The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-01

u50 y - ln111ul1nu 81
life and at other times are allowable
In politics; II In word we mean that
a Catholic may be honest and fair In
his dealings all the days OF the year
except election days. then is the cx-
preston absolutely false. ~
Patriotism has degenerated to a
great extent into seeking Office for
oneself or ones frisndk True patrio-
tism consists In a low for the insti-
tutions of our country and an ardent
desire to see rhem perpetuated by the
best men the country can command.
Patriotism consisls in loyalty to our
country and obe1 1ence 20 its laws.
because the civil government repre-
sents Gods, ailthority in the civil or
der. Al the civil government is
bound to proeect It's citizens in their
life and property and to defend them
against unjvst aggressors. 1t follows
that the citisens are bound recip-
rocally to defend their country and
uphold its laws. Since for Catholic
the civil government. whether ad-
ministered by Catholic or Protestant
Jew or infdel. represents God in the
civil order. 1t follows that no Cath
Ollie can be true to his religion and
falso to his country. When therefore
by our lives we declare God first and
always. We necessarily in the best
sense likewise proclaim America first
III every disinterested citizen were
to exercise his privilege Of voting, the
administration Of our civil affairs
would be In iibler and cleaner hands
Every American Catholic impelled by
the sole desire Tor good government
should consider II not only right, but
q duty to vote. There are too many
who will not take the trouble to vote
because they zee no personal advan-
tase in doing %. Beware. owever. of
the Catholic who is disgrace to his
faith. but who bidS Cor, Catholic votes
on the ground Of his religion. They
are not Of the se,sd Of those men by
whom salvation is brought to Israel
1T II not by speechmaking. how
over fervid the eloquence. nor by
resolutions unanimously passed amid
the excitement Of conventions. that
the kingdom Of earth will be advanc-
ed. The individuals composing the
convention. encouraged by association
with others and strengthened by
their example. must go forth armed
to battle with tho spirit Of the world
which assails them. each In his own
private life and activities.
LET us, therefore, put on the
armor Of light Let us put on the
Lord Jesus Christ. Yes put you on
the larmor of God that you may be
able to stand against the deceits OF
the devil Stand. therefore, havins
your loins girt about with truth and
having or the breastplate of Justice.
and your feet shod with the prepara-
tion Of the gospel of peace; In all
things taking unto yourselves the
shield of faith wherewith you may be
able to extinguish the fiery darts of
the most wicked one."
After checking over the member
ship of the Union 1t was found that
OF the $4,000 members. forty-two per
cent Cor aS,7o0) had enlisted in the
United States army and navy. ex-
cluding the draft. This showing was
pronounced as most remarkable.
A pledge OF loyalty and allegiance
to President Wilson in the present
emergency was unanimously adopted
This action followed the reading OF
letter from the president. in which
he explained why he was unable to
attend the convention.
II would heartily like to accept"
the president wrote. "but have
found 1t literally impossible to do
anything away from Washington, and
the members Of the cabinet are TIED
ny the leg as I am. Every tine
um out OF the city for few hours
1 come back to find things piled high
which ought to have been promptly
attended to-"