The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-07


dishonesty and desire for Reputation on the
part of the slave States.
Napoleon and the Pope-One Of the Coming
Events I'm Europe.
More and more, as we watch the career of the
present Emperor of tho French, we are led to
respect the consistency of his conduct and &C
knowledge his title to be considered the
cleverest man in Europe" His last important
decree is still fresh in the public mind. In it
he extended the functions of the Senate and
legislative body, SO as to give the people, not
only in theory, but in practice, voice in the
government of the empire, while, by providing
for the p.rbAicxtiea IN ste,,so of the debates in
the 51onstesr aad all the otter Journals in
France, he gives the key TO- the liberty Of the
press. This policy approaches nearer to COR
stitutionai government than any former mea-
sure emanstxg from the present dynasty,
and is quite in accordance with the ex-
pressed views Of Louis Napoleon in his
dfes Nupoleonieasses, published twenty years
ago. He is man of the age, luxuriatng
in enlarged and liberal aspirations, tend
ing to the promotion ofrepresentatve order, and
his ambition is to rule over free nation.
These reforms prepare US for another event as
vet only in embryo. We allude to nothing less
than his taking upon himself the position of
Father of the Faithful. 1t may at first sight
appear somewhat droll to find Plus the
Tenth turning up in the occupant of the Tuile-
RES. but on a second view it will be found that
xho% oh cto ha
greater than those exercised by the sovereign
of England, who has the appointment Of all
the bishops and supreme control over the
national church. If Henry the Eighth was fit to
exercise such functions, surely the present
Emperor of the French, whose domestic rela-
tions are SO much more creditable, is qualified.
It cannot be for moment doubted that the
empire, by this combination of ecclesiastical
and political power, would be strengthened
beyond calculation; SO that any wag-
gish irreverence WHICH might possibly
arise towards the new Pontif would soon sub
side. We should see few cartoons about it
in the comic weeklies, and that would be all.
The system could not fail to work well where
religion was always at the command of the 60
vernment The clergy would look to the En-
peror as their spiritual superior for support
and advancement, and the Emperor would be
freed from what hitherto has been q stumbling
block in the way of his foreign policy Re-
lgion, by becoming purely national, would be
revitalized throughout the empire. OF course
he would expect, in carrying this project
into execution, to confront the opposition of
the Catholic party, the French bar, the legit-
mist and Orleanist body, and, perhaps, even re-
publicans and free thinkers; bat the consum-
mate tact and ability of the man would over
come this, however compact and devoted,
lust as he has already often done the
most seemingly insurmountable difficult
ties. The opposition of the clerical
party would alone be worthy of consideration,
and that party is now so weak in France that
its influence would be Insignificant. The tenn
poral dominion of the Pope is opposed to the
Italian sympathies of the French people, and
this is point greatly In favor of the course the
Emperor has marked out for himself The loss
of the French church would be grevous one
for Pic Mono. With the loss of his eldest son
he would lose also his best missionary; for dur
ing the past century the French flag has been
almost the banner of Romish proselytism, espe-
cially in the East. But such loss would only
be in keeping with the gradual decline of Ca
tholicism during the last three hundred years.
1t commenced by the apostacy Of England and
the decadence of Spain, by which its mastery of
the seas was terminated and its chance of colo
nizng the world gone. The Romish reli-
gion was in its germ when the bar
barous nations of the North surrounded
and menaced the old Roman en-
pire. From that time on for thousand
years it was ghly e:ul. and the source of an
advancing civilization; but the world is strange
" altered now, and the Papal power has been
cclipsed by civilization brighter than that
which it originated, and very soon we shall see
the Pope sink into mere nominal and power
less chief at Rome.
Notwithstanding the immense benefits which
Napoleon Ill. has conferred upon France, and
the rapid strides she has made in material pros
perity under his rule, it is more than probable
that with his death his dynasty will expire.
Such result can only be avertcd by the father
living till his son reaches manhood, and by that
son having the, genius of his father, and the
same tact in It's application. The people of
France are, both by nature and habit, revolu-
tionary, and II is only by his ceaseless activity
and constantly keeping the political ball roll
ing that Louis Napoleon maintains the throne
of France for himself. If he were 70 lessen his
vigilance and subside into rcposo he would
meet with the fate Of Louis Philippe in less
than Nv years.
METROPOLITAN TAXATION FOR 1S6l.-The
Comptroller's report for last year. pre-
sented TO the Common Council at their