The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-13

was frst published some weeks since by the Co
iogne Gazette had probably reality less meaning
than the lay world was inclined to attribute to it
Despite the pertnacious denials OF its authenticity
which the Papa organs IN all parts OF Europe put
forth with so much assistance there is very good
reason TO believe that II not absolutely textually
accurate, the sense OF the document was correctly
given by the Cologne paper. The amount OF non
sense talked about this famous bull in many OF the
papers OF Europe, especially those OF England and
Germany, was amazing, aud the amount
OF ignorance displayed was curious midi
cation of the degree in which the education OF
ordinary cultivated laymer has severed itself In
these latter days rom ecclesiastical matters and
ecclesiastical teaching. II was supposed that this
bun was proposing to make Unprecedented inno-
vatlons in tue mode OF election TO the Papacy,
that II sought to deprive other Powers OF rights
which were supposed to belong To them the
matter, and that 1t furnished good ground to the
statesmen of Europe 10 determine and declare that
they would not recognize Pope who should be
chosen otherwise than according TO the regular
and usual method. The newspapers wrote as If
the Pope mad been caught out in attempting
privily to steal march upon the world in the mat
ter OF the next Papal election, and that by means
OF the surreptitous publication of this bull plot
had been discovered ald must be resisted and
banned accordingly.
VATICAN RIGHTS IN THE PArAL ELECTION.
Now, all this talk based upon an ignorance
OF the whole subject truly extraordinary The
bull in question did not propose or AFFECT to do
anything which 1t was not perfectly competent to
the Pope to do without the smallest violation OF
the canons or OF the complete integrity of the
election. The ceremonous and picturesque para
pnernalia OF conciave, the shutting up and
isolation of the Cardinals, together with host OF
traditional observances. have been described too
often and are too generally known for 1t to be
necessary to occupy time and space by retellng
sucn an often-told tale. Sutice it to say that the
essential conditions OF a can0ncal election are
these, and these only-that the election should
be made D0c1nte sede-that is. after the death
of the Pope whose successor Is being chosen; that
the cardinals should come to the business OF the
election unprepared for 1t by any previous accord
or even discussion OF the subject; that their votes
should be given in perfect freedom, and that the
new Pope should be named by the requisite ma
jority OF the cardinals present With none OF
these conditions can any Pope dispense canon
icaly; and there would be fair ground Tor main
tanning, and plenty of churchmen would be found
TO maintain, that Pope chosen or pre- lerring to
be chosen in contravention OF any OF these rules
was not in fact Pope, and ought not to be recog-
nized by the Church and the world as such. But
all beyond these rules IL mere matter OF ceremonial
with which The Pope can unquestionaby dispense
at his pleasure. And what makes the prevailing
ignorance upon the subject the more strange is
that there are very recent Papal precedents for
such course. 1t was adopted by both Plus
W.. and Plus VII. 1t is perfectly competent to
the Pope thus to declare that the election may be
held Immediately after his DEATH instead of the
usual time being allowed to eapse. This provision
is doubtless an important one. because it may have
the effect OF excluding from the election cardinals
who may not be present In Rome at the moment OF
the PontiTs decease. The foreign cardinals would
evidently be the most likely to be thus ex.
Guided. Nevertheless, there is no doubt what
ever that canoncal election may be thus
made; and the phrase well known in ecclesiastical
history OF an election made prossente cadopere-
e., in the presence OF the corpse OF the deceased
Pope-teslifes to the recognition OF the practice.
As for the rights OF foreign Powers, which il Is
that the recent bull invades or sets at
naught, the notion arises from an ignorance Of
eeelesisstcai history very excusaoie in lay
writer's II they viii only abstain from dogmatizing
on the subject. There exists one case only in
which any Power person outside the College Of
Cardinals has any right to interfere in the cleo.
ton And most persons VIII doubtless be surprised
at being told that this right is vested in the
King OF Portugal; but, strange as it seems,
such is the case. Portugal has the right OF
veto" That is to say, she may object to the
election ofahy one given cardinal. No King OF
Portugal has ever in the course OF history exer-
cised this right. But the Kings OF Portugal pos
sess it by virtue OF a Papal bull The right OF
''vetor which is generally supposed to be vested
in the crowns OF Austria and Spain and France is
In fact no right 1t has often been assumed, often
allowed, out also OFTEN disalowed and dlsre-
garded. 1t was natural at time when the
Papacy exercised great influence on the general
course OF European politics that the great CathO-
lie Powers should take very eager interest in the
Papsl elections. And gradually the custom grew
into the form OF an institution, that each Of the
three Powers named should be allowed to "veton
any particular cardinal whom 1t deemed
specially hostile TO It's interests.
THE POWER OF VETO.
Ii is to be understood that this veto was ex.
ercised during the Conclave, never after the Pom
tin had been elected Ii was exercised in the
Conclave by some Cardinal acting on behalf OF the
Power in question. Thus Cardinal Gagsruck, the
Austrian, was speeding up to Rome, bringing the
''veton OF Austria against the election Of Cardinal
Mastri, the present Pope But he was too late.
When ne arrived at Rome the Conclave was over
and the new Pope elected, and there was no more
to be said. But precedents in plenty are not
wanting Of the sacred College having elected a
rope III disregard VI 'Vcto" Iom eacn Oh TIC
three crowned heads who were accustomed to ex-
ercise it. And the Church has never admitted
this interference IN the election as matter OF
right. In the case OF Portugal alone it is SO. But
Portugal, as it happens, has never used it
LAY RECOGNITION.
All the talk about this. that or the other govern
ment not recognizing the Pope who shall be duly
chosen by the Cardinals present at his election Is
nonsense. In one sense OF the word, indeed, the
future Pope may not be recognized, as the present
Pope may be said not to be recognized by the Ger
man government-that is to say, that his authority
may be entirely set at naught ana disregarded
And what can any government DO more than this?
whether foreign government may by It's acts,
say, pope as you are do not allow your injunc-
ton or advice or wishes to influence my course in
the smallest Degree" or whether 1t may say. ~
deny you to be the Pope,n the result is practically