The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-28
Gibbons Doesn't
Fear Socialism
Cardinal Issues Statement on
Peace and Reconstruction.

Peace and Reconstruction.
Baltimore, Md, Dec. 24.--Cardinal
Gibbons, in a statement today, said
that he had no fear that socialism
would become an issue to be dreaded
in the period Of reconstruction, and
that the good sense of the American
working people would check any So
Icial upheaval. He said:
I'VE ought to rejoice particularly
on this Christmas occasion, because
lit is the first Christmas festival in
five years that we have had the happi-
ness of celebrating in the midst Of un
liversal peace, either actually attained
or dawning upon us.
And I think, too, that the ex-
ample of energy we spent in the pros
ecution of the war is a matter for re-
joicing, for it has shown the world
the capacity Of America and Ameri-
cans We have sent to the fighting
forces prc-'isions and munitions Of
war in enormous quantities, we have
isent billions cf money and millions OF
men, and for this tremendous effort
on the part of America we ask, so Tar
as I can learn, no compensation. We
ask neither an inch Of territory nor
| a dollar in money. Our only reward
is to be the consciousness OF having
done our duty, of having helped TO
make, the world free and having help
ed to win just and glorious peace.
/ Il earnestly hope that this peace
has come to stay and for all tu-
ture generations disputes between
peoples will be settled by the voice
I and pen of conciliation, which are
mightier than the sword.
Gas for the outcome Of the negotia-
| tions about to begin in Paris, it IS
hard to express an opinion. we can
j only hope that they will be directed
by wisdom and justice and falr
dealing may prevail over the interests
of Individual nations, and that the
peace negotiations may be ended at
an early date.
81 feel no anxiety with regard to
the future Of our country, feel that
we will go on, that we will make
progress toward far better under
standing among all our people
Much concern seems to be felt about
the labor situation throughout the
country, and there are fears as to the
outcome of the readjustment period.
I feel little troubled about that. am
sure the working people Of the coun-
try are men of intelligence and COM
mon sense =. They know that any
isocial upheaval would bear more
heavily upon them than upon any
other class and would hurt them
more than it would hurt any other
class.
LAS for the spread Of socialism in
Anne which some dread, 1 feel no
apprehension whatever, and feel
there is no reason for the apprehen-
sion. No man or set Of men can raise
a storm in this country without some
real grievances, and every Socialist
in the land, down1in his heart, knows
there is no actual grievance about
which he can justly complain, Ger
tainly no grievance that would war
rant the overturning Of the social
structure and the ruin, industrial. and
| of every other sort that would ensure.
And the working people OF the coup-
try know this as we'll, and nave no
fear that they will be led astray by
i the specious doctrines of socialism to
their own undoing.
Fears as to the labor situation,
fears about spread Of socialism and
kindred doctrines do not trouble me.
The only apprehension I might have
would be with regard to the consoll-
dation of control Of the great public
interests of the country in the auth
critics of the government itself.
These interests are vast and wide
reaching and control the we'll being OF
millions of men, such interests as
the railroads and the >telegraphs as
well as others. I should be sorry to
see these things put under the direc-
ton of any federal administration
The men employed in these industries
and utilities would form the prepond-
Grating interest in any administration
and would tend to perpetuat!on OF
power I believe in a division OF
power and think it best for the coun-
tr- I should be sorry tc see any in
vasion by the administrative depart
n,ent of the government upon the
rights of other departments. The
builders of our government provided
for a government of check and bal
ances, a government in which the
Executive, the legislative and the
judicial departments were kept sepa-
rate and distinct and each depart
ment was made Independent Of the