The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-08-31
PLEADS
FOR PATRIOTISM
TELLS CATHOLIC CITIZENS THEY
MUST TAKE MORE INTEREST
IN THIS GOVERNMENT
HAS AN ABIDING FAITH IN THE REPUBLIC
Righteousness Exalteth a Nation But
Sin Maketh a People
Miserable

James Cardinal Gibbons addressed
the great gathering of Catholic So
cieties at Madison Square Garden in
New York City last week, and spoke
in part as follows:
you live in a republic where there
is liberty without license, and author
ity without despotism; and where the
civil rulers hold over you the aegis of
its protection without interfering with
the God-given rights of conscience.
"In view Of the signal blessings you
enjoy, it is your duty to take an active,
personal, vital interest in the welfare
Of your country. You should glory in
her prosperity, and be concerned at
every adversely that may befall her.
You should hold up the arms of those
who are charged with the adminis,ra
ton of public affairs, as the children
of Israel held up the hands of Moses
while he intercedes for them before
the Lord:
THE inspired word Of God e~njoins
this loyalty to country, and reverence
fer its rulers. The religion you profess
demands this fealty. The constitu-
lions of your respective societies up
hold it; and | am sure that there is
not a single fibre of your heart which
does not pulsate with a genuine I'M
divided love for the republic, and its
sacred traditions.
Il venture to say that every member
of your society is a loyal citizen.
Every citizen a patriot, every patriot a
soldier, every soldier a hero, and every
hero would be a martyr, to die if need
be for his country.
There are some pessimistic pro-
phets who are in the habit of predict
ing the downfall Of our republic. They
are more ~freQdently heard on the eve
Of a presidential election. have been
listening to these dire forebodings for
over fifty years; but on the morning
after election, we find the prophets
sounded a false alarm, that the coun-
try is safe, and that the government
is transacting business at the same old
stand.
For my part, I lave an abiding
faith in the endurance Of the republic.
I might base my hope on the intelli-
gence and patriotism of the American
people. | might base my confidence on
the wisdom Of our statesmen and the
heroism Of Jul soldiers. | might place
my reliance on our standing armies
and dreadnoughts.
But my friends, if the republic is
to endure, it must rest on a stronger
foundation than the intelligence and
patriotism of our citizens, the wisdom
of our statesmen, the heroism of our
soldiers, our armies and dreadnoughts.
1t must rest or the eternal principles
of truth and justice, and righteous
ness, and downright honesty in our re-
lations with foreign nations. 1t must
rely in our firm belief in an over-rul-
ing Providence who created all things
by His power, governs all things by
His wisdom, and who controls the af-
fairs of nations as well as of man.
81 have lived for many years, and
the older I grow, the more l am con-
WINGED that a supreme power inter-
venes in the affairs Of mankind. For il
a sparrow does not fall to the ground
without His consent how can we hope
that an empire will rise without His
cooperation?
"This ia the spirit that has marked
the history of our nation from Wash
ington to Wilson. 1t is a gratifying
feet that all wi presidents from first
tc last have never failed to recognize
and invoke the moral governor of the
world, especially in their inaugural
proclamations.
righteousness exaltcth a nation.
but sin maketh a people miserable"