The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-30
Rnnerv I'm England.

Catholieized. or that there would be any
great danger to the liberties of the people if
she sbould. In an article on the subject of
"The Conversion of England it says:-
II is possible, indeed to imagine that a
.nirit of genuine obedience and submission
70 Roman authority would accompany or fol-
low the triumph of Roman doctrine But
such a result seems equally improbable
whether we regard the past or the present
The past indeed of English ecclesiastical his
tory is not an encouraging study to those
who anticipate in the future a golden age of
Ultramontane supremacy. In her long strug-
gle with the secular power, Rome had advan-
taees on her side which 1t is impossible to
over-estimate: a policy in essential points
permanent and consistent, administered by
a succession of men selected on account of
their ability, a dynasty which rested some
mart at least of its title to the throne on Papal
grants, a hierarchy which was to a large ex-
tent foreign and cosmopolitan, when to be
cosmopolitan was to be Roman, and hundreds
of wealthy and powerful monastic communi-
ties scattered over the country, each of which
was an outpost of the Papacy; yet all these
influences failed to secure a victory The
home quarrels between spiritual and secular
powers might from time to time give prepon-
derance to a third power which was always on
the watch for such opportunities; the reign of
n weak prince might coincide with that of
yiporoUs pontiff: but, on the whole, the for
tune of the contest was adverse to Rome.
And the time when the Papal influence was
most regularly exexcsed, when what may be
called a Concordat was in force, and the
Pope was habitually represented by a
legate-the period, that is, that pre-
ceded the Reformation-was I'm fact
preparing the way for the most tremendous
blow that Roman supremacy ever received.
1t may be said with perfect truth that the
Pope does now in some respects exercise
more undisturbed power in England than he
did during the reign of prince of average
vigor in the pre-Reformation days. He may
publish his bulls. for instance, without any
sort of hindrance, in any way that he pleases.
In old times it was not at all an uncommon
thing that they should be refused admittance
to the kingdom lie has, again, the absolute
appointment to ecclesiastical dignities. The
right to appoint he has always claimed but
the Crown, and the clergy, as represented by
the chapters, made the same claim, and made
it frequently with success. He now enjoys
it in absolute freedom from any inter
ference by civil power which ignores his
existence, and with only Just as much re-
gard to the wishes of the clergy as he may
find it convenient to pay. That England,
become a Catholic State, would enforce the
restrictions on the exercise of Papal power
which other Catholic States find to be neces-
sary is matter of course. That the national
temper would show itself peculiarly jealous
on this point is equally certain. We need
not go beyond the Catholic body to see sig
nifcant indications of the fact 1t is impos-
sible, for instance, to doubt, in spite of the
simulated contempt of Ultramontane writer's,
that Mr.. Ffoulkes represents party among
English Catholics which is influential, if not
through their numbers at least through their
personal weight. And this party exists, it
must be remembered, under circumstances
decidedly adverse. The influences which
make Irish Catholcsra SO passionately Roman
are at work, in a degree, on the English
branch of the communion. Popular dislike,
not seldom intensified into active hos
tility, the presence of a dominant
ecclesiastical establishment, the absence
of any large public opinion to which
appeal can be made, these are some among
the causes which, while affected by the gene
raj atmosphere of freedom, make English
Catholics turn their thoughts and affections
abroad, and quicken their obedience to q
foreign authority. Let these causes cease to
operate, and it is certain that there would
ensue the rapid growth of an Anglicanism, if
the word may be so used, which would far
transcend in energy of self-assertiOn, the
Gallicanism of former age. In other quar-
ters, too, so remote as to give special signif-
canoe to the fact similar indications may be
observed. Miss Saurin and her friends pro-
badly have very little in common with Mr..
Ffoulkes. 1t is remarkable, indeed, that
more than one of the kinsmen who felt them
selves aggrieved by her treatment, and
encouraged her to resistance, are members
of the most Ultramontane of Catholic
institutions, the Society of Jesus. 1t has even
been suggested that one of the motive causes
of the proceedings was the desire to crush q
non-Jesuit prelate. Whether we are tc
account for this by this theory, or by the
more commonplace suggestion of a sense OF
personal injury in the plaintiff and hel
friends, matters but very little. That such &
cause, involving the publication of matters
about which Romanists are peculiarly sensi
tive, should ever have been brought, whether
for party or for private end, into secular
court shows the remarkable influence which
what we may call English surroundings have
on the habits of thought among Catholics
To the authorities Of the Church, and indeed
to all who apprehend the theory of its relation
to heretical communities, the proceeding mus
have seemed as mOnstrOus as it did to St. Pau
when he found his Corinthian converts ready
to Ego to law before the unbelieyers." As
if to complete the case by another dissimilal
instance, we lately heard of a Roman Catholic
bishop being threatened by newspaper con
Quoted by persons of his own faith with lega
proceedings that were to avenge the injurious
accusation of Fenianism. This disposition tC
appeal to tribunals, whether of law or of pub
lie opinion, would be immensely increased
should circumstances remove the motives (,
subordination which are so powerful in
minority. Imagine a high-spirited natiol
like the English, with its even exaggerate
notions of personal rights, brought into con