The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-11-29
SOME POST-BELLUM THOUGHTS


yet, we must take into account the
pent-up aspirations and the instincts
of liberty in the breasts of the peo-
| pie and with them there must be no
undue interference so far as the abuse
of liberty affects each one individual
| ly All this again emphasizes the me-
cessity of moral and religious train:
| ing, so that each individual may rule
himself from within. The kingdom
of God is within. If the wind be
sowed by parents, OF governments by
neither giving nor permitting relig-
ious and moral instruction, they will
reap the whirlwind of the greatest So
ton | again ask you to give serious
Estudy to the question of moral forma
ton and religious instruction.
The New Order. ;s.-.
We must not close our eyes to the
fact that a new order of things is
coming about in the world and in our
own dear country and is at hand. Let
us indeed hope that the new order
will come without any general vio-
lence, any radical and hasty enact
ments which owing to lack of thought
and vision may prove ill-timed and
must needs be revoked. The indus
trial unrest is bringing out clearly a
principle of Christian philosophy.
The strikes are focusing attention on
the rights of the public. No group or
class of individuals may lawfully
trample underfoot the rights of the
public. No class of public servants
may violate the rights of the public.
No group of individuals or class han
ding the basic necessities of life may
legitimately attempt to cripple or
starve out the public. Physicians
may not organize and say we refuse
to serve the public Farmers may
not unite and say we shall plant moth
ing except for our own individual
needs. Agencies of transportation
may not lawfully violate their duty
to the public by preventing the NOV
ing Of the necessities of life and the
Interchange of commerce, thereby de-
stroying all business. 1t is truly the
duty of the government to interfere.
If legislative machinery does not ex-
ist to control such a situation, it
should be manufactured, but while it
is the duty of the state to safeguard
the public, it is also the duty of
the state to see that the servants of
the public are treated justly, and even
with a measure of generosity. Those
who serve the public should be treat
ed with a certain munifcence by the
public through the civil government
There is no question but that great
abuses in the past have existed on
the part of capital and by capital as
it was serving the public and con-
trolling the basic articles of life. To-
day there is a demand that this cease.
Capital has been made up naturally
of the few. Many demands are now
being made that capital give up all it's
interests and that control pass into
the hands of labor and trade workers.
If such came about labor and trade
workers world have a CLEAR duty to
the public, and civil government
would have the obligation OF. enforc-
ing the consideration, and fair treat
ment due to the public. Undoubtedly
steps will be taken in the years to
come toward industrial democracy |
am not of course concerned with
these, except in so far as moral prin-
ciples are involved l should like to
stress the duty of all of us trying to
do the most that can be done each in
his or her own sphere. We cannot sit
back and just hope that all things will
come out right. In war time each one
was willing to do full measure OF
work. In the crisis of peace time all
should with equal love of country and
society do the most possible. Let us
again hope that great and geoC
measure of common sense will direct
! our actions. Let us realize that the
; industrial situation is to be studied
: and seriously studied from the mora
{ standpoint. l would direct special at
tention to the industrial conditions ir
the fifteenth century when industry
was in large measure under the
control of the majority of workers
! Let us all work against class warfare
and seek earnest cooperation. LIE
our efforts help to bring about &C
) lions and decisions of both capital anc
| labor openly arrived at We cal
work for friendly cooperation. lie
: us put ourselves in the places of al
: the individuals of the masses. Let III
: after assembling facts be willing t,
9 express our sympathy for the aspira
t tions of the masses. All who cal
r should try, to be helpful Once tn
: masses feel that we are sincerel
r sympathetic they will listen to us
:, Let us work towards a conference il
+ which capital and labor, state an
0 church will have representation Cal
:. ital has its rights and obligations, S
e has labor. Both are servants of tn
n public. In all questions arising b.
# tween capital and labor, state an
S church are interested, the state t
It safeguard all necessary protection {
o the public or common good, the churc
e to indicate the moral issues and
o teach elf-responsibility, self-realiz;
l. ton from the standpoint of the Kin;
D. dom of God.