New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-28

tho highest dignity In his churcn, iieA' !" s"0
napacy. has been received By bis fellow citi-
zens with evident satisfaction. His intercourse
with the public and his personal relations WIN
non Catholics have never been distlrocu ny
disputes or asporiics of any kind. There Is
general feeling that he deserves his honorS'
and there is a half-fOrmod idea III tho
mind, Of great many OF his f1otcSt-
ant countrynen that the red hat Is
compliment to tho greatness OF the Unitou
States of America, of which we good repuo-
licans. with orr notorious reverence Tor TANK
and title, have some reason to DO proud.
There is many a respectable citizen who VIII
hold his chin half an inch higher the next
time nc goes to Europe, and be tempted 10
put on airs of familiarity when ne visits the
Vatican, merely because he has cardinal NJ
home who can vote for the next Pope But
though we may doubt whether tho ron
tiff intended to pay tribute 10
the magnifcence of our national do
main and the glory of our free institutions
i, is undoubtedly true, Us the Cardinal eald IN
his address to the congregation yesterday, that
the appointment Of an American cardinal was
a mark of particular favor to American Catho-
lies. Certainly there are no Catholics IN any
part of the world who better deserve the
Popc's regard. The stanchcst Catholic conn
tries of Europe nowadays give the Holy Father
world of trouble. Italy is his mortal
enemy. France il at best lukewarm
friend. Spain is half rcbellous. Austria
is no longer faithful. In Germany there
is persecution. Ia England there are obsti-
nate undercurrcnts of opposition. Ireland is
jealous but hard TO manage. In the Unitod
States, however, the devotion OF tho Catholic
population to the Roman See Is beyond all
doubt The dissensions Of the European church
have not crossed tho Atlantic. Hero the faith
full are ultramontane to the fullest extent Oh
the word, accepting infalllility anu oil It's
cOi0llarcs with a cheerful faith, never doubt
ing never grImbling, never challenging any
prerogative that has been claimed Tor tho
papll see. 1t is the most natural thing in the
world that Plus IX. should grant six or eight
million obedient subjects like those repre-
sent1tion in the government of the church and
q voice in the choice of her chief pastor
And 1t will probably be perceived in time
that the ArcIlbishop's promotion is not only a
deserved reward, but q good stroke Of policy.
II will make considerable change in the con-
dtion of the American Catholic Church. With
a central digntary as its standaid-bearcr and
guiding impulse. the organization OF that
church il complete; its connection with Rome
becomes closer; it takes a boldcr attitude
among the religious bodies; aud as natural
consequence tho zeal of its members is likely
TO be increased. Let us hope that their wiz
dom and charity will grow apace with their
strength and dignity. Their new leader is q
uI1ldrnt Ipau and that il much tn be thank
full for. We are not of those timid souls who
dread danger to our political institutions from
this consolidation of the Catholic population /;
We have faith enough in republican Institutions
to believe that they are proof against q red
cassock; but we look with uneasiness upon any
provOcation for the revival OF those theological
btterncsses which are often the most unIea-
sonabe in their origin and the most miserable
in their effects Of all the Qumrels of good
| Christian brethren