New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-29

his episcopal title in virtue of technical FORM Bat
these views find but small proportion of advocates
in the Council. They represent the ultra Gallican
movement which now has but few supporters and
belongs to a system which has had its day. They
will have no weight in the Council. and can hardly
count on even an inconsdeIable fraction of votes
The medium ground which is taken by Bishop
DupanOup, Cardinal Schwarzenbcrg most of the
German and Austrian bishops, and an important por-
ton of the Bishops of France and Belgium, does
not call in question the Infalbity of the Pope, but
declares its discussion definition at the present
moment, inopportune and injudicious. majority of
the American bishops it is believed incline to these
views, but potent influences are at work which may
secure their adhesion to the other side Archbishop
Spadng of Baltimore. as you have seen, is placed
on two of the most important commissions; this
may be because his influence in favor of the Pope
and the Jesuts, is relied on; or it may be, a mere
matter of policy to avert suspicion and perhaps to
attack the excellent prelate his weak side,
who, it is said, being human has not yet cruciied
the love of human favor. The story. which was
first preached in London journal, that Cardinal
Schwarzenberg had shown the white feather, and
declined acting with the liberal party in the Council
! am told on authority that l cannot distrust, is
without any foundation whatever. As the story
runs, the Cardinal, who is Archbishop of Prague
was to have joined the other Austrian prelates in
petition to the Pope that rigid measures should not
be pressed in the Council but that his courage failed
him at the critical moment, and he refused to sign
the paper His party is said to be entirely democrat
lied by the ArchbiShOp's want of backbone and he
himself to have retired to q convent to hide his
shame and modification. My informant, who GER
tainly has good means Of knowing, tells me
that there is not a word Of truth in the story, and
that the Cardinal stands precisely where he did
at the opening of the Council. He received note
this very day from tie Cardinal himself who SO far
from having retreated to the shades of Convert is
busily occupied with his duties, and fG of heart and
hope in the palace where he resides. Still isposs
be- that with all the subtle diplomacy of which
Rome is now the center my informant may have
been placed the wrong track, and the story should
turn out to have more truth in it than he supposes
| am only certain that there is no solid ground to
stand upon in the Eternal City the love of truth is
not one of Its immortal features; you have no stand
ard to distinguish it from falsehood and accordingly
YOU must believe everything you hear; or believe
nothing; which is pretty much the same thing.
Still We cannot doubt that there is powerful mi
nority in the Council who will strenuously resist the
encroachments of the Papal party, and the attempt
to convert the Church into an engine of absolute
power. Their objections to the prescribed arrange
ments Of the Council have already TRANSFERRED or at
least. are q matter of common conversation. They
are said to protest against the distribution Of power
in the Council which makes it the exclusive organ OF
the Pope rather than a delibeTatiye assembly in
which the vote may be taken after free discussion
and comparison of opinion They resent the lmita-
tons of the right of debate enjoned by the rules
and regulations, so artfuly conCOcted by the Pope
and his advisers to keep down the liberty of speech
Ill -1,.ga
counsel is taken, where every measure is cut and
dried in previous secret conclave, and where the
risht to sneak is hedged in by such intricate net
work of conditions etectually tooloso tAo mouths
of most of the members. Nor is this III
accordance with the customs and traditions OF
former Councils. In them, the usual regula-
lions of delibeTative bodies were adopted. No az
btrarv restrictions were placed on the freedom Of
debate. The lay representatives in the Council, as
well as the clergy, freely shared in the discussions
The questions proposed for consideration were open
10 the freest debate, and no decision was adopted
until after full and frank interchange OF sentl-
ment. In that respect the arrangements OF the
present Council exhibit a marked contrast TO the
best ecclesiastical precedents. Complaints OF SINH
lar character are made against the secrecy which en-
yelopes the proceedings of the Council Not only
are the sessions of the different Committees in pri-
c,
for the transaction of business The deliberations
are with closed doors, and beside that, no publicity
s given TO the proceedings in the official journals OF
Rome The reports Of the sessions are as dry ana
rnooper rs statistical table and even the Fathers
themselves can obtain no distinct information OF
tbo progress of debate, as it is impossible, with
the acoustic defects of the Council Hall, TO hear
and comprehend the speeches that may be Delivered
All this say the friends of free discussion Is contrary
to the example of previous Councils. They were held
Nth omen doors The affairs Of the Church were
treated of in the presence of the Church. No one
vros excluded from attending the deliberations
Tboro was no ATTEMPT at concealment There should
he no such attempt now Everything should be open
10 the light of day. Otherwise the Council is not
Council according to Ethe traditions Of the Church.
4 secret concave an inquisitOral court, tribunal
assembling in the dark. and framing its conclusions
nj the pleasure of the Pope or the College OF
Cardinals is not the company of the faithful, VINO
are promised immunity from error by the power OF
Tho Holy Ghost The advocates of these views main
tanned moreover that admitting to Its iull extent
tho official Infallibility of the Pope, it by no
means follows that all his utterances are
clothed with that attribute. We are not to
snnnose that every time he opens his lips, or waves
his hand il is by divine authority. 1t IS only when
no sraas from the Chair of st. Peter, in the plen-
tnde Of his endowments as the Vicar of Christ that
we can recognize his words as the voice OF Goa. Inc
whole body of the priesthood alone can decide De-
tween his private, personal declarations which nave
no more authority than those of any other man. ana
his pontfcal utterances which proceed from the III
sniration of the Holy Ghost. But you must ho1
imagine that opinions like these are adopted Dy any
considerable proportion OF the Council IL 'oiy
well ascertaned that speaking IN Iouha humoei''
h 100 members at least 500 are in favor of the