The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-14
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SpirlilaIapd Civil Domib Why
they should not be United In one
Head. ...
From the Providence journal.
1t seems rather strange that persons cd
ucatcd in our American ideas Of political
and religious liberty Should desire some
thing so entirely repugnant to them Us the
restoration and continuance Of the civil
power Of the Pope Of Rome. Last Sun.
day, in many OF our cities, there was con,
cefted action among our Roman Catholic
allow citizens in the way Of protest
against the extension of the Italian gov.
eminent over the former Pontiticlal States
and the city Of Rome. In New York, a
protest, said 10 be drawn by the distin.
guiShed advocate, Mr.. Charles O'Conor,
WIS presented in many Of the congrega-
tons and adopted, apparently with unRni-
nifty. In Philadelphia, IAN immense
demonstration" Us the newspapers call it.
was made ut the Cathedral, with
tho same intent. Tint they should
sympalhize with the venerable Head and
Chief Bishop Of their Church in his
changing fortunes, and that they should
be moved by whatever affects the great
organization TO which they belong, is very
natural They desire its preservation, its
growth, and that It should have all the
civil rights granted TO any ecclesiastical
body, In this country, they profess to
ask no moro. We all here believe in
equality of religion before the law, II the
holy father lived in New York, he could
ask and could lave no other civil author.
ity or privilege than belongs to Jewish
Rabbi or Methodist Presiding Elder
His religious adherents would not think Of
asking any more, and probably would not
think 1t necessary. This is our American
principle. All parties believe in 1t. No.
body desires the State to have any re-
ligi0n, or any church TO exercise civil
power We have always supposed that
Catholics rs well rs PrOlCstants acquiesced
in this arrangement, and liked it, us all
good Americans nre bound TO do. a
II this arrangement Is good here, why
not in Italy? If the principle is applica-
bic 10 the Catholic Church in the United
States, why not in ROmeY Why not BE-
consistent Republicans? There is moth.
ing in the spiritual junction Of the Pope
to qualify him specially for civil office.
His ecclesiastical Jurisdiction does not
necessarily carry with it q civil preroga.
tive. Otherwise he would have the same
right to rule In Province that he has in
Rome lie may have rights rs . secular
prince, the same us the Grand Duke of
Tuscany or the King Of Naples had. II
he loses his throne US they did, because
the people do not want him, he must find
the consolation they have found. He has
n consolation they have not Hc loses n
power which is reallyA scandal to his re-
iigious office, but his spiritual supremacy
remains intact, and is acknowledged In
every country on earth. He isnO longer
a civil ruler over petty State, but is auto
crat in spiritual society stretching from
Rome 10 Hawaii, round both hemispheres.
And he is likely to strengthen his spiritual
authority and influence Of his church
rs lie retires from all secular control.
However That may be--and many Of his
own church believe this will be the result
We do not see why in this country,
where the perfect independence Of tho
Church and the State has been fully tried,
and TO satisfactory result, aud will, no
law OF the Church requiring belief in the
temporal power rs Indispensable to saliva
ton, there should be my useless rcnlOn-
strlnce against IN event which is in such
entire consistency with our political prin.
ciples and aspirations A free church in
a free State is the right of Italy rs well as
OF America. And with all sympathy for
n Iaarnnd and 1nvOut man who il dcDriy.
cd Of his control over the civil life Of his
people, retaining everything but' that, we
see not why'the synlpa thies of all Arneri-
cans should not be extended also to the
Italian people, who by this event gain in
proportion us the temporal Prince Plus
" 5lnuns N "a. AREE