The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

desire 20 take the DAILY or WEEKLY.
BY SO doing, much delay and trouble win
be avoided.
BISMARCK AND GLADSTONE as
KNOW-NOTHENGS-R AND
PROTEsTANTIsM
The appointment Of an American cardi-
nal has directed popular attention in this
country to the conduct Of the Papacy and
excited degree of interest in this behalf
never felt before The war between Ca
thOlicism and the State in Germany, each
asserting, in certain directions, paramount
authority; the discussion, to which the
STATESMAN has adverted, between a cardi-
nal and an ex-Prime Minister Of England
the violently repressed antagonisms between
the ''head of the church" and the Emperor
Of Italy; the deprivation of temporal reve-
nues to which his Holiness has been sub
jected by Victor Emanuel; the liberal con-
tributions made by this country to the
maintenance of the Holy See, are facts in
the worlds current history which arrest the
attention of statesmen and Of churchmen
alike, and invest the conduct of the wise
old Pope Plus with degree of interest
never known before. Many years ago,
when no such reasons as those impelling
Bismarck to drive Romanism beyond the
confines of his empire were operative in
America, theresprang INTO existence pow
erful partisan organization, with two lead
ing ideas-one that Romanism and republic
canism were incompatible and irreconcila-
BILE; another, that America should be ruled
by Americans. Until it was proposed to
have Americans ruled by Africans, and un-
til Bismarck undertook'to fight over again
IN Germany the battles of Knownothingism,
the party was deemed extinct. In the
South the negro reproduces it in another
form, and the people of cities and counties
have declared, as against Cuffee and the
civil rights bill, for restricted suffrage,
while in Germany the Imperial government
wages war against the Romish Church as a
dangerous political Institution, absolutely
taking precedence of patriotism, and claim
ing in all things, as its foes allege, prece-
-denca al, things. Since Knownnthinoism
dad, Amerieans. snua thnsA eannectad with
the Roman Church, have given little atten-
ton to the progress of events affecting
Catholicism in America or in Europe, but
the "Apulsion of the priesthood from Ger
many, and Of nuns and Jesuits from Mexico,
the uncrowning of the Pope in Italy, and
now the investiture of McClosky, in New
York, with sacerdotal vestments never be-
fore worn in America, have not only aroused
Professionalism, but statesmen are forced to
contemplate progressive religious and in
separable political events with degree OF
interest never known before. Protestant
Germany approves Bismarck's Knownoth-
ingism Us evolved in his war upon the
church, and Democratic Southern chivalry
and practical good sense alike accept the
gage Of battle discovered in the civil rights
bill, and would have restricted suffrage in
local municipal elections. In Europe the
religious, in America the political idea Of
Knownothingism becomes partially domi-
nant. Gladstone and bismarck are
ohiefest of European Knownothings, while
every white Southerner who would
resent purpOsed Southern degradation in
volved in detestable amendments to the
Federal Constitution and,in the civil rights
act, approves, as against negroes, the re-
strieted suffrage idea Of the old party, born
before its time, and slaughtered by Henry
A. Wise and Andrew johnson. These his
torical and partisan events may have even
influenced the conduct of His Holiness in
sending cardinals hat to the head Of the
American branch Of tho Romish Church,
but there were other purposes than the
mere manifestation Of gratitude. The Ropes
personal revenues have been greatly les
sened by the extinction Of his temporal
sovereignty in Romagna. Victor Emanuel
proiIered an equal annual sum from his own
treasury, but the Pope Indignantly rejected
the sinful subsidy and now his richest re-
source is in America. Here the toll Of the
poor is most abundantly rewarded, and
the poor are they whose pennies are
myriads OF pounds that send out from
Rome Peters aud Pauls and Jesuits and
Benedictines, monks and priests and sisters
Of charity, to extend over all nations the
power and benefcence Of Rome. America
does more than Rome or Europe to Roman
ize the world, and Of the FIVE cardinals yet
to be appointed, another may be discov-
cred in North or South America. These
cardinals are chosen not only because Of
the power they represent, and the service
they render the head Of the church, but
with reference 70 their known political
opinions and predictions. Pope Plus may
AZ least create such college Of cardinals
that his own successor VIII be pledged to
maintain the contest with Bismarck in Ger
maaY, with Gladstone in England, with
Victor Emanuel in Italy, and with LeEdO
Ia Mexico. But the influence Of potent
monafchs, when Plus is no more, may soon
be discovered ia the conduct Of thoso Who
must appoint the Pope's successor aad
grcaier men than 1lcClosl<y have bent before
the majesty aud gold and Establishments Of
empcrors and kings Meanwhile, Protest
ants may well reflect that this coness-
sion a a cardinals hal 6 q Americas
priest has stimulated ,he real and s,ro. a..
ened the loyalty Of Ronanisn ia Auesic1.
and sho struggle between he tNo rio,s q
the Christian church militant for supremacy
"a Amcrica viii become more vigorous
than ever.