Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/339



CATHOLICITY IN THE UNITED STATES. 333

enemies of public order. The state of the times, therefore, bids CathoHcs to labor for the tranquilHty of the common- wealth, and for this purpose to obey the laws, abhor violence, and seek no more than equity or justice permits. Towards these objects much may be contributed by those who have devoted themselves to writing, and in particular by those who are engaged on the daily press. We are aware that already there labor in this field many men of skill and experience, whose diligence demands words of praise rather than of encouragement. Never- theless, since the thirst for reading and knowledge is so vehement and widespread amongst you, and since, ac- cording to circumstances, it can be productive either of good or evil, every effort should be made to increase the number of intelligent and well-disposed writers who take religion for their guide and virtue for their constant companion. And this seems all the more necessary in America, on account of the familiar intercourse and in- timacy between Catholics and those who are estranged from the Cathohc name, a condition of things which certainly exacts from our people great circumspection and more than ordinary" firmness. It is necessary to instruct, admonish, strengthen and urge them on to the pursuit of virtue and to the faithful observance, amid so many occasions of stumbling, of their duties towards the Church. It is, of course, the proper function of the clergy to devote their care and energies to this great work; but the age and the country' require that journalists should be equally zealous in this same cause and labor in it to the full extent of their powers. Let them, how- ever, seriously reflect that their writings, if not positively prejudicial to religion, will surely be of slight service to it unless in concord of minds they all seek the same end. They who desire to be of real service to the Church, and with their pens heartily to defend the Catholic cause, should carry on the conflict with perfect unanimity, and, as it were, with serried ranks, for they rather inflict