The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-06
THE PAPACYc
The Holy Sec and the
People.
Vatican Preparation for the Com
ing Conclave.
ROME, May 90, 1874.

ROME, May 20, 1874.
II cannot but be that the whole OF Chrlstendom
should be looking forward TO the next conclave to
be assembled for the election OF successor to the
present Pontin with curiosity and interest and
large portion of Christie cdom with more than in
terest-with anxiety. There have been periods in
European history when rulers aud statesmen
busted themselves much about such elections, and
when IL was believed that the election OF this or
that man TO the throne OF st. Peter might have i'm
portant influence on this, that or the other move
on the great chessboard OF dynastic intrigue and
the clashing ambitions OF princes and sovereigns.
These times are OVERCOME iorever But in
terests OF a different kind still cause the
rulers OF nations ana the nations themselves, not
or europe only but of the whole civilized world to
look with anxiety to the dongs OF the two three
score OF old men who will shortly be choosing in
Rome head OF the universal Catholic Church. A
strange thing to look at when one thinks of it.
But one OF the most notable facts OF the general
aspect OF human affairs within the last year or two
Is the tendency which all national questions and
national parties seem to have TO become entangled
with questions OF religion, and in many cases to
depend almost, If not quite wholly, upon religious
considerations. The cause or this tendency sup
pose TO be the general and almost intuitive feeling
that a very decisive time OF struggle is
At hand between believers and non-be-
levers in the statements ana dogmas
which have for the last fifteen centuries
made the religion and ruled the life Of all the civil
lied portion OF the human race. We have not yet
reached the Niagara OF that struggle, but the in
nuence OF the rapids which precede the fall is
already felt, and men feel disposed In view OF the
coming struggle, to regard all questions OF policy
with reference to their probable bearing on it.
This take TO be the cause of phenomenon which
no observer OF the times we live in can fail to be
struck by. 1t Is consequence OF the same phe-
nOmenon that statesmen are compelled to take a
lively interest in the doings OF the Roman sacred
College, not as heretofore with reference to the
small intrigues and rivalries OF crowned heads,
but for the sake OF the wide effects which will be
produced on the nations they have to govern
and the results which will show themselves
In making them governable by such or such means,
or, perhaps, ungovernable by any. There Is no
government in the world that would NOT be very
glad to have the countenance, the patronage, the
assistance OF that old man sitting aloof there in
the Vatican, Tor there IS none that does rot know
that the business OF governing would thereby be
made easier to 1t. But that countenance, that
patronage. that assistance is only to be had at a
price which even the most Catholic governments
OF the Old World have learned to consider too high
one and the result is that the most important or
war with the Pope and the Papacy The remark.
able degree to which this Is the case has
suggested to more than one observer
OF the course Of affairs the probability
that the Church, finding no support on any
side from the princes and potentates OF the earth
might turn from them TO the popular masses,
trust her cause wholly to the effects her teaching
and preaching may be able to produce upon them.
and throw in her lot with them in opposition to
those governing classes, from which she has
ceased to hope anything.
WILL TIE DEMOCRACY BE sANCrIFIED2
Now it Is hardly necessary to point out to any
one who has in any degree kept his eyes open to
the general course Of popular feeling and opinion
In the world the very serious results which might
which in all probability would-foliow the adop-
ton OF such policy on the part OF the Roman
Catholic Church. Many generation has come
and gone since the Church has attempted
anything of the kind The Church has
leaned for support on the secular arm OF
the various repressive governments OF the
Continent OF Europe for SO many centuries that
1t has come TO seem to be part Of the nature OF
Ii TO be the side OF authority" against pop
ular wishes and feelings, on the side Of
Bervatism as against progress, the side OF the
tyrant as against the oppressed. But it was not
always so. The time has been when the Church
and emotons-was, in a word, on the side of the
masses as against their rulers. Are we on the
eve Of seeing renewal OF such a state OF things
Has the Church still enough OF sap and vigor and
vitality In it to venture on so great and daring
gameg Has the Church sufficiently convinced
itself that there is nothing more to be hoped for
from the princes and potentates of the earth, and
that henceiorth it is to be in very truth war to
the knife between the threefod tiara and
the crowned heads of this world? These are uues-
tons which many observes of the signs OF the
times are asking themselves, and many shrewd
lookers-on are inclined to believe that certain
signs and appearances in the ecclesiastical horizon
indicate that the Roman Court is making up It's
mind to some such course OF action.
REMARKABLE SERMON.
Just about year ago, on 81. Patrick's Day, in
the spring OF last year, very remarkable sermon
was preached IN the church Of the Irish convent OF
Capuchin's here. A sermon in English is preached
every year in that church on st. Patrick's Day.
The preacher last year was DR.. Vaughan, Roman
Catholic Bishop OF Stafford, in England. The sermon
contained invectives Of great bitterness against
the statesmen at the head or the German, the
Italian and the English governments And the
preacher then went on TO aude to the great popu-
lar forces whose menacing strength-as shown in
the International and other powerful combina-
tons-was, and is, causing anxiety to the rulers
OF nations. he then vehementiy asserted the inn
potency Of the governments to deal1with these
forces. But the Irish priest said the orator, the
poor priest strong in the threefold eccle sastcal
virtues OF poverty, chastity and obedience can
deal with these forces. lie, and ne alone among
the members OF the Churches can sympathize
with these millions can find his hopes and his fears
In unison with theirs, can make their cause his
and his cause theirs. The sermon excited very
considerable attention at the time, and it was I'M
derstood TO have been highly approved at the
Vatican. In short, II 1t had not been
certain that 1t would be approved there
It would not have been preached where
and when 1t was preached. And It must be admit
TED that language such as has been quoted and I
nave ueen able TO give but a liant reflex OF the elo
auenee ana abundance OF the preacher) does
seem 70 favor the notion that the ideas OF the