Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-05-04
Declares All Men Are Equal in
Birth But Not in
Gifts.
Asserts That Theyo Are Blind Who
See Not Dangers OF
Socialism.
HONOR TO AMERICAN PEOPLE

Declaring his confidence in the
permanency of American democracy
and its certainty to overcome the
nerils which beset 1t, Archbishop Ire
land spoke Saturday at the Grant
celebration at Galena, ILL.,, denounc-
ing the recall of judges and judicial
decisions and upholding a represent
ative system of government. The
Archbishop spoke of various pro-
posed reforms, of which he said the
most fatal was the recall, especially
the recall of the judiciary He also
condemned Socialism.
The Archbishop prefaced his treat
ment of the problems, which he
classed as "the economical peril
and the political peril" by declar-
Ing 'in the permanency OF American
democracy / have steadiest faith, be-
cause steadiest faith / have in the
patriotism and the good sense OF the
people of America. But confidence
in the abiding ability of American
democracy to pass safely through
every storm must not beguile us into
somnolence and apathy while the
storm circles above its brow and the
peril digs pitfalls beneath its feet.
Democracy is on trial in America.
Our land today is spectacle to all
nations; the acclaim to America is
universal: America proves or dis
proves the beneficences, the vitality
of democracy.
Touching what he characterized
as the economic peril, Archbishop
Ireland said in part: "The economic
peril is we'll within our doors. Care
is needed that 1t dose not penetrate
further into the interior OF the
household. Whatever leads to the
disruption of the social organism is
forbidden; that also is forbidden
which ruins private property-the
foundation stone unol -ghich -
the social
life In human elIOTt dDu n ll''1r'-
grandizement, whether in the indi-
vidual or in the COLLECTIVELY. Eliminate
private property, destroy or mini
mize unduly it's rights, make 1t in
secure or profitless-you have ruled
that labor is not worth the fatigue;
that Incidence and improvidence are
privileges to be sought for. you have
driven back the human race to the
chaos of barbarism and savagery.
All men are born equal. Democracy
is the government of the people, Tor
the people. Therefore, say some,
there should be equality OF posses
sion, and the office of government Is
to lend its authority to the enforce
ment of this equality. Fatal miscon-
ceptions of the meaning OF the
American Declaration of Independ-
ence, of the meaning of American
democracy. All men are indeed born
euual-equal in the meaning of the
Declaration of Independence-equal
so far as the laws of the land may
reach, equal in rights derived from
government, equal in such opportu-
mites as government creates or is en-
abled to create. But all men are not
equal in natures gifts, physical or
moral, and equality of this kind no
government can create, no govern
ment is allowed to presuppose.
ITO attempt the use of powers OF
a Government, be that Government
the freest of democracies, in order
TO make the world of men other than
what nature has wllled it, is the most
futile of tasks, doomed by nature
to failure, sure, II long pursued, TO
destroy the Government itself and
the social organism in whose behalf
II was instituted. This may well be
said to the honor of the people OF
America-it is no wish of theirs
that those who are the poorer shall
be held to their poverty. that honeT
toll shall be barred from sufficient
and adequate remuneration. None in
America will resent efforts put forth
in fair play toward the social better
ment Of any class in the population,
especially when that class are those
upon whom weighs most heavily the
burthen OF human life, and without
whose earnest and willing ooncourse
the talent OF others is doomed 70
ldleness, and industry and enterprise
put out OF each. III this We're the
meaning Of that many-sided and
Heterogeneous combination OF plan
nings and activities calling itself
Socialism, welcome ii We should,
welcome Il we would. But what
most usually are the theories and the
methods of Socialism. Here II is the
absolute denial of the right to pri--
vate property; property We are told
IS theft There II is such impedi-
ments TO private property, such con-
troll and Limitation that few OF none
win toll 20 acquire II. few or none
will be able to retain IL. Socialism
uRDrincipled in theory, wild and
violent in method. Is today the peril
OF lands whatsoever their form OF
government. Socialism today is the
peril OF America. They are blind
who see not its workings"
On the political problem the Arch
hishoD declared that the main ques-
ton was now are the peoDle 70
severn. whether directly or through
representatives. acting under con-
stitntlonal limitations. He sketched
fha framing OF the constitution. and
said In part: stability OF constitu-
tl0n and law Is the vital condition
az aoclal order. OF continuous eco