the american republic-第69章
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of the sects have been able to get their peculiarities incorporated into its constitution or its laws。 The state conforms to what each holds that is catholic； that is always and everywhere religion； and what 419 ever is not catholic it leaves； as outside of its province； to live or die； according to its own inherent vitality or want of vitality。 The state conscience is catholic； not sectarian； hence it is that the utmost freedom can be allowed to all religions； the false as well as the true； for the state； being catholic in its constitution； can never suffer the adherents of the false to oppress the consciences of the adherents of the true。 The church being free； and the state harmonizing with her； catholicity has； in the freedom of both； all the protection it needs； all the security it can ask； and all the support it can； in the nature of the case receive from external institutions； or from social and political organizations。
This freedom may not be universally wise or prudent； for all nations may not be prepared for it： all may not have attained their majority。 The church； as well as the state； must deal with men and nations as they are； not as they are not。 To deal with a child as with an adult； or with a barbarous nation as with a civilized nation； would be only acting a lie。 The church cannot treat men as free men where they are not free men； nor appeal to reason in those in whom reason is undeveloped。 She must adapt her discipline to the age； condition； and culture of individuals； and 420 to the greater or less progress of nations in civilization。 She herself remains always the same in her constitution； her authority； and her faith； but varies her discipline with the variations of time and place。 Many of her canons； very proper and necessary in one age； cease to be so in another； and many which are needed in the Old World would be out of place in the New World。 Under the American system； she can deal with the people as free men； and trust them as freemen； because free men they are。 The freeman asks； why？ and the reason why must be given him； or his obedience fails to be secured。 The simple reason that the church commands will rarely satisfy him； he would know why she commands this or that。 The full…grown free man revolts at blind obedience； and he regards all obedience as in some measure blind for which he sees only an extrinsic command。 Blind obedience even to the authority of the church cannot be expected of the people reared under the American system； not because they are filled with the spirit of disobedience； but because they insist that obedience shall be rationabile obsequium； an act of the understanding； not of the will or the affections alone。 They are trained to demand a reason for the command given them； to dis… 421 tinguish between the law and the person of the magistrate。 They can obey God； but not man； and they must see that the command given has its reason in the Divine order； or the intrinsic catholic reason of things； or they will not yield it a full； entire； and hearty obedience。 The reason that suffices for the child does not suffice for the adult； and the reason that suffices for barbarians does not suffice for civilized men； or that suffices for nations in the infancy of their civilization does not suffice for them in its maturity。 The appeal to external authority was much less frequent under the Roman Empire than in the barbarous ages that followed its downfall； when the church became mixed up with the state。
This trait of the American character is not uncatholic。 An intelligent； free； willing obedience； yielded from personal conviction； after seeing its reasonableness； its justice； its logic in the Divine orderthe obedience of a free man； not of a slaveis far more consonant to the spirit of the church； and far more acceptable to God； than simple； blind obedience； and a people capable of yielding it stand far higher in the scale of civilization than the people that must be governed as children or barbarians。 It is possible that the people of the Old World 422 are not prepared for the regimen of freedom in religion any more than they are prepared for freedom in politics； for they have been trained only to obey external authority； and are not accustomed to look on religion as having its reason in the real order； or in the reason of things。 They understand no reason for obedience beyond the external command； and do not believe it possible to give or to understand the reason why the command itself is given。 They regard the authority of the church as a thing apart； and see no way by which faith and reason can be harmonized。 They look upon them as antagonistic forces rather than as integral elements of one and the same whole。 Concede them the regimen of freedom； and their religion has no support but in their good…will； their affections； their associations； their habits； and their prejudices。 It has no root in their rational convictions； and when they begin to reason they begin to doubt。 This is not the state of things that is desirable； but it cannot be remedied under the political regime established elsewhere than in the United States。 In every state in the world； except the American； the civil constitution is sophistical； and violates； more or less； the logic of things； and； therefore； in no one of them can the peo… 423 ple receive a thoroughly dialectic training； or an education in strict conformity to the real order。 Hence； in them all； the church is more or less obstructed in her operations； and prevented from carrying out in its fulness her own Divine Idea。 She does the best she can in the circumstances and with the materials with which she is supplied； and exerts herself continually to bring individuals and nations into harmony with her Divine law： but still her life in the midst of the nations is a struggle； a warfare。
The United States being dialectically constituted； and founded on real catholic； not sectarian or sophistical principles； presents none of these obstacles； and must； in their progressive development or realization of their political idea； put an end to this warfare； in so far as a warfare between church and state； and leave the church in her normal position in society； in which she can； without let or hindrance； exert her free spirit； and teach and govern men by the Divine law as free men。 She may encounter unbelief； misbelief； ignorance； and indifference in few； or in many； but these； deriving no support from the state； which tends constantly to eliminate them； must gradually give way before her invincible logic； her divine charity； the 424 truth and reality of things； and the intelligence； activity； and zeal of her ministers。 The American people are； on the surface； sectarians or indifferentists； but they are； in reality； less uncatholic than the people of any other country because they are； in their intellectual and moral development； nearer to the real order； or； in the higher and broader sense of the word more truly civilized。 The multitude of sects that obtain may excite religious compassion for those who are carried away by them； for men can be saved or attain to their eternal destiny only by truth； or conformity to Him who said； 〃I am the way； the truth； and the life；〃 but in relation to the national destiny they need excite no alarm； no uneasiness； for underlying them all is more or less of catholic truth； and the vital forces of the national life repel them； in so far as they are sectarian and not catholic； as substances that cannot be assimilated to the national life。 The American state being catholic in its organic principles； as is all real religion； and the church being free； whatever is anticatholic； or uncatholic； is without any support in either； and having none； either in reality or in itself； it must necessarily fall and gradually disappear。
The sects themselves have a half unavowed 425 conviction that they can
