The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-12


Our readers will find in another part Of
to-day's paper very curious and important
letter sent TO US from Rome. 1t is the first
OF series which the writer promises to
forward to us, and is from the pen Of prel-
ato who tulfls high functions in the Ponti-
fical administration, and who having passed
his life in the study of tho religious sciences
is fully competent to discuss the grave
questions which he proposes to treat. We
have no hesitation in presenting these let
tiers to our readers, whatever may be their
convictions on religious matters, because
they will be sure to find in them an exact
statement of Catholic doctrine.
After some interesting PREDATORY remarks
in relation to the first acts of the new Pope,
Leo Kill, the writer reminds US of the
traditional teachings of the Church on three
essential points which the cncyclica!s and
the Syllabus OF Plus TX. have lett IN
touched-Q) the autonomy of political
government and the distinction of tho
two powers, civil and religious; (2) the
origin of the national power and sovcr-
eighty (0 the difference in the form Of
governments. The distinction of the two
powers, civil and religious, is one of natural
right, because the question OF the general
liberties is involved in it. As regards the
constitution OF the civil and mill
tary power the sovereignty of the
community is the only basis that
can be assigned for it. This is the an
cient doctrine Of Catholic theologians and
iurisconsults--a doctrine widespread and
almost general, and safe in political point
OF view, because people Of all nationali.ies
can take il as a rule of conduct Neither
Plus TX. nor any of his predecessors ever
uttered n word of blame, even indirectly,
against the doctrine relative TO the national
sovereignty, for it is not possible
to alter the traditional, teachings Of
the Catholic universities, ancient or
modern. Not only may the three forms Of
government, oligarchical, monarchical and
democratic be legal, if they arc based on
the general assent of the nation, but the
majority OF Catholic jurisconsults hold that
the democratic form of government is the
only one which results from natural right
while the other forms, oligarchical or mo-
narchical, arc Of the nature OF human insti-
tutions and subject to tho conditions Of all
terrestrial laws.
Toward the conclusion Of his letter our
correspondent makes brief, but pregnant
allusion to that most ticklish of subjects
liberty of conscience. He opens up in con-
ncction with it horizon entirely new,
but not the less scientific, for he maintains
that tolerance is by no means question OF
dogma or OF doctrine, but simply one of
discipline. The laws of intolerance were
established by the byzantine and Teuton
empeyors The Church, it is true, adopted
them in her discipline, but only in the same
relation as ordinary laws, which are
variable, and may be, abrogatcd, and which
besides, are exposed to the chances of de-
suetude, difficulty of observance and pre-
scription.
The succeeding letters will treat of the
new dogmas which Plus TX. sought to es-
tablish, his cncyclicals, his speeches, tho
famous Syllabus and SO forth. To what
point is Leo Kill. engaged or bound by the
acts Of his predecessors This will be
shown by the ensemble OF the letters, the
publication Of which wo commence to-day
1t will also enable our readers to form
their own conclusions as to the pretended