The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-24

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bred Scott. This is final, and settles the ques-
ton forever.
The Coming Polite o-Religious Struggle
in Europe.
There are two questions now agitating the
continents of Europe and America which are
worthy Of profound reflection. Here we have
the disturbance and excitement arising out Of
the slavery question. In the Old World, the
effete political power of the head of the Catho-
lie Church is the engrossing theme There is
on both sides an irrepressiblc conflict going on
between the principles of right and wrong, in
which civilization is most intimately interested.
Therefore, whether the eyes of mankind are
turned to the one continent or to the other,
there are facts presented to their view of the
highest importance, which every rejecting man
should consider.
When the Emperor Napoleon, at the COM
mencement of the year 1859, was about
to begin the great campaign which
drove the Austrians from Italy, the views which
he held at the time, and the plans which he in
tended to pursue, were plainly foreshadowed
in pamphlet which was issued shortly before.
Subsequent events proved what was previously
very generally believed-that the intentions of
the Emperor had been very faithfully set forth
in that pamphlet. The course of the Italian
campaign was strictly in accordance with the
prearranged plan; SO that Napoleon might be
said to have followed it up almost to the very
letter. With the opening of the year 1860 we
have another indication of the policy of the
imperial mind. The Emperor has again pre-
figured his views, in another pamphlet, which
bears the undoubted stamp of his inspiration.
His views on the religious part of the Italian
question, which involves the temporal sove-
reignty of the Pope of Rome, are plain and in
telligible. That the Emperor intends to stand
by the principle of Italhn union and liberty,
of which he has been SO prominent defender,
seems to be beyond all doubt. The Pope is, as
a matter Of course, dissatisfied that the Italian
question should be thus resolved, and hence
it is not surprising that he should oppose it as
far as he is able. But his Holiness will be
left in feeble minority. Three. fourths of the
Roman Catholics throughout the world are ad-
verse to his temporal authority. They have
seen how much the interests of the Church
have been injured, and the cause of Apostolic
Christianity retarded, by the irreconciable
dogma of concentrated political and religious
domination; and after many long years of
thought and reflection, the most intelligent Ca
tholics have at length conceded that the two
positions are Numerically opposed to each
other. Thus while the great congregation of
Catholic Christians are divided in their opinions
as to the right of the Pope to a temporal juris-
diction, the large majority are in favor of his
resigning that pretension, so that he might be-
come, in word and deed, an overseer of the
Church. The march Of civilization and the vast
progress of liberal principles have had much
to do with the triumph of this great idea.
Where, then, will his Holiness look for sup
porters Where can he expect to find men who,
in the face Of public opinion, would be bold
enough to defend the anomaly of the union Of
spiritual with temporal sovereignty? There
is but one place where these can be found and
thatis in the bosom Of the Roman Church
The cardinals, bishops and priests who owe al
legiance to the Holy See-just in the same
manner as our own consuls and plenipOten-
tiaries represent the views Of the government
that has claim on their services, or rs the
missionaries scattered over the world by the
Methodists and Baptists owe their allegiance to
the synods of these churches-must Of neces-
sity re-echo the views of the head Of the
Church. Whatever the Pope wishes or thinks,
they also wish and think. In Europe as well
as in America the influence they exercise is
immense, and they may create large degree
of sympathy in favor Of the Pope. But the
great majority Of Catholics, as we said before
will be found arrayed on the opposite side.
They wish to see the Pope spiritual, and not
temporal prince. The Protestant nations Of
the earth, who are always foes to bigotry and
intolerance, in whatevcrform they may appear.
will never lend their sanction to any plan that
can tend to perpetuate state of things that
has done so much evil. The Greek Church,
which exercises no small influence over mil
lions of souls in Europe, will also be found in
the ranks of the opposition, and under the
pressure Of these concentrated forces the Pope
must be compelled to give way. Affairs in
Europe are in this way very nearly brought to
a crisis of the deepest interest, not only to the
Old World but to America, where there are
so many thousands Of Intelligent Catholics.
In the year lsi7s the Pope showed himself
to be wise and liberal man: and we can scarce
~ doubt that he will now overthrow the rcpu-
tation which he then obtained for prudence snd
consistency. He cannot now mistake nor mis-
understand his own position, and we are there
fore inclined TO think That upon mature rel'ec-
ton he will have the good sense OF submitting
to the opinion Of The world by resigning claim
to temporal power which can no longer be
maintained. His Holiness, we think, will at
length COZ cluie that it IS safer and better TO