National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-08

bilious chufehmen, with these we have nothing
to do, Tut collisions involving the consctences OF
part of individuals whether they will obey the re-
quirements Of the one or the enaetments Oh tne
OtheT-Catbolics Cannot hesitate In their seieo-
tiop. The State has encrOached upon the rights
of the Ckureh and Catholics must be disloysl 70
the Str.te in order to be loyal to GOD. Ana say
that DO State is entitled to obedience or loyalty
or respect when ii trenches upon the domain O'
In England, in Germany, and in most Of the
Northern States Of Europe, Cathollcs must Ee
more OF less dislOyal They may not Wish 70 SUI w.
vert the exiting order OF things by force, Dut
they cannot conscientiOusly yield assent, and en-
tire and willing obedience to governments WHEN nHl
maintain, rs part Of their political system, iorm
of religion to which they cannot subscribe. Eof-
tunstely We have not that anomaly IN THIS eonn-
Try, and We all agree in deneu2cing 6r tPs aoa
trOverRy in Europe.
If we suppose, what from our Catholic point Of
view We cannot suppose, that the Church, or the
Pope as her iafaIli6le head, is going to do wrong
and TO encrosch upon the Legitimate DOMAIN Of
the temporal power, and to decree the ooHnian
of states and the overthrow Of empires, and to
establish Q MohAmmsdan caliphate on the ruins
Of the present political system, and to summon
all Catholics to Join In crusade against SCIENCE,
ard liberty, and human progress, what, in this
event would be tho duty and the course OF action
Of individual Catholics? What would we do If
the Pope or the Church required as to believe
that two and two made five, or that It was lawful
to commit murder, or that there was no God
The superstition is absurd, but If you insist upon
tion, we reply that, we would positively dsObey
such eXtraVagant demands upon our faith and
our conscience, and we would not believe that the
person claiming to make them, spoke with the
authority of the Church.
There are some things so plainly within the
scope of religious legislation and there other
things so plainly within the domain of the civil
power, that we can readily recognize that, as to
them, there cannot or at least there ought not 10
be any conflict between the Church and the state.
What We are to believe is no concern OF the state.
Theological dogmas and speculative philosophy
are beyond its sphere. And yet II is LOT THESE
that prosecutions have Occurred-that civil wars
have ragged, and that nation has met nation IN
deadly conflict. Mr.. Gladstone, have no doubt,
does not contemplate a revival OF the dark, penal
DAYS Of England, and would not, If he could,
emulate the tyrannIcal conduct of some Of his
contemporaries in the Continental nations OF
Mi Gladstone lays less stress on the declara-
ton of Papal infallblity in the fourth chapter OF
the decree Of the Vatican Council, entitled the
constitution de Ecclesla" than he does on the
third chapter Of the same decree, wherein is de-
fined the obedience which is due 10 the Church
action OF human life may involve a question Of
morals. Fer every action of human life we are
responsible 10 the Creator. The voice OF religion
is HIS voice. Hence religion must ultimately
guide, govern ard control every human action.
Indeed, obedience to the civil law and the Just
authority Of the State could not be secured with
out religion, for there would be no adequate
reason for obedience without that moral account
ability which is the fundamental principle Of all
religion. No rightmnded man can deny thlt
the civil Law should be in accordance with the
moral law and subordinate to 1t; and neither eau
lie hesitate which 10 obey when there is incon-
shows that the civil authority has exceeded its
powers and usurped what does not belong to 1t.
The moral law is simply the teaching OF re-
llgfUn, and the organ of religion is the Church.
1t must necessarily follow tnat the Church is
supreme in morals and not the State, and that
that the State should yield on all occasions OF
conflict This is the uYincible deduction Of logic
from which there is 10 escape. II governments
would cODfine themselves to their true sphere OF
simply keeping the peace, and leave Individual
man free to act the Gre ltUr intended him. there
would never be any occasion for collision. The
trouble never arises from any ca post tdcto at
tempt OF religion against the State, but invari-
ably from some attempt OF the State TO occupy
ground cODsecrated to religion. II trouble comes
from this source 10 the 'paternal' mOnarchies OF
Europe IL will not be because Plus TX or any sue
ceedIng PoDtin will. or can. change the cOnstitu-
ton Of the moral system Of the Catholic Church;
usurpations upon the laws Of God aud the rights
Of man.
MI Gladstone thinks also that when in the
same CONSTITUTION de Ecclesia'' Of the Vatican
Council it is decreed that Catholics are bound to
obedience also in all things that concern the dis
cipline and government oil the Church the climax
Of danger to the civil power is reached. And he
adds-l quote his words, as some OF them are
kindly meant, Tor our special benefit: Thus are
facts, whole systems of government, prevailing,
though in different degrees. in every country in
the world. Even in the United States, where
the severance between Church and State is sup
posed 10 be complete a long catalogue might be
drawn Of subjects belonging to the domain and
competency of the State. but also undenisbly
affecting the government Of the Church; such,
for example, as marriage, burial, education,
prison discipline, blasphemy, poor relief,
Incorporation, mortmain, religious endow-
ments, VOWS Of ceIibacy and obedience. In
Europe the circle is far wider, the points Of
contact and Of interlaciDg almost iHRumerable.
