THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL-REFORM MOVEMENT.
We hear much about socialism, but in this country very few echoes reach us of the equally powerful school of thought which has arisen in opposition to it, under the banner of the Catholic religion. To no student of the social and economic problems of the hour can the nature and aims of so interesting and wide- spread a phenomenon be a matter of indifference.
The object of the present article is to give a bird's-eye view of the movement for the solution of this class of problems by the aid of the principles furnished by the Catholic philosophy and theology. It will aim to present the view which the promo- ters of that movement take of its historic relations and signifi- cance, as well as a general outline of the theories, the ideals, and the practical expedients which it represents.
The present half century is witnessing a mighty three-sided contest for the social and political 'supremacy of central and southern Europe, a contest which promises to spread in the end to every part of the globe. The three parties to this struggle are: (l) the advocates of the e.xisting order of things, com- monly known as "liberals," without regard to their local parti- san affiliations ; (2) the party of revolution, in which the collectivists of every school, and even the anarchists, are classed under the general appellation of socialists; and (3) the party of social reconstruction, on historic lines, " in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Christ."
The last named is identical in a general way with the Catho- lic party, where such exists ; and in other places it is a mere school of thought and action, variously designated as "Catho- lic social reform," " Catholic socialism " (a term now almost entirely abandoned), "Christian democracy," etc.
Under this standard are ranged, more or less definitely and closely, the German Center, the Catholic party of Switzerland, the Conservative party of Holland, the Young Czech party of Austro-Hungary, the Catholic party which has for some years
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