The Irish standard., 1915-07-10
From the days of Hlldebrand,

From the, days Of Hildebrand.
mighty forces have conspired to de.
teat this great enterprise. Under the
pretext Of defending the liberties Of
the newly born European states, or, of
resisting the papal invasion of the
temporal rights of princes, the feudal
overlords and their dependents, ambi-
ttous kings and crafty ministers of
state made common cause against the
church and its defenders, the sover-
eign pontiffs.
In the renaissance period, the
progress of this great idea was i'm
peded by the pseudo-reformers and
their secular allies in the name of
pure religion; by scholars in the name
OF science; by the humanists in the
name of arts and letters; by philoso-
piers and jurists in the name of law
and Justice, and by innovators Of
every class and degree in the name of
liberty and human enlightenment.
From the renaissance onward to our
own day the principle has been con-
stantly attacked by the champions of
absolutism and liberalism alike, while
the legionaries of rationalism and
positivism, Of Deism and Agnosticism
have waged unrelenting war against
its defenders.
In these latter times those who dare
to lift their voices in its behalf are
branded as stupid reactionaries; the
enemies of all progress; fanatical
worshippers of a church autocracy
that would hurl back the advancing
lines of civilization into the abysmal
darkness of medieval superstition.
The stability Of this great idea amid
the storm and stress of thousand
years Is one of the most amazing
facts in the worlds history. Those
who regard this singular exhibition of
spiritual power at work throughout all
the political and social vicissitudes of
so long period as If it were but a
mere chance coincidence In the march
OF historical events are far from CIV
Ing any satisfactory account of this
strange phenomenon. Such critics
would have us believe that the facts
of history afford no clue to the ra-
tionale of things which have a direct
and most intimate relation to the po-
1ifino1 nj t.
Of mankind.
A little reflection will show us that
this way of dealing with the principles
underlying historical causes is mad
Missile.
Philosophical historians are at one
in declaring that ideas tend to be-
come concretely realized in character
istic institutions. Accordingly right
ideas of social and governmental re-
lations when conceived by high mind
ed men, as was the case with the
medieval emperors and popes, tend
to issue in polity that is we'll adapt
ed to secure the true ends of society
and government. On the other hand,
false ideas Of those relations will be-
come concrete in some form of politi-
cal or social institution that runs
counter to the best interests of men
as members Of society and Of organ
lied political states.
This observation gains confirmation
when put beside another truth of phi
losophy itself.
False theories of law and govern.
ment when applied to the actual con-
ditions Of the political life of a peo-
pie, enter upon an endless round of
changes; they shift and vary according
to the external conditions of times,
places. and persons; they are made
to subserve the passing whims and
fancies of the restless factions that
are wont to spring up at times of
public trial, or they favor the per-
sonal peculiarities and passions of the
ruling powers in church and state.
This compliant servile spirit. this
ready acceptance of persons and dis
regard of righteous principles of &C.
ton reveals their internal false.
ness, be they disguised never SO art
fully.
AS Bossuet says of the shifting char
acter Of sectarian doctrine,-they are
variable,-therefore, they are not true
1t is not thus. however, with the
grand principle that was embodied in
the world-polity of Charlemagne and
the medieval popes. The Romano
Teutonic Empire as such, is now num-
bered with the relics of the dead and
buried past; but the spirit which sus-
tanned it in being down to little
more than a century ago has not
ceased to, actuate the minds and
hearts of the most progressive think