The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-01-30
THE AMERICAN "kuLTuRKAMPF"
DO We Need a Center Party in This
Country?
By PETER E. DIETZ.

w PAoteCI the catholic
church against the punishment due
TO human weakness. wanting fore
thought and fatalistic resignation to
the powers of evil. He did promise.
however, that the gates of hell shall
not prevail against her.
American Catholics, who have i'm
agined their Church built into a gar
den OF roses. and were all-too-readv
10 back up an ideal America against
the world, have been rudely iolted
Our present position in American
thought. tradition and history-in-the
making, ought to explode the lingo.
istic optimism.
IT Is true, the constitution of the
united States. and of the several
states, guarantees religious freedom.
not absolutely. but at price-the
price of vigilance. There must be no
false security and no blindness to
the hostile forces that undermine the
CIVIC foundations of liberty. Modern
progress has not outworn the adage.
old as the hills, "If you want peace
prepare for war"
Protect the Constitution
Inc constitution grants rights,
that rights may be enjoyed. Rights
may go into desuetude by default.
Dull instruments are worse than
none at all. The constitution has a.
right also to the civic reaction of
Catholic thought. since it gives us
freedom to think and so to act. In
the name of God and of humanity.
let US make America what the Catho-
lie optimist prematurely imagined it
to be.
The American people made the
constitution. and can again, unmake
and remake it. The constitution is
not unalterably fixed and inviolably
sacred. 1t is not proof against the
ravages of time. Popular opinion,
current thought and new movements
poke around the foundations. and If
they crumble. the crime is charge
able to those. who, in negligent leis-
ure lounge under the protecting roof
of the American liberties.
Runnlngs Sores Of American De-
mocracy.
The Menace" is a mere incident.
But it is typical Of anti-American
hostility. This hostility is not always
open; more often. reptile-like it
sinks its venomous fangs into the
body of American liberties with
sneaking secrecy. There is hostility
more menacing than the Menace"
and more unopposed. Let us reckon
with it. whatever its nature.
Hostility is many-headed: indif-
ferentism, atheism, professionalism,
capitalism, socialism and worst of all.
secularism, voiced most eloquently
by the ominous and all but omnip-
otent silence of the secular press.
Possibly there is no "scrap of paper"
league between them all, but all of
them stand solidly arrayed against
the Catholic institutions that en-
deavor to operate by let and lief of
the constitution.
To illustrates: The public school
system of education, elementary,
high. college and university with its
state resources and threat to reduce
education to a government function;
industrial education in its relation to
the parochial school; the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of
Learning with it animus against all
UNCONVENTIONAL institutions.
The Allen Bill introduced this
month into the 48th Missouri Gen.
eral Assembly provides for the in
spection of all public or private hos
pitfalls. reformatory homes. houses of
detention, converts. asylums. sectari-
an seminaries. schools or institu-
tions." This bill is extreme and will
not pass the present legislature. but
again it is typical of legislative ef-
fort not uncommon in all the states.
Less extreme and more dangerous is
the national legislative movement to
regulate. control, sterilize and secu-
larize the Catholic charities.
There is the Federal Council of the
churches of Christ in America, fed
Grating 80 denominations with a
membership Of 100000 raising its
voice in convention against state sub
vention or remuneration for services
rendered to the state in charitable
and social institutions, the Indian
schools. etc. The Federal Council in
characterically protestant fashion
has gone into politics and through
its influence may inflict upon us
much spiritual" salvation through
government agencies.
Arizona has forbidden by law the
importation of wine for sacramento
purposes and Colorado would re-
quire a church liquor license at the
price Of $4,000 for the use of Mass
wine. Temperance via prohibition
has become national, and expensive