The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-05-25
Our New York Letter.
The Prev siling COlOr-The New Cardinal
and the Catholic Priesth ood-Jud2
POrieI,s Argument.

NEW YORK, May "a, 1875.
Scarlet has been the fashion in the metropo-
lis since the Papal ablegate invested Archbsh-
op McCloskey with the insignia of the Car
dinalate. The homage which has been paid to
the new prince ecclesiastic has been profuse
and continuous. 1t has taken varied FORMS
such as receptions, banquets, and visits of dep
utations, and has been participated in by cler-
gymen of several and laymen of all denomina-
tions. Elegant fetes in his honor have been
given by opulent citizens at their private resi-
dences, and by Catholic societies in public as
sembly rooms. His color is the mode just now
among those who affect high style, and have
no especial antipathy to the Romish hierarchy
Something of this is doubtless attributable to
the lurking fondness for tutelary distinction,
which even the invigorating atmosphere of
free republic has not effectually eliminated
from the American nature. 1t is s. weakness
of course. Those who show it most tIanspar
emily, have the grace to be little shamefaced
about 1t. And yet one of the most likely
things you will find man doing who has
grown suddenly rich, and is anxious to have
the world forget that he is parvenu, will be
the tour to Europe, with his bejewelled spouse
aud snowy daughters. Ten chances to one, if
he finds a count or baron out at elbows, and
marketable, he will snap him up for son-in-
law, without higgling about the price. There
have been great many such purchases made
within generation, very poor piece of clay
commanding an exorbitant prce-payable in
advance-or ample security given-provided
the object had been decorated by some petty
sovereign. When we remember that a number
of the diminutive principalities of continental
Europe are scarcely more populous, and infinite
ly less prosperous than Rhode Island or Della
ware, we begin to realize the immeasurable dis
tance between the actual value and the cur
rent rate of these evidences of rank But as
long as there is so large demand, the tariff
will rule high and that will continue until the
robust manhood of republican civilization takes
root in the great cities. and fourishes as sau-
briously as it does in the rural towns.
But counts and barons have become tolera-
bly, plenty in America by this time, and they
are usually of the sort that deprecate terribly
by transpantation and marriage. Not so with
cardinals. There Is only one, and it is not like
ly there will be another during this century
Then again a cardna outrauks not merely tho
countless counts and barren barons, but earls,
marquises, dukes aud all other orders up to
princes of the blood Indeed he is nominally
above them because ecclesiastical dignity is
greater than that conferred by TIE state. So
that in fact. we have living amongst us the
most august parsonage who has ever dwelt
within the limits of the United States do
not recollect of but one greater who has ever
Al A. e Al,
Sandwich Islands, whose visit here last winter
created snch sensation in social circles. There
will be more Let it once be understood with
what obeisant admiration these sturdy disciples
of freedom regard crowned heads irrespective
of race, color, or country, and they will come
to receive our adulatory genufectioas. The
Emperor of Brazil has already sgnified his in
tention to visit us in the course of the year
Perhaps before the centennial season is over
we may have score of them perambulating
the country.
However, our present good fortune is not
speculative nor ephemeral We have a poten-
tate in our midst who must be addressed
s'Your Eminence"- must always wear red
cap and whose respendent equpage as it rolls
through the streets denotes the loftiness of his
station. Ard the elite of society contemplate
the occasion with lively satisfaction. 1t gives
new charm to life in their eyes.
1t is not to be supposed that the sentiment is
universal. In some quarters the church of
Rome is an object of disquietude if not of posi-
tive alarm. 1t certainly has given evidences of
remarkable vitality and developed the greatest
strength at time when it seemed the weakest.
In its wonderful compactness and unity there
are elements of power, which are not to be ig-
nored. No organization of equal potency has
ever existed in the worlds history. Its capa-
bility for doing good, might as matter of
course, be perverted into an agency for accom-
| plishing evil. But while it does seek benef-
cent ends, it seems hardly worth while to be
distressed about its solidity or its expansion.
And nothing has been more clearly demon
strated in its past history than that it thrives
| under opposition so that it would be impoitic
even if it were justifiable to form combinations
to impede its progress.
A great deal of stress is laid on the nature of
| the oath which the Cardinal took. He does, it
| is true, acknowledge fealty to the Pope to be
| his highest earthly obligation. But then that
must be taken rather as an imaginative than
| an actual declaration, recognition of the supe-
riority of spiritual over temporal things. This
| view of the case is supported by the uniform
| terms of all the utterances to which the eleva-
| tion of Archbishop McCloskey has given rise.
| Not only himself but his people, clergy and
| laity alike have been pronounced in their ex-
pressions of attachment to the institutions and
loyalty to the government of the United States.
Not few censorous comments have been in
dulged in respecting the glittering pageantry
of the ceremonials with which the bsstowal of
the cardinalate has been accompanied. Com
parsons are invited between the humble state
| Of the poor fisherman of Gallee. and the
pomp and magnifcence of the Vatican. But if
we measure the worlds progress for eighteen
centuries, contrasts quite as striking will pre-