The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-14

died at his residence in Hartford Conn yesterday
| ing, In the eighty sixth year Of his age.
The stock market Was heavy yesterday. Government
securities dull Gold fsserish and slightly de-
| pressed, closing al 40
There but little business accomplished yesterday,
especially in Imported MERCHANDISE Domestic produce
was dun and generally lower, though but moderate
business was consummated Petroleum dull and
nominal Cotton also dull and fully To- lower. On
Change the -four market quiet and closed at about
Thursdays prices Wheat inactive and prioos nomi
nal Corn firm but quiet; while oats were dull and
declining The pork market was more active, but un-
settled Beef decidedly more active at unchanged
rates. Lard steady and in fair demand. whiskey was
less active and scarcely nrm Freights quiet
The Pope's Manifcsto-The Most ImpOr-
tnnt Document OF tho Century.
We published yesterday the full text Of the
Popo's encyclioal letter, dated at Rome on the
9th Of December last This document is Of
transcendent importance to oil Christendom.
There has been no religious manifesto Of equal
gravity during the century. Every Roman
Catholic throughout the world-and in what
part Of the world are they not to be foundi-
win study the letter with anxious interest
Tho grant Of q plenary Indulgence for one
month, to tho faithful Of both sexes throughout
the universe, concludes the manifesto, and
would secure for II universal attention even II
the subjects upon which 1t treats were not of
80 striking and popular character. Aroused
at length to the radical and revolutionary
spirit Of the age, and recognizing the
encroachments made upon the spiritual
domain Of the Church Of Rome, the
Pope has overcome that desire for oii,m
cum dignitdte so natural to his years, and thun-
ders forth vigorous protest against the isms
Of the day. A spectacle SO sublime may well
startle and astonish the present practical gene
ration. To many the Pope has seemed mere
figure-head and many others had forgotten all
about his existence; but on a sudden he has
broken his long silence, and now stands boldly
forward in the full consciousness Of his powers
and of his ability to WELD them.
Paradoxical rs the statement may appear,
this manifesto against revolution is itself revo-
lutionary. Should it be carried out with the
same vigor as 1t is written, it will reform Chris
tendon and regenerate the Roman Catholic
Church. The publication of such document
was not determined upon without ample and
mature reflection, and, doubtless, some idea Of
its tendency was communicated to the most
prominent Catholics of Europe long be-
fore its actual appearance. Only upon
this hypothesis can we comprehend the
manifesto of Macmillan in regard to
the church property in Mexico, recently
printed in our columns. Coming from q
Catholic country to reign in another Catholic
country, with the blessing OF the Pope resting
upon him, Macmillan would not be likely to
do anything displeasing to the supreme Head
OF the Church. We may consider, therefore,
church property in Mexico, and to restore to
the original owners all that was not willingly
donated, was in effect the forcrunner of the
cncyclcal letter, and partially explains its
meaning. The Pope has discovered, as we
have often assured him, that it is better 70 i've
up the material power of the Church in order
to retain the spiritual, than to risk both in a
useless struggle for the mere earthly part Of
her possessions. Macmillan has inauguratcd
this idea in distant Mexico, and now the Pope
announces II from Rome. United Italy has
found capital in Florence, and the impetuous
Italians will no longer clamor to be led against
the Imperial City. France is about withdraw
ing her troops from around the Papal throne,
and no new bayenets will be needed TO protect
a spiritual monarch who rules the hearts and
consciences, rather than the bodies, of his sub
jects. Little by little the temporalitics of the
Church are to melt away, like cloud ; but as
the process Of reform approaches completion,
the spiritual power will shine more and more
brightly, until it gloriously illumines the
whole world, like sun of peace and righteous
ness, bearing universal blessings upon its
beams.
If this Interpretation Of the design Of the
Holy Father be correct, his plans will be sue
cessful. All the errors, the failures the dan
gers of the Catholic Church have arisen rather
from her temporal than from her spiritual
connections. In this country, where she has
studiously avoided entangling alliances with
the State or with political factions, her power
has been gradually and immensely increased.
During this war her bishops and priests have
strictly obeyed the rule which commands them TO
respect the government under which they live.
A remarkable instance of this occurred some
time ago, when Archbishop Hughes, Of New
York, and Bishop Lynch, Of Charleston, ex-
changed letters--the one in favor Of the Union,
the other in favor Of the so-called confederacy,
but both agreeing in their devotion to the
Roman Catholic religion. Many of the other
churches, on the contrary, have identified
themselves with the very isms which the Pope
SO emphatically rebukes. Some Of them
are intimately connected with those politi-
cal parties which promise liberty, while
they are slaves to corruption" Under the
patronage Of these churches are published
those "pestilent books, pamphlets and journals
which deceive the people and wickedly lie."
Their ministers 60 from the pulpit to the politi-