The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-15
Pope Plus TX. .s an American Citizen.

spanish cnlValry Beneraiiys "nats inoeeos
Pope Plus TX, in his interview with tho
officers of the American Navy who waited on
him few days ago in the Vatican, asked how
he would be received in America should he
decide on making the great Republic his home.
The answer of the officers was polite and
natural. If His Holiness should decide on
coming here, they said, the people would
regard his taking up his residence among them
as great honor. More or less would be in
delicate from gentlemen in their position. Az
the highest earthly representative of the
Oldest form of Christianity, his presence would
no doubt flatter our pride, because we could
show the world that the bugbear of so many
European governments, despotic or COM
munistic, might drop into our midst and stay
there as long as he pleased without causing US
single spasm of papaphobia He might take up
his residence" here, but whatever respect he
would inspire in religious sense from large
section Of our population, his rights and
privileges would be no more than those Of the
poorest Italian landing on our shores. In tho
controlling power of a nation like ours, in
which the separation between Church and
State is SO marked on account Of
q union never having existed, the Pope, while
being free to be as religious as he pleased.
would find his sway end there. His spiritual
power could find the fullest exercise here in
the hearts of all who believe in the doctrines
of his Church. Hewould leave the last vestige
of his temporal power, as he understood it.
behind him in Europe He would have the
entire Continent to roam over at his pleasure,
and would have no plea of martyrdom to
advance as the prisoner of prince or poten-
tate. The spectacle which would meet his
eyes in this country of rival sects living in
peace and brotherhood, and iuding out that
the Gospel did not bring any sword but that
of opposition to sin, could not fail to impress
him favorably. The fulminations of Bis
marck or Mazzini could not harm him. His
naturalization papers would be q safer and
better guard to him than the uncertain
bayonets OF q Napoleon or the uniforms Of q
pious regiment or two Of Papal Zouaves. He
could not be king, but he would not be the
subject of any king He would be q sovereign
who shared his sovereignty with forty millions
of freemen, and in this capacity he would
find himself more free to encourage
his spiritual children than while locked
up in the Vatican or seated ON o little
throne with every hungry Power around him
taking slice off his territory. He would Be
convinced that the Republic, while It recog-
nizes no religion, does not mean irraigion-
This might be useful to him, for the utter
righteousness which sundry noisy leaders Of
what is called republicanism in Europe pro-
claim as inseparable from the Republic has
agitated the nervous system Of His Holiness
for many day. He would no longer be the
bete noire of the French or German socialists or
the Scarlet Lady Of Exeter Hall. With his
mind at ease on these things, and snug
mansion in New York and a villa at St An
gustine, he might pass peacefully through
life and honorcd through the gates of death
when his time came. When the American
officers spoke, as they are reported, on behalf
of their nation, they were not only polite and
delicate but truthful.