The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-11-22

VeIb6l 6DU lDteu66 6CO06ClO060eH6 or the
fact. we're needed that the religious
question is again rising, as it has risen
In times past, TO a pre-eminence over
other public questions in Europe, that
proof ia at hand in the controv over.y
between Mr.. Gladstone and Arch-
bishop Manning; and II any
thing wero needed to prove what
81 vast advantage the Catholics
have gained in England during the
last thirty years. IL is furnished in the
person OF the second party to this in
terestiDg dispute. Ever since that
deadly quarrel between the English
Kings and people and the Pope 800
years ago. the Catholic Church has
been known in England only as the
"Romish" Church; and mp to thirty
years ago the national recollection OF
that quarrel was 80 trucuient and in
tolerant that an English churchmao
who became q Catholic was regarded
almost an o traitor. Even when Oar.
dinal Wiseman was appointed to the
spiritual sovereignty over England,
there was sturdy Old-fashioned ont.
burst Of wrath at tho audacity Of what
was considered, and really was, the
beginning Of an attempt to regain the
English people to the Catholic Church; /;
and it was proposed that the Govern.
moDt Fesoni the appointment as an
asS-pation. Yet here is Cardinal
Wiseman's successor boldly claiming
the English people az the spiritual
liegsmen OF the Pope. gathering in his
Fetinoa one after another OF the an.
cient Protestant houses of the empire,
and making 30 profound an impress
sion on English society by the
asoetio purity OF his life, the power
OF bis sermons and The startling
bolduess OF his demands, that the
ablest statesman and chnrchman OF
tho kingdom is brought forth to com-
bat him. Mr.. Gladstone and Aroh-
bishop Manning are the two foremost
men in England. and It can be no
trivial controversy that brings them in
collision 40 leading disputants. In.
deed, Mr.. Gladstone, who is the most
cautious public man in Europe, be-
trays his alarm by placing the dispute
on the ground of Papal scheme to
regain such Q temporal authority over
England as was attempted under the
management Of Philip II, and he ap-
peals to "Englishmen of the nine-
teeDth century to initiate the example
of their forefsthers Of the sixteenth
when marshaled to resist the armada"
This appeal to the most exciting aud
desperate event in English history
gives us hint Of thu character OF the
approaching struggle.
It is the seme dispute, in q some.
what different form. as that which has
been going on between Bismarck and
Ahe Pope, In the ether great Protestant
country of Europe. Six months ago,
Lord John Russell, another English
ex-Premier, recognized the nature of
the quarrel in Germany. and the pro-
liability CT Englishmen becoming
party in it. by writing q letter to
Emperor William. applauding the
severe penal measures with which he
was conducting it, and assuring him of
the moral support OF Protestant Eng.
land in the trouble.
The calling Of an International Ca.
tholio Congress to meet in London is
not the least interesting incident of
this controversy. This Congress, it is
said. has been called under instruc.
tions from the Vatican, and some of
the highest dignitaries in the church
will take part in 1.-THE object being
to 'maintsin the dogma OF PApal in
fallibility, re-assert the Pope's right to
temporal as we'll as spiritual power,
and proclaim the bounden duty of ali
Ohristiahs to return to allegiance to
Rome" In connection with the call
Archbishop Manning declared that sit
was necessary to assert tho peoples
right to worldwide allegiance" and
hinted that the approaching contest
between the Church and the State
would be zone of the migh.iest the
religious world had ever SEEN"
Such intimations as these prepare
us for events Of the highest import
snce. and force ns to watch tho ap
proach OF the struggle WITH intense
interest. We know too little about
the forces at work and the direction
they are taking to trace the ultimate
phase of the conflict. There Ia reason
to conjsoturo that while it moy be
contest between the Church and State,
it will be something else besides. The
largely suocesafnl efforts OF the singu-
lar partnership between men OF science
and commonists to destroy the au.
thority OF religion over people's minds
and unsettle tho basis on which obe-
dience and tho rights Of property rest,
reveal vacuum which needs to be-
filed either by an infallible church,
or an absolute State. The Pope as.