CATHOLIC SOCIALISTS. 
I2I 
himself to merely noting facts without having any ideal in view, 
holds similar language. Throw down all obstacles, establish 
liberty in everything for everybody, and, among individuals 
given over to universal competition, the most skilful must 
succeed. They will become the richest and most powerful. 
This is what the welfare of society demands, and that constitutes 
justice. 
Malthus was the precursor of Darwin, who, indeed, fully 
recognized the fact. When Malthus speaks of those for whom 
there is no place at the banquet of life, and whom nature is 
not slow to eliminate, he is applying, in advance, the theory 
of the struggle for existence. Christianity reaches out a hand 
towards the unfortunate and demands a place for the disin 
herited. Darwinism and the orthodox economy tell them that 
they are in the way, and that their business is to disappear. 
Darwinism submits to the actual, in the name of natural law 
and necessity. In the name of the ideal, Christianity rebels 
against the actual, and hopes to subordinate it to the dictates 
of reason and justice. 
We shall see, in analyzing Bishop Ketteler’s book, how it 
is that the Social Democrats prefer atheistic materialism, 
which logically justifies the enslaving of the people, to Chris 
tianity, which calls them to freedom. 
'I'he Bishop of Mayence was looked upon as the mos 
eminent prelate of the Catholic hierarchy in Germany. Hi 
recent death has left a blank which has not been filled since 
In his book, “The Labour Question and Christianity” ii 
order to paint the evils of existing society, he borrows th 
colours and even the expressions of Lassalle. Like him h 
considers Liberalism and the Political Economy of Manchestei 
aas Manchesterthum, responsible for these evils. The Frene 
Ultramontanes of to-day express the same ideas and hoi 
Thusat Charms, mtheCong«, 
o the Catholic unions. Count de Mun spoke of the “ socii 
aims of the Catholic labourers,” and of a return to th 
ancient organization of labour.” He depicted moder 
ciety precisely as the Socialists do: “The thirst of spec, 
on consumes everything; a merciless struggle has take