New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-07-19
THE PAPAL BONDS.

His Holiness the Pope is in straitened cir
Gumstanees He wants four millions of dol !
lars. He needs for the purposes of his govern
ment that sum, not to carry on war against
King yictor-not for any aggressive purpose,
not for any warlike soheme-but merely to
pay the regular government dues His bonds
are offered at the low price of sixty-siX cents
on the, dollar and9 each contributor to the
loan is respectfully reminded that the proceeds
are to be employed for the welfare of general
christianity and the spread of the gospel and not
at all in prosecuting political enterprises with
cold steel and saltpetre. The august head OF
the church and temporal ruler of its States
does not attempt to show that by contributing
to the civic necessities of his dynasty the
contributors would not thereby enable him
to devote other funds to warlike purposes,
should it enter into the heart of the sovereign
of the Papal States to draw the sword of the
militant temporal authority to smite him upon
the left cheek by whom he had been smitten
upon the right and TO bestow a worldly chas-
tsement coupled with pontifcal curse upon
those who would trench upon his prerogative,
lessen his authority or narrow his magisterial
dominion. In bygone ages the wants Of the
Papal government were far greater than nov.
1t was once the successor and representative
Of the old Roman Empire line Of able
Pontiffs strengthened it by their wisdom and
adorned it by their talents. All christendom
revered it and aided it in its contests with IN
believers. Peters pence, tithes and jubilee gifts
were poured its Golfers The penitential
offerings Of wealthy sinners and the donations
Of dying lords built up productive monastie
establishments, whose pEincely incomes were
shared with the treasury of the Holy See. The
Pope could then maintain armies and fleets,
| by which to command respect for his temporal
DEGREES from powerful monarchs and to the
remotestregions of the earth. He was at that
time king of kings with an unseen silent III
fuence extending throughout all nations All
this is changed A bull of communication
would not now cause half the uneasiness to
any European sovereign that would be pro-
dueed by an incendiary missal from some
popular revolutionary chief True catholics
will never cease to revere the august head of
the church; but they pay to him spiritual
reverence only, and not the obedience Of sub
JOSUso " q oAfClS4k5Ll' liz GttllLOl COllIutt0Q
their substance as might his predecessors of
the middle ages before saucy Henry of England
began to dsspoil monasteries.
In making this appeal for peeuniary assis-
lance, His Holiness makes it a purely bust
ness transaction, pursuing in this respect
course widely different from that adopted BY
most representatives Of ecclesiastical bodies
in need of funds. He enters the stock market
like any secular dealer and offers his bonds as
an Investment worthy Of the attention of CAPT.
talists. The amount (s40OO,OOO) which he
hopes to raise in this country is comparatively
small, and there is no doubt the archbishops
bishops and clergy viii employ in behalf Of
this loan, all their eloquence and influence
among monied laymen, who are not wont to be
backward in any good work. While few
among American fnaneiers would probably re-
commend this Investment on the score of pros
peetiYe profits, many wealthy catholics will
doubtless avail themselves Of this opportunity
to give a substantial token Of their Jealous de-
yotion to the cause Of the church and of their
profound reverence for the Pope The pro
posed loan being in substance an appeal to the
piety Of American catholics and not to the
cupidity Of capitalists in general it is hardly
appropriate to discuss its merits in the aspect
Of speculation. !
.