The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-25


puted that the church held over oue-thirtieth
the entire property in the kingdom; aud the
consequence was that Amanda expelled the Je-
suits, Joseph Bonaparte abolished the Inquisi-
ton, and the Spanish church at this day is at
lower ebb than any Christian church in Europe
almost on par with Islanism ia Turkey.
Archbishop Hughes ia now endeavoring to play
the same part here that the bishops and abbo.s
die in these three countries before the Reforms
ton. 1t were as much for the interest Of the
Roman Catholic faith as for that Of the laiy that
his aim be defeated.
| But there is snotber reason-and apparently
quite conclusive one-why the church pro-
perty should not be vested in the Bishops and
Archbishop. By the laws OF the land, John
Hughes cannot devise, bequeath, or give title
to any real property whatsoever in this State.
He may have declared his intention of becoming
acitizen, and gone through all the forms necessa-
ry to naturalization but it is notorious that
he has not renounced allegiance to all foreiga
| Potentates, for he owes allegiance at this mo-
ment to the Pope. This allegiance is due from
all the Catholic clergy in virtue of their Office;
and the day they renounce it, they cease to be
priests OF bishops as the case may be. If there
fore Archbishop Hughes has renounced ale
| glance to that foreign Potentate the Pope, he
is no longer rightfully an Archbishop of the
Roman Catholic Church and certainly has no
right to hold the property Of the congregation
| of that faith. II he has not renowned allie
glance to the Pope, he stands in the light of
any other alien, and at his death property held
| in his name escheats to the State. This is the
predicament in which Catholics in this and the
| Albany diocess now find themselves.
Mr.. Putnam's bill is designed to relieve them,
and under the circumstances there does not
seem to be any question but it must succeed in
becoming Law. The heads OF the church may
lose property thereby, but what Of that? In
the universal joy diffused by the recent de-
cision at Rome on the immaculate conception
of theVirgin, trifing loss of lands and houses
will not be felt. What the clergy have lost in
real estate, the church has gained in doctrine;
and surely points Of belief are worth more than
acres.
PRACTICAL CHARrTIEs.-Philosophe tell us
that charity is one of the divine virtues. 1t is
said to flourish in democratic governments, and
to decline under despotisms. New York, which
is democracy with dirty streets, is particular
~ benevolent. Journalists give MS a great
deal of fine writing about this virtue, and Miss
Smith or Mrs Snob and Mr.. Jones are daily
glorified for their donations of soup, blankets,
religious tracts and wholesome moral advice.
Wall street grows liberal-the Chamber of Com
merce votes money for the unemployed work
men, and we may expect to see an Incorporated
soup association Of the bulls and bears. The
divine virtue spreads through all classes of the
community. The Fifth avenue catches the in
lection, and certain fashionable ladies see fit
to bring themselves before the public IS so
many agents for the Methodist almoner at the
Points, or as the projectors of great popular
crushes, called by courtesy "balls for the re-
lief of the poor"
Now, this is all very well in theory; and
though these charitable people are rs often ac-
tuated by OstentatiOn as by benevolence, yet
they are entitled to all the credit which is
given them. They are the saints Of the nine
teenth century, and, like Fra Diavolo, they
atone for their crimes by giving five per centum
Of their acquisitions from one generation
Of widows and orphans for the relief of ano-
Their. Such disinterested virtue is entitled to
the praise of all good men. But these excel.
lent persons should not denounce every one
who happens to differ from them in opinion, or
to stigmatise as monsters, demons, and 80
forth those benightcd individuals who are so
stupid as to think that great deal more real
good may be done to the poor by giving them
work instead of aims.
The capitalists Of this city could very easily
find labor enough to employ every man now
out Of employment But they prefer to
lock up their funds and temporise with their
consciences. They keep thousand workmen
out Of employment, and by paying five dollars
for ball ticket, they secure to themselves all
the consultations Of religion, and consider that
they have made good investment here
after. The fashionable ladies are perfectly
willing to assist the poor providing that they
can gain notoriety, and amuse themselves
at the same time The poor, meantime, lead
jolly Bohemian existence. There is plenty of
soup, and an occasional donation for rent.
So we have regiment of the unemployed pa
rading our streets, declaiming in the Park and
on the corners
Manufacturers and master mechanics have
considered the discharge of their workmsn by
thousands as necessary measure. Many
good mechanics are broken and dispirited by
these means. They become dissipated-indo-
lence is the mother Of crime-and month of
idleness is sufficient to corrupt almost any