But on all matters respecting which the Pope
may think proper to declare that they concern
either faith or morals, the government or dIsci-
pline oil the Church, he claims, with the approval
Of q council undoubtedly Gcumenical in the
Roman sense, the absolute obedience at tho
peril of salvation OF every member Of his COM
munion." So far, Mr.. Gladstone.
Now who is to make rules and regulations for
the government and discipline of the Catholic
Church? Shall It be her most gracious majesty
the Queen OF Great Britain and ireland, and her
excellent and learned Privy Council? We have
been comb batting that idea for three hundred-yes,
for two thousand years. Shall 1t be from any one
Of the various Governments now existing or that
may at any time exist on either continent? 1t
seems TO me that not from any Of these would We
be as willing 10 receive our priests and bishops
and our religious rules and regulations as from
the Vicar Of Jesus Christ. Yet this is evidently
what Mr.. Gladstone would have US do; this is
what is done in the Church Of England. But we
must decline to be considered dislOyal because
we refuse to have our religious Observanses
manipulated for us by any set Of politicians.
Let us examine the examples which Mr.. Glad
stone gives in the passage have quoted Of sub
Jects which even In the United States may come
under the concurrent power Of both Church and
State. He mentions marriage, burial, education,
prison discipline, blasphemy poor relief incorpo-
ration, mOrImain, religious endOwments, vows Of
ceIbacy 6nd obedience The list is somewhat
absurd, for how the Pope is going to ruin the
State or set Catholics in rebellion against lawful
authority by any action of his upon some of these
subjects is not very clear to our minds. Upon
some OF these, such as marriage and education,
controversies may arise and have arisen. The
CT DtTOversies arising upon one Of them, that of
marriage, we noticed at length in our last lee
ture; and while II was manifest that thers was
inconsistency between the legislation OF the
Church and that OF the State, il is not by any
means clear how that Inconsistency is to enable
the Pope 10 overthrow the Federal Government
or TO destroy our loyalty to republican institu-
tiOns
That the Church is to be the supreme Judge Of
the extent Of her CWn jurisdiction, and not the
State, and that the Church is 10 be the ultimate
arbtcT to decide whether the State has or has not
exceeded in any particular instance the Just Ii n
its OF civil authority, seems TO be so plain de-
ductiOn from frst principles that no one but the
lions, an European State Church could question
it. Either religion is false, or It must be su-
Preme. There is no medium. And the Church
is farce and fraud unless IL is the true organ
of religion. How then could the Church admit
the unlimited supremacy Of the State? 1t is i'm
possible: it would be suicidal. The mental OBJ
liQuity hich could maintain such a claim for the
State can only be the result Of long experience in
the profession Of that child Of Plagiarism, state
religion.
The Catholic Church has not extInguished, and
cannot extinguish, the right Of private judgment
as, outside Of her communion, is commonly sup
posed. As individuals we are responsible to God
act at our individual peril, choose the good and
reject the evil, not according to the lights Of
unalded reason, but according TO the monitiOns of
our cOnscieDee-Our own individual conscience Ill
timately. The Church lays down general prin-
eiples for us and, authorized by Christ, promises
Us perfect safety If We follow her ourselves But
on ourselves at last is the responsibility of apply
ing these counsels to our case. On ourselves Is
the burden Of action. The Church can only ad-
wise; we must perform; and between ourselves and
God the decision rests forever whether we have
acted wisely or unwisely in accordance with his
law or in cOntraventiOn Of His commands.
AS long as the civil power keeps within the
sphere Of action pointed out TO it by common
sense and the just experience Of ages, Mr.. Glai-
stone may rest assured that neither Pope nor
Church will iDtrude.upOD 1t or interfere in the
slightest degree with its operations. When 1t
traDscends that sphere, then, as American Repub-
licans, regardless even Of what Pope or Church
may 90. we maintain the sacred right Of rsbsl-
lion.
Away with this spectre OF Papal ambition. It
may DO for the fanatics Of Exeter Hall or the
May anniversaries Of the American Protestant
Association. 1t may serve the purposes OF tyrInts
and demagogues, but il will not do for honest and
sensible men. Mr. GladstOne's spear has fallen
harmless from the impenetrable armor Of truth.
Roratio Kings Reception.
Mr. Kings cosy parIors we're again filled ST.
urday evening with a select and appreciatiVe CON-
pany who appeared to enjoy themselves most thor
ouphlv MIR T F Dwight nrIyate secratary IN