The Irish standard., 1913-10-11

THE IRISH
Significant. II we would safeguard our
own from the dangers of an environ
ment that cannot be controlled, we
must act instantly, boldly and unani.
mously. BY concentrating first on the
drama, we may turn its vast influence
towards counteracting the evils it has
generated. 1t is evident at a glance,
that In dealing with an evil SO deeply
rooted and universal, the old methods
are hopeless. Denunciation Is a ma
tional advertisement, drawing the cur.
ious in crowds; censorship a futile
remedy at present.
New Methods Necessary. d.
There are those who would ask. Are
not the federated societies making an
effective protest? Why multiply asso-
Citations with a similar purpose?
Because protest will not solve the
problem. While we are suppressing a
few grossly sensuous plays, a thous-
and others more insidious. more dead
ly, are boldly propagating false moral
principles as phases of life," a delus-
ion accepted by the public.
The Cause.
What, then, is the root of the evil?
The prevalence of Naturalism and the
obliteration of the Christian conscience
through familiarity with evil.
The Remedy. r.
How will we begin the campaign?
By continuing the treatment of the
moral disease according to the meta
phor we have used. The federated So
cieties are combining effort to elm
mate immoral play from the national
system. Let us make their decisions
unanimous, offering no foothold, ma
tionally or internationally, for plays
banned by Them. But there is more
to be done.
First. We must restrain contagion.
Overcoming the commercialism Of the
stage by furnishing to dramatist and
manager demand and support for
wholesome plays, we must divert at
tention from unworthy productions
and stifle them with neglect.
Second. To start reactionary cur
rent in the national system by the more
publis assertion of Christian principle,
we must formulate the civic movement
and the parochial social movement,
fighting the evil at close quarters as
an epidemic is stamped out in segre-
gated districts. .....r l.
Third. We must gain the press to
our endeavor by the unity, concentra-
ton and reasonableness of our action
lest it turn the current of popular opin-
ion and hinder success.
The Civic Movement.
The archbishops of Philadelphia and
Cincinnati lately banished an objec-
tionable play from their arch dioceses
by unifying parochial sentiment. and
gaining all ,creeds to, cooperate in q
civic demand to, the authorities, # Fl
not difficult to form such unanimous
sentiment when a demand is reasona-
BILE. tolerant and courteously express
ed. Carrying the matter from the pull
pit into the home, enlisting the coop
GRAFTON OF the laity in each section. az
a part of the civic movement will APP
peal not only to the authorities. but to
the manager, the playwright and the
PRESS, since popular representation ID
the basis of American government.
~. Civic Rights. ,........ -
We should base our claims, in fact.
on the rights of citizenship, and de-
mand. not the occasional Punishment
of an immoral play but the permanent
regulation of the stage in accordance
with Christian morality. 4
AS citizens, we demand that our
streets be kept clean and the water
supply pure and uncontaminated. How
much greater the danger of contain
ination by the corrupting plays that
are a prolific source of the physical
evils they pretend to remedy! We have
right to demand that public amuse-
ments be safeguarded when our moral
health Is gravely endangered.
The rights Of God are reverently
emphasized in the American constitu-
ton. II all others deny and ignore
them, it is our business as Catholics
to insist that the rights Of God be ac-
knowledged on the stage and that its
vast influence be not used to nullify
His commandments.
T The civic movement is simple and
possible; reproduced nationally it will
%oll - ~ 1Aook;,,~ 49,