New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-04


can Iron. and so to hasten the suspicious day
wherein our country will produce this FIRST OF
metals TO an extent commensurate with her own
vast and ever-increasng needs. When that DAY
shall have arrived, we have no doubt that American
Iron will be at once the most diversified. the most
seryiceabe and the cheapest of any on the globe
FRANCIS JOSEPH AND THE BISHOPS.
Francis Joseph has shrewdly and skillfuly ex-
treated himself from the complications arising out
of the Eastern War, outwitting his allies and push
ing Russia into thorny corner. But Still 1t Will
require all the energy of the Austrian Government
TO come out unharmed from the new Concordat TO
which it has voluntarily submitted Itself and the
nation. The first fruit of this close embrace be-
tween the Kaiser and the Bishop of Rome, has
already an unpalatable taste for the civil power.
As soon as the COncordat was ratlhed az
Vienna and Rome, the documents duly exchanged,
congratulations mutually rendered, and blessings,
stars, orders, crosses, and all other symbols OF
special honor, showered upon the negotlators' then
the Austrian clergy at once went Justify to work.
Their object was to put such construction on the
various clauses of the COncordat as would best for
tify their own aims, and so turn and twist mat
tiers into pure UltramOntanism. The hOt-headed
Bishops of the AustroI Italian possessions, united
l. Consi.tory. Afe- debating examining, and
dissecting the document carefully and infinitely,
they discovered therein what they wanted. Soon
their respective dOcesans became enlightened as
10 their new duties. The pastoral letters issued
BY the bishops, prescribed to all publishers,
editors and booksellers thencetorth not to print,
edit or issue any work without previously sub
hitting the manuscript to Episcopal censorship.
Furthermore, books imported from other cOun-
tries were not to be put up for sale without
likewise passing under the pastoral supervision.
In this way every bishop was to establish
in his diocese distinct board of censorship,
independent Of any superior power BY. this de-
cree preventive censorship was introduced, not
withstanding that it is not recognized by the ex-
isting Government regulations In Austria the
press is free in certain sense, the Police only e1
ercising its action on works when printed and pub
lished, and the COncordat only gives the Bishops
the right to point out to the civil authorities such
books as they may judge dangerous to religion aud
morals, leaving it with these authorities to decide
upon further steps.
Upon this Episcopal decree the booksellers ap-
pealed tie the civil Governor of Lombardy, who de-
cded that the pastoral letters of the Bishops
were not obligatory. The matter then
went up to Vienna, when the decision of the Gov
ernor was sustained and the MDister of Public
instruction invited the Bishops to revoke the,
letters. This they fatty refused to do. Nor was
it confined to mere refusal The Patriarch OF
Venice wrote letter in which, after INDUCING in
various specuatOns, he declares that federation by
a sovereign of other sects, for reasons OF State,
amounts to moral apOstacy from the Romsh
Church. The italian hierarchy, it seems also,
are not only unwilling to yield their medieval
preiensions, but have boldly made another step
of encroachment. As the COncOrdat secures every
kind of church property from being used by the
secular power, the Bishops have sent an imperative
request TO all the civil and military governors and
commanders respectively, to purge the converts,
nOnasteres, and other edifces claimed by the
Church, and now unoccupied by religious orders,
from profanities as exhibited in their use as bar
racks, prisons, and what-nOt. The Government
accordingly finds itself encOmpassed with thOrns
in the hands of the priesthood who now, as hitherto
in Europe, oyerleap all concessions in spirit OF
measureless insolence.
Other difficulties, moreover, must spring from
the right conceded to the Bishops to direct and SUI
perintend the public schools, and to name profess
sors and teachers to be employed or dismissed.
Though Austria in fact, has showed herself SO sub
servient to Rome, she begins to experience disgust
at the details of her spiritess obedience. lnjus-
tice, it must be said that the Bishops of the Ger
man, Hungarian and Slavic provinces, more d-
rectly under domestic and national influences
more Immediately linked with the government
and measuring accordingly their present strength
more correctly have issued pastoral letters directly
opposite in spirit TO those of their Italian brethren
Therein they express in general terms their graft
tude to the Government, and expect that by going
hand-in-hand with it, and keeping strictly within
the concessions bestowed, they will be enabled to
preserve their flOcks from corruption immortality,
and irreligion, and maintain them on the track of
truth, virtue, and pety.
The Democratic Convention lately assembled at
Richmond held its sittings in the African Church