Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-08-20
From the London Times. % July so,h.
The Canri Of Rome and PralAsfanis

- "RahN " sNot ~
When the Court OF Rome presumed, about three year
ago. in the plenttnde Of its power, to efsce the TIM
honored landmarks and dignities of the Church OF Eng
land to paree lOut the Queens dominions. and to consd
tute a new Romish hierarchy In this island, We were toll,
by one class OF politicians, that nothing was more natura
than this course of proceeding and that II the Pope haC
offended the ~prejudices Of the Euglish nation, he had err
red uneonsciouly In tho absence OF a competent diplo-
matte adviser in the States Of the Church. The people o
England judged the transaction with a surer instinct; the,
felt that a blow had been aimed from behind at their his
tory and at their faith, and they resented il with the en-
orgy such an insult was calculated to excite. We are no
going, however. to revive that controversy, though /
would not be difficult both here and in ireland, TO fine
Illustration and confirmation of the opinions we espresso,
upon il in 1881; but on the present occasion We propos,
shortly TO observe TO what an extent the same spirit which
caused the Papal aggression here is engaged IN sctiv,
hostlites against our Protestant allies in Holland and II
Prussia; for the same spirit which Inspired the Papal af
front TO this country has stimulated the Court OF Rome {
pursue its attacks on the Protestant States of tho cont
ncnt.
The kingdom of the Netherlands is, Of all the Protcs-
tant States OF Europe, that in which most had been don,
to place the relations of the Government with the Church
OF Rome on a tolerant and equitable footing. A Concor
uat was concluded in 1897 between King William l. and
Pope Leo NIL, tie Catholic provinces Of Belgium then
forming part of the Kings dominions. The Roman Cath
ole clergy are paid by the State, and a diplomatic Envoy
Of the Low Countries resides in Rome. At one time, in.
deed, the Pope had agreed, in concert with the late King
OF Holland, to erect three new bshopricS; but this plan
was abandoned on the separation of Belgium, aud iIol.
land remained, what is termed at Rome, a missionary
country, under the superintendent 81 Wears Apostolic.
The late Dutch Ministry, OF which NJ. Thorbecke was tho
head, was animated by the most conciiatory dispositions
towards the Catholic subjects Of the Crown, and, when
the present Pope intimated his desire to establish a Romish
hierarchy in Holland, all that the Government required
was that due notice should be given, and the Kings as.
sent obtained. The Court OF Rome disdained these easy
conditions, and, though it had promised they should be
observed, II did not scruple altogether to disregard them
The Ponuheal Letter constituting the new hierarchy in
Holland was launched A. surrcputiously aud ll-adyisely
as that which had been directed against this country, and
with the same consequences. Our sturdy neighbours the
Dutch have not forgotten that it is to the Protestant faith
and institutions OF their country that they owe their polit.
zeal and national existence. The spirit which dehed Phil.
ip III. and Louis NV. Is not extinct any more than the
divinity Of Dordt or the scholarship OF Leyien. No
p~eople,arc more honourably tenacious of th { ancient lib.
erty which enables them to leok with scorn OH the f.
Scrish couvulsions of this generation; and liberty in Hol.
land means independence of Rome. The Sovereign OF
such u country, being himself the head OF the house OF Or.
ange, identified by his birth With the glorious traditions
Of Protestant independence, had no middle course to take
against such an aggression. The King OF Holland instant
ly recalled his Minister IRON Rome, rejected from Office
the Administration which had temporized with the enc
my, and threw himself on the high Protestant feelings of
his people. The Dutch responded with enthusiasm 10
this appeal; a new Chamber WAS elected With an overwhel.
ming Protestant majOrityin favour OF the new Government.
and the religious excitement Of the country has overpow-
cred all the other distinctions Of party; In Holland We
are not surprised at such a result, but it is impossible not
10 dcplore the excessive intolerance which has been re-
kindlel on both sides by the aggression of the Court of
Rome. Families are divided servants and labOurcrs of
different creed are dismissed, tradesmen are employed by
one parry GuG prescribed bN the other, and the nrlEsts
have given the signal of an internal struggle deeply
injurious to the peace and welfare OF the community.
