The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-04-02
WaItham, Mass.
The Church and Evils of Socialism


The social problem is the most re-
doubtable enigma that faces the gen
erations of the future, writes Etienne
Iamv in lie Correspondent CParis).
The rich and the poor form two
hostile armies facing each other, to
wit the army Of fear and that of hate
The rich seek to preserve their riches
from plumber, and the poor hold il
now for dogma that all riches owe their
origin to plumber The famous Ency-
clieal on Socialism given to the world
in 1891 by the late Pope Leo XIII ad-
mitted the justice of the claims of the
Uourer orders, and in his monumental
essay he laid down the principle that
the social war could only be avoided
bv social peace in which the classes
should recognize actively the rights of
the masses.
The triple remedy he prescribed in
voved. first, a personal sacrifice; sec
ondv the formation of Catholic SOcie-
ties which should control political sit
uations and bring home to the people
the injustice of social conditions, and
finally benevolent action on the part
of the state itself.
The tendency of the state nova
days. says NJ. Lamy, is to break up
the SlIlIl SlLelllG IdlleI llldIl 10 BON-
ern it, All the governments of the
world are becoming gradually, and
unknown to themselves, socialized.
The regime of Socialism has actually
begun in France. The anneXing of
the property Of the religious orders
was really the first tep towards con-
fiscating the wealth of private per-
sons The tax on wealth and legacies
is really an act of appropriation. The
rich are being slowly relieved of their
superhuity and the industrial social
ism has gradually led to the upSetting
of the social hierachic system.
France, then, by eliminating Chris
tanity from her public administration
has given the enemy its greatest OPP
p0rtuity, and a revolution is now
in process that is none the less fear
some that it is operating silently.
The state has found out too late that
il cannot accomplish its task unXss
It possesses a philosophy which shall
promote the highest ideals among It's
citizens. That philosophy was assur
eddy found in the teachings of the
Catholic Church
Four centuries of Consordats had
associated the Church in France with
the national government, and at least
order. save in the revolutionary peri
DDS was the normal result. But with
the advent of the new socialism pub
lie bitterness and hatreds and class
distinctions have become the rule. |
Politics. literature, history. journal |
ism-eyery manner of mental express |
sion is caught up in the general topsy- |
tuTvin7Ss ana a reign OF chaos is the |
fnal result. Governments are simply |
politicians are office |
seekers, fun of promise and empty |
of performance. The wondrous re-
forms that socialism promised in the /
condition of mankind are not on the |
evidence of the present likely TO be
fulfilled in the future. Order is the
first rule Of government. 1t is the
first to declare itself in all rule that
persists and that is conceived in in
,elligence France today has de-
suoyed the best and surest guardians
she had against the advance of athe
site socialism, and the wiser spirits
ire beginning TO see the blunder Of the /
-ombes ministry.