The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-04

The Occupation Of Rome.

From the Pail Mali Gazette September 22l
II Is quite true, The more fervent Roman Catno-
lies tell us, thar the Pope has more than once been
apparently In worse extremity. But Protestants
can only the signs OF the times which they are
permitted TO see and, upon the probabilities open
10 the consideration OF the ordinary observer the
temporal power seems to have finally disappeared
The secular sovereignty or the Popes was Sir G.
Bowyer tells US undoubtcdy OF venerable age and 1t
was unquestonaDy lie yitmate under received public
law but thas been so long doomed 10 extinction land
nor much frcm changes in the spirit OF the world
as from changes in the spirit OF the eccesiaSticS Tor
whose tenehl 1t egisledj that any moraizlng upon
its ial. would be thrown away. II we do not feel
unaloyed satisfaction at the catastrophe, 1t IL
foreground alone It VIII cause very acute pain TO
some good and earnest men, and some passing dis
comfort TO great many moro who cannot be called
good or earnest. Yet considerable deduction must
DC made from the amount OF pain and sorrow
which we sometimes hear Of Is sure 10 be occa.
stoned by tne occupation OF Rome.
There are certain assumptions and omissions
which appear 10 US To require observation In the let
tiers OF the R,man Catholics VINO have been already
writing TO thu ncwspapcis including ourselves, on
the subject. One OF the most remarkable OF the first
consists In taking for granted that what is true
PROBABLY OF the majority OF the Roman Catholic
prizes hood ana OF q small minority OF ayInen Is true
or The whole body OF Roman Catholics spread over
the world. VINO are the Roman Catholics to whom
Rome lis more than Jerusalem ever was TO the jew
and 10 whom, therefore, its occupation By the
Italians causes such cruel suiieringy so FAR tins
coudtfy is concerned the priests and certain num-
DenbIgh, are 'Englishmen II you please, but Catho-
lies FIRST would constitute the whole number. The
truth IL, the enormous majority Of Roman Catholics
are 'Cathoics, II you please but hrsi IL all citizens
or their own country They arc engaged in every
sort OF occupation They exhibit every variety OF
intelligence and culture. Their aItn ranges through
every polnt OF the religious scale, from nearly total
Indifference 10 implicit belief
what possible righb can an English convert nave
20 hold himself out as the representative OF GER
man tradesman in Mayence or OF an Irish farmer in
llIlnoisf We must really be on our guard against
attempts, very possibly unconscious, TO pass on
theories Tor facts. There a 10 doubt That Catholic
who has oDe1cntiy received the decree on inial-
bilIty must be.extlemely perpleXed bv change in
tile political condition of Rome, which, as he per-
alades himself wrongly. We think) Is likely TO put
constraint on the free VIII or the Holy Father. A
whole train Of curious questions IS started when we
once set ourselves TO CONSIDER the mental ana moral
state OF person who has been made incapable OF
error by Divine agency, but who il acted upon by
some OF the human mstrumentalitics which create
the strongest motives Tor forming Il particular
opinion. But this strange problem by no means
troubles the great mass OF Catholic believers Some
nave received we'd, the new dogma WI, WIN , openly
sincere desire TO receive IL, but with no small
wonder We are very far rom thinking that The
Catholic world, as WHOLE Will regard the occupa-
ton OF Rome az an unnnXed misfortune, particu-
larry If the personal comfori and dignity OF the Pope
are preserved, and II he retains some sovereign
rights over ira gnient OF Rome We rather suspect
that not few CONAN Catholics VIII rejoice 10 lind
the Holy Father brought .ace TO face with the prac
tical application OF principles which he condemns
but wilica secular society fnds 1t wholly Impossible
to dispense with A jury, reasonably free press,
and good police Will furnish him with lessons
which not even Catholics will be sorry 10 have him
learn. But the truth is the priests ami the converts
do not see how all this eau ne made 10 harmonlle
with the newest view u the Catholic Church, o. .
socety organized on principles which differ entirely
from the principles governing ordinary life, and
despocally ruled by an inallible chief, placed In
the midst Cf model state OF ha own making. Their
theory has been brought face 10 face VITA insur
montable difficulties, ana so they persuade them
selves thai the whole Catholic world is III mourn ny