The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-14
Two Great Coming E,olts-Progrsss nud
ReactiOu.


Reacti0u.
II - now certain that the Suez Canal will
be formally opened for purposes Of trade some
time before this year is ended The ceremo-
NAL promises to be on grand scale. The
monarchs of Europe will be there in person
or by proxy. 1t is now authoritativey stated
that the Emperor of Austria will start for the
East on the oath Of October, that he will meet
the Empress Eugenie at Constantinople, and
that Francis Joseph, Eugene and the Sultan
will proceed by way of Jaffa and Jerusalem to
Suez where they will take part in the grand
ceremonial. II is added that the French,
Austrian and Turkish fleets will accompany
tho sovereigns, which means that they will
convey them to Jafla aud await their return
from Jerusalem, and convey them again, in all
likelihood, to Port Said We may take II for
granted that the royal party will be largely
increased in numbers before it reaches Jeru-
salem or Suez. The governments Of Europe
will now all of them be anxious to be repre-
scented. Learned men from all lands will be
there, as well as politicians and princes. In
circumstances Of almost unparalleled pomp
and splendor science will break down ono of
the great barriers of nature-will remove one Of
the great distractions to the worlds unity
and Egypt will again take her plaoo in the
family of nations.
On the 9th Of December will be opened,
under the presidency Of the chief bishop Of
Christendom, the grandest ecolesiastloal
uuro1 xub;ob Tho x.rorJd ha oaar n, fhran huu
dred years. Rome, the Mecca Of the Christian
world, will be crowded with ecclesiastical dig
nitaries from oil the ends Of the earth, and St.
Peters-the most magnificent temple, per-
haps, ever dedicated to any religion-will
present a spectacle which will go far to realize
the loftiest conceptions Of its great architect
and builder, Michael Angelo. In show, In
general attractiyeness the scene on the banks
Of the Tiber will excel that presented on the
banks of the Nile.
Such are the two great coming events. In
spite Of our Pacific Railroad and our Atlantic
cables, and even our great exhibitions, we
have had nothing in the sensational line in
many generations at all approaching either Of
those prospective demonstrations. Great in
attractiveness as both promise to be, how diff
ferent il the one from the other How differ
ent their character and purpose! How differ
ent the lessons they teach! How different
their probable effects on the world! The
one is the towering and fruit of science; tho
other Is the towering and fruit of religion.
The Suez Canal is the latest product Of tho
emancipated human intellect. The Ecumeni-
cal Council is the latest manifestation of that
spirit whose object it has ever been to hold
the mind of man in bondage. The former
represents progress and inspires hope; the
latter represents reaction and inspires fear.
There is nothing in the nature of thiags
which necesstates this antagonism between
the two great prospective events Of our time.
There is no good reason why we should not
rejoice in both. It is the blind, unreasoning
spirit, the perverse folly of the authorities Of
the Catholic Church, that make the difference.
The Suez Canal, if successfully completed,
will be blessing TO mankind. The Ecument-
cal Council properly conducted might also be
Suez Canal saw hindrance to progress, and
by efforts and sacrifices praiseworthy and per-
severing they sought to remove it. The pro-
moters of the Ecumenical Council lament the
progress of the age, and seek to check 1t by
multiplied barriers Thus it is thai while the
canal cannot fail to be blessing, the Council
is almost certain TO be a curse. How much
wiser would it have been for the Catholic
authorities to exert themselves to adapt the
Church to the now condition of things! Had
the Council been convened to reconcile religion
with science, to harmonic faith and reason,
to bury dead dogmas, to recur or to construct
q simpler theology, and otherwise to rise to the
high requirements of the times, the name Of
Plus TX. would have gone down with honor to
the latest ages. As 1t is, we have to confess
it that in the year Of our Lord 1869 human
progress finds more sympathy in the religion Of
Mohammed than In so-called Catholic Chris
tianity. If the Pope and his counselors are
not proof against all teaching they may ind
useful lesson in the fact that while no govern
ment will be represented in the Council, roy
atty as we'll as talent and learning will do
homage to progress on the banks of the Nile.
II the world is growing materialistic Is Il not
largely the fault Of the Church?
--------- -. ,r....-.
Nor QUITE UP TO ANDY JoHNsoN--Millsrd
Fillmore as defender Of our glorious consti-
tuition. In one respect, however, Johnson
and Fillmore are alike in their Qualification.
Neither Of them tells us which constitution he
advocates-"the constitution as 1t was" or