The Irish standard., 1909-04-24
SOME OF THE PER|LS TO AMERICAN CIVILIZATION
The Catholic Church Has Lived Too Long in the World
Not to Know that Religion is Needed to
Save Nation

life. Patriotism bids us to preserve
and strengthen these forces. "Of all
tho dispositions and habits" said
Washington, in his Farewell Address.
(Which lead to political prosperity, res
ligions and morality arc Indispensable
supports. In vain would that man
claim tho tribute OF patriotism who
should labor to subvert these great
pillars Of human happiness, these
firmest props Of the duties OF men and
citizens-Reason and Experience both
forbid us to expect that national NOR
atty can prevail In exclusion Of re.
ligious principles" Morality and re-
ligion are, then, the soul of good citi-
Roosevelt, as the country camo to rea-
lie, did splendid work by preaching
and practice to impress upon the ma
ton this fundamental truth. They
who keep tho "ren commandments
violate no civil law and are prompt to
respond to every call OF duty. There 1
was not q single utterance Of the ex4- :
President as a moral teacher that was
not in fullest accord with the teacll-
ing Of tho Catholic Church.
Our form of government depends
principles and practice based on reli-'
gion. 1t Is tho mission OF the Church
to inculcate and apply these princi-
pies. BY so doing she becomes tho
best safeguard and strongest bulwark
OF government. .l.....
Respect for authority, Christian
domestic lifc-thcsc are tho three
standards upheld by tho Catholic
Church. They arc also tho surest
foundation upon which a government
Of tho people may safely rest.
Teach men respect for authority
teach them that authority is divine.
Teach them there is no power but
from God" Form and educate the con-
science Of men. Inculcato rever-
enco for those who are vested WITH
lawful authority and moro Is done for
checking lawlessness and controlling
mobs, than can be done by building
Dreadnoughts, increasing an army or
multiplying battleships.
What lesson has the Catholic
Church for those in high places Of
power or wealth? For those at the
head Of great enterprises who by their
position can exercise wide influence
over mems lives? What has the
Church to say to the greedy capitalist
who is unjust to labor? She says this:
let men in power and place, know their
power is from God and that they are
but stewards for Him" of those
goods and gifts which they must not
abuse and for which they must one
day render an account.
She tells them that If they abuse
their power, il they enact laws and
impose hard and unjust conditions on
labor, if they exercise their privileges
harshly and unjustly they have be-
trayed a sacred trust. Let corpora
tions be animated by the spirit and
principles Of the gospel and how many
evils that now cry aloud for redress
will be remedied; how much suffering
done away WITH; how many tears
dried up; how many bruised and
broken hearts healed? Let the rich
learn that money and wealth aro
loaned by God not: for avarice, or am
bition. or lust, but that they are the
stewards Of the Heavenly Father, and
that one day they will have to give
a strict account Of their stewardship,
Would not this get rid Of much of our
! dishonesty in business and give us.
what we so badly need, a public con-
science which would demand Justice !.
all around for both laborer and cap
italist?
On the training Of the youth of the
land the Catholic Church says that