The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-08
oar Embassy from Rome.

Oar Embassy from Rome.
There was something exceedingly pleasant
and gracious in the courtesies extended to
the embassy which arrived from Rome on
Tuesday bearing the appointment Of Cardinal
AIcCloskey These ceremonials are so many
expressions Of civilization, and, although we
may question the taste Of some things done
the exact propriety Of the speeches OF men
in high state Of hospitality and religious
enthusiasm, the spirit which animated the
transaction was noble. We have looked with
interest and favor upon the growing tendency
of the Roman Church toward America and
liberal institutions. Now, although America
is Protestant country and strongly governed
by the traditions of the Protestant Church,
the influence of the Roman Church upon the
world is SO prodigious that we cannot but
regard with favor every manifestation OF
growing disposition toward liberal institutions
upon the part Of it's rulers. In this sense the
ceremonies attending the presentation to the
Cardinal of the insignia of his new rank,
which arc elsewhere described, will be read
with deep attention by the people without
regard to their faith.
1t is this view, and the belief that the APP
pointment Of the Cardinal will be received in
this truly catholic spirit, that makes US ques-
ton the wisdom of speech made by Major
Kelley in welcoming Mgr. Roncetti. What
was the use of denouncing Italy as ruled by
''impious' men, and Germany as "the infdel
German Empire ?" Italy, whatever its pres
emit form Of government, is country almost
universally Catholic, and it is not the best
taste for citizens of Protestant nation like
America to insult Catholic nation like
Italy with the phrase ''impious. And it
should not be forgotten that the German En-
pire, ''infdel" as ii is, has under its do
minlon Catholic nations like Bavaria, whose
devotion to the principles of the Church is as
steadtast as that of Major Kelley. If Protes-
tant Germany can be called ''infdel' what
shall We call Protestant America, which the
Pope now honors? How is Germany any
more 'sinfdel'' than the United States? This
wild method of talking, this utilizing of o
simple religious ceremony to give expression
10 political antipathies, is o misfortune which
threatens all public speakers while in state
Of religious enthusiasm. The danger of DEM
onstrations of this kind is that they will make
the Cardinalate misunderstood. So far as
\ America is concerned, the appointment of
distinguished citizen to the highest honor in
the gift of the Pope is courtesy SO unusual
that every citizen will look upon it with
respect, no matter what his religion may be.
| The ceremonies attending the elevation of
1 Cardinal McCloskey to his new dignity promise
4 to be OF the most interesting character-inter-
esting not alone to his own Church, but
4 to all Americans. We have seen no disposition
\ to regard the appointment with any other feel
\ ings than those of kindness and appreciation.
4 Therefore, what good end is to be gained by
/ enthusiasts, by people who might be called
professional Catholics-just as we have in
this city professional Irishmen and profess
\ sional Germans, men who live upon their
religion and Notwithstanding in the face
/ of the Protestant sentiment Of the country
offensive speeches, and giving tone to the
whole ceremony that must offend all but ex-
IRENE believers in the Cath lie faith?
1t is singular also that while the Holy
Father should be leaning toward republican
ism and democratic forms of government in
the temporal policy of his Church, here in
New York his faithful followers should break
into unseemly and uncontrolled admiration of
the roy al power once welded by Plus TX.
| He has given Cardinal to New York, and
/ now proposes to give the same dignity to
Baltimore The Catholics of New York should
learn what the Holy Father teaches them, that
| henceforth Catholicism means republicanism.
/ They should see that His Holiness looks above
the insincere support given to him by selfish
/ kings and princes to the aid Of the people.
| They should study the policy of Rome and
/ learn that the effect of the pending controversy
in Germany, Italy and Spain is to gradually
4 drive the Church into the arms of the democ-
racy. II they would pause for moment and
1 think they would see that there could be no
/ event in our modern civilization more fraught
with important consequences to the peace Of
\ the world than such union. Once let the
Church Of Rome, its chief speaking as the
\ infallible successor of st. Peter, say that the
papacy henceforward believes i'll tho people,
/ and not in princes, and there is not crown
i in Europe worth more than its value as crude
metal on q pawnbrokers counter There
4 fore. if our Catholic friends in New York
we're wise they would accept this embassy
| not as the representative of dethroned mon
/ archy, bat as the ambassadors of a new and
| growing power in the Roman Church-the
| power OF democracy allied to the Holy See.
| How 10 secure Honesty In oHiee.
NJ Cbarloa Q'Coror states very euccincflv