The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-07
Tho Papaey and Republication.

u
Journal des Debdts to the effect that IN
der certain circumstances the Pope will
take up his residence in the United States.
1t has long been o reproach to those who
control the temporal affairs of the Catholic
Church that it was not in sympathy with re-
sensitive enough during the war, felt unkindly
toward the Pope, because he alone, of Euro
pean potentates, gave Jefferson Davis quasi
recognition as President Of the Confederate
States. Not long since His Holiness, in a
public speech, spoke with unusual kindness
Of aristocrats, saying, if we quote him cor
recly, that Jesus Christ loved the aristocracy
In the Roman court all the royal forms have
been preserved to the highest degree, and even
now the imprisoned Pontiff insists upon the
etiquette that prevails in the oldest palaces
In the republican experiments in France and
Spain it was felt that the influence of the
Church was against democracy. Consequently
the impression has prevailed that the policy
of the Roman Church is inconsistent with
republican form of government.
We think that however true this may have
been in the past new light begins to
dawn on the Holy See. The rumor else
where printed in reference to the coming
Of the Pope, and the appointment Of Cardinal
McCloskey confirms this. We must frankly
confess that there has been nothing in tho
republican experiments in Europe to Justify
any enthusiasm Of democracy on the part OF
the popes. Generally the first step of the
Continental republicans has been to shoot
the priest and confscate the revenues Of
the Church. Pins TX. would be what no one
has ever supposed him if he would calmly
bless and encourage the murderers of his
faithful clergymen. Furthermore, the repub-
licaa movement abroad has been often asso-
ciated with socialism and infdelity and with
attacks upon the ordinances aud sacraments
Of Christianity. Consequently the hesitation
Of the Holy See in welcoming republicanism
as a Christian form Of government can easily
be explained But, on the other hand, His
Holiness has seen in America the true ex-
preston OF republican.sm. He has seen that
here, ia a Protestant country with the public
sentiment Of the people opposed to
his Church, among the descendants
OF those Puritans WIN detested the whole
Roman system as tic abominatIcn Of all
villanies, that by the operation of republican
governments Catholicism is freer than in the
most Catholic countries Of the world. Natu.
rally, then, His Holiness secs, if the Church
can flourish without prosecution in Protes-
tans government undr ropublicanism, why
I,y~I,4- y.
only solution 81 tie troubles that have now
fallen upon tho Churcl?
If our readers viii rmember conversation
published in the HEhLD between one of our
correspondents and Archbishop Bayley, Of
Baltimore, they viii recall remarkable
statement. The Bishop said that ''in for.
mer encyclicols the faithful were required to
pray for the peace atd unity Of all Christian I
princes but in The lkt ono Pope Plus COM
mands that the prayes shalt be FOR tbe peace
andhnity Of al Christian people, os though |
no lacked conhdene in prayers for the /
rulers" Our rcaGrs viii observe also
that for the fir time in the his
tory Of the Catblic Church has the
high honor Of cudinal been bestowed |
upon GA American pslate. Those Of Us who \
follow thc public speeches Of His Holiness
will not have .ailed observe that whenever
he speaks u Amoricat IS with peculiar graft /
tudc and affection. Consequently we see q
drift Of The CatholiCnurch toward lepubii-
canism, aud we Sc no Justice 81 the grounds |
upon which it Is basd. Protestant Germany,
under on empire peIsccutes the Church.