The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-27
alo ana capturing 40 Of their inhabitants. and then
Immediately reured INTO their own country.
ROME.

Catholic POWefs-NapOteOUS EOssstou oAu
Uninte,ligcut Toiesran,s-T1e Resident Lay
nIinisters--The COnvOcatiOn Of bS6S-Bona-
parto and Victor EmnuueI-Qnakcr Discip-
limo Adopted by His Hoiiuess.
RoMR Sept. O. 1869. =,
In my two preceding letters on the subject OF the
Council traced out It's progress from Its Grst con-
ceptOn to It's present state Of preparation. and en-
deayored to demonstrate the unfounded nature OF
recent reports nsinuating that IN consequence OF
unexpected Obstacles the Court OF Rome had decided
to defer II not altogether dismiss, the Idea OF an
Ecumenical Council In the present letter wish TO
expose to your readers the attitude assumed toward
the Holy See by the principal Cathsc governments
with respect to the coming Council and their pros
poets Of being admitted to Or excluded from an OIL
cia participation In its deliberations.
The semtoficiai Roman paper, 0sseroatore Ro-
a,ano, OF the Sd Instant printed with ncreduous
note OF Interrogation after 1t the following tele-
graphic message rom Paris:-'rhe gpentng ON-
ctal Journal announces that the government
has decided not to send representative TO
the Councils quoted from the French govern
ment Official organ tho news deserves credit
and the modification OF the Roman journal
is easily to be conceived as IL Is highly probable that
other powers will sail in tho wake OF France,
whereas the court of Rome all along Aatteted itself
that soon or late the principal governments would
respectfully request to be formally admitted to the
sittings Of the Council.
few days before this telegram. another from
Florence trumpeted forth To the world q pioce OF
the same subject as received by the Ndzt0ae
from Rome. The correspondent OF that paper wrote
that 'the Congregation of the Council had decided
that only purely passive representation az the Coun
ell should be granted to governments requesting 1t.
That is TO say that the ambassadors OF such Powers
their ohaar or
lions TO Cardinal Ant0nelli, and enter into
discussion exclusively with hls eminence."
Telegraphic message are frequently incorrect aud
usually incomplete so that the one in question may
be excused tor mentioning ''the Congregation OF the
dinas holding sessions In Rome exclusively to inter-
pref the canons OF the Council OF Trent and there
lore incompetent 70 make any official decisions with
respect TO the coming vatican Council, FOR the drec-
ton OF which In AL preparatory branches special
congregation OF Cardinals las been appointed, which
submits all Its propositions to the appreciation o! the
Pope as a council OF lay ministers to the head OF
temporal government This congregation nas not
proposed, nor has MS Holiness sanctioned, any such
mere passive representation a. that mentioned by
the Nazoae although the report has been Ia circu-
lall0n for some time.
cially announced TO send no representative to the
Council out the lacOnic Official journal probably
declared Enthusiastically his intention Of holding an
Ecumenicai Council, IL appeared to he resolved BY
the French government to intervene officially, and
NJ. Walewski 1irst, and then M. Baroche were men,
toned as the special ENJOYS to DO sent to Rome to
be joined there by the ecclesiastical counsellor Of
the embassy. the Franciscan Father Trullet, friend
OF the French Foreign Minister. DE la VaIette but
not great friend OF the POpe's. These reported
intentions soon vanished away, ministers changed.
and now the French government and most likely
other governments, following lis example, will not
send any special ambassador to the Council. We
cannot assert, however, that the foreign ambassa
doris Officially residing in Rome will take absolutely
no notice OF what goes on vt st. Peters aud tue
Vatican on the Sta Of December n, ana afterwards
Bonneville returns 80 his duties IN Rome at tue end
OF tnis month"; and the French government has sult
In MS TACT and experience entrust him
with furnishing timely and correct Information OF
all the deliberations Of the assembled C0nscript
Fathers. 1t being pretty clear that special ENJOYS
will be sent to the Council, 1t remains lor US 20 con-
slider what Will De the altitude or the resident diplo
matte body towards that assembly.
