The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-11
Tine Catholic Church and Its POiiti-
cal Future.

dlnal McCiOskev, else VI mere printed, IN re-
Spouse to the eloquent address OF Judge Bed
ford, in presenting His Eminence with pair
Of horses and q carriage on behalf of certain OF
our Catholic citizens, contrasts in marked
degree with the speech Of Cardinal Manning
delivered in London and reported in the
HERALD of Saturday This speech OF the Eng
lish Cardinal will gather new value from the
interview with him, which we PRINT TINS
morning from our correspondent IN Rome.
Tie American Cardinal sees only tran
auillity, affection and Kindness and his
words breathe the spirit Of Christian
peace, which is 50 especially becoming IN
minister Of religion. The English Cardinal
sees only strife surprising IN fury any that
has been known for centuries. In his inter-
view he sees only the unity ot the Roman
See and The ultimate triumph Of the Roman
Catholic Church on earth. 1t is impossi-
bic not to understand the emotions winch
sway these venerable prelates. Cardinal
McCloskey is as brave and vigilant defender
Of the Holy See as Cardinal Manning, and he
would not hesitate if he saw danger to give
the note Of alarm. But, as we have had occa-
sion on many occasions to show, the Catholic
| Church in America is free from any danger
That religion, like all religions, finds peace
under democracy.
When we see how the Catholic Church, as
represented by the Pope, draws nearer and
nearer 70 the people, we can appreciate the
magnitude OF the alliance between the Roman
See and democracy. In this aspect the
Catholic Church in America has a most i'm
portant work TO do. This Church simply repre-
sents a powerful denomination of Christians.
1t in no way controls the policy of this
country which is as Protestant as England or
Germany. In certain sections of the country,
however, Catholicism is a dominant influence.
In New York, where it is largely recruited by
the emigration from Ireland and South Ger
many; III Maryland, where it represents an
old Cntholc settlement; in St Louis and
New Orleans, cities founded by the French,
there is a large population animated by q
paramount devotion to Rome. The last census
shows that in Louisiana, Maryland New York,
Pennsylvania, Missouri, moderately in Cali
fornia, Massachusetts and Ohio, the Catholic
influence is strong. But elsewhere the
country is overwhelmingly Protestant The
census report OF 1870 shows nearly two
million 'sittings" two thousand churches and
the possession of nearly sixty million dollars
OF property. One-sixth is in New York. This
is less numerically than the Presbyterians,
the Methodists aud the Baptists, all of which
denominations are larger than the Catholic.
-, b.,r 70 fla
turns, the Catholics are richer than any other
Church but the Methodist and, although not
one fifth as numerous in churches, have nearly
as much money. Taking the value Of church
property in the United States, the Catholics
own nearly one-fifth Of it. The increase in
the Catholic Church has been much larger
than any other denomination, rising from
Six hundred and seventy thousand church
slttingsi in 1850 to nearly two million in 1870.
The only Church which shows a larger per-
centage OF increase is the Mormon, which is
new organization and represents not simply
the growth 81 a religious body, but the crea-
ton 81 a new one
We content ourselves with the census re-
turns for the purposes Of comment, and
TO show that the Catholic Church in
America i simply a powerful institution
among other institutions. II IN no way affects
the government or the policy Of the coun-
try. This Is Protestant, and must natu-
rally remain 50. But the Catholic Church out
side Of America and England is the most
influential body in the world Here its in
fuenc. has been practically religious. In other
countries il has been political There has
never been 0 tune, for a thousand years,
at least, when the political judgments
Of nearly every nation Of Europe have not
been swayed BY the wisdom or the am
bition Of the Church. Let this influence
is over At the end Of this ten cen
turtles Of political sympathy between the
Church md the princes the Pope is to-day
abandoned BY the rulers and is compelled 70
depend upon the people The Roman Church
is nowhere more respected than in Catholic
France, a republic, and nowhere as free as in
Protestant America, . republic. II is no
where Under more duress than in Catholic
Italy, a monarchy, and in Protestant Ger
many, monarchy. So that the inference is
inevitable that the time has come for the
Catholic Church to separate itself from that
monarchical system which il has sustained for
thousand years, and Of which its chief has
for centuries been a member . prince with
temporal power
The anxiety expressed by Cardinal Manning
as to tie future Of the Church and his fears
that We are on the verge Of perilous and
cruel struggle only show the wisdom 81 the
policy which seems 20 inspire Rome There
Is ~ reason vhy the Roman Church should
identify itself with institutions which be-
come more and more obsolete Tie head ~
that Church Is more Of democrat than an
aristocrat The policy q the Church is based
upon universal suffrage a cardinalate and