Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/187



N SEEING  the  title  of  the  present chapter you  may  perhaps  shake your head  thoughtfully  and  say:  "What!  is the  author  of  a  book  of  this  nature  going to  treat  of  politics?" Yes, I  am  certainly about to  do  so  I  And  why  should  I  not,  since very weighty  reasons  impel  me  to  take  this course?

You, my  youthful  reader,  are  already,  or will  be  sooner  or  later,  of  an  age  to  exercise the suffrage,  to  vote  in  municipal,  state,  and national elections,  and  will  therefore  enter the realm  of  so-called  politics. Therefore it is  for  you,  as  a  Catholic,  a  matter  of  conscience to  learn  what  are  the  real,  the  true Catholic principles  which  are  to  be  followed in reference  to  politics. And it  is  these principles which  I  now  desire  briefly  to  explain.

2. The  Catholic  should,  before  all  things, in his  relation  to  politics,  never  lose  sight  of the  exhortation  addressed  by  St.  Paul  to  the Romans: "If  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  is in  you,  have  peace  with  all  men"  (Rom.  xii. 18). That should  be  the  first  principle  of  a Catholic  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellowmen  in  general,  and  more  especially  in  regard to  politics. It is  certainly  his  duty to have  peace  with  all  men,  but  not under all  circumstances,  not  at  any  price, but only  so  far  as  in  us  lies,  as  it  depends