The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-15
'GlrtantelLiQeurer
THE POPR,s RNUYCLICAL.
A Very Able aud Interesting
Review Of IL.

" KNOW WuctneF knc EAphCy peIhlAB II
it, refusal TO hold any relations with th
Kingdom Of Italy. IfLeo XIII. Rhoult
exactly repeat the policy Of Plus TX, tn
war between the State and the Church
the lAity and clergy, will tend to becoml
more fierce, not only 10 Italy, but in othe
countries. France will feel the effect o
such an antagonism in the religious ran
cors which have transformed her politica
parties into sects, and hitherto made then
disdain those compromises which ar,
essential 10 political freedom. Germany
will also be disinclfned 10 temper thl
rigor Of her FAlck Lava. Even thu
country may be affected through th,
Irish Members Of Parliament. It wa
clear that there could be no change dur
ing the lifetime Of Plus X. After Rev
olution had broken the dreams Of biz
early Liberalism, he remained inaexibly
hostile 10 the teaching and the purposes
Of modern society. II was his hard fatt
10 sit on the Papal Throne at . time wher
the fabric of European authority wa
undergoing the Rreatest changes to which
il had been subjected since the French
Revolution. BE saw the old Italy crum
bling under his feet. He saw that Tenn
poral Power which had lasted for thous'
and years undermined by what he held &c
be treachery, and detroyed by what ht
thought Wanton and brutal force. A
man Of wide and philosophical culture
might have perceived that all these
changes had been predetermined by old
and oyermastering general tendencies
Such man might have tried To ascertain
how far the essential parts Of the Papa
system could be brought into harmony
with the altered world. He would have
drifted towards Cancellation. But Plus
TX. had little more than the culture Of AZ
average priest. BE could not understand
the political or philosophical temper Of
his time. To him it was sheer wicked
meas. It was the fruit Of bad passion
Much OF il was the shadow Of mere license
So, although one Of the most amiable mer
who ever sat on the Throne Of St. Peter
he expended, perhaps, more denuncia-
tons, inyectives and anathemas than any
Pontiff in the long annals Of the Papacy
His addresses and epistles go far to ex.
haust the resources Of theological impreca'
ton. But Il was thought that his sue
cessor would be less unbending. Leo
KILL, when he was Cardinal Pecci, was
known TO be man OF literary culture
and practical temper. BE would, it was
believed, be able 10 resist the Intoxicating
influence Of that adulation, that fattery,
that worship, which Popes receive in
incomparably greater degree then any
other crowned head. he would see, II
was hoped, that he must recognize the
Kingdom Of Italy sooner or later, and
that the act Of Cancellation would be bet
ter done soon than late.
A first glance at his Encyclical letter
will tend 10 disappoint such expectations.
He " distinctly,H our Roman correspon.
dent says, a indorses the policy and acta
Of his predecessor" and confirms the pro.
test against the occupation OF the
Churc6s civil principally. 1t 10 also
said that he insists on the necessity Tor
the restoration OF the temporal power,
Thus, he might seem 10 be as unbending
"A Plus IX. himself. Bot q slight exam
nation Of the document will tend to cor.
rect that idea. It was too much to ex'
pect that he would contradict the teach
Ing Of the late Pontif, even respecting
a matter which lies so clearly beyond the
province OF dogma as the temporal
mower. Nor, indeed, was there any ne.
cessity for such an indecorum, even il II
should be deemed we'll TO accept the pa'
clfc invitations Of the Quirinal. The
subtlety OF Roman doctors could
easily show that the Papacy may hold the
principles laid down In The Encyclical
letter, and yet, II II should see Ct, make
some practical agreement with the ltal-
ian Kingdom on the basis OF fact, II NOT
OF right. Father Curci himself, in his
N Mod7no Dissidio ira Ia Gissd Sutaiia,
speaks Of the Temporal Power in terms
NOT unlike those Of the Papal circular.
BE SAYS that it Is necessary for the full
freedom Of the Papacy. But he sees no
proof that, in this world Of imperfections,
The Papacy may not be destined TO IN
derpo the trials Of subsection. he believes
that in better state Of society the Pope
would be an independent sovereign
prince. But his independent sovereignty
Il gone: II IL gone with 8 hundred other
things which were rooted in the soil oil
Medieval Christendom; It Is gone with
Medieval Christendom itself; It 10 gone
with religious unity which gave incom-
parably more political authority TO the
Pontifs than their little patch Of terri.
tory and their handful Of guards, live
would know why II is gone, we must look
far beyond the occupation OF Rome, the
yacciliatiou OF Napoleon Ill, the in.
trigues Of Cayour, the raids Of Garibal.
di or the plots Of Mauini. We must
atari from that Intellectual and religious
movement which began with the Refor.
nation, and which In every part OF the
world Is separating spiritual from TEN.
moral authority. The Pope may contend
hat such movement Is bad, so far as II
Affects his power, and he may believe
that better days await the Papscy 10
some far future. II his faith is excep.
tionaIly robust, he may expect the whole
OF Europe 10 be spiritually reconquered
from Protestantism; and, Of course, any.
thing would be possible after change
compared with which all other reyolu-
lions would seem triyialities. But, mean.
time, be may try TO make the best bar
gain he can with the powers Of evil
Such has been the persistent practice Of
the Roman Catholic Church. Wher
States have seized her temporalities, alb
olished her bishopries and driven ont bel
monas,:c orders, abe has at first protes-
ted or denounced or mathematical ane
then she has watched for any sign OF rep
aration, and, finally, when she could Dc
nothing better, che has entered into a new
compact with the apoliators or their heirs
such has been her policy in Spain. Such
has pre.eminently been her practice II
France. The Revolution destroyed The
fabric Of the Church in that country; ye
the Papacy entered into relations viii
the sacreligious Republic in return FOL
the mutilated epiScopacy and the pinchet
clerical salaries offered by the First Con
anil. What was given BY the ConcordA
WIS n mere shadow Of the splendid digni-
ties, power and wealth which had beer
DESTROYED BY the Revolution. tJ3
Il may be said, NO doubt, that the TEN
poral power was aiAr more important
mart Of the ecclesiastical fabric than tn
property or the honors Of any Nations