The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-14
THE RIVAL PARTIES AT ROME.

From the London Saturday RepielV.
AS the great struggle between the infalli-
bilists and their opponents proceeds at Rome,
the contrast becomes daily more marked be-
tween both the tactics and the personnel of
the rival parties in the strife. And the facts
thus elected have an interest of their own
even apart from their inevitable bearing on
the issue. So many fresh rumors are con-
stantly emerging out of the obscurity pro-
duced for the moment-but for the moment
only-by the partial observance of the silly
and suicidal rule of compulsory secrecy, that
it becomes needful to sift carefully the allega-
hons of our various informants. Certain
points, however, have been established during
the last few days beyond q reasonable doubt
The two Memorials have now been presented
to the Pope; the infallibilist petition with
four hundred signatures - the utmost
that could be got together after weeks
of active canvassing, backed by the
whole weight of indirect official sup
port; the contemplation with signatures va
riously stated at something between $50 and
200, while it is understood that a good 100
bishops more concur in the protest, though
they shrink from subscribing it, and will act
on that principle should the matter, after all,
come up for discussion. In other words, the
minority reaches about third of the episco-
pal body. This fact alone would almost
seem to prove that the back of infallibilism
is virtually broken, when we recollect how
difficult it always is to induce men in high
position, especially ecclesiastics, to stand out
against what is supposed to be the corporate
feeling and interest of their order. No doubt
the happy indiscretion of the Roman court in
seizing this opportunity for deliberate out
rage on the whole episcopate, by proposing
| to deprive them of the mere shadow of their
ancient rights and independence which for
mer Papal encroachments have left, may
| have contributed to this result STILL how
ever it be viewed, the fact is significant
| enough. And it becomns unspeakably mora
| important when we proceed to analyZe as well
as count the lists of the rival CON-
batants. There is not, as far as we have OBJ
served, single name of the highest mark
among the infallibilist bishops; their numeri-
cal majority is swelled by the CO CDicl0 adhe-
| sion of host of italian prelates and bishops
IN partiJuS-S9 of the latter have been created
since the Indiction of the Council, much as
| peers might be created wholesale to swamp
| the House of Lords-on whose votes the
court can always reckon. The name of most
note among them is DIR. Mannings, who is
certainly not remarkable as a theologian, still
less as an historian; and the point at issue
| hinges very greatly on historical considera-
tions. What influence he has he owes to his
| antecedents, and if he is the most effective in
| oOulS VI tuo uOOOJ uuSho,
he gained his effectiveness in very diff
ferent school from theirs. On the other
hand, we find among the siguataries of the
anti-infallibilist memorial nearly every name
of high rank in the Catholic hierarchy. There
are Cardinals Rauscher and Schwarzenberg
and Bishop Ketteler for Germany; Darboy
and Dupanloup for France; Kenrick, Mac
Hale, and Ullathorne for the English-speak-
ing bishops; Strossmeyer for Hungary. There
is in fact the name of every prelate who has
made himself known for learning, or high
moral influence, or independence of mind:
And if we pass from the inside of the council
to the supporters of the contendng parties
out Of doors, the contrast becomes far more
impressive. We shall have occasion to return
to this point presently.
Meanwhile there are not wanting uhmls-
taxable signs that the attitude and resources
of the opposition, and the expressed determi-
nation Of large body of French, German,
and Hungarian bishops, headed by the Arch
bishops of Paris, Prague, and Vienna, to
Lao We Rome and protest against the validity
of tba Council if the subject of Papal infalli
b;,;tr 10 brought before it, has produced its
sfact aven there. The almost incredible
storv which however is well authenticated, OF
tbe Ponas indecent and illegal violence to
wards the venerable Patriarch of Babylon
who was compelled in a secret interview &c
sion away his rights-much as old Isaac the