The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-06-10
Continued from Page Onc.l

economy. out as IHlS DIlIdHt N'ul" '''''l'.'
iected to by our Socialist and aguo-tic ..--.-
saries let us say by the mysterious laws off
a race in primitive state of sayagery Impa...-l
steps of progression by force external Il" .-...
and to It's individual components; and thar -
after a race has advanced to Il state when If
endowed with rational intelligence does IT Pr.-r.,
by virtue Of It's own vOluOn. AT this stage OF 2
peoples "evolution' the ideals to which it he
voted become the primary factors in its further
advancement.
Now. the Japanese have long since passed .re
primitive state above alluded to. and We mus. took
to their animating ideals for an eiUrdarioa If
their progress in civilization in recent centuries.
Here. however, we are concerned only with the adj
vance made during the past two or three decades
of years how may this be explained.
Is not this due almost entirely to a spirit ot
emulationl And where did they find their n-
spiration and their ideals. Was it not in Christian
landsl
It really seems needless to adduce any proofs
in coroboraton of the conclusions here suggested;
for is not the world of readers amply convcrsau5
with the facts.
The final conclusion then, as to Japau@ adj
vancement in civilization i'll recent years-howeTer
perpIexed the cursory student may be fo the
internally" animating principles that the IN
fuences were mainly, if not entirely, those Of
Christian civilization. insofar as such nations
America England and Germany may be sand 10
represent such civilization.
As to Japan's recent military and maritime ac-
movements, there remains little to be said IN this
connection Insofar the countrys martial
equipment and training were contributing factors
and no one, it may be presumed will be disposed -
deny that they most important factors-thcir
source and derivation have already been shown. 1t
martial valor and prowess be deemed important
prerequisite of civilization and national progress,
it is, undeniaby, not at all peculiar to the
Christian character. But even In this respect
modern, aouO-+ipisTD that
result of denial of Christian principles b. men
who once cherished and animated by them
would doubtless prove a deadly bane. Devotion to
country cause, of so verie a type as to imply %
Willingness to sacrifice life or comfort in their
defense or in the promotion Of their veal, Is not
conceivaby characteristic of men who have
abandoned all higher ideals for sensual indulgence
because of intellectual scepticism.
To argue that who protested faith in
supernatural religion exhibited as much pluck and
valor in recent military and naval engagements as.
did men imbued with such faith would be futile in
this connection: because we have not yet had
generations of agnostics and the character of the
of day in all civilized countries Is still
largely such formed by Christian civii-
zation The inherent savagery i'll all men Will
Impel them to fight when confronted by foe in
mortal conflict, out it will not of itself. animate
men to deliberately engage in military cam
paign prosecuted altruistic principles. The
unitarian motives-cOmmercial advantage-tha5
the animating principle in nearly all interna-
tional relations in day. are hardly worthy Of
consideration in connection with present IN
quiry for men who are solely actuated by such
motives utterly unreliable when there Is ques-
ton of the higher patriotism. Our captains Of
industry for instance, who are ever ready to en-
courage a in the interest of commerce. may
be relied upon only to insist upon ignoble and dis
honorable peace whenever their selfish interests
may lie in that direction.
Tl,a+ ,4i,,os
principle of the japanese in their present-or re-
cent-war with Russia! We are told that they
have abiding faith in and devotion to their
Mikad6.
But, if this be accepted as a rational ezplaua-
ton of their valor and military achievements, MAJ
not our modern agnostcs be eficaciously animated
by similar devotion!
Emphatically no And right here we are led to
intelligent appreciation of the significance Of
the phrase employed by DR.. Barry, viz: Ehglands
degree of culture. Can any one conceive of tho
average Englshman deliberately sacrificing his
life out of devotion to his ruler Devoted he may
be, and may take up martial arms at his behest
but only if he be assured that the cause is worthy
one; otherwise his military service would be given
under compulsion only. and like many of the Rus
slams, he would no doUbt-if not in sympathy with
the cause for which he is asked to do battle
tray that cause whenever an opportunity for
doing should present itself.
Does it not follow. from all this, that faith and
devotion are essential factors in all noble achieve
ment, and hence in the progress of civilization
And that we have attained to "Englands de-
gree of culture" and cannot be animated by faith
less exalted than that instituted by Christ Jesus
it not conclusively evident that Christian faith
and morals are absolutely indispensable for the
maintenance of our civilization and our further
progress toward a higher national life
Heretofore we have alluded to only the social
virtues-iustice and Christian amity-so absolutely
necessary for the maintenance of the unity and
good will which alone make possible national
greatness If we pause to consider the influence
upon genuine progress of such personal virtues as
temperance, frugahty, self-denial etc. all the
logical fruit of loyalty to Christian principles and
ideals and vitality essential to a sturdy type of
manly character. thesis is assuredly sustained
with an hundred-fod force
Socialists and agnostics" may, indeed flip
PANTY discredit the claims of the Christian re-
legion to their entire satisfaction, but all ntelli-
gent, patriotic and aspiring men and women will
continue to give 1t their loyal sanction And sooner
or later, in the providence of the Almighty. they
may discard the diluted and negative religion
known Professionalism. and once more embracing
the religion of Christ in It's original integrity,
avert the national decadence with which we are
so imminently menaeed. God hasten the day.