The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-12

mastering hatred of Catholicism, heave
painful sigh In view Of an approxima-
tion of the Papal See to this country.
We do not participate in this feeling.
We have wondered why the United
States were not long since honored with
a Cardinal. America has been rich
field for Catholic cultivation. Having
proclaimed our country the asylum Of
the oppressed and the welcome home Of
all people, we invited Catholicism to the
enjoyment amongst us of equal privi-
leges. We are people who love to be
flattered, and it has been4o us a matter
of surprise that the Pope did not long
ago address this cheap argument to the
soft side of our nature. Besides this,
justice to American Catholics has clear
ly demanded this consideration.
There are about 15O, 1000, 900 Of Catholics
in the world and 81 Cardinals, giving
about 100000 to each member Of the
College. The Catholics Of the United
States have long numbered more than
$500, 900, and even when there were no
more than million we should have had
Cardinal in consideration of our dis
tance from the main body ofthe Catholic
world.
But now we have Cardinal, and we
shall probably be heard in the election
of the next Ecclesiastical Sovereign.
Cardinal McCloskey is IA years of age.
He may close his earthly stewardship be-
fore Plus TX, and leave the United States
at that important juncture without a
member of the College.
The Pope, Plus TX, was born May 10,
1892, and will be 83 years of age in about
month. He is full Of years. 1t is rare
that man is found capable OF bearing
so great load ofresponsibility at so ad-
vanced period of life. He must have
lived soberly and righteously to have so
long preserved his strength.
The ages of the 61 Cardinals range
from At to SO. Lucien Bonaparte Is one
of the three who are At, and De Angels,
Archbishop of Fermo, is SO years of age.
The average age OF them all is about 75
years-a venerable body. They are
classified as follows:
| Cardinal bishops. Observation-Disclosures. .
Iaruinal prleStS ....................''... ~
| Cardinal deacOns. Observation-Disclosures.
Reserved In petto .............".. ......... b
Total.,. 81
| We have the utmost confidence in all
the great sects o / Christendom. What
ever abuses have afflicted either branch
of the Church in the past belong to the
dead past, and only speak to us as
part of the history of the progress of hui
manity. The scenes of the past can
never be re-enacted unless the tide OF
civilization should be turned back to It's
precise condition in the past. Catholi-
cism marches with the ages, and will re-
spond to the demands of the ages as they
come, within the limits of order and
social stability. Her mission is like that
of Professionalism, only a little more
marked, to-wit: holding the people to old
forms until they are fully prepared fol
new forms.
Without the reins of ecclesiasticisn
the mad rush of the people into new ideas
before being fitted for them would over
! whelm society. We have sometimes
thought that such powerful organiza
tions did not move last enough; but after
more maturely considering the intelec
tual and moral condition of the mass o
mankind, we have concluded that they
, have wisely held taut rein, and hav'
benefited the world by combating al
new ideas until their truth was fully vim
4 dicated, and the people educated up Il
t their level. 1t is absurd and disastrou
+ 10 attempt to govern people under doc
trines that are foreign to their nature.