Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-17
TIL RoEEAN COLLEGE.

Commenting on the promotion OF
Archbishop 1IcCloskcy, Of New York,
to the Cardinalate, our Western ex-
changes surmise various reasons for
his being preferred over his senior,
Archbishop Purcell, Of Cincinnati.
Some agaribe II to the fact that the
later was not born IN this country,
while others explain it by referring to
his position in the Vatican Council
against the Experiments Of proclaim
ing the dogma Of infalibility. a more
Ikalyreaso1 than either is that Arch
bishop Purcell, both before and during
the war. took too much stock in aboi-
ton politics 10 please the Roman curia.
If Archbishop Hughes, Of New York,
was ever seriously mentioned at Rome
IN connection with a red hat, be prob
ably lost his opportunity IN a sim
liar way. Whatever service he
rendered the American Government
IN his European trip during the wat-
whether or not he proved the efficient
cause To prevent French, and as a con-
sequence English, recognition Of the
Southern Confederacy-Seward's sug-
css5ioa To the Pope that any ecclesias.
deal promotion Of the Archbishop
would be grateful to this government
on account Of his political services
was rank Insult, as well as a subtle
attempt to introduce into this country
the C0rcordgt system, with its govern
mental non pIaca1. Archbishop Spald-
mo would doubtless have been made a
cardinal. had he lived a few years
longer possibly he would have died
one. but for his own reluctance and re-
fusai TO accept the honor.
Cardin Is are the higest dgnitaries
IN the Catholic Church after the Pope,
whose electors and councillors they are.
In early times the title was restricted
10 ecclesiastics, Immediately within the
jurisdiction Of the Bishopric Of Rome.
About the beginning Of the twelfth
century the Popes, having formed a
regular court, began to bestow the
rank Of Cardinal on any individual Of
the clergy, or even Of the laity. whom
they chose to select, and to each,
whether Roman or foreign, they gave
the title Of some particular church IN
Rome. but without attaching to the
holder any obligatory service. The
number IF Cardinals has for centuries
been limited TO seventy; but at pres
ent there are only forty nine Of whom
tvgntv-sevcn are residents Of Rome.
and form part Of the PapaI household.
Tbirtv.three Of the 20 Cardinals are
Italians: the remaining 10 are Of the
following na-ionalities: Austria, B.
France, 6; Germany, ,; Guatemala, l.
ireland. ]; Portugal, l. Spain, ,. Three
Of the foreign Cardinals are members
of the Roman household, namely, Car
finals BonaParte, Pira, and Hohen-
lone. Cardinals wear a red hat and a
purple mantle. They are addressed as
sFminence,' and at Catholic regal
courts are regarded as princes Of the
Church, aud on State occasions receive
precedence accordingly. When a Car
dinal Is an Archbishop he retains both
titles. and Is addressed as His Emil
nence the Cardinal Archbishop. The
most important function Of Cardinal
Is the election CT a Pope, whom it has
been customary for centuries to select
from the Sacred College, as the coLec-
tive Body Of Cardinals is called. AT
the death Of a Pope the Cardinals IN
Rome convene, and continue in session
until his successor is selected.