daily
paper. Without willingness to admit our weakness, we fall victims to
this wizard that we despised yesterday and court to-day, and line up at
the counter . . . for a _Special Sale_, an _Astonishing Bargain_. "We
are so thoroughly accustomed to the exploits of the advertiser that we
take them as a matter of course, rarely pausing to appreciate the art,
or at least, the artfulness with which we have been lured into the
acceptance of his ideas."

_Fashion_! Who can analyze this power so great, so universal? Who can
explain the psychology of this fact? Every spring and fall of the year
Dame Fashion has an opening-ball--Paris plays the tune, New York wields
the baton, the ladies of the world . . . keep time . . . and the
gentlemen pay the piper.

We mention these facts of every day life to illustrate the permeating
and driving force of an idea, when constantly kept before the mind.
And what advertisement and fashion are in the commercial and social
life, _Propaganda_ and _Publicity_ are in the world of thought. The
policy of propaganda is to enlist the active co-operation of every
vehicle of thought for the furtherance of an idea and to keep that idea
ever before the public. One readily sees the tremendous
responsibilities, and understands the flagrant abuses of those called
to create and direct Public Opinion. "The supremacy of ideas," it was
stated, "gives the greatest places of opportunity to those who awaken,
stimulate and organize the thinking of the people and especially the
thinking of a people in a democracy. The teacher's desk, the
preacher's pulpit, the orator's platform, the writer and editor's
sanctum--these are the places of true leadership, the thrones of real
power."

This analysis of Public Opinion, of its power, of its formation will
now make us better understand its relations with the Catholic Church.

_Public Opinion and the Catholic Church_.

Nowadays the relation of Public Opinion to the Catholic Church is,
generally speaking, one of suspicion, frequently of silent contempt and
very often of open hostility. This statement of fact may appear to
many too sweeping; its broadness may trouble the peaceful faith of
others. Yet, history and every day experience prove the truth of our
assertion. We go further and claim that for the Church this condition
will, and must exist. The Church, like Christ, her Founder and Master,
is to be a "_Sign of Contradiction_." Her very name "Catholic"