The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1906-12-08

gave them up to the desires of their heart, to un
ceanness to shameful affections"
Two of the most prominent statues in Paris are
those of Gambetta, the libertine shot by his para
mour, and of Carrot, the atheist on the head OF
which, when we last saw it, was an immortellf
bearing the inscription Nj Dieu nj maitre" (Nc
God no master) sent by the Atheists club of Mar.
settles.
But there is to our mind another reason for the
deplorable state of France. When Rienzi the last
of the tribunes, was medltating an attack on Rome
he sent one of his captains into the city disguised
as peddler. well, how did you find things" he
asked his spy his return
"The churches are crowded" he answered; <thev
are making Novenas and marching in professions
singing. 'Liberasti nos Domino ex affgentibus
nos"
Good" exclaimed Rienzi; well attack tomor-
row."
The French Catholic like the Roman, forgets
that God helps those who help themselves and too
often looks for assistance from above He expects
miracle and marvels why God permits the limo
cent to suffer. Even the learned hierarchy and
devoted priesthood are satisfied things will come
out all right The Isl Deus pro nobis quis contra
nos' Of God be for us why need we care) is the
shield behind which they march to meet the enemy.
But there are times aud occasions when the saint
must fight as well pray.
The German Catholics under Wmdthorst
fought Bismarck to a "standstill" and praved while
in the world but they are also the greatest fight
ers, and they have won out. The Belgian Caho-
lies had it out with their enemies fourteen or fiji
teen years ago and since then they have said and
are saying their prayers in peace. We American
Catholics prayed during the ''Know Nothing cam
paigns of 1854 and 1855, but we put up a stub
born fight all the same, and for thirty years the
bigots let US alone. Then, when ten years ago
calling themselves A. P. AS, they again invaded
our territory, we fought them fnish and when
the smoke of battle disappeared we organized the
American Federation OF Catholic Societies and
when they come for Us again. We'll be there"
and though we hope not thence unscathed to go
Who conquers us shall find stubborn fee
Why don't the French Catholics organize and
following O'ConnePs advice to the prosecuted Irish
of his day, agitate, educate. legislate! In the
ranks of the French clergy there are men who in
ability oratory and scholarship stand with the best
III Europe. Until now they were salaried officials
and, like the mutt of Holy Writ dared not
bark Their independence was held in govern
mental leash and they were not free. Now that the
miserable Napoleonic Coneordat is smashed by
their implacable foe the finger of silence has also
fallen. they are freemen and
We may hear from them in the next few years"
Nor is France wanting in distinguished Catholic
laymen, courageous men, full of fight and of ability
lacking only encouragement and organization
lhey have across the channel the example of the
Irish and English Catholic electors who are massed
under the banners of the United Irish League, the
Catholic Association and other Catholic bodies
pledged to stand together and vote as one man in
defense of their rights and their principles
France is paradox filing history with chapters
of the most heroic sacrifices offered up on behalf of
humanity and religion and with pages of unexanl-
pied basphemy and satanic malice. She has given
to God and humanity the greatest saints and mis-
sionaries in history, and the blacklist and most ac
complished scoundres that ever disgraced our race
since the days of the deluge.