The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-01
The Roman Catholic ArchbIshops OPP
poled To EhllhLmsm mta for TN Pope.

Thetolowing card was issued yesterday The
publication in the newspapers of Circular from
Rome, to the effect that the Holy Father had
consented TO accept the services Of battalion OF
ore thousand men, to be raised in the United
States, on condition that the said men shall be
carefully chosen, and be equipped and supported
for three years by the Catholics of these States,
seems to call for some official notice from the
prelates TO whom the circular is exclusively
addlessed, and to whose discretion as guar
dIans OF the interests Of the Church IN this
country, the subject is committed. For this
reason, and for the purpose, at the same time,
of satisfying inquiries which have reached us
nom various quarters, we deem 1t proper thus
publicly to define our position with reference to
a mater of SO much importance; and in doing
so We have the best reason for knowing that we
DO but'epeak not alone our own sentiments, but
those also OF our venerable brethren in the
1t is needless for us to say how sincerely we
desire to uphold and protect, far as in us lies,
the temporal independence OF the Holy Father,
being persuaded how essential 1t is TO the free
and unfettered exercise of his spiritual supre-
macy in the government of the Universal
Church. Yet the proposal to raise and equip
an American battalion did not originate with
US As far as we can learn, it has emauated
from and been persistently urged on the military
authorities at Rome, by some party or parties
who have assumed 10 represent u.s. not only
without our sanction or authority, but even
without our knowledge; and what renders this
the more remarkable is the fact that the
gentleman who has succeeded in securing for
himself, in advance, the appointment of Lieu
tenantColonel, to have command of the pro.
posed battalion, is one who, we feel bound to
say, does not enjoy, and is not entitled to enjoy
our confidence, especially i'll position OF so
high a responsibility and trust
If he has found encouragement and support
from one or two journals, edited by CathOlic
laymen, which have given place 10 his ill
advised correspondence, this does not strengthen
his claims, inasmuch as the journals in ques-
tion are not to be recognized as reliable expo.
nents of Catholic views or sentiments, still less
as discreet or cOmmendable advocates of the
Catholic cause. Besides, the project as pro-
posed, with the conditions which are annexed
TO it, cannot, in our judgment, be successfully
carr ed out: and any attempt 10 do so would,
we apprehend instead OF serving the cause
our Venerable and beloved Holy Father, prove
| detrimental to it,
1t is not necessary to enter into further de
tails 1t will be enough to add that we still have
| reason to know that pecuniary aid is more
needed at this moment than military aid, ana
tnue therefore, as hitherto, 10 urge our gene
rous and faithful Catholic children to contribute
abundantly according to their means, for the
! port of our common father, who will employ
| their offerings in such manner as may to him
| seem best; not doubling that, by our so dong
| we shall meet his warm approval, and merit his
| Apostolic benediction.
Given at Mount Saint MaryS College, EN-
| mittsbuTg, June "a, 1868.
| M. j. SPAULDING. Archbishop of Baltimore.
| J. B. PURCELL, Archbishop of Cincinnati.
| JOHN MCCIosKEY, Archbishop of New York.
PETER RICHARD KENRIoK, Arch oshop OF 81
| Louis, per Archbishop OF New ORR.
n, B.-The Arch bishop of st. Louis not hav
ing been able 10 attend the meeting, empowered
the Archbishop of New YORK, in writing, t
| sien this document for him, having been full,
apprlsed OF what would be its contents.