The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-25
SOHE NEW BOOkS y.
The Roman Catholic Church mud Rcpuhhc"n
Institutions.

the Papal Church in a duHpm'siot'it NJ ana l"ui-
oial temper. why il it that no Protestant lhoo-
Logan aud no layman enlisted 10y sympathy OF
conviction. M is Mr. Gladstone, in the defence
of Protestant vested interests, can discuss Ro-
man Catholicism In the srirnifh' spirrf How
docs il happ,n that only Buckle. irrky, ll"r-
bort Spencer. and u few others identified with
rationalism or the positive philosophy sern to
b. capable OF Weighing and scanning Protest
antsm and liomanism alike, ns phases
of social evolution, Joint coofllcicnts Of human
progress without teasing us with stale recrim-
nations without abiding to Calico, or to Ser
vctus. without dwelling on the Spanish lnlulsl-
ton. or tho Blue Laws Of ConncdlcuT Ihc
temprrat, aud equitable ju lgm"nts Of these
mon are due not merely to intellectual training
but 10 a vehement. instructive rcvuls'on
from that irrational species OF intolerance which
"a remarked i'm Protestant countries Dcduccd
from Catholic promises dOgmatisn ~ Logical,
and therefore respectable; but from the stand
point of Luther. who ut the diet OF Worms DO
manded the right Of debating his thesis with the
Popes representatives, Intolerance Is pure
sentiment. ndcfcnsiblc tby argument. and for
that very reason, subtle. protcan, AMI ms
chcvous
The work before us pdprcv md tho Girl
To,ee,. by r. W. TuoMrsoS lIarpersl-is writ
ten. not from philosophical, but from Prot
estant point Of view. II is no uncommon oN-
pericncc to find assurances OF candor put iorth
I'm a preface which are scarcely suhstantiated IN
the body Of book, and W. are bound TO say that
a similar disappointment awaits the reader IN
this instance. In discussing tho aims and
methods uf Papal policy, and the writings OF
Catholic diyincs. the author not seldom permits
himself to use very caustic expressions, AMI
discovers a certain rancOr which ~ calculated
90 rcpcl fair minded inquirer. We may add
n sttff f.r hat fro
ment OF his theme does not seem to M SUM-
GENTLY exhaustive. In this volume. which is
extremely bulky. we should have liked
20 see n particular account OF the existing
conflict between Catholicism and Imperialism in
Germany, ~ well as Of the Natican's attitude to-
ward the Government Of Italy. and its acton
upon the electoral machinery of that country
since the occupation of Rome. An Investigation
OF the causes which have produced n remark
ablc revival Of Catholicism in England during
the last hall century, and Of tho political conse-
aucnccs deduccd or apprchendcd from 1t was
also german to the object VI study. We think a
review Of such analogous and contemporary
facts should have claimed part OF the space al;
lottci 10 medieval precedents and historical
pretensions and that it would have thrown more
light upon the actual relations Of the Papa'y to-
ward our own civil institutions at the present
time.
Mr. Thompson begins by calling our atten-
ton to what he Considers an alarming phenom-
enon-thc rapid growth OF lomaniSm in the
United States. He points out that in 1883. mt
the close Of the two centuries and half that
elapsed from the settlement OF Virginia The
number ~ Catholics in this country had run M
" two millions and a half only but at the end
of the nine succeeding years that number had
doubled. In other words. eighteen years
ago they formed but twelfth part OF the
population: they now constitute about a
sixth. On tho face OF it. this impress
siyc fact attcsts nothing but the vitality
of Catholicism. and whether or no it is
fraught with menace TO our civil institutions j..
OF course. the question at issue. Mr.. Thomp-
eon thinks the danger real and formidable be-
cause. first. the teachings AMI influence OF tho
Roman Church have, as he alleges, per
flscnuy promoted monar .hicaA form p
government; and. secondly. because tn'
dogma of infallbility proclaimed hy th'
last Vatican council. invests the Pope with IN
authority over tho conscience and conlu
In the domain OF politics. no less than OF iat.
md morals which is irreson ,iable with a re-
publican system. Granting these postula,o-. t
which. however. we cannot yield unqualified IL
pent, there would still remain the further in
curry. whether il IL seriously contemplated L
give practical application anywhere to the DOW
ers attributed to the supreme Pontiif. an,
whether there are any signs Of interference Oh
the part of the Papacy with the prin iple %
structure Of political organization ia the Unite
States.
1t is easy to marshal good many fats d
support Of the assertion that from the time ,
Constantine. or. ut all events OF P"pin up {
the present century the Roman Church Ia
eylnced a willingness to sanction and fortii
monarchcal institutions. But IT il al-o tru
that Professionalism in Bran icnhorg. Svedai
England. and in France during the siNtecnt
century showed itself equally ready a. contra
IN intimate alliance with the same prineipl'
In other words the medieval theory Of NJ c'
cary union between Church and STAT, whif
even yet Is not wholly oyerthrown by the mo,
ern spirit, was long accepted without pun si!c
by Catholics and Pedestrians alike and since
Europe monarchy happened ~ be the dominal
form Of government both the Roman churc
md those reformed churches which were c
tabished" became contingcntly Identified wit
that political system The essential purpos
fusion of Church and State, was no le'
distinctly recognized and carried out !
most OF the New Englanl colonies. although
chanccd that circumstances permitted them
construct frame Of civil order upon dem'
cratic principles We should hesitate, ther.
fore, to infer too much from the nladiayal ass
citation of the Papal Church with kingcrA
Therc are counter ln's. too. some OF old ia
and some modern, which ought not 10 be- owe
looked We must remember that Roman Catho
cisun has maintained itself mistaken for son
eight hundred years in certain cantons of swift
crnnd which constitute the most perfect TYP
OF pure democracy. Again. moro than half
century has caps ID since the Spani-h-Amcrci
republics secured their independence; yet
we except the recent short-ycd experiment
McXico whore the Roman Church mas sun r.
repeated spolidtlon there is no oyid' noe ih
IN Catholic hierarchy has advocate or iurihe
ed a royrr0on tp the m1nnr ahead form. Al
whatever may have boon ulo pr. -uro of g..
cumst3,ure- which cou-fraiu a Lord baiiimo
a. make tolomtiun th" k.y-t'n'u t his coioi,
we are not convinced hy the srsy lrasm"nti
tostimonyudlu -ed hy Mr.. 4 tonp-pn that rnh
in subsidiary legislation or In ln" oN. 'uiion
the laws. the Roman Catholic population
Maryland yiolu 1t the spirit of their charter.
in any way proved d'-loyal 10 IN" prinei plo.
republican government. A. regards, therefor
the argument drawn from history 80 o-iaiii
the incOmputihilty Of the Pupul Church Wl