Evening star., 1922-11-30

martyrs during these long years of
persecution had died. had now become
right. Roman citizenship took on
new meaning.
Rome's Glory Grows.
Another glory was added to Rome.
in the external world OF things. but
In the internal world OF the spirit
They were now not only masters
OF the world. they were masters of
might think their own thoughts.
speak as they saw At. and worship
the God in whom they believed and
In whom they hoped.
THE edict of Constantine was the
hrst great charter of human liberty.
Liberty may be gained. but 1T must
be guarded. and its price is eternal
vigilance.
In the western empire the policy
OF bringing the church under control
and at all hazards by the popes and
the bishops II the early period of
the history of the Church was con-
fiict with Roman imperialistic abb
solutism its medieval period was a
struggle with the feudalistic mill
church would not surrender what 1t
had gained in its struggle with
Rome; it would not consent that
rulers should frame creeds nor rule
mems consciences.
School OF Freedom.
But the church did more. it be-
came school to teach men freedom.
1t opposed autocracy, but 1t upheld
authority. To the church liberty was
not an abstraction.
1t takes form and substance in in
StttutiOnS and If Is real only when
these institutions have the force of
law. and law Is meaningless without
authority. II the arbitrary will of
any man or any group OF men is
processes Of law there can be no
liberty. If liberty is to survive there
must be law In society and self-re-
straint in individuals. Liberty finds
its ultimate home in the soul and the
conscience, and its first expression in
rights we demand for ourselves
This was the lesson the Catholic
Church impressed on the peoples of
the middle ages In placing consti-
tuted authority under the protection
Of conscience the church gave civil
before possessed. and in freeing con-
science from arbitrary power II laid
the foundations of civil and religious
freedom.
Power is always jealous Of its
prerogative. and autocracy finds
many forms in which it may cloth
itself. If the church succeeded in
vindicating the divine right Of con-
science. the benevolent despots in
European states. In the centuries fol-
lowing the medieval period. sought
10 intrench themselves In the doctrine
Of the divine right Of kings.
Despotfsm OF Law.
When power passed away from the
dynasties. autocracy found a home in
last chapter in this struggle against
the church and human liberty was
written when the world was called
TO arms to destroy the principles
that had lain behind the activities of
Furst Bismarck and N. Combes and
the leaders of European statesman
ship in the nineteenth century.
When We turn now to this western
hemisphere. which has become the
home Of liberty. We note condition
of affairs which, in itself may be
looked On as the elimination and re-
ward of the centuries of struggle in
Europe Nearly a score of great COM
monwealths exist here. and cherish
one for another nothing but A-nti-
ments of friendship and good VIII.
No nation on this continent feels
bound to maintain great armies or
to build powerful navies through fear
of its neighbors None sees in an
other a possible conqueror or a pO-
tential oppressor. The old contro-
versies are gradually dying out. and
each of these nations as it comes
to understand more fully the purposes
and the aims of the others is more
ready to admit the common interests
and the common destinies of all.
Many of the fourishing states to
the south of us are about this time
celebrating the centenary of their
independence. and If the progress they
have made in setting up and stabiliz-
ing their institutions of law and gov
ernment in this century is an index.
their prosperity and civilization will
rise to greater heights in the GEN.
,uries that lie before them. The ma
t!onal heroes who won for these
states their independence are becom-
ing more than national heroes: they
are becoming American heroes, and
pan-Americanism is becoming more
than name or a symbol.
The harmony and good will that exist
among the states on this continent find
outward expression in the fact that they
have all adopted the republican form
OF government. and that they are all de-
voted to the purposes Of democracy. A
more enduring, a more effective bond