New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-03-18
.,a,ho,ici.n, in Europe-EEglnad, &c.

President DuRBIY, OF Dickinson College, Ia,
fwho is now travelling in Europe,} 10 Dr.. SEW
AL. published ia the National Inieliigencer. Ii
states important facts, and evinces o clear and
phic observation, which entities it to atsen
non:
| have carefully studied the Catholic religion,
both as a system of faith considered in itself and
as an external institution acting upon society as
such. and forming an integral and necessary par,
Of The Government in Catholic countries. have
Ho doubt-no intelligent Protestant in Europe can
doubt-5us tina; Catholicism is gradually regain
ing It's ground in Europe under the direct or lodi
rect patronage Of most OF the nonarchies, because
they find i, very convenient AID powerful means
of controlling the mass of the people through the
priesthood. In Italy and Austria the clergy are
in correspondence with the Bishops, and the Bish-
OPS with the Minister of Police Louis Philippe
add the Church had friendship for each other
seven wears since; they are in close alliance,
and with a returning sense of religion samong the
oeoyle OF France, there is corresponding return
OF tue Church To power. he ceremonies and
decorations OF The churches are arranged to suit
The state OF society, so 70 strike and cap,ivae
the mass of the people Thence she is acquiring
her influence again over divisions of the comnu.
niy: over kings and rulers, because they need her
as a means of government; and over the mass OF
the lower orders because she is arranged In her
external ceremonies az 10 strike and CRAFTY the
senses and so ada pied by her sacraments, Partc-
rlally of pemance, and her doctrine OF purgatsry.
as assure the ear, after auricular confession
the pardon OF sin, and the hope or escape IN the
next world, it rot quite successful in this. While
in England she Is acquiring great influence, by
greatly multiplying and expanding her external
,unchinerv such as fine churches and cathedrals,
schools and colleges, pnd the residence OF many
missionary priests secondly, by the strange ap-
proxirlstion of many of the clergy OF the esab-
lishment TO what is essential to Catholicism; but,
most of all, by the equal division OF Wings and
Tories so as to give the balance of power, during
the last Administrations very much to the Catho-
JIG party represented by Mir. Q Connell; and when
we remember that the religious faith OF a Catholic
is superior his political opinions, whlie on the
contrary, the liberal faith of Protestant is subor-
dinare 10 his political opinions, we shall see the
true power and position Of the Catholic Church in
affairs of government where there popular
elections. / must III Justice add another element
of power in which, as Christian, | rejoice |
refer to the increased morality and respectability
of the clergy.
" lille the Church is acquiring power and inau-
ence with soveregns and kiles, and with the mass
es of people, the educated and intelligent portion
of the community much better affected towards
her than they Fifty or huRdred years ago, con-
sideripg her purely religious institution, IN
volvng faith and morals simply; but they have an
invincble aversion towards her as an external IN
stitution acting on society as such, because she et-
fectuuly destroys the hope of liberty, or the spread
of liberal principles which this middle intelligent
class in Europe cherish almost exclusively. The
result is this class is neutralized in decidedly Cath
Ole countries and the nobility declining IN in-
huence aud also in numbers. because the sovereign
fears them ana spproxmates the people by the IN
,,,oshI
tie highest and the lowest portions OF the comu'u-
nitv on the continent bu. not with the middle in
telligent class. This is the true position OF the
Catholic Church at this time in decidedly Catholic
countries as in Italy usd Austria and imperceptl-
bly, increasing in semi Catholic countries, even
where the Governments are Protestant MY re-
marks do not apply to Russia, Norway, or Swe-
den, as have not visited them, and scarcely to
Spain, in her present asitatcd condition
With respect TO England, l have satisfied my
self that she is the richest, wsest, and greatest
nation in the world but that she exhibits the ex
trernes of poverty and wealth, restitution and
comfort, depraviiy and virtue, more striking lythan
.ny other people on earth She has acquired her
maximum of dominion and power, but, having q
strong and wel-established Government, she will
long maintain her ascendancy. Much of her sue
cess is TO be ascribed to the character OF her peo-
pie; the Anglo.Saxons have always been eminent
for enterprise and utility: hence, while France is
speculative, and discovers great principles, and is
content simply with their discovery, England ap-
plies them in practice, which renders them pro-
duc,ive; and while Germany is metaphysical, and
suggests splendid Thoughts and theories, England
holds fast what ages of good sense have settled IN
morals and theology.
But have said England has attained her max
imum Of wealth and power. This will appear,
when ws consider her external and interra history
since the commencement of this century. Fifty
years ago machinery scarcely used at all to
produce manufactures, and England was the only
ration that possessed it and the skill 10 use II.
Upon the paci6caton of Europe IN 1915; the con-
tinental nations were exhausted by the long and
destructive wars of Napoleon, while Enslsnd's soil
had rot tasted one drop of blood. The conse-
ouencc was. she Immediately became the manu-
facturer Tor the world; and the distribution OF her
goods vastly augmented her mercantile marine and
extended her commerce OF course all nations
sent thelc coin to her 10 buy her manufactures,
which they could not produce for want OF machi-
ne:y skill, aad hsnds tue frs, two of which Eng
land prohibited from leaving her soil, and the lat
ter remained with Fer eeesnse it was for their in
teress. When the continental nations and the
United States also were neariy exhausted of their
coin and bullion, and sought to pay ENGLAND in
era;s and raw material, she instituted the corn
Iaes and ether customs, 10 protect her own asri
cultural interests, and compel moaey s,ill to fow
10 her in return for manufactures. This policy
continued compelled other nations to institute man
ufac,ories also and, In osder to sustain them, to
enac, tariff laws after the example OF England,
and the free communication with different nations
dif:used machinery aud mechanical skill, until
other nations now have in these respects equali-
~ ,c,h Eng land and in point of cheapness OF lv-