The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-20
LITERATURE.
sEcnErAh- THOMPSON AGAINST PApAI EN-

Thompson, published, during the Presidential cam.
pagn, book on "rhe Papacy and the Civil Powern
Hi idea TO show that the Roman Catholic citizens
of the United States bound the Papal power
that they likely to disavow the authority OF gov.
where their religious conscience does not an
prove Mr. Thompson has, since tho publication OF
his book, been made Secretary OF the Navy but II ia
only fair to say that he was also prominent poll.
tican, and that there political considerations
which might have gven him the position in the Cab-
net So much Importance has, however. been at.
tached the hook by the prominence OF its authors
place in tho government that +. X. Wennger, ID. D.
OF the Society Of Jesus, has issued rcply or which
have the advance sheets The main purpose OF the
reply Is that Catholic citizens have avowed
enemy IN the administration.
Secretary Thompson fears that the Jesuits OF Prus-
STA and Italy Will flock America to teach their doc.
trnes, which would his view. substitute other IN
s,tutions for Tho Catholic priest, he says is
practical dsunonist, trying TO overthrow the Repub-
lie. Tho Will OF the people being th power OF the Re.
public, when tho Catholics become majority that viii
must be the will OF Rome. He quotes Brownson to
show that Catholics consider the Church or Rome as
tho Supreme Judge Of both religious and temporal
laws, and that Brownson wished "this country to
come under the Church OF Rome" The Secretary
then goes to say that who Professionalism leaves
the citizen free, the Church of Rome represented
shall obey the law where his Church tells him not
to do so.
To this Dr. weungcr replies that the Church always
appeals tho people and has always been in favor Of
liberty. He says that the Republic San Marino, In
Italy, undcr the protection OF the popes and is the
oldest existing Republic in the world.
Secretary Thompson says that the settlers Of the
United states being Proteslants, gave civiza.
tion tho color Of political freedom unbiased by rei.
gon. DR.. Weninger says that the dscoverers Of
America were Catholics, and, next to the Indians,
the native Americans and he might without unfair.
ness have added that the Purans ruled their colony
from avowed religious standpoint But the Sccre.
tary IS Industrious and he goes to say that the
trainers Of national and State constitutions In
tended preserve Protestant liberty. The Doctor
Plies that no Catholic clergyman laynan ever wrote
word against constitution but that the Pope, in
giving this country cardinal, has placed this young
Republic by the side OF the ancient monarcnies
empires Of Europe-a weak point oil the Doctors which
will probably give the Secretary opportunity
for strong Protestant argument DR.. Weninger
says that all tho Church asks fur field for
gons rights here; but the argument Of the Secretary
OF the Navy that the rights which that Church de
mands more extensive than our government. Tho
Doctor, who evidently speaks with large authority.
proclams however, without circumocution, that the
only her spiritual rights in her spiritual sphere.
ssMorc than this she ask" He says that the
Catholic appeals to the Declaration OF Independence.
He demands that the Catholic Church be LETT TO
souls and urges that II 1t DO left every attempt
change our form Of government will receive her
anathema The reader will observe that even In our
journalistic condensation of the two contestants the
Doctor being religious, is little patronizng while
tho Secretary, being an American politician, IS en-
phatic Neither Is very commonplace
Doctor Wenngcr says that the Republic of the
United States government by divine right, and is
SO recognized by Catholics They are, he says,
loyal TO the United States they would be II they
were tho subjects Of the temporal rule OF the Pope.
s.If any man. says he, s'whether Catholic Procs
tant should try TO make himself King the Catholics
would resist the usurpation.r But the argument
which the Secretary to make is not that II Ia
that the Pope would rule from Rome. He claims that
the Republic would have its form OF government con-
form to Catholic religious principles The Doctor adj
mits-as a member Of his society he could hardly
avoid admttirgthat his desire is TO have everybody
become a Catholic In reply to the charge OF the dis
loyalty OF the Catholic clcrgy the Doctor avows that
during the late he taught his thousands Of hcarer
their duty sustain the Union, with their blood
Says he when became u citizen took oath "a
be citizen of the United, and not Of the disunited
his eoquence and pcty, tho Doctor is little bitter
The jolly who rides tho Ship of State the Caoi.
hard 1ghl paper, and he uses hts weapons
like a lawyer the stump He throws a hand grenade
at the Catholics by saying that while the Catholics are
willing concede that the Republic Is divine govern
ment, they will, II they have chance, defno the
divine authority its preation well Tor
very existence, 10 IRON the Pope at Rome; aud
that We might have republic by the grace OF Pho
Mono The Protestant Bible would be obnoxious, no
says. He quotes largely to show that the Church
claims the right TO prescribe political duty. While
Doctor Weningcr claims that the constitution OF the
United States based upon Magma Charta, tho work
OF Catholics Secretary Thompson claims that il
based upon the principles of the Reformation, which
the Catholics oppose The Secretary and the Doctor
disagree upon the religious tendency OF the Church in
America. The Doctors opinion Is given above
The Secretary holds that the Catholic can
do nothing religously without meaning uti-
mately to make hts political act. and vico
versa The Secretary evidently takes tho
figures OF speech Of clerical writer's literal pur
poses and ambitions But rhetorical Gsures such as
.tne armies OF ruthn and "a decisive combat" may
not always political teachings Professionals say,
1--WE battle in the army and ihe OF tho truth"
He il, however, simply correct when he produces facts
to that there has bcen historical effort OF the
PontiT to nave the rulers OF the earth acknowledge
that they received their "dIvne right IRON him aa
Vicar Christ There Is no need 10 notice that point
OF the discussion. The point upon which the ndustri.
Gus Secretary very positive Is whether the Catholic
clergy cndeavorng TO make the Pope's dictum the
rule Tor conscientious political action in TINS country
on tho part OF Catholics me tendency he
finds IN what he considers dangers in abund.
ance. Ho quotes Rhodes as saying that
God gave the Church temporal sovereignty;
but that claim is not new one, and the only question
H. DO any Catholics clam that the Pope has ought
TO nave temporal sovereignty here2 He shows that
Catholic writers have said tnat Americans should be
guided by the Catholic "pfncipe," but uoes not settle
The question whether they mean that Of temporal
ercignty. lie insists that when the Pope denied the
right OF the State compel the Cnurcn TO obey It's
laws lie meant all laws, even though they Affected
more than religion and that no referred much
10 the United States TO any other nation. ''The
Pope proscribcd the reading Of the Scriptures
lated INTO the vulgar tongue" lie quotes 10 show
that Pho Mono approved the edct prescribing death
u penalty against those who assisted Freenasons Re.