The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-03

In His Jubilee Sermon He Condemns
Political Changes

his jubilee sermon, delivered at the
Cathedral here Sunday Cardinal Glib
bons expressed unqualified disapprov-
al of three important political move
ments which are commanding a large
tshare Of public attention, namely, the
election Of United States Senator'S by
the direct vote Of the people; the ref
erendum proposal which has come up
in several Western states providing
for the submission of legislative en-
actments to the voters for ratification
and the recall of the judiciary.
While 1t Is the Cardinals custom to
preach on the first Sunday of the
month, his discourse today was In the
nature of prelude to the religious eel
ebration OF his golden jubilee as a
priest of the Catholic church and the
silver anniversary OF his Cardinalate,
which begins on Sunday. October Is,
and continues until the 18th.
Defining the duties of his brethren
of the laity he exhorted them to be
faithful in the practice of their re-
ligion, and urged them as citizens Of
the United States to take a patriotic
part in every measure that contributes
to the progress of the commonwealth
mo man should be drone in the
social beehive" said his Eminence.
mo citizen should be an Indifferent
spectator of the political. moral and
economic questions that are agltated
around him.
AT the present moment there are
three political problems which are
engaging the serious attention Of our
public men.
1T Is proposed that United States
Senators should be elected by popular
vote instead of being chosen by the
Legislature as is prescribed by the
constitution.
1T is proposed that the acts OF our
Legislature. before they have the force
of law, should be submitted to the
suffrage of the people. who would
have the right TO vote.
1T is proposed TO recall or remove
an unpopular judge before the expira-
ton of his term OF Office.
mo one questions the ability, the
sincerity and patriotism OF the adyo-
Gates of these changes in our organic
laws. But | hope / may not be
presumptuous in saying that, In my
opinion, the wisdom OF the proposed
amendments must be seriously ques-
toned.
THE election of Senators by the
votes Of the people involves the des-
truction Of a strong bulwark against
dangerous popular Entertainments.
The reason given for the contemplated
change Is that many Of our state leg
islatures are charged with being venal
and that 1t is easier to corrupt the
legislature than the whole people. In
reply would say: II you cannot trust
the members OF the legislature how
can you trust their constituents from
whom they spring?
IF you cannot conflde in our legis-
latures you cannot confide in human
government nor in human nature IT,
self. II guilty of bribery. 1t is most
unjust to involve all the others in
their condemnation have sufficient
confidence in the moral integrity Of
our legislatures to be convinced that
the great majority of them have never
bent the knee to Mammon
ITO give the masses the right OF
annulllng the acts Of the legislature
is to substitute mob law for establish
ed law.
ITO recall judge because his de-
cislons do not meet with popular APP
prevail is an insult TO the dignity, the
independence, and the selfrespect OF
our judiciary. Far less menacing to
the Commonwealth Is an occasional
corrupt or incompetent Judge. than
one who would be the habitual slave
OF capricious multitude, who has al
ways his ear TO the ground trying TO
find out the verdict of the people.
THE constitution Of the United
States is the palladium OF our liber-
ties and our landmark in our march
of progress. That instrument has
been framed by the anxious cares and
enlightened zeal OF the Fathers OF the
Republic. It's wisdom has been tested
and successfully proved after trial
OF a century and quarter. II has
weathered the storms OF the century
which is passed, and II should be trust
ed for the centuries To come. What
has been good enough for our fathers
ought to be good enough for us. Every
change, either in the political or re-
igious word. is not reformation.
Better to bear the ills we know
than fly TO those we know not Of Do
not disturb the political landmarks Of
the Republic"
At the beginning of his sermon the
Cardinal referred in grateful terms to
the civic demonstration in his honor
here last June, which was attended
| by President Taft and leading mem.
bers OF the coordinate branches Of
the federal government. Continuing
the Cardinal drew an interesting COM
parison between The Catholic church
in 1861 and It's present situation after
half century, during all OF which
time he has labored in its ministry.
"In 1861" he said, "the Archbishops
and Bishops OF the United States
numbered 4S. The priests we're 2064
1.-The number of churches with priests
ATTACHED was 2O42 and the Catholic
population was estimated at 100000
"The number Of Archblshops and
Bishops today In charge of sees
Iamounts to SO. Just twice as many
as existed in 1861. The priests
amount to 1900 an increase of ovel
eightfold. There are 1880 churches
nearly sevenfold increase. We
have about 100000 Of church mem