New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-04
APATHY NATIONS PERIL
Cardinal Gibbons in Pre- ELECTION
Sermon RebukeS PeSSimiStS.
REPUBLIC WILL ENDURE
Can Fall Only Through Lethargy
and Apostasy of Her
Sons, Says Prelate.

baltimore, Nov. cardinal Gibbons
IN the Cathedral here to-day, delivered an
lection eve sermon designed to awaken
.tbe supine citizen who never takes an in
,erest in the political welfare of his coun-
try" He declared that If the future his
,orian IS called on to record the decline
and fan Of the American Republic he will
osrribe as the cause "the indifference,
Isthargy and political apostasy of her
own sons
The sermon was non-partisan as to the
personal preferences of the Cardinal
toward the three conspicuous candidates
for President. He asserted his intolerance
toward pessimistic prophets, who each
campaign predict the end Of the govern
rnent unless their favorite candidate is
elected. and by a discussion Of our form
Of government sought to show that the re-
suits of our election cannot seriously al
feet the endurance Of the Republic.
The Cardinal said he had been listen
ing TO these dire representations for
more than half a century, but in every in
stance the American people wake up the
morning after election and find the gov
eminent is transacting its business in the
same quiet and orderly manner as before
Passed Two Momentuous Crises
Continuing. the Cardinal said, in part:
Two momentous crises occurred in my
oUn dav which We're well calculated TO
Test the vitality and strength Of the ke-
public. The first was the war between
The states when the nation was cut IN
twain, when fratricidal blood was shed
over the land and a tremendous conflict
was carried on for four years. This ca
Ismitv has happily ended, and the dis
memhered states are now more hrmlE
united than ever before, because slavery,
which was the bone Of contention, mas
been removed once and forever.
The second crisis occurred in the Pres
idential contest in 1876 between IlideR
and HAYES. Mr. Tilden was robbed OF
tre fruit of the victory which, / believe,
he honestly won, and by questionable de-
vices Mr.. Hayes was declared the sue
cessful candidate.
nation that could survive these ter
rible strains must be possessed Of eN7,
traordiuarv vitality and resources, ana
leads us to hope that in any tutuIe
emergency the leaders and statesmen, OF
the. Republic will rise TO the occasion
and bring order out of chaos.
Another strong ground Of confidence
/ have in the stability and peTmanence
Of the Republic rests in the enHghteh-
ment. the good sense and patriotism oil
fathers have now for a century and
quarter experienced and enjoyed the
blessings Of a strong and free govern
ment And If you compare the results
of our political system with those OF
other civilized nations. l do not thlnk
that our Republic, with all it's drawbacks
and shortcomings. viii suffer in the com
parisOn. You can say: America, with
all thy faults, I love thee still.
Cold, indeed, and torpid, obtuse and
apathetiC is the soul that is not aroused
to warmth and enthusiasm in c0ntem-
plating the history Of the United States
which has been the home Of liberty and
the haven Of rest 10 dOWntrCddeh mLI-
ions in other lands.
But the survival of the American Re
public must rest on more stable lOul!-
dation than the patriotism OF our cru
Zens, the genius Of our statesmen ana
the wisdom of our laws 1t must nave
a stronger basis than fleets and dread
noughts and standing armies; Tor 'tne
race is not to the swift. nor the battle
10 the strong our enduring StaDlllty
can be secured only under the abiding
protection Of the Lord of Hosts.
No man should be drone in the social
beehive. No man should be an lnolHer-
ent SpectatOT of the political and eco
Indifference and apathy in civic and po-
litical life are as hurtful to the state
as Indifference in religion rs huruul 10
the Christian commonwealth.
A sincere man who in attacking chris
tian faith honestly believes that he IS
right is less blameworthy than the tor
pid, lukcwaTm Christian who never takes
an interest in the religion Of Christ In
like manner, a citizen who earnestly
espouses a faulty political principle Is
less dangerous to the State than the SUI
pine citizen who never takes an interest
In the political welfare Of his country.
II is my profound conviction that II
ever the Republic is doomed 10 decay, II
the future historian shall ever record
the decline and fall Of the American Re
public its downfall will be due, not TO a
hostile invasion, but TO the indifference,
lethargy and political apOstasy Of her
own sons.
And IL all citizens are bound to take
an interest in public affairs, that duty
especially devolVes on those who are en-"
dowed with superior intelligence and ed
ucation and who ought 20 be the leaders
and cXemplars Of the people, guiding
them in the path Of political rectitude
IN conclusion the Cardinal said:
Nav God so enliEhtcn the mind and
quicken the conscience of the American
people 70 a sense of their civic duties
az 10 arouse in them an earnest ana
practical interest in the coming election,
and NAV He so guide their hearts that
they will select a chief magistrate whose
administration will rebound 10 the mate
rial prosperity and moral welfare or our
beloved Republic.