The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-05

country.
Papni Spoiiation--Protcsts Of Easlisli-
Speaking Catholics.
Such spectacle as was witnessed yester-
day in this city and Philadelphia was alto
gether unprecedented in the history of the
republic; and although the action of the
London Catholics at the same time was not
without precedent, it was performed with q
measure OF vigor and beldness unknown
to Catholicism in England since the
great struggle between opposing reli-
gious ideas ended with the triumph of the
Protestants in the British Islands. Yesterday
was, in fine, rendered memorable by the pro-
tests then offered, by Englsh-speaking Catho-
lies, against the forcible seizure of the Popes
temporal domains by the government of King
Victor Emmanuel. For close reasoning and
hard logic the protest Of the Archbishop of
Westminster ia remarkable. We have heard
the justification of tho Italian authorities for
the seizure Of Rome, and we now hear it at
ton is grave one, containing problems insol-
uble to the ordinary intelligence, but the solu-
ton of which is az much a necessity to the
Catholic world as it is to the social and poIiti-
cal future of Italy. The Archbishop of West
minister argues with great force against what
he terms the "sacrilegious" spoliation of the
Papacy. He reviews the question from all
points of view, religious, social and political,
and his conclusions are naturally against the
act Of King Victor Emmanuel. If his argument
to respectful and thoughtful consideration as
embodying the views Of those who adhere to
the doctrine that the temporal dependence Of
the Pope is inconsistent with his Office of Vice
regent Of God on Earth.
But the protest of the English Archbishop
was, perhaps, of less significance than the
protes Is Of the Catholics of New York and
Philadelphia, because in these cities they
came from the laity almost without interme-
date agency. Every Catholic church in this
city was densely thronged to listen to and to
approve the address to the Pope, prepared, it
is said, by Mr.. Charles OConor, himself an
eminent American Catholic, protesting against
the seizure of Rome. It Is noteworthy that
at one church-St Joseph's-the pastor, Rev.
Father Farrell, was the only person
who objected to any part of the pro-
test, and although his objections were merely
to the wording, and were Of much FORCE they
were voted down by his congregation with
marked unanimity. In Philadelphia the
movement was not SO general; nevertheless
thirty thousand Catholics assembled in and
around the Cathedral and protested against
the 'Italian usurpation."
Whatever be the effect Of these protests,
their moral and religious significance cannot
be denied and should not be moderated.
We have no approximations that American
Catholics will ever be called upon
to aid. by force Of arms, to replace
Plus the Ninth on the Papal throne, nor are
we at all sanguine that they would respond
to any such call if it were made Our age is
too civilized for such thing as a religious
| war. But there is a moral fact in the protests
| which is unmistakable. 1t is that the Catho-
| lies Of the United States and of England en-
| terrain the liveliest affection and generation
for the Pope; that they believe that the cause
| Of the Christian religion imperativeiy
demands that the head Of their Church
be temporarily independent Of all
earthly rulers. The alacrity with which they
responded to the summons to protest and the
! unanimity with which they protested demon
strate the unity of their minds on this, the most
profound, exciting and important religious topic
| Of the day. And we may say, without offering
| any opinion as to their merits or dement's,
that the protests, made as they were, prove
that the materialism Of the age has not usurped
! the place Of the religious sentiment of human
! ity to as great an extent as is popularity sup
posed.
| SECRETARY RoBEsoN's REPoET.-We pub
is,h &. he al 80 c..