The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-08
STRIKE VIOLENCE AND
CHRISTIAN BURIAL.

In view Of the recent destruc-
ton owing to strike conditions in
the Twin Cities the following an
|nouncement may prove timely.
Any Catholic who takes part in
an unlawful attack upon citizens
or property and suffers death as
a result of such participation will
be deprived of the right Of Chris
tan burial.
Some time ago st. Paul was the
scene of disgraceful actions en-
acted in conjunction with the
strike between the Twin City
Railway employees and their en-
ployers. After a period of activ
ity, in which violence and wanton
destruction of property played an
important role, conditions were
finally restored to their normal
state. Last week, through the in
trigue of unprincipled agitators
and the contributory influence of
certain cheap politicians, the
minds of the workingmen were
again infamed. Last Sunday GER
tain men in our midst, even city
officials sworn to uphold the hon
or of the city, put forth their eff
forts to arouse the animal pas
sions of the unthinking among the
mob.
On many occasions the city of
ST. Paul as a whole, and as repre-
sented by it's better element, has
presented to the nation a rare ex-
ample of steadfast loyalty and de-
votion to law and government.
The echoes Of the statewide 10y
atty demonstration staged recent
ly in the Twin Cities have scarce
ly died away. The nation at large
is still speaking of the wonderful
Esprit manifested by these two
commonwealth. The Athenians
Of old were wont to boast that
Alcibiades excelled every other
Greek both in virtue and in vice
| ST. Paul seems DESTROYS Of emu
lating Alcibiades.
| With regard to the controversy
now going ON between the afore-
mentioned employers and employ
ees we have nothing to do. There
is no doubt that working men have
| a perfect right to band themselves
into a union or other lawful or
ganization. At the same time, an
employer should be permitted to
Judge of the qualifications which
he requires in those whom he en-
ploys. Be that as it may, there is
no law, natural or civil, which will
, justify open violence and attack
upon citizens and property such as
characterized the actions of the st
Paul hoodlums last Sunday. 1t is
one of the fundamental principles
of liberty, as well as a command
ment of God, that we respect the
life and the property of our neigh
) Dor. Hence, every Catholic, t6
lspeak of Catholics alone, who en-
cages in or contributes to such un
: lawful violence, is guilty of morta
sin. Any specious pretext which
he may allege in extenuation O.
his conduct is absolutely fruitles'
as regards his Catholic conscience
Where the cause Of unionism hal
been conducted according to Law
and order it has made headwa.
, and has gained the approval ant
the assistance Of respectable. cltl
zens. On the other hand, wher
! unionism has employed or has tol
! Grated the activities Of the crimi
nal, hoodlum element in its midst
! it has invariably drawn upon it
lself the condemnation of all law
abiding citizens. The cowardl.
e scoundrels who, on last Sunday
Y abetted and shielded by tn
e crowds which thronged OH
t streets, wrought destruction 0
!; property, and made dastardly as
e saults upon working men VIII
) were discharging their duty
I. should be punished with all til
g severity Of war time discipline.
81 The statesman, the thinker, tn
. student of history, can easily Sc
$ through the efforts of deprave
: agitators in playing upon th
y Ignorance and the prejudice of Gel
tain classes of workingmen. Az
Il lpeals to passions, fiery denuncis
S ton Of wrongs which do not exis
f exhortations to stand by you
! rights become absolutely Grin