The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-09-22
MORAL BENEFITS OF THE WAR.
By Rev. Father Donahoe.

the present war; The writer holds that the. war
has already done good.
What is the good universally hoped for? To
others is left the task of answering this question
What is the good (resulting from the war; the
writer has in mind? In few short articles this
proper query will be answered, and observations
made that may enable readers to see much good
resulting from our unsheathing the sword-even from
our preparing to enter martial conflict with power
full foe.
OF course it is moral results to which attention
is here called. Though the moral benefits are and
will be appreciate, the will not purify up
lift the American people to such extent to
rant the belief that they have become Gods chosen
among all the races. This will not develop any
virtue to strengthen and beautfy American char
acter. The stress and strain of long drawn out
bloody conflict is morally creative but corrective
To recognize wars corrective power must
be able to discern national defects in time of
peace. To forsee the blessings due to war when
the cannons will have ceased to roar one must g
have prayed for those blessings before nations
sprang at anothers threats. To specify what
can strengthen American character has long
since given serious thought to the factors operating
to weaken this nation.
The most enervating of the present day Ameri-
cans undesirable traits is too great love of indie
pendence This defect has of late years, with
ever increasing power, operated to unman men and
weaken the national moral fibre. The individual
who is possessed of this evil spirit often hears
mendation of his censurable acts. Love of inde-
pendence has carried many so far as to hold that
is free Cor ought to free) to live as he likes
do what he peases at all times and in all places
When speak about love of independence have
in mind two radically different characteristics In
individual abides sane love of liberty which
deserves commentator. In another is found an
independent spirit that brooks Interference
with individual freedom and becomes a vice when
craving for liberty deadens the moral sense of OBJ
legation to obey the tenets of both civil and divine
law.
This great republic came into existence through
a commendable love of independence. Throughout
all the years since foundation the oppressed Of
various countries have come here to enjoy the
healthy freedom granted by it's constitution. This
admirable trait-love of independence-in the char
acter of the founders of this great nation would
have ayailed nothing if not backed up by a determ-
nation to labor, and willingness to suffer and
if needs be die to permanently establish gov
independent of foreign dictaton that would
enable American people to enjoy certain inaienable
rights life liberty and the pursuit Of happiness"
While many have to shores to secure
the generous share of civil freedom granted by
government "of the people, by the people and for
the people" there have others, alas, to propa
gate dangerous theories of government, to foster
dissatisfaction, to lessen appreciation of the
blessings conferred us by our system of govern
ment and to attempt to weaken and destroy the
binding power of laws whose government brings
about the civil and moral betterment of all the
people.
The undesirable immigrant with antiAmerican
ideas of government is not the only with false
and pernicious ideas about personal liberty. Every
observant man must take cognizance of deporabe
desire for independence that is very much in evil
dence among American-bred youth Countless
homes blighted by baneful love of independ-
among precocious boys of this land. I'm
numbered tender hearts broken and noble
heads bowed in sorrow because of the anarchistic
attitude of young sons towards domestic govern
ment. So many children today of only fourteen or
fifteen disregard parental advice and rebel against
parental restraint. They discount the advice of
father and mother because of conviction that
the ''old folks" much out of date in this pro-
gressive- day and age, and that they (the boys)
are SO mentally ripe they are fully capable of de-
Gliding for themselves in matters great and small.
They refuse to be guided by parents because while
yet young they have decided to enjoy
of personal liberty that accords with their puerile
ideas of independence.
The real evils resulting from determination to
be free begins when the age of puberty is reached
Every spiritual director knows how much false ideas
about liberty nullifes his efforts to strengthen
Character at the threshold of manhood and woman
hood. The time has come when young men and
women will not listen the preaching of Christ's
Gospel because of its frequent repetition of thou
shalt not" Having dsregarded parental pre-
cept they soon turn deaf ear to him who promuL
gates the divine commandments because obedience
to law parental, civil divine is to them the
tailment of their liberty.
Any who has employed men for few years
finds that vitiated love Of independence nterferes
frequently with every legitimate business and tre
mendously handicaps honest employers. This
wrong idea of personal liberty to break
most solemn cantracts, to quit work when their
help is most needed to work or not to work as it
suits their taste and to become the meanest par