Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-19
WHOLE NO. 1922.
A New Stride Of ropisL Power.

A !" i. M
We commend to the especial notice Of our read.
ers the following exposition Of the co,cordat, or
Treaty, lately entered into between the Emperor
Of Austria and the Pope. No wonder the latter
made rich presents to, and conferred sounding
titles upon, Count BroL and other Austrian minis
tersl fta ftl&iN fnif tif AZ rN0l
Romc has gained triumph in Austria, which
will amply compensate her for her losses by the
secularizatop OF the Church property in Spain and
the suppression of the converts in Sardinia. The
concorddf recently concluded between the Pope
and the Court Of Vienna is quite curiosity in this
Ineteenth century. II carries as back to the ages
of darkness and ignorance, when the Romsh
Church was at the height OF her power, and when
her hierarchy extortcd from the fears and super
sttion Of princes, privilege and immunities at
war with every principle Of popular sovereignty. u
The corcordat is the last fruit Of the rcactonary
movement II carries out fully and thoroughly the
principles Of the Lcgitimist and Ultra,montan
school Of continental politicians. We notice few
Of its most important provisions II Itdeclares that
the bishops alone have the right TO appoint their
Wears and counselers to ordain or to refuse to
ordain those priests whom they may deem un-
worthy and that they have the full right to punish
those, both clergy and laty who may offend against
the discipline and canons of the Church. Here VIC
have the old Spanish Inqustion revived in It's worst
aspect An engine Of tremendous power over tho
lower clergy and the people is here placed in the
hands of the preates, to be used against the ele.
ments of heresy and revolution, but which may
possibly, some day other, be turned against tho
government ITSELF II is also provided that the
| bishops shall watch over the religious instruction
given to the youth of the country in all public and
private schools, and that they shall have tho pow
er to prohibit dangerous books. Thus the censor
ship OF the press and the interests of education are
| conided to class who will have the power and
sometimes have the disposition to extinguish every
spark of Professionalism and Of freedom Of religion
in the Empire.
The clauses of the concordat relating to ecclesi-
astica property are particularly worthy Of atten-
tion. VI s. 8s's i88t @
The history of every European State Abounds
with illustrations of the evils incident to the ex-
cessive accumulation of property in the hands of
the Church, and the commissions which the extir-
patton Of those evils costs. But Austrian states
men have turned deaf ear to these lessons Of
experience. The new concordat declares the pro-
| perty of tho Church sacred and inviolable 1t is
| to be managed according 10 the canonieal ordi-
nances. No suppression OF the property of the
Church, and no sale of it can take place without
the intervention Of the Pope. The Church has
also the full right to acquire new property. The
right to levy tithes is " be maintained wherever
it exists, and the Emperor pledges himself to give
to the Church good title to claim them wherever
| it may be wanting. IF,r
| Thus all the barriers 10 the encroachments of
the Romish hierarchy and the acquisition OF Church
| property, which were get up by Joseph III and his
SUCCESSORS lin Austria, are at once swept axny
Monastcries and converts are to be restored and
henccforth collectors Of tithes, pedars of indul-
gences, and mendcant frars viii have full liberty
| 10 ply their perncious trade without molestation.
| In making these extraordinary concessions 10
Rome, Austria has been prompted, not by excess
Of religious zeal, but by motives OF political expe-
diency. II has been said that she had taken this
course 10 pay TO Pic Mono the debt due him for
his betrayal of the liberal cause into her hands in
| 1913. But Austria does not give herself much
trouble abouther debts The new eoncordat has far
more comprehensive purpose than this. II 10
Austrias rejoinder to the censures pronounced in
| Paiament by Lords Palmerston and Russell, upon
the inisgovernment prevalent in Italy. 1t esiab-
fishes new bond Of union between the Austrian
Emperor and the Pope - rs
Austria has taken refuge in the bosom Of the
Church against the dangers OF revolution. Rome
has taken refuge in the bosom of Austria against
the dangers threatened by tho alliance Of France
and England. The spiritual and educational inter-
csts Of tue Austrian subjects arc confded TO the
clergy, who are expected TO incucate the princi-
pies OF unqualified obedience to authority, and 10
do all they can TO turn back the wheels of time
| to the period anterior to the French Revolution
The Pope, on bis part, will conide bis temporal IN
terests 70 Austria for special keeping. Hence
forth he will look towards Vienna as the centre Of
his temporal power. Austria, and not Spain, win
now be the most highly favored champion Of the
Church. Austria and not France, from this Time
forward is TO enjoy the nscendcncy In the counses
Of the Vatican.
The policy Of the Western Alliance contcm-
plates the aggrandzement Of Sardinia, the hu-
initiation Of King Bomba Of Naples, and the d.
vision of the spiritual aud temporal power in tho
states Of the Church. This latter object is known
70 be lavoritc one Of Louis Napoleon For this,
il for no other reason, the Pope Is peculiarly
jealous Of the French Emperor and longs to see
French bayoncts displaced by Austrian bayonets
in the seven-hilltd city. Meanwhile, everybody
III Rome is involved in doubt and suspense The
people are looking with interest towards England
and France The Pope and the clergy have their
faces turned towards Austria. Here he expects to
tnd the countcfpoise against tho Vaccinations and
ntrigues, and possibly against the forcible
measures of the Wester Alliance. Thus the con.
cordat, with the secret arrangements behind il,
enters as new element into the complications OF
the Italian question.
There is another momentous event. now rot far
Distant with which this treaty has direct and
important connection, that win be subject with
us for future consideration. Eeening Port. s.o
Born Orators"