78 PERILS. — ROMANISM. 



Says the eminent Professor de Laveleye: "To-day we 

 can prove to demonstration that which men of intellect 

 in the eighteenth century were only beginning to per- 

 ceive. The decisive influence which forms of worship 

 bring to bear on political life and political economy had 

 not hitherto been apparent. Now it breaks forth in the 

 light, and is more and more closely seen in contempo- 

 rary events." "Representative government is the nat- 

 ural government of Protestant populations. Despotic 

 government is the congenial government of Catholic 

 populations."! 



II. Look now very briefly at the attitude or purpose of 

 Romanism in this country. In an encyclical letter 

 of November 7, 1885, Leo XIII., as reported by cable 

 to the Neiv York Herald, said: "We exhort all 

 Catholics to devote careful attention to public mat- 

 ters, and take part in all municipal affairs and elec- 

 tions, and all public services, meetings and gather- 

 ings. All Catholics must make themselves felt as active 

 elements in daily political life in countries Avhere they 

 live. All Catholics should exert their power to cause 

 the constitutions of states to be modeled on the princi- 

 ples of the true church." " If Catholics are idle," says 

 the same pope, " the reins of power will easilj^ be gained 

 by persons wliose opinions can surely afford little pros- 

 pect of welfare. Hence, Catliolics have just reason to 

 enter into political life; .... having in mind the pur- 

 pose of introducing the wholesome life-blood of Catho- 

 lic wisdom and virtue into the whole system of the 

 state. All Catholics who are worthy of the name must 

 .... work to the end, that every state be made con- 

 formable to the Christian model Ave have described. ^ 

 That Catholic authority, Dr. Brownison, in his Review for 

 July, 1864, declared: "Undoubtedly it is the intention of 



lEmile de Laveleye's Protestantism and Catholicism, in their bearing 

 upon the Libei'ty and Prosperity of Nations, pp. 32, 33. 



^Encycl. Leo XIII.. November, 1885. QuotedbyMiiller in his Roman Catho- 

 Hc Catechism, Famihar Explanation of Catholic Doctrine, No, IV., pp. 

 g50, 251 and 252. 



