The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-16
AN ELOQUENT APPEAL
TO VOTER S CONSCIENCE
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND's RECENT
b s ADDRESS IN THIS CITY.
It Applies With Peculiar Forcesto the
]. Situation Which Confronts the Vot-
I !, ers Of Minneapolis Dangers Which
] Confront the Commonwealth that Are
Greater than the Perils Of War.

ii At this time when; a strong appeal
is being made to the conscience and
patriotism of the people of this city
the following extracts fron1s.sthe elo-g
quent address made by Archbishop Ire
land the Sunday before encampment
week; in the Church of the Immaculate
Conception, will be found of particular
interest. The archbishop in his usual
forceful manner emphasizes the thought
that there are other times than when
the fife plays and the drum beats and
the heart IS stirred by martial music
and the waving of flags which fequire
just as much courage and conscience
and devotion to principle as is neces-
sary to carry a man under. the stress
of the excitement of war into the front
rank Of the battle. There is a. battle
on in Minneapolis and the archbishop
appeal to- those that should be arrayed
on the side of law. enforcement, good
government, and civic righteousness ap-
plies in this crisis as if it had been
spoken for the occasion. No better
argument has been made in behalf of
the denomination Of Mayor, Jones:
| To everyday patriotism convoke you, citi-
zens of America. Unless you obey its command
\ speak not to me of your readiness to defend
| the nation on the battlefield. 49, . ~.
J The republic is in danger from evil citizen
past history went down more frequently from
| inner vice Or from civic inertia than from open
! rebellion or foreign invasion. America fears lit
I tie from war; her military ana naval prowess
is beyond compare; let her have nothing to fear
from evil citizenship and upon the housetops
you may confidently preach her morality.
Evil Citizenship.
Evil citizenship-it lies In the violation Of
! law. He who despises in word or act an enact
ment, OF the country's authorities, despises the
country; he who rebels against its will in every
day life aims a mortal blow TO its sovereignty
in open warfare. The laws Of the country are
the chords by which It links its citizens into
one healthful body, by which it transfuses I'M
its several parts its vivifytng life blood, and
spreads over them its health and honor. Cut
In twain one or more of those. chords, and there
is weakening and interruption Of flow in the
nations life blood. Citizens, be obedient te
the law, be 1t municipal state or national be
1t law regulating your personal life, or the
management of your business affairs, be 1t 8
law small or great in its Importance or its com
prehensiveness Be never, before the tribunal
Of your fellow citizens, or that of your con
science, breaker of the law.
80 Inertia Of Citizen. =. .. -.
Evil citizenship-it lies in the inertia of the
citizen who, thru an Indifference to the interests
of the country Or an Incidence that keeps hin
aloof from action, makes no use of the power
and influence with which he Ifs possessed to Sc
cure theenactment Of useful OF necessary laws
and to bring about the observance of such law.
when they have been placed on the statute books
Personal Righteousness, however fair and com
plete, that wraps itself in the folds of1ts man
tie and seeks not in active work the welfare O.
! the municipality state, and nation, is not cti
zenshtp. IT is the individual apart from so
ciety; 1t Is not patriotism or love of country
and of country's veal. You are voters, law
makers; then vote and make laws-laws tina
secure public order and advance public welfare
! moral we'll as material. Put in office me,
who are intelligent and earnest upholders o
! public order and Of the well-being of society
Emenswho will not barter country. for pelf, VIII
willsnot tolerateaeYiiSwith a4syiew of obtaining
political prefernlent!M Andswhen law isviola ted
and the Officials charged with its execution 81
faithless to duty, bestir yourselves to-: stroni
protests and earnest action suntil the wrong Il
righted, and Social order is upheld. r. ~"
Law Enforcement. ',7@s
How often do w see in cities of the Ian,
I fragrant violations Of law. and morality, openl
without effort whatsoever on part Of th
citizens to obtain redress--the Sunday desc
Grated shameless vice Haunting Itself on streets
resorts of intemperance and immortality clamor
ing undisturbed for Victims Do we seriously as
q ourselves how far may 1be responsible 70
: such evil conditions? 1t is not good citzenshi
4 to be in ones own life honest and honorable an
4 est and honorable 1t is not whole souled re
ligion to say devoutly our prayers before th
4 altar OF Christ and then 50 to vote as to spu
1 into power men unwilling or unable to enforc
Il the observance of laws of order and good mo-
4 ais. No, we cannot, we must ;not divest ou
i selves Of civic duty, and still hold ourselves /
be good citizens and Christians, =,