The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-31
CARDINAL M'CLOSKEY.
SOME REASONS WHY HE WILL NOT AND cA,uao1
DECLINE THE PRoFFERED HONOR

DECLINE IdE PhOffEhhO boNo1s
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
One OF your contemporaries appeals to the
patriotism of our newly created American Cardinal
TO resign the dignity conferred upon him by the
Holy See. Two reasons In particular are urged as
the determining motives OF this act or resignation
one. that the constitution OF the United Stdtea
iorb.ds any American cltizens accepting title or
RANK from ANY foreign Power; and the other. that
in q Roman Catholic court cardinal, citizen o.
this Republic, would perchance. take precedence
OF the American Minister reslden, at tnat court.
TO these two points, urged, am lain TO believe,
not by the veteran editor OF the Eestn9 Post. bus
by some one OF his unstatesmanilke aids the
answer is simple enough. The Roman Pontin Ia
no longer u secular foreign Power and conieri
no temporal title or rank; and, be.
SIDES, even were the old etiquette
regulating the precedence OF cardinals
to be universally observed in European courts
(Which Is not the case) the likelihood Ia that even
IN former Roman Catholic courts. as In that OF
France, cardinals will only rauk in future accord
lng to the precedence granted them by the law OF
the land. In France they ranked as Senators
under the Empire, and on puDlic occasions were
presented with Senator'S. In Austria and Spain
their civil rank, and the consequent order OF pre-
cedence, are quite undetermined, and subject to
the only law likely TO prevail for long time IN
both these countres-tne Revolutionary law OF the
unforeseen But were the old laws OF court
clique te to regulate all future court receptions
malnta That the sub-edltors or the ErenfnU Posi-
cannot have more at heart the sovereign respect
due TO our representatives abroad IMAM Abranain
Lincoln, William Ii. Seward and a long line OF
American Presidents and statesmen, back TO
Washington and Franklln,
There are other, and these peremptory reasons,
which make 1t imperative on CARDINAL McCloskey
not only not to decline the oflce imposed upon
HIM against his Will. but TO accept II. Ana these
were well known to Lincoln and ms Cabinet and
TO the many administrations that nave successively
SOUGHT TO have representative OF the American
church In tue Pope's Supreme Council and In the
College OF Papal Electors.
l nave purposely used the word "Offce" instead
OF "honor'' IN speaking OF the cardinaIate. There
Roman Catholics III the Union (uCt to speak o the
other Catholic populations OF North and South
AWerica) should have in tae numerous cOngreya.
tlons OF cardinals which preside over the admlnls.
trat0n OF the universal CnuIcn, in the cOnsStor1cS
which decide the weightiest matters regard
the Pope's successor one man at least whose VIZ.
tues, learning. ability and experience may enable
him 10 look sharply after the American In terestS.
This, Ii l III stake not. IS the view advocated Dy
the HERALD held by Lincoln. Seward and other
enllghfened American sta'eSmen. rms, too, has
been the view o. every considerable organ OF R0.
man Catholic ODlnOn IN America.
Apart, then, rom the personal repugnance lele
by the eMlnent parsonage himself Tor mere rank
and Its respOn slbilitles there are conscientious
interests which must FORBID refusal OF the bl2n
OflCe conferred.
We have long wished to have worthy repre-.
sentative OF Roman Cathoilc interests In mat au.
gust Senate OF the Churcn which has outhved the
Oldest and mightest empires. We have, thank
what We prayed lor. And we mean to Keep nlm.
PUBLlCOLA.