The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-04-04
Church Universal

entering the family for its defle,nnn+
ana ruin. Perhaps the most terrible
indictment that can be brought against
america is that the public demand for,
the filth supplied by the yellow iour-
nals is so great as to render rich and
prosperous and INSCRIPTIONS editors.
writers and publishers who cater ia
debased appetites.
we desire 10 employ all the poWar
OF our holy office to stem this flood of
| corruption. and we, therefore most
earnestly beseech parents to Danish all
such newspapers and books from their
fresides. Q fathers and mothers. ncv
! er permit them to contaminata vorr
| homesr'
Within the past year wave of
crime has swept through some of our
large cities, extending even into coun-
! Try districts. in several instances. the
| deeds committed have been most re-
volting-modest young women. and
even innocent children have been the
victims Of unbridled lust While the
Tear OF publicity may occasionally de-
! Ter from the commission of crime. we
! Tear that the manner in which many
of our newspapers picture these hor-
rible occurrences is a grave incentive
TO their perpetuation. by inflaming the
passions and the sensual cravings of
! The newspaper is great moral
force, which should be conducted as
to make the home sweeter and bright
er, to inform and elevate the individual
and society. The daily publication of
the crimes of men and women, with
their prurient, salacious details
brought out in courts of justice, en-
larges and sows the field of vice.
NO better example of the power and
influence of the press can be given
than the results achieved in Germany.
1t was due to public opinion. created
by the Catholic press. that the center
party remained undivided and stead
fast, triumphed over KUlturkampf. sent
Bismarck to Canossa, and organized
the Catholics of Germany SO that they
present an unbroken front to their en-
emieS. Listen to the eloquent words
OF DR.. Barth, spoken at the Catholic
congress of Ratisbon: 1.-THE Catholic
Germans had behind them gift in
spired by heaven. which was granted
to the Catholic people of Germany as
an suspicious sign of better days.
through their firm and faithful union
among themselves, and their unwaver-
ing constancy in the conflict for the
defense of the highest welfare of the
people and of humanity. Such gift
was the vigorous, able, aggressive
Catholic press. In quality and quaint
ty it developed into a power that could
not be ignored in public life. Among
its enemies and among the Catholics
of other countries, although enjoying
far better circumstances, it excited ad
miration and envy.
In the course Of fifty years, the
number of newspapers. resolutely Cath
Ole, increased from five or six to near
ly $780, The subscriptions. which down
to 1860 were not more than $4,000 or
$4,000, and were distributed among
about twenty newspapers, have since
increased to hundreds of thousands
even to millions.
The Catholic press suffered and
fought, ever increasing in number. al
ways with more ardent zeal, with an
inf1exible and untiring spirit of sacri-
flee for the rights of Catholics. 1t sus-
tanned a mortal combat with Bis
marck, the powerful Goliah. who new
ertheless was a champion that feared
the pen; it rendered fruitless and
harmless the weight of his words; it
frightened and drove out of their dark
hiding places the disreputable sheets
of the reptiles, and impressed indel-
IDLY upon their followers the ruinous
brand of Cain In the KuI-
tGrkampf, it followed the confessors.
the priests and the bishops into chains
and Imprisonment 1t saved the
Catholic people from the moral i'm
becility of religious indifference. it
armed and elevated their aspirations
toward the imperishable goods (of
heayen). toward faith and virtue.
which live forever, even if the world
fall into ruin. Michigan Catholic.