The Catholics of England give us, in this matter as in many others, a beautiful example to follow.  During the war they formed a “British Catholic Information Society,” having at its service “the Catholic War News Office.”  The result of their aggressive policy is the public recognition of the value of the Catholic Church by the English people in the national work of Reconstruction.  We would here refer the reader to Father Plater’s letter on “Catholics and Reconstruction” for further details in this interesting matter.  Like our Catholic brothers of England, let us also take our place boldly in the broad daylight of public life.  We have ideas to give to the Nation, let us give them.  Canadian liberty, without doubt, exists for our doctrines as it does for the subversive theories of State-Socialism.  We have no apology to make for our ideas.  They stand on their own merits and have been vindicated by the great acid test of time.  Yes, we possess the great curative and creative forces for social Reconstruction; We have only to call them into play.

The Catholic Solution

In season and out of season, in the press and on the platform, in private gatherings and public meetings, through every medium of social control, let the people hear the Catholic solution of the problems now facing the nations of the world.  We have a message to deliver.  That message, if it comes to the people shining like a steel blade, sounding like the blare of a trumpet, if it wells up from a fiery heart and drops from burning lips—­that message will be heard.  In this period of strain and suffering the public mind is keyed to its highest pitch, ready to snap at any moment.  Strong feeling has generated in many minds intellectual hysteria.  “In war time,” says E. H. Griggs, “there is a curious paradox of widening radicalism of thought, with constantly decreasing freedom of action and expression.  When the discrepancy becomes too great, you have the explosion,—­a revolution.”  Therefore in this time of intellectual ferment, the continued affirmation of truth, and the persistent statement of principles are in themselves a highly valuable service, which we are bound to give to the world.  The thought of the human mind, like rays of sun-light, focused on one point, acquires the burning power of conviction.

Participation in public life develops conviction; conviction repeatedly asserts itself; continued assertion creates opinion; and public opinion is without doubt one of the most universal powers at work in the world.  In every sphere of life you can feel the constant pressure of this tremendous influence.  It may well be named the “current” of public opinion.  Draining to its profit the latent and loitering powers of the individual thinker, silently, irresistibly it moves on; checked, it becomes an angry whirlpool of confused and gyrating waters; harnessed to the wheels of national life, it will transform its energies into light, heat and power.