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Show CATHOLIC OPINION In reading "Socialism and Labor" one commences to ree.lize that he (Bishop Spalding) is the one man in the English-speaking English-speaking world of today who is attempting attempt-ing to make that new philosophical synthesis syn-thesis which the world needs and demands. de-mands. His message is carried far, too, because he has the good sense not to wish to tindiscover America and uninvent printing. He has always shown the conservatism con-servatism of one who wishes to make substantial progress. New Century. . Tn a telegram from London of last Wednesday, the absurd mistake which we recently corrected with regard to the phrase "Immaculate Conception" is again perpetrated. It is evidently the idea ot non-Catholics to send such messages that it is to the birth of our Savior that the term applies. The density which prevails pre-vails with regard to this subject is truly amazing. However, it has a hopeful side, when properly considered. We believe sheer ignorance of our religion- is really responsible for much of the aversion with which non-Catholics regard it. Did they really understand what it actually signifies, signi-fies, prejudice must vanish, with misconception. miscon-ception. Of course, there are some who do understand it and still persist in hostility hos-tility to it for unworthy reasons. These we may not hope to reach; but the great mass of the other sort offer the most tempting material for the patient and kindly missionary. Standard and Times. The daily press has inaugurated a movement in Mexico City. Mex., for the establishment in that country of a "national "na-tional Catholic church" similar to that in Manila. The correspondents down there have either run short on news or the Protestant missionaries are beating the bushes in the hope of increasing their Christmas gifts from the home office. Church Progress. Regardless of Mormon Smoot's religious habits and associations, or his qualifications qualifica-tions for the senatorial toga to which he is said to aspire, the Suit Lake City Ministerial Min-isterial association, in its campaign against his candidacy tramples on the constitutional inhibition of religious te3ts for public office. If Mr. Smoot i3 an enemy of the law the preachers have only to prove it to prevent his election. The mere fact that he is a Mormon and even an official of the Mormon church does not in itself constitute an insuperable barrier, to Mr. Smoot's ambition, provided pro-vided he can secure the requisite number of votes Monitor. In an editorial on the recent attempt to assassinate King Leopold, Father Phelan Phe-lan of the Western Watchman indulges in these reflections: "Kings had better look out. Bad as is the example of the ricn they can claim that their wealth is the fruit of the labors of their own or their forbears' brow. It is not so with kings. Their wealth represents only rapine confiscation con-fiscation or extortion. There is only one condition on which the world will longer tolerate them, and that is; they set a good example of correct living. Piety is the last safe refuge 'of royalty. If kings try to save their souls and give their people a good example of Christian living liv-ing the latter will condone tne questionable question-able methods of their enrichment and submit to be taxed for the good they do. There never was a time when it more behooved crowned heads to be devout. They hold their scepters as priests hold their livings, upon the express condition that their livc3 shall be above reproacn. A dissolute monarch is cut down with as little compunction as a mad dog is shot on the public highway. He is a costly corrupter of public morals and can be removed as any other public nuisance. We are not advocating regicide or anarchy; an-archy; we are simply stating the new code by which monarchs are to be judged and the new bill of ris-Vl'-e th" -ohpss masses have enacted for themselves. Our word-Tare not a wish, but a warning. |