The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-13
WASHINGTON. ID. c..
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1882.
A MoNEYED HIERARCHY.

soon cease 10 De an OuJcCb vi uIe1u'
In representative Government, the frs
duty, after providing the necessary treasure t
maintain it. is to guard against its waste an
abuse. Not a cent can be expended, excep
for objects and in ways specified by law, an
that law enacted by the Peoples representa-
tives who are held to rigid account by tn
policy of frequent elections Besides, legit
mate Government is instituted for the promo
ton of all the interests of the whole people, nc
TO secure specific, local interests.
The dangerous tendencies of associate
wealth in the form of local corporation
have gone into proyerb. The ruling prir
ciple Of every such corporation is selt-nteres
though it is established by Government for tn
purpose of promoting some enterprise tavorabl
to the public welfare. This is the object of tn
Government but not of the CorPorator'
They may not complain they may even b
gratfed, should others derive benefit iron
their undertaking. but it is their own gan
which they primarily seek; and this they WI
not in the long run sacrifice or hazard Tor the
general welfare. Give such Il corporation per-
petunl lease of life, grant it the privilege OF
unlimited accumulation, let its charter allow 1t
the discretionary use of its fund, and it Is easy
TO see how individual rights and public inter
ests NAV fall prey to its seltishness Hence
the limitations as to time, amount Of capital
and objects for which it is to be used, imposed
by Government.
Associated wealth in the form of Church
Corporation should be regarded with peculiar
jealousy So long as it is confined to a single
church or congregation, it is easy to place it
under restrictions preventing all danger To the
State Where the wealth is great, it must
tend IN nfIse worldly spirit both into the pas
tor and people but as the trustees are elective,
and constitute no distinct order with peculiar
privileges involving extraordinary spiritual
powers, and as an isolated congregation can
have but little political influence the State is
secure from harm But the case is entirely
altered when it is proposed TO invest with cor
porate rights q distinct and perpetual order Of
men, possessing peculiar privileges which
involve boundless spiritual power, repre-
senting vast religious organization, with mil
lions of yotaries, though independent of them,
being appointed by and responsible to great
spiritual Chief whose seat ia a foreign throne,
and who claims absolute supremacy over
the cOnsciences of men Of whatever cline,
under whatever Government To give civil
life to such an order is to give legal form and
sanction to it, to make it State Institution 1t
is TO stamp spiritual despotism with the seal of
State appreciation. To grant such an order
the right to hold accumulate, and Use prop
erty, il to place in its hands the means at once
to enslave the subjects Of its ewn communion
and to acquire undue and dangerous ascend
ency beyond its communion.
1t will surprise many Of our readers, but not
those who are familiar with the ambitious de-
signs of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, 10
learn that such a proposition is now seriously
made Oar attention was called to the subject
some weeks ago by an intelligent correspond
ent in New York, and a reference to it in the
New York EUening Post reminds us that we
have been rather remiss in introducing it to
the notice of our readers The following state
ment from the Post shows what has been at
tempted, and what is yet to be done if the
People remain Indifferent:
"A subject was brought before the New
York Legislature, at its last session. to which
hn tp AZ ntt
called, though it is matter of no little i'm
portnnce OR readers know that there il
some difference of opinion among the Catholics
Of this country ~ to the manner in which
church property should be invested.
1t il desired by the Catholic clergy that the
bishops of their denomination and their sue
cessors, should be created by the laws of the
several States corporations sole. with unre-
stricted power to take hold, and transmit in
perpetuity, all real or other estate which now
belongs to their denomination or may hereaf.
ter be granted to them by the bequest or gift
of any individual
4" 1t is objected that this will give the entire
legal control OF the property Of the church to
foreign authority. The head of the church liy-
ing in u foreign country, and the Catholic HER
archy being obedicnt to its head, the property
managed without regard to the wishes of il.
laity in this country, and the influence derived
from the possession of that property will be- ex.
ercised in conformity with the designs of q
power existing without the country. and per
haps hostile to our institutions. Ii has beer
replied to this that it is but Just that the Catho
lies should like other denominations, hold re
ligious and charitable property according t.
-.
liar views of discipline that the Catholic Dish
ops in this State are already legally the owners
in fec simple Of nearly all the property of tina
description existing within their dioceseS anC
that it would he better that some general Law
should be passed, Transmitting this property II
trust to their Successors than that they should
be obliged to provide for this by their last will
and testaments.
" A bill to this effect was brought before thu
New York Legislature, Mt its last session. b,
Mr.. 0'Keefe u member from this city. IL AZ
pears however, that the Catholics are no
agreed on this subject Inconsistencies agains
passing any such law were sent to ALBANY
from Catholics in Buffalo and New York
Archbishop Hughes issued circular 10 th
clergy and laity of the diocese of New York
dated the 10th of March last in which the mr.
BuhiCub W ldNoi VI PNN1iHS nuCu u Dlll wa
stated The bill, however, did not pass, anC
the question, we suppose, will undoubtedly b,
brought up again next winter
Every man who values republican institu
tons and usages must rejoice that the bill die
not pass. Had the attention of the People beer
directed to it, their Indignation would have
been justly aroused We have no doubt that
it would suit the policy of the Pope and his
priesthood TO become the largest property hold,
ers in this country-to absorb aud concentrate
within themselves more wealth than is held by
any other Corporation. The Hierarchy once
found it very convenient to own large portion
Of the realm of England, but neither King nor
People could be convinced that it was greatly
20 their advantage We all know what tre-