The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-14

the minor Office. The formida able opposition TO
LopOstreet's confirmation as Surveyor has
extinguished the hope of making him minis
ter At any rate, 1t has been de-
cidedsto recall Rosecraus; and IL has leaked
out. in Washington circles, that the subject
was recently discussed in the Cabinet, and
that the chief reason for displaoing Rosecraus
is the fact that he Is Roman Catholic.
General Grant takes a more active interest ia
the affairs of Mexico than in those of any other
foreign country. At the close of the war, he
wished to march an army thither and drive
out Macmillan. He now sspres to be- paci-
fcstor for settling the internal disturbances
Of that Inflated and anarohical republic. He
thinks that the Protestant sentiment of the
United States requires the repression of the
Church party in Mexico, aud that a Catholic
minister is not a suitable agent for counter
working the designs OF the Mexican clergy.
And it is in this view that he has decided to
recall Roseorans.
In our Judgment this ia a mistaken and
narrow minded policy. 1t the first place, our
Government cannot concern itself with ques-
tions of religion without violating one of it's
fundamental principles. That it can take no
cognizance Of religious questions at home, is
universally admitted and surely it has less
right to intermeddle in the religious disputes
OF foreign countries than in those of our own.
All the internal affairs of foreign countries are
matters ofdomestic policy with which We have
no proper concern; and if We were to intrude
beyond our sphere at all, II would seem that
religion should be more exempt from our in
reference than any other subject. According
to our American ideas, religion is entirely out
side of governmental Jurisdiction; and if the
domestic government Of a country cannot pro-
perly include it, how much less foreign gov
ernment, which has no jurisdiction of any
kind beyond the limits of its own territory.
1t is no doubt true that one of the chief
impediments to the success Of republican
institutions in Mexico is the influence of its
church dignitaries They were the abettors
of Macmillan, and they have never had any
sympathies with the liberal party. But nothing
could be more absurd than the expectation OF
countervailing their influence through Pro-
testant minister Of the United States. There
are no Protestants in Mexico; the only religious
differences being between the bigoted and the
liberal Catholics. The readiest and most
effective weapon of the high church party
is to accuse the liberals of a leaning
towards Professionalism and a design to
subvert the Catholic faith. The with
draWal of minister of the United States for
the sole reason that he is a Catholic, and
the substitution Of another for the sole reason
that he is Protestant would strengthen the
high clergy by supplying them with a formid-
able means OF rendering their opponents odous.
There would be plausible grounds for accusing
them of an attempt to subvert the Catholic
faith, and to subvert it by Protestant inter-
meddling from the United State-topics which
would appeal powerfully both to the Mexican
sentiment of religion and the Mexican senti-
ment of patriotism. A change of religion at
the dictation Of a foreign government is the
one thing which would be more strenuously
resisted by the popular sentiment Of Mexico
than any other; and this is the light in which
the clerical party will represent the attempt OF
President Grant. Even allowing that he may
properly concern himself with the religious
difficulties of that unfortunate country, he
could hardly adopt more self-defeating
method, or commit more fatal blunder, than
the substitution of one minister for another
solely on the ground Of religion, and thereby
arousipg and uniting every element of reli-
gious hostility.
The difference between the Mexican liberals
and the Mexican bigots is of the same nature
as the difference between Gallicism and Ultra
montanism in France; that is to say, it turns
on the authority of the Papacy in the regula-
tion of religion as state establishment. The
full extent Of the Papal claims is not necessa-
rily admitted by Catholic community, as is
proved by the example Of France, Of the new
kingdom of Italy, by the recent ecclesiastical
history of Austria, and, more convincingly to
us, by the staunch repubicansm and nation
ality of the Catholics of the United States.
There being no Professionalism in Mexico, 1t
would be the most obvious dictate of good
polioy-if it were permissible for General
Grant to concern himself with religion in
that country at ALTO cooperate with
the liberal Catholics by giving them his
moral support, and sending minister
in full sympathy with their views and
aims. The minister best suited to that pur-
pose would be a liberal Catholic, whose sp-
pointment would shock no religious prejudi-
ces in Mexico, and who would be considered
as representative of the great and liberal
Catholic denomination in the United States.
A liberal Catholicism ia sufficiently favorable
to republican institutions, as we all know in
this country; and at all events, II is the only
element which can be arrayed in successful
hostility to the bigOted clerical party in
Mexico. A liberal Catholic, who would easily
gain the confidence Of the liberal Catholics OF
Mexico, is the fittest selection for the Mexican
mission. OF course, General Grant does not
aim to be propagandist of the Protestant re-
ligion in Mexico, but only OF political reform;
and this cannot be promoted by shocking and
exasperatiDg the religious prejudices OF tina,
country.
General Grant is demonstrating his lamen-
table incapaoity to approach political ques.
tions on their moral side, and put moral forces
in operation to accomplish political results
| The first Napoleon had a maxim, which he
expressed by an apt military figure, that
government should never attack religious
errors in front, but always operate on theil
flank. They are intensified and strengthened
by open opposition. If President Grant de
sires to weaken the clerical influence II
Mexico, he should attempt it in a manner 81
covert and indirect as not to Illustrate his owl
design by arousipg Catholic hostility and sup