The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-02-25
OPEN DISCUSSION
6ev. 7. J. Gasson, S. j., Addresses So.
cialists and Answers Their
Questions,

| N'l'Sieu III Boston. the natural
| background for strange happenings in
the religious and intellectual or,le:, was
the address of the Reverend Thomas
L. GasSon. S. j., president of Boston
college. in Ford hall, Charlestovn dis
ulct on the evening OF Sunday. Feb
., says the Republic The president
ol d jesuit college. speaking at the
instance of the Baptist Social union.
ana setting forth the reasons of the on.
position of his Church to what is
popularity unde stood as Socialism
furnished an adequate reason for the
audience which. by $50 y. M. packed
the hall to the doors. and half an ho,Ir
, '''er "oilsrd Il conspicuous sign on
the building. no more admitted"
Probably nehalf of the audience
which filled the seats and the standing
room and accounted for the thousands
outside unable to gain admission, were
SOCIALISTS Of one variety or another.
and they had come to hear about "'rhe
'SS'" VI .'o'IdilSlll from a Jesuit.
inc DISTINGUISHING characteristics
OF Father Gassons address were its
clearncSs candOr and courtesy. He adj
United without hesitation. at the ONT
set, that there is something wrong In
society at the present time. with it's
colossal fortunes and its depths of pov-
ecty. In so far nc SoriuliS,, ,,,n,,,,. h..
p'hehl humanity. to lessen poverty
and to make life brighter for the mass
ol mankind, we are all heartily i'm ac-
cord with it. Eathc. Gasson, as a.
spooS IIG u'!uM II! LepIO uR 10 rsu,usll
are held In common no one rcrciy
ing a salary, every ono spending him
self in the service of his relIow-man
"hile all the goods of the community,
above its modest maintenance. are
promptly distributed among the needy.
is peculiarly able to appreciate thc
'o''d'llolls OF the time and the good
intent in many forms of Socialism.
sut what is Socialism" How would
1t recttfy the admitted evils above
noted: Father Gasson granted that So.
c'alism is shifting name. 1t may be,
he said. that the Socialism of whose
dangers he would warn his hearers is
'"t inc socialism in which they be-
heVc. The system against which he
would speak is that which makes the
state the owner, producer and distrihu-
10" OF all go'sN and among its authori-
lativc opponents arc Karl Marx and
Englcs
Reform of present social and ecuno
mic conditions is q clamorous need,
but this reform must come through
legitimate channels As proposad by
the Socialism of Karl Marx and his
dlSc'pIes it means the overthrow Of so
rlety, its principles being subversiye
OF personal integrity. domestic in
trErity and national integrity.
rather tinsson showed that there
can be no abiding personal integrity
where the future life and personal ac-
countability to God are sh,,t ont fr,m
mc'is consciousness. There can be
II" domestic integrity where the wife
ana the child are not sacrcdlv safe
guarded Now many of the Socialists
advocate what have bccn called "t.ial"
or temporary" marriages, and. in the
extremely probable event of tho dis
al
the child by the state.
AS the nation is. i'm the ultimate
only an aggregation OF families. II l..
easy to sec that disregard for the
marriage bond and the lack of home
training for the child means the de-
str'ction OF the state itself for MANY
SOCIALISTS would put upon it burden
which it was never intended to carrv
ana deprive 1t of the help of its citi-
zens in whom patriotism is spiritual
as we'll as natural virtue and house,
hold ties to be cherished as things of
Gods ordaining.
The equality of men, as preached by
many Socialists is a visible dclusion
Men are equal before the law and in
the sight OF their Creator. but it il
plain that they are not equal in size,
physical strength, beauty and intel
lectual gifts.
Father GaSSon defended private OWL
""ship in property as a natural right
and an incentive to the diligent en-
ployment of human energy. So that,
apart from the moral evils of the en-
which insist on absolute equality. state
ownership, ETC., are impracticable.
Catholics Under British FLAG.