New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-01
THECATHOLIC CONTROVERSY



community OF origin. they bear only an imperfect re-
seubiance. And so Mr. Gladstone, who does J"suoe 10
Che upeoualcd capacity OF Englishmen, especially IN
r,,pa things in yites them to apply their serene aud
nnclonded Judgment 10 the deporabo condition OF the
Catholie Church and the total loss OF mental ana
moral freedom" with which her children are aulcted
Yet this porverse people usually disposed TO aoors OF
that kind without any invitation at all, posluVey ue-
cline 20 do hrs bidding They even reply to 1t with de-
,,son shifted out OF Office" says the cynical Pal
Nail Ga.ef which sees no motive for his pamphlet but
one which is TOO unworthy avowed he finds that
Cooling not Short the true Protestant patriot but
though be hopes the British public will be OF the same
opinion The Pail Mall him not to entertain that
aaterng delusion. The friendly Times longer able
TO applaud disnisses his ncendary expOstulation as
the revival Of an obsolete cry" aud him that
II will only earn for him place In "a triumvrate OF
Protestant champions" OF which the other members arc
two discredited budoons Mr.. Newdegae and Mr. Whal'
lev The philosophical Spectator, reproyng ms tlVd
assertions about the Vatican Council, candldy
deplores 1.-THE influence which inns pdmpulet
must exercise In Prussia" and that II should
"lepd 10 one OF the greatest political blum
dcrs and worst religious Oenses OF the present day at
least a shadow OF authority" The sober John BHH re-
lates that early copy was sent to Prince Bismarck
but thinks that astute person will laugh IN MS sleeve
AZ finding so faclle too The critical Saturday Re
r considers that the literary merit OF the publica-
ton is small" and that the publication OF Mr.. Glad
stones pamphlet will have injured himself, and will
not in compensation have served any useful purpose
The only possible influence Mr.. Gladstones work will
have" exclaims the Protestant STANDARD, " will be TO
confirm the Germans in a course from which he him
self would shrink With horror and 1t is creditabe
10 the English press that It should be able to add
the publication has been condemned by most organs
Of opinion this country and regretted by ALL" Ii
was not without reason, these testimonies suffice
70 prove the Bishop OF Stafford observed In his
recent Pastoral 4" The various organs OF the Press,
with the shrewd political for which they are
conspicuous, without any possible COLLISION, eXtll-
guished its political import In a single morning."
Never, perhaps was a public man, who once com
Inanded the esteem even Of political adversaries, so
unanimously condemned. And the censure which he
has provoked Is the impressive because It pro-
nOuuced by the classcs TO whose anCaholc preu-
dcs ne thought could safely appeal and upon whose
applause he confidently relied. Even his own political
party embarra ssed by unreasonable poemca ardor
Of which they easily detect the shabby motive. think IT
prudent to discaim The iautost sympathy You must
not expect me- SAID his SOicitOrGen Sir VIII
Harcourt the other day TO his constituents at OK
ford, ." to join in onslaught on my Catholic fellow
subjects. see no ncccssity-ccrtainly that has
newly arisen-for attacking the Catholics, and If there
Is no necessity then there great mischief" And this
Judgment Of the foremost men OF century was
anticipated by greatest statesman ot the last The
name O: Burke" said his enemy Lord Thurlow az we
told In PnOrs "MemOlr" will DC remem-
bered with admiration when those OF Pitt and
Fox will be comparatively forgotten" This IL
iustrous man, not, Ike Mr.. Glad
stone mere politician, for whom personal and party
Interests all in all but astaesmau and philosopher,
rcbuked with the same lofty eOQuence the senseess
policy OF England toward Americans abroad and toward
Catholics home. In mis- day the antiCatholc mania
hercr and universal than in ours, bat as
he preferred the sacred claims OF Justice and the true
~ Ma ID a nneting
Iarty he bad courage denounce the very arguments
employ by MI Gladstone as equally opposed to SOUND
statesmaushp and Intelligent patriotism There is not
O plea urged by tie which the other has not vic
toriousy rcfuted by anticipation Though q sincere
Protestant Burke reminded the Of his day, in the
very midst the Gordon riots, Of the Impotence OF
violent policy in dealing with the greatest Christian
community In the world and Of truth which both BIS
marck and Gladstone will do well to ponder. that he
who fears God fears nothing else" etter 10 member
Of the National Assembly, The supremacy OF the state
IN questions Of conscience In his Judgment. con
trary to any sound prucip Of legislation, or any
authorized definition Of law" and he considered the
Popcry laws ia general leading cause Of
the imbocty OF the country" Works, vol ix 7. 1851
With Irresistible logic be disnisses the impudent
prceus.on OF STATE which has changed its own religion
g. meddie with thc religion Of others. If people, he
says. "once take religion on the word OF the State
as they did in England and elsewhere they canno' in
common sense do so a second time. You confess Oy
your RetoruatOnJ that you have been wrong. Why
should prefer your opinion OF to-day TO your persua-
sion Of Yesterdays e. Aud you have no night TO plead,
the great continues that prosecuting you only
initiate what Others have done, because the cases were
totally ain rent. "Whcn ancient establishment be-
gins 10 prosecute lRH0rao 1t has all the preudiccs
and prcsunpiiOns on It's side. Commanding to con
ttancy, It does nothing but that Of which II sets an ex-
ample itself But opinion at once new and perse-
outing is monster; because. In the very instant in
winch takes liberty Of change 1t does not leave to
You CathOhcs) even a liberty Of perseverance,"
('Tracts Relative 10 the Laws Against Popery.D
The Immense authority Of Burke in such question
in which his luminous intellect that not only the
nights OF conscience but the foundations OF law and the
preservation human society were at stake-will am
ply justify additional citations. He discussed the
eatne questions az Mr. Gladstone, but with deeper in
tght and anober purpose The cared only for justice
aud the OF his country the other for what
may perchance promote his People said in Burkes
day, Mr. Gladstone says in that the Catholic
hgOn, by its recognition OF the supreme authority OF
the Roman P0utf. vas superstition" hostile TO mod
ern society Gould a think such objection pos
tiule" replies Burke IT he had not actually heard 1t
madei An objection cOutradicted, by hypothetical
reasOnngs by evidence OF the most decis
Society only exists but hovrshcs at tins
hour. with this superstition ii many countries under
every form Of government. And there no civil so
cety at all these kingdoms before the Reformation
1t certainly did then exist 1t certainly then
least much the advantage Of very great part Of
society as that have brought in the place OF it,"
The generous mind Of Burke had so little sympathy
with what Sir william HarcOurt CONTEMPORARY styles
1.-THE blazing rhetoric aud sensational pamphleteerng"
Of Mr. Gladstone, that he maryeled at the unrufi3d
patience with which Catholics endured such "iunlu-
matoIy Lbels" bis day, and that they continued
TO every mark OF loyalty and ZEAL in spite OF
what he called tine poison which, under the name OF
sntdotes against Popery, and such like mountebank