The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-16
PRIEST LAYS WAR TO
OAR WIN IN SCHOOLS
Tells Catholic Women Militar-
ism Is Developed by Evo-
luton Theory.
HITS At PACIFISTS ALSO

The Rev. Joseph II. Mcmahon de-
nounccd Yesterday the public schools of
the United States for teaching evolution.
which through the doctrine Of the sur
vi,al OF the httest. he said. led directly
to that m~ilitarlsm Of which Bernhardi
Is the exponent. Father Mcmahon was
speaking at pclmonico's TO an audience
of women ON Catholicism and War In
tho series Of lectures under tho auspices
OF the Catholic Library Association.
"Militarism." he declared. 'is the re-
suit OF thai material philosophy which
has had the world IN It's grip for three
quarters Of q century. Look in the tcNi
books the children OF this country study.
and scc there tho principles OF evolu-
ton, the admission OF the law OF a."
Jungle. gu: OF which Bcrnhardi built his
theory that war IS "A biological ncces-
sity.' The lessons OF TN. present war
should make tho Juit-l States sec that
our school books are wiped clean OF ey-
olution.
THAT Is one phase Of the materialism
that leads to war. Another is that OF
inv I''tl' fllks'k'fi W. NV
of ornaments. The scandals of which
we have read. In connection with such
manufacture, the candals exposed in
the courts. are enough to show it's evil.
"St.ll another phase Of niaterialism is
The attitude OF the military class. an
aristocracy whose purpose IL war. One
more danger to JUST peace II the yellow
press. Who does not remember how the
yellow press aided in hurrying this coun-
try into war with spain.
1T is shameful Father Mcmahon
added. that tor the sake Of the con-
centrados IN camp in cuba the United
States fought Spain, Just as for the sake
uf the concentrates It refuses 10 60 to
war with Mexico"
The speaker said that the advocates
~ peace At any price" were both pa
Catholic Church.
TOO proud to light has a pagan
source he declared W hear OF meck-
ness IN Christianity. nut not OF pride
And a States pride should he in the pro-
lection OF lis citizens against agsrct-
sion"
Blu, the speaker salved this hit al
President Wilson by some words of praise
for the latter's stand In regard to the
sinking OF the Lusitania and the An
coma.
"It is much TO the credit OF the Pres
dent" he said. that he denounced the
murder of the innocent ~nor-conba:a
in the sinking of those ships, for that
was not war: 1t was murder. a direct
violation of tho Fifth Commandment.
War, which when undertaken in defence
of moral right ~ considered 10y the Cath
Ole Church to be right. should be fought
according to the teachings of the Ten
Commandments. \ great command,r
has said that War is hell That is
true. for he'll is Gods assertion of His
moral right to compel justice with force.
The Pope. the speaker declared. did
not assume to arbitratc in matters out
side his jurisdiction or TO iu,crfero be-
tween nations. but tho teaching of tho
Catholic Church was clear in justifyii =
war when the cause II just and it, con-
duct AS little iniuma!I. IS possible,
WA for the expansion of territory Is
immoral. nor does the plea of Carryiu;
civilization into another country justify
force. The Church denounced the gosp
of 'kultur' lons ago. as it %douour,cs Il
now
Much of the discussion of the war in
this country is foolish. Father MrMthou
believes. He added
ION the one hand we hear people eN-
cusing. with u shrug OF the shoulder.
horrible atrocities which are clearly out
sue tue rules OF war, tNcuSlnE lneln ON
the ground that war IL hell On the
other hand We read that the Use Of
poisoned gas is forbidden by the con-
vcntioIs of The Hague. do not think
all the Powers signed that agreement. ,
and in any case | cannot see why the '
use of poisoned gas is worse than the
hurting Of high explosives"
Concerning the apparent anomaly Of
Catholic soldiers hehtiug from opposing !
trenches. Father Mcmahon said that the
duty of the Catholic Is to obey his coun-
try ~ long as 1t is not obviously In the
wrong.
And how is a private citizen 10
know" he asked. ''Often lie cannot. So
frequently the Government Intentionally
misleads its people. and while the truth
is known In newspaper Offices it is not
revealed. The citizen can but trust and
obey his Government unless 1t is too /,
obviously wrong.
And the mistakes of the pacifist. who !
declares, a State should never declare
war. is in forgetting that while the In
dividual has an immortal soul and should
seek perfection first of all, the State is
hut az instrument, and it would he
pcridy in the state to seek perfection at
the cost of injustice TO it's people"