Loyal Co-operation.

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1924, Page 17

Loyal Co-operation.

Most Rev. Dr. Finegan (Kilmore) recalls the Bishops’ teaching on the people’s duty to the legitimate Government, The Government, he says, should get loyal co-operation on the part .of the citizens especially in the prevention of crime. When those knew that crime was about to be committed they should, for' their own and the common good, do what they could to prevent it, even to the extent of apprising the civil authorities, who might take cautious and prudent action to prevent it. A crime of appalling cruelty had been committed in a district some distance from Cavan. A mother was ruthlessly slain beside her infant child; her husband, riddled with bullets, was left for dead; the child was spared because it could not give information. The murderers, with diabolical intent, endeavored to leave evidence to show that the woman first murdered her husband and then committed suicide. The husband survived to a dying statement describing the merciless killing of his wife and the attempted murder of himself. He earnestly appealed to the people to pray that the perpetrators of the crime might be brought to repentance and justice. Civic Duties. Most Rev. Dr. Fogarty (Killaloe) says that the importance of civil Government, both for the National well- . being and individual security, was a big truth that many of them had yet to learn. They had, he feared, yet to realise civic duties of obeying the law of the land, of maintaining public order and of contributing each one his just share to taxation to meet the common burdens. Ireland had her own independent Government, such as their forefathers hardly dared to hope for, and in the hands of able, upright, and courageous men that would be a credit to any country in the world. Instead of factiously hampering them in their efforts to build up the nation to the fulness of its power they should endeavor, by loyal cooperation. good sense, and honest work, to facilitate their efforts and make them successful. There was no use in saying “Give us another Government of this ci - that kind and wo will be all right.” What was that; but the old contemptible and cursed spirit of faction; that had been the shame of their history. It was childish and unworthy of them to he looking to the Government for every fiddle faddle. The Government was not a Father Christmas with a sack of wonders on.’its back. , c> Reason for Progress. Most Rev. Dr. Cohalan (Cork) says that the heart of the country is sound and its conscience was clear and clean before God, and that partly was the reason why such progress had been made, in a short time, at the restoration of political and social order. All should work together, forgetful of the differences of the immediate past, at the complete stabilisation of order and at restoration and reconstruction. Most Rev. Dr. Hackett, C.SS.R. (Waterford) says that everyone who loved Ireland must rejoice at the happy change that had taken place during the past few months. By degrees conditions had become more normal and the observance of the Divine law bad become more evident. A most encouraging feature was to be found in the determination of the people that the criminal, no matter what ■'political camp might claim him, could not ignore with impunity his obligations or bring discredit and disgrace upon the fair fame of Ireland. A great political revolution had left them in the enjoyment of. a greater liberty than was hitherto possessed. If development was to enrich Ireland in the truest and highest sense of the word, it must proceed on Christian lines, guided by and influenced by these principles which charity, justice, and purity demand. ' ❖❖❖ The secret of living gay and content is to be at war with neither God nor nature. .