The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-16

The Argentine Rebellion Paci1ied and Political
RtyolutoniSt Agitation Subsiding.
A Priestly Exposition Of the
Church and State Conflict.


RIO JANEIRo. Dec. 10. 1874
As the Argentine rebellion has really collapsed,
the Uruguayan one fzzled out and the Brazilian
one IN the North got into the splutterng condition
OF an expiring candle, the religious or eccesasti'
cal question here mas again resumed prominence.
The government continues its half and half
measures, upon which all Brazilian states
men-out OF onlce-look with disgust. Unde-
TERED by the egregious failure OF its similar
policy before 1t blows hot ana cold AZ once, pros
ecutlng the governors OF the blsnoprics for not
lifting the lnterdicts, though their powers
specially lor0ld them doing so, and at the same
time negotiating with His Holiness Tor peace.
THE CHURCH IN BRAZIL
At this juncture 1t will not oe embarrassing to
know how priest OF high attainments and one
keeping apart from bishop and government alike
explains the purpose OF the conflict now in prog
ress IN Brazil. He savs:-
The Brazilian Church Is, with the exception Of
dogma, titles and ceremonies. different IN almost
every respect rom the Roman Catholic Church in
Great Britain and The United States. influence on
the nation, whether IN morals, learning or the
welldolng OF the poor, Is completely ignored by
s OF 81 snc spndd and rny CHAIR
table institutions as are the ornament oil every
Brazilian 10 n. these are as to founding. expendi-
ture and operations, entirely independent OF the
This absten,1on of the Brazilian priests from an
active lie, their isolation from even eacn Otner
aud their bishops as we'll as from their n0cks, is
an anomaly which strikes travellers from abroad
with wonder. 1t Is really marvellous to see sucn
large sums lavlshed by opulent associations on
their patron saints day at the same time mat the
PARISH priest is looked down upon and merely
hired Tor o lew mllreis, and, at his own earnest
solicitation TO perform, Or rather, mum
Roman ritual, or 10 ascend and whningiy mouth,
by rOte Oriental dreams worded IN the most eX-
travagant and superlarive language. This indner-
organization of the Church and partly from the
general weakness which pervadcs every Brazilian
institution.
The kings OF Portugal and Spain, in former
ages, obtained, because OF their discoveries and
thus furnishing new fields Tor Christianity, special
ecclesiastical powers which made them virtually
the heads OF the Church in their respective domln-
ions. The first Emperor OF Brazil claimed similar
powers by right OF inheritance. But Rome Is now
strongly OF opinion that the Emperor has no rigat
TO the ecclesiastical privileges bestowed on the old
kIngs OF the lberlan peninsula, because or the
aboisnment OF the religious element Of the mill
tary coniraternities or orders, and besides otner
reasons OF the recent Vatican dec ees. Up to tue
present moment the Brazilian government has
considered itself the bishop OF the Church,
appointing to every benefce, from bishop to chap.
lam exercising The faculty OF vetOing any en-
actment contained in Papai official documents.
Two spirsed young bishops resolve TO bring to an
Issue these government claims. and the question
now Is. VINO shall govern the Brazilian Church.
The lmpetuous young bishops Of olinda and
Para, heir eyes fixed On Rome and their backs
turned on tile WltnereQ neluS OF CHRISTIANITY con-
fded to their pastoral care and handed over to
lax and scantily educated priests, are endeavor-
ing to wrest from the imperial government the In
herited privilege or right to interfere ia Church
affairs. he gauntlet thrown down by the bishops
and too eagerly and lmprudentIy picked up by the
government was whether Freemasons (Freema-
sorry being then at the lowest ebD OF Vitality
could belong TO coniraternitles, nominally reg-
ious but virtually se-heiping societies IN cases Of
sickness death AS the President OF the Brazilian
Cabinet was land Isl Grand Master OF Brazilian
Masonic lodges, he considered himself bound IN
III challenge
OF the bishops.
These succeeded in their aim. and are now
martyrs" lncarcefated III f0rtresses, with SIS
a day each iOr their prison ratons Both
Emperor and Pope are thus forced to the discus
time freemasonry, then divided into Two branches,
took on Ilfe cOalesced, but, as a natural conse-
10 OBTAIN the statu quo before the conflict, and,
with this In view, reelected Vsconnt Rio BrancO
Grand Master The other advocates a complete
separation OF Church and State, and eleya ed to
Its Grand Master Joaquin Sadanha Marlnho, one
Of our best lawyers. ihIs gentleman, now amll-
larry known as "Ganganelli," assumed the task.
with the pecuniary AID OF his bretnren OF PUBLISH
Ing twice week long and vigorous articles
against the union OF Church and state.
These articles the bishops derive especial pleas
ure from perusiDg, aware that the government is
extremely DESTROYS OF Keeping the Churcn allied
to the imperial policy, Tor were the Church inde-
pendent 1t Is feared that the throne would lose its
pedestal, tue altar. or that the Church would be-
come too powerful and rule
AS Saldanha Marlnho Is the leader OF the repuo-
licsn party many think he IS taxing advantage Of
aims OF his partisans, and, whether this opinion
be groundless or not, the mere suspicion Is quite
enough to lrighten the imperial party. The conse-
quence Is that the government Is now negotiating
a new nlOdus UtUendi. The probable result will be
a concordat, the real object OF our little Church
fight. Meantime all discontented politicians are
drifting 10 what Is called the 'Catholie party,n and
some persons lear that the members OF mis- new
party having no pohcy are unwttinely aiding their
Toes 10 overthrow the political constitution OF the
country. Any delay In the settlement OF this
question one way or another will aggravate this i'm.
prudent struggle. settlement Is needed TO free
tns steadily advancing Empire from the foolery
and las ting mslottunes attendant on Cnurch quar-
res. winch may be taken up and carried on by
ianatlcs, pious or impious.
REvoLUTIoSIsTs RETREArISG BEFORE THE TROOPS
Is THE NORTH
The latest teegraphc news from the North
shows that the disturbed districts OF Pernambuco
had returned TO their normal condition OF order,
and that IN Parahyba the reyolnuonlsts were dis.
persIDg as the troops approached, though some
bands were continuing the work OF DESTROYING the
county records, the tax documents and the met
rical weights and measures. The larger part OF
the bands IN both provinces consisted OF men from
the cattle back country ana were cad IN SKINS.
The rest were IN most part forced ny threats 10
join. AS Tor poltlcal purpose, they seemed and
seem to have none beyond protesting against the
new law Of consumption, not vet even promul-
gated and the opinion gathers strength that the
disturbance was iomented by the ecclesiastical
party TO bring pressure on the government, and IT,
lege AT PernamDuco connect these foreign priests
WIN u ana prove tnat they are the real leaders OF
the ecclesiastical movement IN Brazil, and rs anch
are obeyed blndiy by the bishops and the ultra
montana deputies.
COUNTERPART BILLS FROM NEW YORK
Ine country u being hooded with counterfeit
bills, cnIehy of the Bank OF Brazil rough COPIES OF
those iuinisned ny tns National Bank Note Com
Pany 81 New lorh. In "a searcn made Dy the RIO