The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-11-01

some of her greatest doctors, has de-
clared that the people receive directly
from God all political power; that they
have a right to set up the form of gov
ernment which best suits their genius,
habits and customs, and to select their
own rulers, and that these are respon-
Sible to the people under-God for the
exercise of their authoritye~,
Other Nations -Setfish-~<
Perhaps it was too much to expect
the immediate and hearty acceptance
of principles so thoroughly unselfish
by nations which had still clinging to
them the old traditions of state alb
solutism. The pity is that full JUS
tice has not been done, and therefore
peace will not be complete. No won
der America is not satisfied with the
proposed League of Nations. Presi-
dent Wilson himself frankly expresses
his own dissatisfaction. His hope is
that from the acceptance of the
league, such as it is, the nations may
be led on to the acceptance of the
league as he planned it.
In the meantime there is set up an
international tribunal whose "atten-
tion may be drawn to anything any
where that is likely to disturb the
peace of the world or the good un-
derstanding between nations upon
which the peace of the world de-
pends." We can only hope that this
tribunal will heed the just complaints
Of the oppressed peoples of the
world and make use of the terrific
force of public opinion to right their
wrongs. Otherwise another world war
will not be prevented, but merely post
poned. Justice must sit in Carmel or
its work will not be peace.
Our own history. however, teaches
us not to despair The Constitution
of the United States was not salts
factory to those who framed it; it
was the result of a compromise
And yet it is the foundation on which
Eberty-loving people from every land
on earth have built up the greatest
democracy of all times. May we not
hope that the League of Nations, i'm
perfect and unsatisfactory as it is,
may be the means under Gods Provi-
dence for bringing the peoples of the
world closer together and strengthen-
ing those bonds of sympathy and
brotherly love which can make war
impossible? Then shall justice sit in
Carmel and the work of justice shall
be peace and the service of Justice,
quletness and security forever"
Secondly, not only are the govern
ments of the world not satisfied with
the results of the war, but the peo-
pies of the world are not satisfied.
The spirit of unrest has taken DOS
session of them to such a degree that
statesmen and churchmen everywhere
are filled with grave misgivings. In
countries where the old order has dis
appeared, license and anarchy are
showing their head. Bolshevism has
overrun Russia and Hungary, has en-
tered Poland and Germany, and it's
shadow is appearing here and there
AL 1AAhSAiSo. dC uluCICICSS pCIWGcll
capital and labor, from which the pub
lie suffered not little before the war,
Iihave now become so acute that there
seems to be a growing unwillingness
to submit them to arbitration Even
in agricultural districts, hitherto nat.
nrally conservative, radical farmers
are joining with radical laborites to
lget control Of the government by elect.
ing an administration favorable to
their extreme program
What is the cause of all this un
rest? Was not the war fought and
won for democracy? Did not the peo
| pie take the chief part in the strug
gle? Are they not, therefore, entitled
to the fruits of their victory? Yes
brethren, the people did win the war
and they may not be deprived of the
reward of their valor. The world has
been made safe for democracy, and
nobody should dispute the peoples
right to rule.
Authority or Anarchy.
| There are a few things, however
the people must never lose sight of
| The first of these is that there car
be no rule without authority. Au
tocracy sinned by overstepping the
limits of authority, and, like the ca
of Juggernaut, crushing out the lib
critics of the people. Democracy mus
avoid the opposite, but equally great
sin of permitting liberty to degenerat,
into license and anarchy, and thu
throwing off the yoke of authority.
yoke may be painful thing, but with
out it the OK cannot carry it's burden
Neither can democracy carry the bur
fdens of modern society unless it wear
the yoke of authority. What will
avail the people to be released from
1.-THE iron heel of tyranny if they ar
Eto be precipitated into a sea of dis
Icord and anarchy which will swallow
ap all their dearly-bought liberties
Liberty is the slave of law, and a.
lthority is its safeguard. There cal
be no order, and, therefore, no peac
or prosperity under any form of gov
Fernment unless both authority an
liberty be recognized. Authority mus
protect liberty, and liberty must SUI
port authority. But in democrac
i no sentiment needs to be cultivate
with greater care than that Of ri
spect and reverence for authority.
L = r :