Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-02-14

The Ncw Yorf CrGsa3 y I(zarazZi's paper,)
is putting some very hard questions TO Hon.
MIR. Chandler, Of this State, suggested by his
| speech in the House OF Representatives, de-
nying that the Pope of Rome exercised any
political power out of or away frGm, his own
petty dominions. The Crusader joins issue
with Mr. Chandler in regard TO the Pope's po-
liticai power, and asserts it to be fact that
ssthe Bishops are bound to report at Rome, at
least once year, what transpires, politically,
in their several dioceses.' Those who have
read Mr. Chandler'S speech will recollect his
declaration that ssif the spirit of conquest
should seize on the Wearer of the tiara, and he
should seek to subjugate Italy, provoking the
arms Of other nations against his own State, he
(Mr. Chandler) would look on the chances Of
the defeat of his own arms coOily and COM
placently as on the mischievous schemes of
any other ambitious monarch But the Cru
Sader with much force enquiries =
Has Mr.. Chandler forgotten already that
Plus TX provoked, in 1919, the arms of other
nations against his own Statea That French,
Austrians, Spaniards, Neaplitans, Lazzaronis
and Swiss, banditti, were called by the Vicar
of Christ to subjugate his people2 Perhaps the
Hon. American Representative will say that
the Pope was only attempting to re-conquer
what he had been deprived Of and that he
was right, such being also the opinion of every
Bishop in the United States, in proof of which
he has only to read the pastoral letters and
sermons of fBshops England, Kendrick. Hughs,
ETC., etc. But, admitting this right for the
Pope, then you must also acknowledge that
George III, was justified in waging war against
the United States, unless youwill consider the
Romans as not belonging to the human family,
and not children, like the Americans, of the
same God.
But Mr.. Chandlerwill reply, as is customary
with all Catholic Romish writer's and orators
that the Romans attempted to deprive the
Pope of his spiritual power, and do away with
the religion of their fore-fathers. Unfortu-
nately for HIM, and for all the members of his
Papal congregation, the Constitution of the
Roman Republic, decreed by the unanimous
vote of the people, in 1S49, stated:
cart. I. The Catholic religion Is the religion
Of State.
s.The exercise of the civil and political
rights of citizen do not depend upon the
ligious creed.
cart. 8. The Chief of the Catholic church
will receive all necessarily guarantees for the in
dependent exercise Of the spiritual poIcer.''
BY the above articles it will be seen that the
trainers of the Roman Constitution did not in
tend to deprive the Pope of his spiritual pow
er, to rcnounce the Catholic religion.
The Crusader presents facts which Mr..
Chandler will find it difficult to overcome, set
aside, or explain away. We shall look on with
some interest to if any effort is made by
the other side to nullify them.
En- PEASANT, the Metropolitan Catholic AL
manac for 1855, mentions among the list of
ssPrelates who have retired from office,'' the
Right Rev. Frederick Reze. Bishop of Detroit,
October 6, 1888. This calls to
the recollection of the Philadelphia Daily .Sun,
ga most shameful act ofiDiustice and barbarity
against this gentleman, for the preparation
Of which Rome would have been called to ac-
count by any other government in Christcn-
dom, had he been its citizen. Bishop Reza is
a citizen of the State of Michigan, and yet he
has been for years incarcerated in Roman
dungeon, without any one knowing why
Congress has demanded his release; his old |
fellow citizens of Detroit, who love him, have |
mplored it, and the Representatives of the |
United States at Rome, have asked it, but all |
in vain. An American citizen is immured in |
a Papist dungeon, because the Pope holds au- |
thorty over his life and liqlb, and no threat or
persuasion can effect his release" Here is |
evidence of the temporal power ofthe Pope |
which Mr.. Chandler did not find it eXpedient |
to allude to in his iesutical defense of ::the |
Tearer of the tiara The truth is--and Mr.. |
Chandler knows it-s'the power of the Pope,''
in political as well as spiritual matters, is re-
garded By all true Catholics as supreme. 1t |
is also true that the mission of Romanism in |
this country is for political supremacy ,-hance |
the combination and organization of Roman |
Catholics, as such, and the concentration of |
their votes at the ballot boxes to control our
elections.-Hur. Tel.