The New York herald., 1871-09-05

f0ugnS on nH Oeef, ana possessing cortaiu Pr0S-
tige from his long reignnow on the eve OF surpass-
ing that OF st. Peter. He carries weight, and, In
measure. upnolds tho Papacy; but his successor.
whoever he might DO, would be simply laughed at.
because, although he might step into Pho Nonos
slippers. ne would merely be new conner, signify
ing nothing to the rest OF the world-now 90
changed that the keys OF ST. Peter DO
not OF themselves sunice to inspire due
respect ana obedienco. This II tne opinion
current among al It reacts on the dwellers
IN tho Vatican, and, In consequence, am Informed
that quite an uprosr OF excitement and confusion
relgns wtthin the precincts The factions among
the cardinals are nghrtuE 1t among themselves on
tine principle OF the Kilkenny cats; one day Anto-
nelli has the uppermost Of the struggle. and next
De Mer0de u chal ked nrst on the list Anon the
General Of the 'ssuits and CSrdina. Prisi stand as
superior mind and character keeps ms own In the
long run and has hts old mastery over things. In
many others besides have their special counseis and
plans 70 advance In order to save the tnsituon OF
manages to keep the relns cooIy In his own hands,
are mis- antagonists; II he cannot trip them neither
fssouS rein power 10y By sticking shcre passveiy | VS. he
freezes his bofherers ana adversaries out Tnat is
aS Dsn no y tow S sM sSn s n0 nss s Es e
bnt they are invariably repulsed BY words
boss. certainis until the Ponsi's deatn: then there
seems % be Likelihood OF MS Withdrawing inuo
him well maintain that under no circumstances,
after Inc expected event, would he consent to re-
na mnn IN m the svaS vacan s he very Ih
world and amid the pleasant scenes OF some charm
ing Italian villa. The last time l conversed with
hlm he remarked that his duties were tnual and
lntimated regret that the cares or once the cares
OF governing 900 600 600 OF Catholics by means Of
Gals and brevos allowed him no reposc or leisure to
look after hts health. These two distinguished per-
Xntons and sne rudder Of the good ola @ ecciesias las
tlcal ship which has Weathered so many storms In
70 ssrs
threat Of scntsm In the head Of the Papacy as we'll
ss n A. the S Catholic @ noSs Ins rumor = that we are
q II; :Ss ss@ ..sSS e.
under present circumstances there is no telling
who or what we might not have. Popes would be
woud like to have one Just to keep her hand in and
the other Catholic countries and communities would
tSss the Expected conciave Of cardinals has already
become an exciting topic, and that many ambitious
e Of sas " a
not strange. the Catholic subjects and priests Of
belief that no other part or Cat6olicdom can nave
Church or Rome The majority Of the CO :dinais are
Italians, and they are emlnenty patriotic IN the way
country Hence they would scarcely vote for a
foreigner 70 rule over them But France, again. has
SeS Sr ws Gsr s cRd
linger. What is to come OF all or them is the
Clt,mSoted question OF me day. The crisis for the
much Tor the mere death Ofa Pope in these times
OF unbelevers IN lnfalllole Wears as because the
late Ecumenical Council has compelled the laical
governments OF Europe to disregard the new doc
trines Il ordained ana no longer to ook upon Rome
them Catholic Rome exits no longer, thanks to In.
failtbilty; their own subjects have been divided
dox, and New Catholics, who are heterodox; and
verify the Pope Is regarded as revoutiontst, not
the starter start r Of rs new faith as Marlin Luther with
the chief difference that unlike Luther, ne is
"a o. having @ C e
that there IS now no telling where ne and ms church
stand or what they mean Such is the irreverant
in most parts or Europe, and especially governing
the action OF the present Italian government. as
ssen are E great d mere amsns sns poiiaSisns and
the expected demise Of the Pope but they certainly
should pe seriously regarded by the religious world,
The Vatican Will have to confess to nea cutpa II tie
schism IN the long series Of Popes does come for 1t
alone VIII have brought 1t all about. Already seve.
raj OF the most eminent cardinals and bishops, late
pillars OF the dogma OF infallibility begin 10 show
transactions on their own individual hook Other
f,eSI OF jesuit siars-or for other scenes ana more
fertile fields than those surrounding St Peters
church. The cardinals who are for peace and good
VIII among men. even the OF Italy, are turning
out freely the streets, without lear STINT the
Plncio and other public promenades Hitherto they
have been Trettng or under ban, cOoped up in the
Papa palace or in their own houses. have seen
several thus parade OF late, and II Is quite anus.
coach and red dongs OF other days. Tney meet with
respect and sympathetic regards from Tile citizens,
with ihe Holy See, Or union In two direrent bodies
OF the spiritual and temporal power IN preference to
being 20 ne Sy 70 niS Ser
tenure against French bayonets slgnt infusion or
which is stLl slightly dreaded IN the distance. The
chiefs of the Church were rather shy at first, but
they soon found out that they had nothing to fear.
The mob has been ptted against the underings and
reason tnat these princes OF the Church would have
nothing whatever 10 do with new Italy until now,
when they seem to be shedding their skins and COM
ing out IN new coors, neat but gaudy, like those
they displayed IN the past or course, so far those
thus coming out are the few. the exceptions otner
wise the game would De up. piE4
Plus ks successor To BE Elected by Uni-
verszI Suffrage.
ROME. August Is, 1871.
Plus TX. has been an ianOvat0r In so many re-
specs during his protracted Pontlncate that one Is
not surprised at any report concerning Intentions OF
a totally novel character on his part, although the
measure now stated to be under consideration at
the Vatican Is OF nature 10 upset all the regua-
tons consecrated by tradition and the practice OF
many centuries IN the election OF Supreme Pom
tifIs. IL Is affirmed that Plus N. avaiinR himself
OF the infaibty Of his decisions In such matters,
has expressed q wish that MS successor shall be
elected Dy universal suffrage. He hopes by such
q radical reform, which would he return to the
earliest ages OF the Church IN Rome 10 counteract
the revolutionary principle which now tends ~
diminish the prestige ana authority OF the Papacy
The realization OF the scheme would not be so difi
cult Ms may at first appear ON the va
cancy Of the Holy See being proclaimed
q register would be opened 10 every parish.
and the faithful would be Tree to In.
scribe their votes on It for the space OF month.
rhe once of the cOnclave woald be TO examine the
votes and proclaim the result. Tie candld date
would OF course, be authOrila latvely indicted for tine
suffrage OF the faithful, who would only nave 10
sanction previously preDared formula, all Catho-
lies without distinction OF age or sex having right
to vote, and l,teratc persons axng their cross IN
lieu OF their signature.
Whether this plan viii be really carried into effect
or not time Ony will show Dut U will De curious if