The Irish standard., 1908-11-28
to the holy church imposes upon all.

furious to democratic government?
1T is not! 1t is impossible that true
Catholicism should weaken, but inevit-
able that it should strengthen, liberty
and democracy.
more than this. 1t is absolutely the
only force by which our form of gov
ernment can be preserved from the in
Vulnerable insidious assaults being
made Upon it.
This is we'll enoughs to say, you say,
but are these propositions capable of
demonstration?
If they are not, then this gathering,
this tremendous congress just held. is
just cause for apprehension and fear on
the part of all good citizens. But it is
capable Of, absolute demonstration
demonstration here and now.
"Is it hard to demonstrate that all
democracy is the direct result Of tte
preparation of the gospel Of Jesus
Christ?
democracy differs from all other
forms OF government in that it de-
pends upon belief in human goodness.
All other forms of government are
founded on distrust OF human vices.
All despotic government is organized
on the theory that human depravity is
SO general that only tyrannical arbi-
trary force can prevent men from fly
ing at one another's throats or taking
one another's properties"
Mr.. Cochran then followed the his
tory OF the church through the middle
ages, showing that she had interfered
with the tyranny of governments, with
injustice, and immortality as in the dc.
nunciation of slavery, of gladiatorial
combats, of robber barons, excesses, of
royal Righteousness, OF all criminaiity
when it was part of the laws of the
state or recognized and encouraged by
it.
"Where do we first find the ideas on
which our free governments are found
ed first suggested2' continued the
speaker. - -. .A
"Wc fihd them iii the teachings of
Christ, the teaching of the measureless
pcrfectibility of man.
1T is true that democracy was tic
ultimate, not the immediate, fruit Of
eighteen centuries between the recog-
milton of the equality of man as an alb
stract Christian principle and the con-
formation Of human government to
that principle, but throughout all those
centuries the seed was growing in the
heart Of the church.
1T was in defense of this seed, in de-
fcnsc Of the truth intrusted to her that
the church has again and again inter-
fcred in the affairs of the state. 1t is
these interferences which have In
spired the reverend Lutheran and
Methodist gentlemen to take their
present stand. But VIC Americans of
today glory in them.
"One of the first cases of church in
reference with the state was in the
matter Of slavery. Slavery was an es-
tablished institution of the Roman enl-
pire, but she turned all her weapons
against it. She denounced it in the
pulpit, in the confessional. She made
the purchase and manumisslon o:
slaves the greatest work of charity.
':As strong an institution as slavery
were the gladiatorial combats. They
were conducted by emperors, author
ized and supported by the state. They
were as much part of the state as
our army or navy. But disregarding
the possible censures Of synods and
conferences, she interfered through
pulpit warnings, confessional COM
niands, and denunciation of emperors,
until one of her monks, Telcmachus, by
his martyrdom. and dying prayer, put
an end to them.
'The Roman empire was succeeded
oy the age Of feudalism. There was no
law but might. Government was or
ganized but for rapine and plunder and
the distribution of the fruits Of war.
The weak man who incurred the en-
nifty of stronger had no recourse
from his wrath. This was the law Of
the states of the time. Might wreaked
its vengeance at will upon weakness.
"At this extremity the church again
interfcred with the state. She threw
open the doors of her churches to the
fugitives from the justice Of that day.
Think of that interference. Within hec
churches the humblest, weakest fugi-
tive was safe from the pursuit of the
most powerful potentate. This led to
the creation Of tribunals in which the
guilt or innocence of men could te
sanely determined. She gave the
world its system of law.
I'm all these days of tyranny, op-