The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-10
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR: 10y
Atty TO THE REPUBLIC AND
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

Let every one be subject to higher
powers For there is no power bu
from God: and those that are, are or
dained of God Wherefore be
subject of necessity: not only fOI
wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Thus spoke st. Paul to the Chris
tians of earlier ages: thus do | to-day
speak to those who are of my spiritual
household.
The words of ST. Paul tell Of duty
to country, to nation. The country is
the common family. 1t rules in its col
lectiye command over each particular
member The individual member re-
quires for his life and welfare the pro-
tecting hand of civil society: to civil
society, therefore, the individual mem
ber must be subject; for its life, in
tegrity and honor he must be ready to
make sacrifice of personal veal, even
of very life. 1t is the ordinance of God
who willed that men live together as
in one family, and hold the general in
terest of that family superior to per-
sonal interests.
The ruler of the family, of the ma
tiOn, is it's authoritative representative,
it's official spokesman and leader.
When he commands or fOrbids, it is
the whole organism that speaks or
acts, and then he speaks or acts with
the authority of the Supreme Creator
of men, the Supreme Ruler of nations.
And so, we rehearse the words Of Paul,
Let every soul be subject to higher
powers: for there is no power but from
God"
Our social family. our country is the
United States of America America
speaking, we listen as to the voice Of
God: we obey, we follow, gladsomely
and for conscience sake"
To-day the leader of the American
nation speaks: to us to hearken sub
missively and follow whithersoever he
leads.
The President of the United States
believes that the honor of the nation
4s..s been. challenge. nes~ttske- solemn
action in it's defence. Even as things
already are, we live a supreme mo-
ment in the history of the United
States. That the crisis we now wit
ness may go no farther, we hope and
Dray. We covet no holocaust OF hui
man lives: we fain would repel the
advancing shades of war. But, ii the
worse does come, if the leader OF the
nation decides that it must come, then
are we ready for every sacrifice.
America is the land Of free discus
sion, of individual liberty. We may
for time see for ourselves what our
social duties, our social interests do
call for and require. But the moment
comes when individual liberty, indiVld-
ual discussion must cease. 1t is when
the nation through its authoritative
representative speaks, and acts. Then
silence be to self: then nought else
be in our minds and hearts but the
nation, to be cherished and scrupul-
ously obeyed.
| speak in a particular manner to
Catholics and on behalf of Catholics.
With them patriotism is the dictate OF
religion: it is for conscience sake"
Because they are Catholics, first and
foremost must they be in patriotism:
and first and foremost are they in the
message now flashing from every
state of the Union to the President OF
the United States, saying-we are with
you to-day, we will be with you to-
morrow.
Here and there in America in dark
some corners some few have dared to