The attack has been directed in a different form, but In
a similar spirit, against PRUSSIA. In February last the
addressed an aposo!icA letter to the Bishops of the
Church Of Rome in the Prussian Douinions, establishing
new and excessive restrictions on the 'inixcd marriages"
OF Irusstan su1j'c cts belonging respectively TO different
cpmiulnions. This hs.S! rtquiTcs that the dispeusatiun
for s9c,, marriages should beottAined from the Popc him
and rarely conceded by the Bishop of the diocess
'ut It further exact', that Ia all marriages between a Ro-
m 'u Catholic and 3 Protestant, tho party not pro cssiur
tie Catholic religion shall formerly engage in writing pro.
.sissio jardfd i the term c~nployed) tnat oil the cn!lrcn |
OF the marriage shall be brought up to be Catholics: with.
out Lis condition no marriage is % be solcmuizel bv The
Catholic clergy, or regarded rs a marriage 5y the Church.
We are aware ;hst attempts have for some time past been
made j" Germany and IN this country 10 enforce lhi, intol-
'shut and offensive c%cnitan, Which has caused in MANY
n-''-Cts tIe s-eAieS. Suffering ami injustice. But H.
Prussia sGcn 4 pge;susoHnu the part a., the Pipsl Power
: a direct Interference with the law Of the Land. In that
country IL j. provided by statlte, that when a marriage /.
concluded between persons %; different religious pcrsua-
sions, the Sous born o. such a marriage are to be educated
% their l+tI ycarin the religion OF heir father. and the
daughters ia thl' OF Their mJ;,tr; aud il Is expressly pro
,i!ri that this r.le Of law cannot be abrucated by special
The coufIct Of Papai authority with the
civil law OF marriage ~ Prussia il therefore in this case
iregt, ari 50 strongly vas this telt that several months
before tac Roman Clth"ic prelstes in that couu-
~ vsuiurel TO pg'uu.-Iie Sac mandate tGcy had received
t.e Vatican. Nnrn, hos yer. auattumpt Vs. smad.
10 put 10 in force, the klu. oi Prussia protested With grea,
energy against such Sn Interference with the rights OF his
-tlNNNr "hA ~AAAa IA "A wlAAAt4 hlA4tE kNAL " any fnaW
IN his service degraded himself 10y giving Az assurance OF
this nltuse 20 thc prejudice Of the evangelical faith, Lee
should he Instantly dismissed from public employment
The Pmssiin army asJ came to the unanimous resolution
no o!hccs should give his assent TO tie iujuHctious OF
The Pope, aul ia many instances We are happy 10 Learn
,i.lsr the marriage ceremony has been ]performcl
without This pledge, OF that both ptr,ics hive EN- msiua:,.
from the tyranny Of Rome, not only nov, but
for ever.
The chief importance Of these instances lies. however.
iu the proof they afford OF the imul4clble hostility Of te
iso.jsh Court to the rights and independence of Protcstant
States. Both IN Holland ant IN Prussia the Roman Cab.
ole Church, i on 4 footing OF legal equality with other
ccecis, hnefllly suppogtc! by the State, aud protected Iy
treaty stpulatOns with Rome. IN Eo;h thos. cOuatrie-
ir many years past, tue bitterness Of religious n,imosiii..
had subsidized. Plus IN. has made it his bu,iness TO re
kiHdle thc torch Of discorl, and Il be reign tcn years lon
ger h. viii DTag Eurogs 10 tie verge Of another great
r,i1rmato.y movement, cAtcaijug perhaps to the over
throw Of the Papacy itself 10 j. impossible 10 conceive
tuat men will permanently sg5ui; 70 oppression aud en-
Of this nature, which exceeds whatever Rom.
dared 20 attempt in the gTeetest ages Of the Church: hur
Tor the present, We can only hope that these Ects will
r,ugtIen among the Protestant States a spirit Of finn
and temperate resistance To that arbitrary and inslisll.
POKER, to which all concessions are made ia vain.