The New York herald., 1874-07-12
clergy OF Rome had during LOO years, the excln-
sive right OF choosing their bishop, who, once
chOgen w nv divine rlQht the

clergy Of Rome had during LOO years, the exclu-
siye right OF choosing tnelr oshop, VINO, once
chose1 was by divine right the
head or THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The exercise OF this right was restricted in 1859
cardinals, by the supreme apostolic authority in
the Church. and TO prevent the enormous abuses
The right OF electIng the Pope thus restricted to
the College OF Cardinals. belonged exclusively TO
the Roman clergy 80 long % as they alone composed
ti0nantes were admitted TO membership In the
College of Cardinals the right oil the Ro-
1erred TO other churches. Every cardinal
created becomes fpso TdctO the titular OF some
church in the city OF Rome or OF some see imme-
dlately dependent on 1t. Thus be the cardinal by
birth an Italian Spaniard, Englishman, German or
Frenchman, he becomes by MS creation as cardl-
nal member OF the Roman clergy, and, as such
alone participates IN the election OF the Pope, who
Is primarily Bishop OF Rome. Now, no nation has
that IS tue right OF the Romans alone, regularly
speaking. All the troubles OF the Church have
arisen either from the undue influence which other
nations claimed to exercise on papal elections or
from the unwOrthness of the Romans themselves.
The great western schlsm came from the prepon-
derance OF French interests in the electoral col
lege, as well as from the rebellious dispositions OF
the citizens of Rome. New troubles would arise
tomorrow. were IL IN the power OF any one nation
by controlling the votes OF the papal electors, to
bring about state OF things ike that which ex-
listed under Clement V. and his immediate success
sors.
Against snch accidents wise provision has been
made by the Divine Founder OF the Church AS lie
committed to Peter the Of the entire Christian
ioId-pastO-s and hocks-sO the successors Of
Peter given full power to suppress disorders the
mock and TO promote It's spiritual welfare The
MODE OF ELECTION OF BISHOPS
was one OF those things which Christ left to the
changed circumstances OF times and places. The
right, become inherent by custom In the people OF
Rome to concur with the clergy IN the election OF
the Pope, their bishop. could only be valid by the
acqulcsccnce or approval OF the Church and It's
head When the use or abuse OF tins traditlonary
right became a scandal, detriment and source
OF perpetually recurring evils, then 1t became the
duty OF the popes to cancel the custom. For as
AMY Mn cvii shS com%unty a the maxim or the
natural sS ar 1Slsssds % sSs dse SSe rueP s'ea ia
the peace, the edlfcation the spiritual gooa Of
every portion OF Christs people, at the expense of
sa the rule ' which csTainai hidebrand urgea o" on
Nicholas H., as well as on other contemporary
conduct in his struggle with the secular powers
and with the disorderly in the Church herself
The right OF election 10 was restricted to the Co-
conferred on them by the pom tltica DEGREES, and
are guided in the exercise OF tnat right, solely by
those DEGREES. The same supreme and legislative
power can, under the presence OF new neces-
stiles, suspend the present laws OF election or
modify them, and provide in an extraordinary way
OF iuture pope In order to neutralize the mach
nations Of the wicked Or TO avert extraordinary
tion. then, What right have we American
Catholics to have representative In the electoral
college, Ol CdTuIH6ls! Juc dusW Ut 10 plalu NOue,
save what 10 may please the wisdom OF the Holy
See to confer upon us. Nor, apart from the privi-
lege conferred on certain Catholic nations by long
custom and special concOrdats, has any nation IN
CnrstendOm a right to participate IN the election
OF the Pope. The right to be represented In
THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS,
considered as the Popes Council in the supreme
administration OF the Church. presents q new
aspect Of the case and involves q different
question altogether. The electors appointed by
the new legislation are. de Jacto and de Jure, the
represent atives of the Roman clergy. And. abso-
lufely speaking the mode or election of the Roman
Pontiff Is matter solely dependent the Church,
or, rather, on the Pontin himself There is q
native American Cardinal In the present college
namely, Cardinal MorenO-bOrn in Guatemala, and
ls not the sort of American the press is calling Ior.
PRUDENTIUS