The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-21
REPUBLIC WILL
SURVIVE SAYS
CARD. GIBBONS
It Rests Upon the Eternal
Principles of Truth
and Justice. Z
AN INSPIRING ADDRESS
Loyalty to Country Urged
at Great Catholic Mass
Meeting.

NEW YORK, aug. 2l.-JameS Garul'
nal Gibbons delivered an address be-
fore q mass meeting at Madison Square
Garden tonight. as one of the features
of the Catholic Week program OF the
American Federation of Catholic So.
cieties. He said, in part:
you live in a republic where there
IS liberty without license, and author.
fly without depotism; and where the
civil rulers hold over you the aegis OF
Its protection without interfering with
the God.giyen rights OF conscience.
I'm view Of the signal blessings you
enjoy, it's 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 administra.
ton Of public affairs, as the children
of Israel held up the hands OF Moses
while he interceded for them before
the Lord.
THE inspired word Of God enjoins
this loyalty to country, and reverence
for Its rulers. The religion you pro.
less demands this fealty. The constI.
tutions Of your respective societies up.
hold II; and / am sure that there is not
q single fibre of your heart which does
not pulstate with a genuine. undivided
love for the republic, and its sacred
traditions.
Y venture to say that every men,
Der OF your society is a lcval citizen.
Every citizen a patriot; every patriot
Q soldier; every soldier a hero; and
every hero would be a martyr, to die II
need be for his country.
There are some pessimistic prom.
cts who are in the habit Of predicting
the downfall Of our Republic. They
are more frequently heard on the eve
of Q presidential election. | have been
listening to these dire forebodings for
over fifty years, but on the morning
after election. we find, the prophets
sounded q false alarm, that the coun.
try Is safe, and that the government is
tr~ansactingl business at the same old
stand.
For my part. l have an abiding
fatth In the endurance OF the republic.
] might base by hope on the intelli.
gence and patriotism Of the American
people. Knight base my confidence On
the wisdom of our statesmen and the
heroism ofour soldiers. i might place
my reliance on our standing armies
and dreadnoughts. And surely these
are all elements Of strength to be reck.
oned with.
But my friends, II the republic Is
20 endure. It must rest on a stronge,
foundation than the Intelligence and
patriotism of our citizens, the ,..sdom
OF our statesmen, the heroism of our
soldiers, our armies and dreadnoughts.
II must rest on the eternal principles
OF truth and Justice, and righteous.
ness, and downright honesty In our re-
'lations with foreign nations. It must
rely in our firm belief in an oyer.rul.
.ang providence who created all things
by HIS Power, governs all things by
HIS Wisdom, and who controls the ai.
Sairs OF nations as well as of man.
y have lived for many years, and
me older 1jgrow, the more am con.
vinced that a supreme power inter.
yenes In the affairs of mankind. For
u sparrow does not fall to the ground
without his consent how can we hone
mat an empire will rise without His
c~o-operation2
This Is the spirit that has marked
the history OF our nation from Wash.
ingtonlto Wilson. 1t is a gratifying fact
ynat al our Presidents from first to
iast have never failed to recognize and
invoke the moral governor OF the
proclamations.
righteousness exalteth a nation.
puti sin maketh a people miserable.'"