Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-26
appointed new ministry, under Mar


vaez, which commenced its career
With the repeal of all laws which
were obnoxious to the Church. The
queen had repeatedly declared that
after having in vain tried to break the
power Of the Cortes, and to re-estab-
lish an absolute form of government.
by ministry Of lawyers and soldiers,
she wished to try in this time by q
ministry of bishops. The Archbish-
op OF Toledo had been even thonght
of as prime minister. Her demands
in favor Of the clergy were so exorbi-
tant, that even Narvaez shrunk from
taking the responsibility for all of
them. The common report in Madrid
is. that she at present follows blindly
the advice Of Father Sanz, whom
she consults before every council Of
ministers.
AS also the sister of the queen, the
Duchess Of Montpenser, shows the
same amicable disposition for the
Church, the Catholic party enjoys. for
the present. the patronage ofthe whole
dynasty. This circumstance, howey-
er, has considerably increased the
hostile attitude OF the constitutional
and republican parties. and the Church
may expect troublesome days, IL a
new revolution should place the reins
Of the goverement in the hands Of
either Of these two parties. The
great majority Of the educated clas-
ses Of Spanish society entertain either
constitutionalor republican sentiments.
II the Cortes are chosen principally
from their midst. they ARE sure to
contain but limited number OF Ultra.
montane members. Thus In tie leg
islature Of 1854, on several test ques-
tons, the Catholic party could not
poll more than IS votes. But. un-
fortunately, the educated classes in
Spain from a smaller fraction Of the
whole population than in most other
countries. Some years ago, the mum.
Der Of persons who were able 10 read
and TO write, fell short Of two millions,
In q population Of fourteen millions
and half, and eight thousand mu-
nicipal communities were without o
school. This ignorant mass OF the
lower people Is entirely under tho In
fluencc OF the priests, and olings to
the Roman faith with more than com.
mon fanaiicism. In this respect Spain
IL greater stronghold of Romanism
than either Italy or France. There IL
still another advantage which the
Spanish Church has over that Of TIA.
ly. The female sex In all classes OF
society Ia fanatically under the innu.
ence OF the confessional. When, last
year, the Corles declared by great
majority Ms a fundamental law OF the
country. that no Spaniard ought TO be
prosecuted for bis religious belief,
many wives, mothers. daughters. and
sisters Of the liberal Legislators sub.
scrbed n petition 10 tho queen. to re-.
ject this principle OF religious tolera.
ton.
Thus the hope OF the Roman
Church rests especially on the patron
age Of the court and high aristocraoy.
on the ignorance OF the masses. and
the attachment Of Spanish women to
lheimposing ceremonies Of the Church,
Feeble as this foundation Is. an inteli-
gent priesthood might be able to build
upon II a strong Catholic party in
Spain. But the priesthood has degen-
Grated with the people; they dis.
played much intolerance and fanat.
icism. but little activity. Religious
life Is here, IS In Italy, In entire
stagnation. Spain no longer occu-
pies the place among Catholic ma
tions which II held two hundred
years ago Neither to Catholic lite.
rature, ilor to the missionary cause,
nor to the promotion OF any other
general interest Of the Church, does II
contribute its due share. II is m OBJ.
ject Of universal pity to the other
Catholic countries. Thus have we
given some glmpses at popery on the
Spanish peninsula. The subject il
extensive, but these matters OF fac,
will, at least, indicate the present sta,
tus of the question. The great and
almost unmanageable evil at the foun-
dation Of all the difficulties Of reform
there rs elsewhere in papal Europe, il
the intellectual degradation Of the
massas; they are so low. SO engrossed
in the pageantry or pastimes Of the
Church, that far-reaching projects ol
reform cannot be appreciated by them
The work Of the reformer Is almost
as hopeless as the attempt of medical
skill to awaken TO life and vigor the
dead multitudes Of pest-house.-
The corruption seems fatal; the ma.
tional disease mortal. God alone can
raise up the hosts. who lie PROSTATE
in the great valley Of dry bones where
popery reigns in Southwestern Europe
Kossuth-A Beautiful Thought.
There are some Of the sayings OF
n -.