National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-09
The Successor 70 Plus TX.


Church Of Rome seems inevitable. Of
course it is to grow out Of the choice Of n
successor to Pho NCNo. The late Pope was
q most remarkable man, and he had u most
wonderful career. He was enabled to avoid
many serious difficulties through his popu-
lar personal manners and his exceedingly
liberal political ideas. Added to these, his
well-dciined practical piety and benevo-
lence, his wonderful knowledge Of human
nature, and his great tact in managing
men, coupled with prompt and conscien-
tious discharge of every duty, gave him a
as was never enjoyed by any of his prede-
cessors. But the monarChs Of the Old
World at first feared the influence of his
liberal political notions upon the stability
of their dynasties and aiterward they
fc1red the veneration in which he was held
by all the dcvout children of the Church
for his practical goodncss his unv"rying
kindness. and his simple and hlameless life.
Nothing but his long-continued, persistent,
and unwcaricd steadfastncss in devotion to
the best interests of the Church, as it was
given tOhm to see them, would ever have ena-
bled him to carry the dogmas of the immac-
ulate conception and infallibility through
the councils. No one of his predecessors in
modern times could have risked the effort.
Although he succeeded, and retained the
affections and respect OF, and all his appa-
rent strength with, the faithful, yet it is
known that this support was due more to
the strong love for his person that pcrvaded
the minds of his children than TO their faith
in the dogmas thus promulgated. They ac-
cepted them on their faith in him. Had
they been proposed by one less popular, or
for whom but slight respect was entertained
personally, or outside of his pom tifical char
actcr, they would have doubtless been re-
jectcd by decided vote.
In view Of these facts then, it becomes u
very grave matter TO select the successor Of
PITS IN. without weakening or dividing
the church. If one should be chosen less
liberal in his views of church polity, less
| holy in his daily life, less gOd-lke in his be-
ncvolcnce and clemency, less jealous Of what
h conscientiously believes to be the privi-
legcs, rights, prerogatives and dOgmas OF
the Holy Church, he will have great diff
Guilty in maintaining the position 50 long
held by PIUs IX. The question for the Con-
clavc to determine will be, Can the man
he found who will unite the various schools
in the church ?" If not, schism is incvi-
table, and the prophecy that the first Pope
who should reign more years than did ST
PETER will he the last Pope to reign OvcI
the universal Church of Rome will be full.
filled As we have said in these columns
before, ii seems to us that the signs of the
times favor q division of the church and
The election of two Popcs-onc liberal and
the other Il conservative The chances are
tina, the contest will be short in the Con.
Clave. The selection there will probably
be an Italian of the extreme conscrvativ,
type. But, if so, the dissatisfaction of tht
liberal portion of the church will he 50 pro
nounced as to soon become uncomfortable
This will be met by anathemas that will il
turn breed the schism which will eventual,
in the choice by the secedcrs of a liberia
Pope, and then the two sections of tn
church will cXpend their vitality in fight
ing each other. Is this picture unreasona
Bile? Is it not prObabler