The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-05

triumvirate; but Juares may be induced to
give him something to pack of without further
trouble, and the United States may be per-
suaded to loan the money OF stand security for
Juarex and his constitutional successors in
Office.
Plus the Ninth ON the Present Times and the
Situation Of the Papacy.
The Pope pronounced an allocution lately
on the occasion of the canonization of Paul de
la Croix, the founder of the Order of the Pas
sionists, which shows the temper and views Of
the Holy Father on the great events of the
times as affecting the Papacy. This allocution
is very carefully worded, but there can be no
doubt that the illusions to the prosecutors of
the Church, )" to the.'implacable enmity between
the son of the law Of the atheist and the son Of
the law of Jesus Christ" and so forth, refer
to the new political power of Italy, which is
circumscribing and threatens to absorb the
temporal power of the Pope. 1t is natural that
his Holiness should chafe under the inevitable
change, for no one loses long acquired privi-
leges, even though forced by political neces-
sity in an amiable mood. But it is evident he
is preparing to submit to the force of circum-
stances and the progress of events. The whole
tone of CHS address, apart from the complain
ing spirit referred to, is Of the most exalted
religious character. In fact Plus the Ninth,
seeing that his temporal power is doomed, is
turning his attention more particularly to the
spiritual affairs and control of the Catholic
world, and is directing the priests in the same
way. This is his proper role, and in this he
will become greater and happier man.
The evacuation of Rome by the French forces
seems at last to have been definitely resolved
upon. A few weeks, months at most, from this
date, and the much talked Of French occu-
patton will have resolved itself into the historic
past, and the chair of st. Peter will be left to
ant-Papal government In prospect of such
an event the future Of the Holy See naturally
becomes subject Of deep and general in
terest.
There are not few, and among them must
be included some able and devoted adherents
of the Roman Catholic Church, who speak and
act as if temporal and spiritual authority were
one, and as il any attempt to separate the one
from the other must inevitably lead to the ex-
tinction Of both. Such view of the case is
totally erroneous Those who see it in this
light forget that the Papacy existed and
fourished and that the spiritual authority Of
the Pope was felt and acknowledged over :
wide area long ages before his name appeared
on the list OF European princes. They forget
that some of the ablest writer's of past as well
as of present times have given it as their
opinion that the alliance of the spiritual with
the temporal was one of the most unfortunate
events that ever befell the pretensions Of the
successor of st. Peter. They forget that in
both hemispheres there are millions who
recognize the supremacy Of the Pope
in matters spiritual. to whom the temporal
sovereignty is matter Of the profoundest
Indifference. The temporal power is hut
an accident and may safely be dispensed
with. The worst that can result from the
separation may be slight inconvenience to
the papal purse. But such Inconvenience can
only be temporary. There is money enough
among the devoted adherents Of the Romish
Church to maintain the office with dignity and
from what is known of Catholic liberality the
necessary funds are not likely to be grudgingly
supplied. Freed from the entanglcments which
have hitherto married her usefulness and mis-
directed her energies. the Church will be able to
enter upon new career Of spiritual activity
a career which may result in shedding fresh
glory around the papal chair and in advanc-
ing some Of the best interests OF mankind
There is another opinion which prevails and
which we think equally erroneous. Prom the
tone of some journals and addresses 1t would
appear tina, The disappearance of the French
troops from the Holy City must needs be fol-
lowed by the disappearance Of The Holy Father
also. Rome, 1t appears, by becoming an
Italian must cease 10 he = sacred city. The
temporal and The spiritual are to be 30 efrectu-
ally sundered that the same walls may not
encompass the representatives OF both. The
desertion Of the Vatican and the vacation of
the papal chair. To get over this fancied
difficulty extraordinary suggestions have
been offered. The Pope should seek refuge
in England. Malta presents safe
and suitable asylum II would be happy
denouemem to the whole affair If Christianity
should find its headquarters 10 the place which
gave 1t birth and the papai chair were trans
ferred from Rome to Jerusalem. Nor would
the advantage to religion be less il the old
man were to come TO America aud spend the
remainder Of his days in peace? All this il very
well but the difhculty is lei, untouched. Go
where he may the protection Of the civil power
will be necessary; and il 10 difficult 10 see
why such protection should not be as accept
able at Rome as anywhere else. To speak
truth, the difficulty is mere fanciful than real.
The opposition Of the Italians is not 70 the