The Irish standard., 1907-02-23

hierarchy and priesthood of the Cath
olic Church? The non-Catholic So
cialist accuses them of being the spe-
cial friends Of the wealthy and in
league with them to prevent or re-
tard. the, cooperative movement. Will
they permit the above change to seem
true by continuing to uphold the capi-
talist system? Or will they make it
untrue by espousing the cause Of eco
nonic justice to the toiler, under col
lective ownership? In this regard,
the outlook is. not encouraging. They
denounce socialism, and as they teach
under divine authority, the conf1ding
Catholic thinks thes- cannot be mis-
taken. They warn him against the
pest of socialism, so he carefully
shuns the ..denagcs' orator, ami per-
sistently refuses to read socialist lit
erature. His mind is more and more
mislead and prejudiced against social
ism by such writings as Father Con-
ways Socialism Examined and Re-
futed." Some Catholic periodicals re-
fuse to publish the truth about social
ism, although they publish much that
is not true. Monsignor Vaughan of
England claims that Socialism is all
anti-Christian movement because some
socialist writings are anti-Christian,
yet, in the same article, lie says there
are Christian socalist ts,' which COM
pletely disproves the other assertion.
Bishop Spalding of Peoria, I'LL, says
that a socialist: may be "a theist, all
atheist, Il rspiritist, n1aterialist,
Christian or an agnostic," therefore
the above accusation is utterly
groundless. TOn the contrary, CO.
operation is the only system under
which economic, justice can be Sc
cured to all the people, and no true
Catholic can knowingly oppose ii. So
cialists alone fully recognize and ap-
preciate the wisdom and beneficence
of Gods creative arrangement, and
under socialism, for the first time in
the history of the race, will the great
variety of individual capabilities be
comparatively organized and intelli-
gently employed in the general inter-
ests Of humanity. 1T will be the glory
common purpose the material inter-
estS aud effort of he entire human
family. The wisdom Of every intel
lect, and the power Of every muscle
will be centralized and directed under
one gigantic sfco-operative system.
Will these conditions ever be real
lied? Will socialism ever become all
accomplished fact? AS it depends OH
the use we make Of our intelligence,
common sense-gives ali encouraging
answer. 1t tells us that human needs
can be best supplied by cooperative
effort, that harmony is better than
discord, that peace is better than war,
that all eXpedlent methods should be
employed to produce and distribute
the necessaries and comforts of life.
Experience also gives favorable an
swer. Tie first ami best Christians
had things in common. All the re-
ligious orders own their property col
lective1y. =, The bishops hold the
church properly in trust for the peo-
pie, SO that 'the poor may have the
Gospel preached to- them" All pub
lie utilities that are collectively owned
give the best service, the best salts
faction. Tho public school, the fire
department, the sidewalk, the street,
tho public Highway. the postal service,
all herald the approach Of socialism.
Between those who see in socialism
the only means Of cmancipating the
human race from poverty. and those
who denounce it as all apti-Christiun
movement, there is. {. lamentable mis-
understanding. Who is wrong? Who
Is right? Is there q reasonable an
SNSI W tilGse questions. 1uC N,llIlS-
tiall socialist is as sure that he is
right in wishing to re-establish Gods
system of collective ownership and
cooperation, Us he is that God, it's
author, is right. Can those on the
other side, with equal confidence and
plausabiity, hold Gods "overruling
providence" responsible for the sys-
tenn that has spread over the human
race the present black pall''of crime
and suffering? We are very sure they
cannot. May we not reasonably hope
that the day is not far distant when
they will agree with the socialist who
confidently assures us that there is
one sovereign remedy for the economic
evils that now afflict the human race
the extortions of wealth, the priva-
tions of poverty. That remedy" is
| "SociaIiena y '"ho vocia LIST motto iS this.