, 1877-07-09
POPE AND PRESS.
rus tx-ALLocurioF 70 CATHOLIC HHwsrA-
HRnQ

~-~e >~. "S~eASt ~ ~N+A ANDte N1"SA -
FKns.
From fAa London Rsrfeh, Jane u,
There Is something. VIC will not say grotcsque,
but startling at lrst sight, in tho fact Of tho
1'ope delivering an sllocutiun stto tho Catholic
prcss" on tho use and abuse Of journalism. To
tbs ropcs,-no& Of tho Middle ages only, when
sance pcri'd, when It was still an untr1cd anil
unwelco,ne novelty,-but Of Tho last century
evcn, such q phenomenon would havo seemed
hardly less atrnugo than . Papal atlocutlon on
prcss is supposed 10 10 tue orxau aud symbol
" public opinion, and authority and optniona are
usually cotitrnstel as rival powers. What, 1t
l'ohttG who has otiitialiy and cx cathcdra re-
fused "to reaDncllc himself with prugrcs, liber.
slisn,, anil u,.nlcrn civilization "-to 10 with
ths pscssa Why toucl, tho ainclean thing Of
hut tho l'opa itns judged otherwise. lie
n content to rccciyc fnolcst obolo from tho
journalists, and 70 lmpaEt to them his Apostolsc
1sfst9n ~ ag 2,5 ;S1e c dsient t. tHio1m
Ing their aid" And this fact Is not tho less
significant because there can DO no doubt that
hts Holiness has Judged wisely, OF rather that
he has ysldea, whether .hs Willingly "; Or not m 70
IEogEcss and modern civilization arc at al events
facts, and II thoy are dang0rs to bo combatcd,
still tisey must bo fought with tncIr own weap.
ons, as tho Libyan caglo Is said 10 hayc supplied
! press is two-cdgcd sword which may 10 used
by tho cham },lons or assailauts OF my causcwho
have sufficient skill 70 vtald II. It may TO cIte
error and to refuto tho insane cnlumnics prupa-
gal<h by those who (by tho saMe t,oans)
Wngul cruel war asafnst religion, against
tue scat of " Potter, and asstnst
! tycly tlat is not allowed free play. It may bo
safe policy TO spoil the Egyptians 90 long ns
tho spoil con.ists Of gold and silver. bnt when
question, even holots arc apt 70 provo quito m
much Of m embarrassment "a help TO their
masters. This Janissar!cs formed Tor rcntur.cs
tho flower and strength Ut thu Ottonnn ar1ly,
could not fail TO bc looked 90 ns suaplcious. AMI
ut last tho human tribute which had long been
cruelty cxuctod was still moro cr,etly destroyed.
May not the jopr,nlsts bo re1Eai1s1 ,e1 a. Tie
J recording Ills gratitude for tho scrvIrcs they
llave rendered to tho Church aud 70 truth.
| evidently feels that their services can
not be accepted without q ccrtala
risk: HhQ felt tho necessity Of frcOQl-
insn,lne snmo thlngs % shor consideration
All human things favored OF their origin, and
| journalism, like other things, required careful
eoutso ( 80 obypus @ - ~ to so stto Gotter tsn
trutsn, but when Ills Holiness went on TO spec
ify "t!io great defect he hn4i observed Ia lour-
nslEsn,, he came at onco to the root Of tho mat
ter. That defect was want Of concord" for
t,nlon Ia Just - cssruuh In Journalism as dis
ceipl!no md obedience ln ths army; which s',csts
llo further ptucocded 10 illustrate By the eor-
! duct Of Spanish n,atadors who :. .oycrcotao thcr
1orm.dsblo antasonlat .!ls hull} by advancing
point. lIut then, II journalists arc to work
!'lslcr big Rigid rule Of military drill, It may
! he questioned whether they would not lose
in vGor more than they gained In unity Of aim.
Nothing can be silier than an Alteration Of
! originality, but without geuulno originality
! there Gun 10 no persuasivo forca. sermons
preached or arttclcs written TO osslcr, however
! brtlisMt arc vt best fash In tho pan ttny
cannos carry tho conviction they arc not charged
with. II Catholicism Inns prohtod "a we'll ~
] suffered by tho prtatng- -press-atont whIcll We
shaN have : word 70 say prcssnt'y-!t b boeauso
| It h&s found advocates who allowed no arrtsrs
fen4as or wurl Of command from hoadquarten
to sApersetlo Or dlsaoEt their suprsne devotion
to tho interests OF truth. Boesuet Fenelon,
Pascal. Da Maisre, Aohler, Newman, haya
written what they thought, aud HhIlq thciF
cause, tho secret a o,.ce ot thsts reality AMI
tAe'I lO"cF Hcd nv III too's au1olss ous saef Oh
Msa,,,sht,o Il 4. o,,x ,ro y, .ho p,.. ., 49,,
that he offsre. sc,r!,,d nict1. of a.Iyfs tn az
Eatltllls ib,irnst1arx whirf t,on,1 man ~ everx