The Portland daily press., 1871-06-09
An In.ervi.w with Archbi...p mcC,..Ley


With view of learning from reliable lips
anything Of interest, cheer or comfort on the
subject and laying 1t before the Catholics of
America, a Herald reporter called at the
Archepscopal Palace, On Madison Avenue,
in New York, and sought an interview with
the distinguished prelate John McCloskey,
Archbishop of New Yolk. Having sent in
his card, he was shown to parior, and in
two minutes the slender form of the Arch
bishop, clad in his purple cassock and wear
ing the Episcopal cross and ring, entered the
room, with stately tread. He is about five
feet seven In height, straight as an arrow,
with yet slight inclination OF the head,
which is small. His lace has an ascetic trace,
which is subdued in the mild expression OF
his blue eyes. His clOse-brushed hair is gray,
and he carries his sixty years as ii they had
been spring time all Size while.
After all afiable but digniiiea ialntalion he
desired the reporter TO be seated aud at once
entered cheertully INTO the conversation
which followed.
Reporter-Your Grace is doubtless aware
of the interest attaching to the near approach
of the completion OF the tweniy-fifth year of
the pontificate of the Holy Father, Plus TX.
am desirOus OF hearing anything of interest
connected with it.
Archbishop (musingly)-Yes, he has al
ready lived to reign beyond the days of any
POntif since st. Peter. 1t is all in the hands
OF One above the reach OF human thought or
calculalion-in the hands OF God alone.
Reporter-On the 18th OF june he will
have completed his quarter OF a century?
Archbishop-Thele Is most question in re-
xbr xvhi iob 81 lofin Df
his twenty-fith year should ba computed.
The 18th was the day OF his being "crealed,"
that is, elected Pope; the other day is that on
which he was sOlemnly inausurated.
RepOrter-What is the difference in time
Aichbishop-Not week.
Reporter-Which date does your Grace be-
Iieve to be the one to which it should be
counted?
ArchoishOp-From the day of his election
be was Pope, that is, Poniif and Spiritual
Head of thesChulch; but on the latter day,
when crowned with the tiara, he assumed the
iull title and dignity OF the POntih. King.
Now, more than ever, in this day of his de-
spOilment, does it seem to me that the Church,
which does not recognize the robbers act
should celebrate him as the POntiff.King.
Reporter-The Church does not hold il
necessary for him TO possess temporalities?
ArchbishOp-The Church has existed and
could again exist without them. We have no
concern ON that head; it is as placing him
above the mere mercy of a bandit or any
prince or potentate at all that the Church in
sists on his personal independence. We have
10 fear for the Church, were it poor as in the
days of the fisherman.
Reporter-Did st. Peter hold the vicarate
for twenty five years exactly?
Neutrality-suspicious. three or four months
more.
keporter-Does His Holiness exhibit any
anxiety on the question?
Archbishop-No. On the contrary, he pos
sessed himself with wonderful cheerfulness
No amount of trouble seems to break bis
CHEEKY resignation to the divine will, although
old and not very strong.
Reporter-He trusts in higher pOwerP
Alchbishop-To show you how he feels ha-
bituatly l will relate what he said when
warned that Napoleon iii. was about to
withdraw his troops at the outbreak OF the
care of me, but who will take care of Napo-
leon?" When told that he would not live to
see the days OF Peter, he replied, Plus may
die. but Peter will live." Something which
Protestants cannot understand are the two
| feelings with which any Catholic, educated OIL
! uneducated, views the position OF the Pope
Repol ter-What are they?
Archbishop-.rhe first is a deep and abid
ing interest IN all that concerns or thi eaten
the Holy Father personally; the other is tn
utter absence OF emotion on the question O
the possible destruction Of the Papacy itsei
On this they cannot get up any feeling; TO
they know it is as certain to endure as tn
word OF the living God, who says, "Heavel
and earth shall pass away, but my words shal
not pass away"
Reporter-Any thing which lives in the sen
timent of sthe soul naturally is more indies
tructible than that which is simply material
Archbishop (warmly)-It lives in faith
faith which Is as strong as life.
Reporter-Will any special services be helt
| in the churches on the l7ih OF June next?
Archbishop-There twill be masses offeret
| up in all. The question OF special service il
| not settled.
Reporter-Is there any present hope, you
| Grace, that the position in Rome will b
| changed in a manner satisfactory to the Pop
| and the Church?
Archbishop-Mark my words, the Pop
| will be restored to his independence-nOi
perhaps, to all his rifed possessions, but suffi
cient for the purposes of the Holy See.
| may not live to see it. You are a young MAJ
l and you will.
Rcporter-the present state of affairs
fraught with danger.
Archbishop-They are. 1t is an hour Q
| trial. but we shall triumph.
Reporter-DO you believe in the sincerit
| Victor Emmanuels professions?
| Archbishop-His professions are not wort
J anything. He did not wan: to go to Rome
he was forced there. 1t was the same powe
that forced him to Rome which forced Nap6
leon into war with Germany.
| Reporter-The regolu,iohists
ArchbishOp-The rouge. They are th
real rulers OF Italy. Think you they hay
any idea Of letting Victor Emmanuel ru
them? No; their design is to erect gran
aerial republic in Italy, as their brethren a
tempted to build one on the ruins OF Franc
RepOrter-They profess devotion 10 libe
ty?
Archbishop-It is the liberty to do just &
they please and that no one shall do aDyfhin
outside of that. Why it is the most odioI
form of tyranny.
Reporter-These men fight and die for the
opinions.
Archbishop-Theyw would wade in blood
accomplish their objects. Life is nOrhir
to them and they have nothing else to los
The fear of God has no place in their heart:
for they do not believe in Him or in fItul
state. As Rochefort said the other day, 9Th
treasure OF the churches was given TO ma
called God there is no such man, therefore
belongs to the people,"
Reporler-They believe priests to be the
enemies!
Archblshop-They are right. Priests Al
the enemies of such beliefs as Their
and, therefore, their enemies. That w
never disguised, nor was their hOstili
unknown to the priests. In my la
conversation with the foully murder
Archbishop Darboy (who was not an az
man, as some papers state, he being sor
three years younger than l, and / do not C.
myself old) his remarks were: 81 foresee
revolution brewing; what i'll it may betidl
know not; there are certainly dark days b
fore u.s." So of Pere Olivain, head of the j
suits i'll Paris, most gentle, inoffensive ma
ouch are the enemies OF the rouge. 1t is u
rible 10 think OF.
Reporter--Do you think the like will be
tempted in Italy?
Archbishop-Yes. Before three years p'
haps before one year, Victor Emmanue, Nv "
be chased from his throne by the very pal
! who caiole him with a leadership which