The Irish standard., 1907-03-02
A NOTABLE ADDRESS.

'''N OSAote tlle soOIlS OIL tue Anlefl-
can Revolution at St. Paul on WASH
lngtons birthday contained food for
thoughtful reflection. When the
Archbishop gives matter his atten-
ton his thoughts are always worthy
of serious consideration He showed
in his last address that he is in inti-
mate touch with public affairs. He
showed u clear insight into the duties
and obligations OF citizenship. He
pointed out in simple vet inclusive
manner the essential principles upon
which the American Republic was
founded. His plea was for Il return
to the true democracy that actuatetl
the founders of the Republic. Dcmoc-
racy. the Archbishop pointed out, is
not political liberty alone. but civil
liberty also. Civil liberty is the right
Which every man has, or ought 10 have,
to direct his own mind and to cut out
for himself his own work in the world.
Political liberty often leads to a cur
tailment Of civil liberty. The speaker
pointed out how the trainers of the
Constitution Of the United States
sought to preserve for the people civil
liberty under the guardianship and
protection Of political liberty. The
Archbishop showed how the represen-
tativc government is superior to the
government where the people make the
laws directly.
The Archbishop of st. Paul differs
from many preachers of the Gospel in
that he is always practical. He says
that, While he is an advocate Of in
ternational peace and of international
arbitration he nevertheless realizes
that the millennium is not here yet:
that the days of war are not passed
and that it beI1ooves the American
people to be ready to protect the coun-
try by force ii necessary. He points
out that the dangers from within are
greater than those from without He
called attention to the peril Of at
tempting to rule people in permanent
dependency.
The most noteworthy feature Of tho
address was his reference to the mania
of the American people in recent years
for making too many laws. Our leg
islators are too anxious" he says, "to
increase the bulk of the statute book.
AS things are tending, VIC shall soon
have SO many laws that, wrapped
about as it We're by serried mail, we
shall become prisoners unable to stir
or to walk" No truer observation was
ever made. Somehow VIC have forgot
ten in recent Years the essentials upon
which our government was formed.
make a legislative rule for every hui
man action, to leave nothing to the
individual, to make the state every
thing. Men go to the different state
legislatures with all kinds of hobbies.
Matters over which the common law
has full and complete control are made
the subject Of statutes. The posses
sion of political power in the hands OF
the people has, as tho Archbishop
points out, tendency to make them
Incorporate in the use of that power.
One man has an idea that he can rule
his neighbors life better than the
neighbor He brings it about so that
he, or some one who represents his
views. is elected to the legislature and
he Immediately tries to have enacted
into law his hobby. All such laws are
restrictive Of individual liberty and de-
structive of true democracy. The
Archbishop points out that many of
these laws are passed in the name of
moral reform and that they do more
harm than good. He says: Such laws
assume to cover the ground of morals
so that no room remains for the free
action of the conscience" He called
attention to the mania of passing laws
to regulate industrial matters.
There is in the land today the de-
lusion that men may become rich
through legislation in lieu of toll, tall
ent and economy; that to build up
one class, naught else Is needed than
to pull down another. And there is
growing up amongst us a hatred Of
success Of others. however much that
success may have been the reward Of
most praiseworthy effort"
The Archbishop admits that cor
porations may have abused their priv
ileges. but he decries the tendency to
prejudge as guilty every corporation