The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-09


lished the recent concordat concluded between
the Pope and the Emperor Francis Joseph of
Austria. We now lay before our readers two
alIocutions from the Pope-one on the rela-
| tions subsisting between the Austrian govern
ment and the Holy See, on the basis of the
| compact referred to-and proclamation from
| the Patriarch of Venice to the booksellers
| Of that city and diocess.
| These are remarkable and most significant
| documents, especially the Pope's allocution
under date of November last. 1t will be seen
| by this paper how far the Emperor Of Austria
has consented to convey to the ecclesiastical
tribunals temporal and civil power. While
Mexico is confessedly struggling to maintain a
| government, and is continually foiled in her
efforts to do 80 by the exercise Of temporal
authority by the Catholic Church, Francis Jo-
seph by a treaty, has conveyed to a foreign
tribunal many of the essential Jurisdictions of
the civil administration He has annulled the
privilege of exercising authority of any kind
over the church. He has, in fact established
the church as government within his do
minions, trusting himself TO its awards, aud
building up in his empire power behind the
throne greater than the throne itself.
] The lesson is to be learned in Europe that
in matters of government there can be no
| partnership. Division of the authority Of the
| State is in itself weakness aud decay 1t is
this principle which has prevented the people
of Mexico, and of all Spanish States, from
consolidating the political elements into
living, energetic rule. The reason of the
failure is obvious in the conflict between the
civil and ecclesiastical authorities which is
sure to follow such connection. Spain is
noted example Of this species of compromise,
which seems to cast blight over all the in
terests subjected to its dominion.
But these extraordinary proceedings be-
tween Francis Joseph and the Pope, aud the
allocution of his Holiness, dated the seventh
of December last, appointing three eminent
prelates to be CardinalPriests Of the Holy
Roman Church-the first, e avows, to please
his every dear con in CT Francis Joseph,
Emperor of Austria, and Apostolic King;" the
second because it was ''singularly agreeable to
our very dear son in Jesus Christ, Macmillan,
the illustrious King Of Bavaria" and the
third to crafty "our very dear son in Jesus
Christ Louis Napoleon, the illustrious aud
celebrated Emperor of the French, who has
so we'll merited Of US and the Holy See"-we say
these events indicate something besides de-
sire to propagate the doctrines of the church
in the dominions Of the Austrian empire.
The church is Power in Europe, not by
virtue Of the Roman government, but by the
inocculation Of it's dogmas in the hearts Of the
people. As a corporation, as an embodied go
vernment at Rome, with Plus TX. at its head
it amounts to nothing. 1t is prisoner amongst
nations-a weatbercock to indicate the course
of the wind. But in the people of Europe is a
great Catholic power, the most efficient aud
united Of any of the elements OF European
rule. Napoleon Bonaparte saw this, and his
successor is now building upon it. He will
convey no jurisdiction to the Pope-license no
foreign tribunals in France-comproInis none
Of his authority; but he will uphold the Pope,
get his endorsements, enlarge his ecclesiastical
powers in all the other continental States. He
will make use of his position to combine the
Catholic elements Of the Continent, taking
care to hold the means Of crushing any effort
at encroachment upon his own privileges All
this certainly adds nothing to the alliance be-
tween England and France. It indicates, in
deed, that Napoleon's eyes are turned to the
Germaaic Northern and Central European
Powers which England dismissed for the
French alliance.
1t would DC folly to suppose that there are
not Immediate connections between the rel-
giOus and the social aud political affairs Of ma
tons. Continental governments, with rare ex-
ceptions, hold kind of exequator from the
church. They are, to q great extent, in fact
the governments of the church. The state Of
religious feeling on the Continent, with the
masses, is cold, cruel and scepteal. 1t is the
same as in China, as described by IIuc--it is an
Asiaic, immobile sentiment rather than 6
modern rationalism There is in il an utter
absence Of individuality and responsibility--a
morbid selhshness--a listless dependence and
slavery. It has no vitality, no energy, no be.
nevolence, no philanthropy, no goodness or
humanity. 1t is altogether PROFESSIONALISM
form complied with without interest or feeling
as any civil statute or decree is obeyed.
All this is indicative of the political and
social state Of Europe, which cannot fail to be
influenced by it. a lively rational religion Is
the precedent Of all social excellence aud Of
all wise decisions in government Where the
public mind is frigid, cruel and sceptical in
matters Of religious feeling, it is sure to be
cold and Indifferent in the other relations of
life. The fierce .furore of Cromwell and hs
fanatical adherents exercised powerful infll-
ence in advancing the cause of popular liberty.
They might have been hateful bigots, but they
were the very central fires Of human passion
and action. The Puritans of this country
we're austere zealots, as tyrannical as the or
tremest adherents of the Romish church in
those days; but they were men Of ceaseless