The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-06
TIE ROMAK COnNCLL.
FROM the Pau NAL Ga,ette.

ana deep interest taken by all observers In
the early deliberations Of the Council with
the equally marked indifference to the culmi-
nation of its labors Every rumor that came
from Rome six or seven months ago was can
vassed with great eagerness even by men
who cared little for ordinary theological dis
putations; while the proclamation of the as
tonishing dogma of Papal infalliOiity has
produced in any but ecclesiastical circles little
beyond certain amount of perfunctory criti-
cism. The main cause of this contrast is, of
course, not far to seek. A man, according to
Sir w. Hamilton, is only capable of noticing
objects at once by an instantaneous action of
the perceptive faculties. Whether that be
true or not, il is at least certain that public
attention cannot be occupied by more than a
very limited number of interests The gigan-
tic gooseberry only comes out when every
other topic has for time retired into the
background; and matters of considerably
greater Importance than gigantic gooseber-
ries are cast into the shade by the portentous
convulsion through which Europe is passing.
While we are waiting with breathless attention
for the first crash of contending armies on
the Rhine, we can only spare such interest
for less exciting topics as might be given by
philosopher undergoing critical
surgical operation to discussion on
first principles of theology or metaphysics.
He might admit in theory even at
such O moment that the question of
his own pain or death was of altogether
secondary importance as compared with the
decision of some fundamental speculative
dogma but, for all that, he would think
good deal less about logic than about the sur
geons knife. The roar of the cannon and
themitrailleur effectually silences for the pre-
sent the theological utterances of the learned
Fathers at Rome the material thunder is for
the moment good deal louder than the spiri-
tual, whatever may be the ultimate conse-
quences involved.
Yet it is also probable that even if the war
had not broken out, the decline of interest
would have been strongly marked. The out
side world WAS beginning to be keenly
sensible to the ludicrous side of the long
debates at Rome. That a set of i'll
educated priests should be gravely discuss
ing on what terms supernatural degree of
wisdom had been conferred upon one or more
of themselves, when nothing can be palmer
than that they are on the whole rather more
ignoranta and great deal more pref JUDGED than
their neighbors, seems to independent people
as absurd as that the decision of such a qles-
tion should be brought about by the Same
kinds of acts which determine the votes of an
American caucus. The Imagination, to say
nothing of the reason, altogether refuses to
accept such process as, the means by which the
Creator of the universe reveals His pleasure
to mankind. The notion that the discus
sions carried on at the Vatican could have
any possible significance for modern
reasoners, or that in telligent people should
change their minds because a disciplined
crowd of Italian bishops could camor down
minority of candid and able naen, seemed
so preposterous that we were gradually
oeasing to have any feeling beyond certain
sympathy for liberal Catholics. Their posi-
tion is undoubtedly sad one, and they have
too many claims upon our respect not to ex-
cite sincere commlseration. Perhaps we
might ask, What better could they expect,
and how could able and liberal men hope to
mix themselves up with everything that is
bigoted and narrow minded without suffering
bitter humiliation Yet in aay case their
ambition was generous one, and the dream
of reconoiling the Roman Catholic Church
with modern thought, if only dream, was
worthy of noble minds. We must feel some
regret, though very little surprise, that it
has received SO rude shock, and that the
chasm between old and new modes of
thought is thus made wider and deeper than
ever. This feeling, however, can only con-
Germ very small though very respectable
class. To the great mass of believers, as to
the unbelieving world outside, the new
dogma will not at first make any appreciable
difference To the man who is incapable of
reasoning, or who has voluntarily abnegated
his reasoning powers, the precise form OF the
doctrine in which the lnfalllblllty of the
Church is preached will have small signifi-
cance. BY far the greatest part OF mankind
must be reckoned among these classes and
to them the only difference will be that
they will have rather more definite
and tangible authority than formerly. Nor,
indeed, is the logical difference very material
to persons with more use of their under
standings. The real difficulty is not in at
tributing supernatural authority to the Pope
rather than to the Church or to Councils,
but in attributingit to any body of human
beings whatever. The Ultramontane theory
may bring out the assumption in a more gro
tesque form; but it is equally present, how
ever carefully it may be concealed or diluted,
even in the most liberal forms of Catholi-
cism.
For these reasons as well as from the ab-
sorbing interest of other matters, we may be
inclined to look with comparative indiffer-
ence upon the vote of the council And vet
we might perhaps ask whether after all an
observer, who could elevate himself to
thoroughly philosophical point of view,
would not regard the decision as scarcely
yielding in real Importance to that which de-
pends upon the arms of France and Prussia.
Philosophical historians are fond of remind
ing US how much sometimes depends upon
causes which attract little or no attention
from contemporary observers. An insignifi-
cant student may be working out theories
which are destined to reyolutionize
the whole social order of mar
kind, or a single mechanical invention
may, in the accepted phrase, be
changing the whole course of history. Per-
haps if we were capable of seeing things in
their true proportions, Watts lsbors upon
the steam engine or Whitnev's invention of