The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-07

doubtful cause, gives assurance and
satisfaction to all.
Agitators, those seeking the passing
approval of the multitude, are con-
sciously or unconsciously arraying
class against class by denouncing
the owners of property as the rich
the predatory richly pandering
to the selfshness of the greedy and
by deceiving the gullible and the in.
experienced. Others challenge the
right of anyone to own private prop
erty in any considerable amount, or
to enjoy the fruits and advantages
thereof; they urge the immediate
acquisition by the State of all utili-
ties and properties, the use of which
is affected with a public interest,
and, as the ultimate, they favor
ownership by society of all the
means of production, including land
and machinery; they urge that the
Government should protect every in
dividual against all the trials and
vicissitudes of life, that it prescribe
wages and fix conditions of employ
ment, and that the State shall be-
come the employer and require labor
only to the extent that it may be
necessary to furnish it the means to
supply to the people the simple needs
of life. 1t is even suggested that, if
the parents are unwilling to support
their children, this burden should be
borne for them at the public expense,
and that, If in any instance, the
marriage relation shall be found to
be irksome, the bonds are freely to
be dissolved, and mere sentiment or
economic considerations are to be
deemed adequate grounds for divorce.
If doctrines such as these, which
are being advanced in public and pri-
vate, by speech and by print, and even
by some teachers, are to be adopted,
or permitted to gain substantial
foot-hold, individual Initiative will be
dangerously impaired; the family,
which is an essential unit of our So
ciety and the very cornerstone of the
foundation of the Republic, will
cease to be the motive for morality,
industry, thrift and independence;
the State, transgressing the limits Of
it's true functions, will undertake to
stand in place of father and mother,
husband and wife, brother and sister,
and become one vast charitable ma
chine to furnish employment and to
dole out supplies to meet the needs
of the people.
Need we here suggest that any
such program would more than war
work the ruin of the Nation? 1t
would weaken character and leave
the individual man and woman with
out the motive or hope or inspiration
necessary to freedom and morality.
The Lold which individualism has
ever had upon Democracy should not
be loosened.
Character-that is, morality based
upon religion, be maintained
and strengthened from generation to
generation; respect for the authority
of government and for the teachings
of religion, subordination of self in
the interest of fellow men, and loyal
ty to the laws, traditions and ideals
OF our country, ought to be and must
continue to be so inculcated as to be-
come part Of the very life of rising
generations
The means for doing all these
things are many but each is in duty
bound to do his full share. All should
be alert to check every tendency
which threatens or is likely to i'm
pair the highest development of self
reliance, independence, character and
love of country.
The ideals fostered by religious
education elevate the Importance of
the individual develop consciousness
of the duty and the power of choice
between the right and the wrong;
sanctify the family and safeguard it
as the foundation of society and
morals; stimulate patriotism and
strengthen the citizenry to guide
Alright the purposes, affairs and laws
Iof the country.
Let us give to religious education
every legitimate support; let the
young be inspired by the traditions
and great deeds of the past, and let
Eus see to it that all who are charged
with the duty of teaching are them
selves moral and sound to the core.
Let all educators who believe and
teach that morals rest most securely
upon religion fully realize and be as
sured that the best hope of humanity
and of country spring from the ideals
which they pursue and inspire in the
children of the Republic.