Three courses are open to them. l. An official
participation in the same solemn form AZ ut the COuu-
Gil OF Trent. limited participation as mere spec
tators ana auditors 3 An entire abs ace from the
proceedings.
The present state Of civil and religious society
towards each other does not allow OF foreign am
baSsOrs adopting the first course Church and state
being no longer so intimately united as three centu
res ago. The second Is more practicable, because
the Church requires, II not the cooperation OF the
State at least Its suerance IN order that the deci
siOns OF its councils may be- made known and re-
speced ia the entire Christian community; and the
state requires certain cooperation of the Church,
which, IL hostile, could still W Its influence over
ignorant masses OF people create embarrassment to
governments For this very reason the third course
OF entirely ignoring tue Council would be impru-
dent
Council In his Duii 4iste11a Paris wherein, without
formally inviting sOyereigns, he expressed q hope
'that they would offer no hindrance to bishops COM
ing TO the Council but rather aid them, with the zeal
fitting Tor Caihoic princes, In the performance Oh
everything conducting the greater glory OIL God and
Inc advantage OF tue said Counc." This left door
open for negotiations II the soveTeigns chose to
express q desire TO be represented Ut tue coming
assembly.
being gradually accomplished everywhere, except ia
the dommloas OF the Pope, 1t ls hardly anywhere
quite complete, and both have Still some interest In
acting together upon certain points. Their incipi-
ent independence Oh each other authorized the rope
TO summon council without consulting CATHOLIC
soyeTeigns, q step tie POntln would not nave taken
SO freely three centuries ago, and excuses MIN for
not explicitly inviting them 10 be present personally
or by proxy, at the Vatican, even II he had not
anotner valid excuse IN the anomalous condition OF
his present relations with such governments as those
OF ftaly spain or Mexico. BY Implication how
ever, the door Of the Council Was thrown open to
all sovereigns or their ENJOYS.
A lew days aiier the publication OF the bull the
French government gave proofs OF Its friendly dis
position by declaring through NJ Baroche Minister
OF Justice ana worship that II would oppose no HIM
| drance 10 the Council; that 1t hsl not yet decided
about senuing an ambassador but that the question
| was under considerations That 1t put favorable
construction on the omission In the bil OF precise
and formal invitation to sovereigns and dnally that
1t rejected the idea OF separation between Church
and state When reported 70 the Pope this last de-
caraton PROBABLY dictated by fear least the Coun-
| c should act too Independently drew from his
| Holiness the remark that the French were now
afraid OF the very separation which they had been
| threatening TO effect Tor the last fifty years.
After lapse OF nearly year the open door Of
citation was all but closed, and l VIII endeavOr to
explain why A cautious examination OF each
others nlOduS Oped3ldt had hed the ecclesiastical
| and secular governments with mutual distrust.
/ The former feared to show Itself too con-
| descending II 1t made advances. and replied
mysteriously to the earnest inquiries of foreign
| ministers about the Council that the Holy Spirit
''bl6wetn where 1t istetn" and that not even the
Cardinal Secretary Of State could presume TO prog.
nosticate in what mode 1t might inspire the Council.
The latter hesitated between the fear OF leaving too
ttNAN eos hn ku i've
| and that of being outmaneuvred If they did. the
| famous pamphlet attributed 70 Count Menabrea,
| lie Concile Kcumenique ct les DrOlts de pEtat."
appeared in April, and was regarded by the Court
| Of Rome q moral rned cannon aimed aga INST the
Council by the Latin Powers from the enorasure Of
| an Italian battery.
| Bavaria next opened Ore for the German Powers,
| and Prince Hohenl0he made advances to other Ger
man governments, engaging them to prevent the
Council from trespassng upon political ground, and
proposed ave points concerning that assembly and
It's probable results for the definition OF the iacul