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petrate it, can be absolved but by the Bishop, or by his Vicar General, or by a priest specially authorized thereto. The Bishops assembled in Council have judged that it should be so, that all may comprehend the enormity of this crime of pejury, which calls as witness to falsehood, the God of all truth and of all majesty.

Falschood is not, undoubtedly, as grievous as perjury, but it may easily become a mortal sin because of its consequences. Do not calumniate your neighbor, repeat not the calumnies you shall have heard. You do not like to be deceived by falsehood, do not yourself deceive others. You do not like to be calumniated, calumniate not your neighbor.

2. Avoid all violence in times of elections. You want, with reason, your liberty to be respected : respect that of others. Do not to others thai which you would not that others should do to you. Therefore, no violence, no threats. Those who have recourse to these mesns to secure the triumph of their candidate, shall sooner or later be punished in the same manner: for the justice of God renders to every one that which is his due.

3. Drunkenness is always a degrading vice ; but in time of elections it should be more carefully avoided than ever. The reason is evident.

The right of voting is a noble and important one; it should therefore be exercised with a clear mind and knowingly,. Whoever has the misfortune to get drunk, no longer knows what he does or says, and, consequently, cannot give his vote as a rational being. Moreover, experience proves that intemperance isthe cause

of many perjuries, of violence, and sometimes even of bloody fights.

4, Do not sell your vote. He who sells his vote dishonors himself; he degrades and vilifies himself, for he becomes the slave of the purchaser. |

The right of voting is too noble and too important to be the object of such a bargain.

To sell one’s vote, O.-D.-B.-B., is treason against the publie good ; for it is a fault which tends to lower the character of a people ; it is a means to favor a candidate judged unworthy of one’s vote ; it exposes the country to be badly governed.

To sell ones vote, is to show that one knows not

what it is to be anelector, that one is unworthy and incapable of exercisiug the noble right inherent to this title.

To sell one’s vote, is to expose one's self to the danger of perjury.

That is, O.-L.-B.-B., why to sell ones vote is a sin grievous in itself; and all who have the misfortune to become guilty thereof, should confess it and sincerely repent.

What must be thought of those who receive money not lo vote ?

They degrade themselves ; they commit an act which is sovereignly unreasonable, since they receive money to do nothing, and sometimes even to omit an important duty. In effect, it is a means, indirectly, to favor a candidate in whom one has no confidence, while on the contrary, the man who is worthy of a vote is deprived

thereof ; it is therefore truly a treason.

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with zeal in all that can contribute to its prosperit y. À true patriot fears neither the toil nor the trouble, which this necessarily entails, Neither does he fear the threats and violence of unprincipled men, who shrink from no means to attain their ends.

Perjury, falsehood, calumny, violence, intemperance, the selling of your vote, must therefore be avoided. Another most important question remains to be treated.

IL. What means should be taken that you be not deceived in your choice ?

We do not, O.-D.-B.-B., tell you to vote for such a party, or for such a candidate, rather than for such another. When exceptional circumstances shall demand that we raise our voice, with authority, to point out to you some danger to your faith, or to the holy rules of morality, or to the imprescriptible rights of the holy Church, we hope that God will enable us not to fail in our duty as Pastor, and we feel confident you will hear our voice, Our sole object, in the present Pastoral, is to make known to you the general rules of christian prudence, which should guide you in all elections.

1. Severe, but most wise laws have been enacted to secure the liberty and purity of elections : keep them faithfully, O.-D.-B.-B., not only through fear of the penalties inflicted on those who break them, but through love for your county and Your country which those laws protect, and through respect for the authority whence they emanate.

2. While the Constitution gives you the right and liberty io choose him who is to represent you in Parliament, God imposes upon you the obligation of exer.

cising this liberty and this right but for the greater good of the country ; for to its greater good all politics aud consequently all elections, should tend.

You should then give your vote but to men whom you judge capable of procuring this good, and sincerely disposed to do so.

3. Hence follows for you another obligation, that of endeavoring to know those who solicit you vote. You would be most imprudent, did you give your vote to the first comer who presents himself with fine words and grand promises, without taking pains to ascertain his ability, and especially his principles. Examine carefully how far you can rely on each candidate for the protection of your religious, as well as of your temporal interests. We say your religious interests, for O.- D.-B.-B., if you have your salvation at heart, you ought, in 80 solemn a circumstance, to take into account these religious interests.

When the candidates or their friends come, and make known their principles, and combat those of their adversaries, listen to them with the attention which the importance of the affair deserves, and with the politeness which christian charity commands. Listen to them, without prejudice and with an unbiased mind; be disposed to renounce your error, the moment you shall have discovered it. Be calm and peaceful, that you may judge knowingly. Your honor and that of your parish are at stake; your conscience is also interested therein. When you doubt, consult some one worthy of confidence,

4 While observing these rules dictated by prudence and obedience, forget not, O.-D.-B.-B., to beg of God

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to enlighten all who take part in the election, the candidates, the elcctors, the officials commissioned to enforce the observance of the laws. For yourself, ask the grace to know what you should do, and to avoid carefully all the dangers attending these times of excitement and trouble. Engage your families to pray that, with God's blessing, this election may procure the greater spiritual and temporal good of our beloved country.

It would be also highly commendable, if the electors, without distinction of party politics, agreed to have a solemn mass celebrated according to this intention. Although divided in worldly politics, in what solely Concerns temporal interests, hearts truly catholic, perfectly united by the same faith in what concerns religion, should not cease to be united in the bonds of sincere charity; they should be able to meet with joy, with confidemce, with that faith and that charity, at the foot of the altar, where Our Lord immolates himself for the salvation of all,