The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-06
sPIRIr OF THE PRnss.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Oav for the Evening Telegraph.
PAPAL SPOLIATION - PROTESTS OF
ENGLISH. SPEAKING CATHOLICS

ENGLISH SPEAKING CATHOLICS
From the " y Herald.
Such spectacle as was witnessed on Sun
day In this city and Philadelphia was alto
gether unprecedented III the history of the
republic; and although the action of the
London Catholics at the same tune was not
without precedent, it was performed with
measure of vigor and boldness unknown
to Catholicism in England since the great
struggle between opposing religious ideas
ended with the triumph of the Pro-
testants in the British Islands The day
was in fine rendered memorable by the pro
tests then offered, by ngish-speaking Catho-
lies against the forcible seizure of the Popes
temporal domains by the Government of King
Victor Emanuel. For close reasoning and
hard logic the protest of the Archbishop of
Westminster is remarkable. We have heard
the iustif cation of the italian authorities for
the seizure of Rome, and we now hear it
attacked by Catholics. Undeniaby the ques-
tion is grave one, containing problems insol-
uble to the ordinary intelligence, but the solu-
ton of which is as much a necessity to the
Catholic world as it is to the social and politi-
cal future of Italy. The Archbishop of West
minister argues with great fierce against what
he terms the ''sacrilegious" spoliation of the
Papaov. He reviews the question from all
points of view, religious, social, and political,
and his conclusions are naturally against the
act of King Victor Emanuel. If his argument
is even notincontestable, it is at east,eptitled
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
Vicegerent of God on earth.
But the protest of the English Archbishop
was, perhaps, of less Significance than the
protests of the Catholics of New York and
DhiIodalnkio hananca in ihaca oitiac
came from the laity almost without interme-
diate 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 O'Conor, himself an
eminent American Catholic, protesting
against the seizure of Rome. 1t is note
worthy 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 move
ment was not so general; nevertheless thirty
thousand Catholics assembled in and around
the Cathedral and protested against the ''Ita-
liam usurpation."
Whatever be the effect of these protests,
their moral and religious significance cannot
be denied and should not be underrated. We
nave no apQreneDSlOnS tnaC American CatAO-
lies will ever be called upon to aid, by force
of arms, to replace Plus TX 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 religious war. But there is a
moral fact in the protests which is
unmistakable. 1t is that the Catholics of
the United States and of England entertain
the liveliest affection and veneration for
the Pope; that they believe that the cause
of the Christian religion imperatively de-
mands that the head of their Church be tenn
porally Independent of all earthly rulers.
The alacrity with which they responded to
the summons to protest and the unanimity
with which they protested demonstrate 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 de-
merits, that the protests, made as they were
prove that the materialism of the age has moi
usurped the place of the religious sentiment
of humanity to as great an extent as is popu.
larly supposed.