New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-09
FREEDOM OF RELIGION,

fht6UOM VI EEIltlUN.
This is at last the true cement of on
institutions. A political difference ma
be adjusted, on the basis of submissio
to an agreed arbitrament of courts Q
votes. or on the practical distribution c
the spoils. A religious dissent is in
capable Of settlement, because it is
principle of conscience which men con
slider disgraceful in this world and per
dltlon In the next to qualify or compro
mise.
1t is on this foundation of universe
federation that the introduction of ecclesi
astical offices and usages, heretofore IN
known among us, becomes authentic ant
legal. The appointment of cardinal
the unprecedented splendor of his install
lation; the novelty of the terms accom-
panying the ceremony, all mark an era
in the history of our free religion. We
read OF thrones and canopies, of bows
and genufections. There are present the
delegated authorities of foreign poten-
tatate- military, as well as ecclesiastical.
The American cardinal is endowed with
a scarlet hat, which was ordained by In
nocent ". to signify that cardinals
''should wear to show that they ought to
expose themselves to the shedding of
their blood in the cause of the church
He is dignifed with the title eminence,
bestowed by foreign power, is mem
Der of the scored college and eligible as
the successor of the present incumbent of
the Papacy.
Yet we have no apprehension from this
rather dramatic demonstration. 1t is
true that the papal States have been all
absorbed into the kingdom of Italy, and
that his holiness has been shorn of his
temporal power. 1t is said by history
| that the administration of the papal
States was replete with the abuses Of
patronage and public debt, which our
Democratic friends attribute exclusively
to the Republican administration of our
government. Still we have no apprehen-
cIoi tiIdt lOlluSSS Is Ike MI. AliCaWDGT,
when emigrating to Australia merely
failing back Tor a spring Of no common
magnitude nor do we apprehend that
his holiness will avail himself of the more
digniied example Of King John of
Portugal, who finding himself oppressed
by Napoleon who proposed to suppress
his authority, left Portugal accompanied
by all his royal family and transferred his
seat of government to Rio Janeiro,
Brazil, on the continent of America. Mr..
l.. Q. Reavis likewise proposes to hump
himself and carry the American capitol
from the banks Of the Tiber-Vulgo Goose
Creek-to the banks Of the Mississippi.
These are few examples afforded by
history for the wholesale deportation of
personal government from one country to
another. Our Democratic friends who
never read history will find that their
favorite government of ''the single
person which all Republicans detest-
can be moved all together like an Ame,-
lean portable saw mill, and when it has
used up all the substance of one neigh
borhood may attract the admiration of
another-for a little while.
We admit that to go into the college Of
cardinals with solid constituency of
5000, 600 would be substantial basis of
operation in caucus, convention or con-
clave, whether the election may be by
scrutiny, compromise, or by ringing in a
new candidate after many ballots known |
in ecclesiastical circles as inspiration, but
heretically termed here ring combina-
ton. We should think his American |
eminence would have very fair show
for either ecclesiastical patronage or |
domination if he sets his heart that way.
There have been Frenchmen, Englishmen
and Germans elected popes. The seat
If the holy see has been changed to and
rom Rome. There was for nearly a
century duplicate Ind rival popes at diff
erent places, just as we had the McErery
md Kellogg governments running here
Nothing is impossible or imDlutable in
human institutions, and the thing that
lath been may again be. Why not, then,
n American Pope and an American see =?
We are proud Of this occasion for show
ng the power of liberation. There are
ight millions of Catholics in our popula-
ion of forty millions. This is one in
We. There is in the city of Rome !
OF, 330 permanent inhabitants. Among :
lese there is 81 Protestants, or one in
very G3.33. :
But seriously, We do not fear the reor- t
anization of the CATHOLIC empire on this a
de of the Atlantic Without analyzing +
le difference between the Gallcan and c
ltramontane schools, We are satisfied c
lat the mass Of papists in America ap- S
reciate the liberation shown them and a
7spect the right of religious freedom b
nder which four-fifths of the American b
eople guarantee one-fifth in the exercise s
its ceremonies and the profession of its s.
18th. 1t is not at this moment, when
lie sister republic of Mexico has
parated Church from State, while
$ people profess the faith whose i,