The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-31

The POPE AND THE CONTEST IN MExICo-THE
TREATY BEFORE THE SENArE.-We learn from
an authentic source in Europe that the Pope
has declined to receive officially Bishop Labas-
tida, of Puebla, who went recently to Rome on
a mission from the clergy of Mexico, and re-
fused to take any step that could be used in the
civil and religious conflict now raging in that
republic.
1t seems that the chief point of Bishop La.
bastida's instructions was to obtain bull from
his Holiness, authorizing the sale of the pro-
perty of ecclesiastical corporations, in order
to provide funds for the defence Of the clerical
power that now rules in the central part Of the
republic. The policy which the Papal See has
determined to pursue is the only one it could
adopt under the circumstances of the present
time. A general conviction has taken pos
session of governments abroad, as well as the
people in Mexico, that the difficulties of that
republic can be best settled and only settled
by themselves. Any Intervention by foreign
Power will make the matter worse, by compli-
eating not only its domestic questions, but also
its external relations The course which the
Pope has pursued towards Bishop Labastida
renders it very questionable if any of the
Western Powers of Europe will protect the
church party in its present rebellion and al
lance with the army under Miramon against
the constitutional authorities.
Reliable information which we have received
from parties recently from Mexico, and which
we published yesterday, shows the growing
strength of the liberal cause, and the increas-
ing disposition Of the people to fight out their
own battle without foreign assistance. The
inertia Of the Juarez government, it is said, is
giving rise to disposition to recall President
Comonfort as parties are now beginning to
perceive that the present struggle did not
spring from his course, but from causes an
terror thereto, and that his acts were in reality
part of the very struggle itself In this con-
dition of things the refusal of the Pope to re-
ceive the envoy of the Mexican clergy in an
official way. and to embark his prestige in their
present struggle against the advancing ideas of
the age, will give new impulse to the liberal
cause on one side, and perhaps lead to dis
position on the other to bring about some
mutual arrangement that may lead to the paci-
fication Of the country.
With such contingency before us, it would
be well If the Senate should ratify the recen
treaty with Mexico, and make the exchange
the notifications SO as to secure the important
commercial and transit privileges which it ex-
tends to US. We may Just as well clothe, feed,
and provide with iron ware and utensils of all
kinds, the eight or ten millions of people in
Mexico as to permit England to do il. But
this trade can only grow up under the protec-
ton accorded by the treaty. If that is passed
We may create market for fifty millions of
dollars in Mexico for the products Of our
fabrile industry, while the rights of way which
the treaty comedies to us will convert Arizona
into second California. by giving tia prao.
Iicsble port On the Pacific waters