The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-04-24
WHERE SOCIALISM STOOD.

Several years ago this country
was plunged into the seething
vortex of war. God had smiled
upon America. He had spread far
and wide her vast territories. In
her bosom deep down had He
planted the richest and choicest
seeds OF prosperity any nation has
known. Years ago when our fore
fathers struggled to solidify and
to fortify the asylum they had
reared here for the oppressed of
all nations, God had blessed their
efforts. He brought victory to
their arms, peace to their people
and the blessings Of freedom to
the unfortunates who were
crushed out Of the other countries
of earth.
Then came the great test.
America was threatened with
humiliation. Mindful Of Valley
Forge, of atrocities perpetrated by
British, Hessians and Indians, the
youth of the country quickly en-
rolled themselves under the ban
ner that for so many years had
been the Palladium Of their lib
critics. The sons Of the former
emigrants, yea, many Of the late
emigrants themselves, valiantly
went forth to battle and to die.
Once more would God bless the
nation over whose early struggles
His Providence had watched so
tenderly.
In this crisis one body of citi-
zens stood aloof. They, too. had
fled from unbearable conditions
abroad. They, too, had felt the
crushing weight Of tyranny in
foreign lands. And yet when the
house Of their present abiding was
afire, they sullenly stood by and
prayed for it's destruction. Were
they mad or demented? No, just
inoculated with the hell-born
hatred Of all things good. With
the. gratitude Of the serpent and
the manliness of the polecat they
idiotically yearned and strove for
the downfall of the only asylum
their fetid carcasses ever had
known. Socialists they called
themselves, presumably because
socially bound together in the
midnight blackncss of hate.
America declared that she
would defend herself and her
children. Even after she had sent
forth the call that magicalIy
caused four million brave sons to
spring from the soil, armed and
breathing patriotism, these pol
trOons at their st. Louis conven-
ton, held the very day after we
entered the titanic struggle, thus
declared to the world the brand of
"patriotism" that animated them:
eve recommend to the workers
and we pledge ourselves to the
following course Of action:
l. "Continuous, active, and
public opposition to the war,
through demonstrations, mass
petitions and all other means
within our power.
2. "Unyielding opposition to
all proposed legislation for mill
tary or industrial CONSUMPTION.
We pledge ourselves to oppose
with all our strength any attempt
to raise money for payment of war
expense by taxing the necessaries
of life or issuing bonds.
3. "Vigorous resistance to all
reactionary measures, such as cen
sorship of press and mails :.
4. "Consistent propaganda
against military training and
militaristic teaching in the public
schools.
5. "EXtension of the campaign
Of education among the workers
to organize them into strong.
class conscious and closely unified
political and industrial organiza-
tons to shorten this war. -
In order to "protect '-heaven
save the mark-the nation they
declared:
eve demand. the Specialization
and democratic management of
the great industries concerned
with the production, transporta-
ton, storage and the marketing of
food, the Specialization and demo-
cratic management Of all land and
other natural resources.
This is the ''help' given by the
socialists Ii. e. those who were out
of jail when our boys went forth
to protect and to save the great
asylum that had been reared in
blood and suffering to shelter even
scoundrels like those who were
endeavoring to tear it down.
Do you want a socialist now to
rule you9