economic
changes, without such a restraint in
evitably falls, and the country has
been for over twenty years in the en-
joyment of prosperity unparalleled
in its history.
A better example Of this influence
is found in the effect which Catholicity
has had not merely on a country but
on an entire race. Centuries of mis-
rule would naturally have hurled the
entire Irish people into the hands of
the Socialists, but the Irish reverence
for parental, civil and ecclesiastical
authority ingrained in them by the
Catholic training and tradition of long
centuries has, to the amaZement of
the revolutionists, kept them as body
solid as wall of brass on the side
of order. There is no more faithful
father of family and no more self
sacrificing patriot in his native or his
adopted country than an Irishman.
There are some, unfortunately, on the
wrong side, but an Irish anarchist or
out-and-out Socialist is recreant to
his race and religion.
+ Il
What are we to do? The same
thing. Socialism with us is not yet
formidable political power, but there
is all the more reason, before it be-
comes an aggressive and organized
force, to build up an army of federat-
ed associations actuated by principles
which are antagonistic to or corrective
Of those dangerous doctrines we have
been considering; great conservative
body of men, who can always be relied
on as the champions Of law and order,
who, far from being a source Of ap-
prehension for their fellow-country-
men will be recognized as staunch de-
tenders Of justice and right; men who
believe in the rights Of property, the
sanctity of marriage, the love of coun-
try, the right of liberty and the ra-
tional pursuit of happiness, and who
base all these claims not on convent
ence or expediency, but because the
light of reason and the light of re-
ligion reveal them as springing from
the eternal laws which reason and
revelation keep constantly before our
eyes. Men who are penetrated with
such principles will be the pillars of
their country in time Of peace and its
staunchest defenders in time of war.
The solution Of the problem rests
largely if not exclusively with us.