The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-30

When a brief summary of the encyclical
issued by LEO Kill was tclcgraphed, few
days ago, we called attention to the bold
and percmptory attitude assumed by the
new Pontiif toward the great questions Of
the time. The full text Of this remarkable
document which appeared in yesterdays
sun, will be found 10 complete and fortlfy
the conclusions which we dcduced and
whose important bearing on the current
politics Of Europe is now universally recog
nized.
Viewed In its entirety, this letter Is seen
TO form a complete exposition Of the social
and economical philosophy which is TO re-
ceivc the sanction and the vehement support
OF the Church under the guidance and inn
pulse of its present head. There Is nothing
vague or equivocal in this uttcrance OF the
Pontin. With the rigor Of his nature, he
hews down to the core principles which lie
at the root of civil order, and iurmulatcs his
promises with sharpness and decision.
There Is no longer any room TO
expect or apprchcnd that visionary
alliance between the Vatican and the
prolctariat which some acute Catho-
lie writer's, like ST GEORGE MIvARr, have
categorical declaration there is not the
shadow Of a chance that the Church Of
Rome will range itself, upon any provoca-
tion or under any disguise, on the side Of
those who advocate a community Of goods
The Pope lays his hand on the fundamental
distinction between the two theories on
which human society can be fashioned
namely, indlvdualism and socialsm-and in
the most positive, fervent language pro-
nounccs for the doctrine Of inli-
vidual property. lie Hlirns this prin-
cple to be the keystone Of order and
morality, and no deduces its authority not
only from the revealed word and the stead
fast sanction of the Church, but also from
the law OF nature. Hcnccfurward, there
fore, the position Of the Roman Catholic
Church in great contention of our time is
concusiycly defined. Notwithstanding the
arguments which some have sought to base
on the occasional practice Of the primitive
Christians, and the analogies drawn from
the customs Of monastic bodies, every Ro-
man Catholic is henceforth bound 10 reject
the principle OF communal property.
The political significance OF such an
aflrmance at this iuncturc is emphasized
by the accent OF horror and detcstation in
which the Pontif adverts to the recent
attempts at rcgicide. At no epoch OF
medieval history when the sovereigns OF
| Europe instead Of concerning or approving
| spoliatIon, were the devoted sons OF the
! Church, could such assaults have received
more vehement reprobation. In view Of the
! attitude here taken, It is not surprising that
the effort of some Radical newspapers to
| charge the crime Of PAssANANTE upon
Italian clcricals should have promptly sue
cumbed TO public derision. Nor is it strange
| that the conservative elements of Italian
society, whose alarm at the tempOrizng
measures pursued toward the revolutions
lists has Just caused the downfall OF the
CARROLL Ministry, should look forward
with cagerness to the not improbable adj
vent Of the clerical party at the polls.
In this encyclical the Pope does not dwell
as some of his predecessors might have
done, ON points Of faith and dogma. lie
does not put forth oyerweening pretensons
and insist on preliminary acquicsccnce in
all the claims of the Papacy as the price OF
his support On the contrary, by studious
avoidance Of such eXactOns he intimates
distinctly that all governments threatened
by internal disturbance may profit, il they
will, by the resolute intervention of his
spiritual authority. He does, indeed, point
out how directly in such cases it would con
Germ the civil arm to expand the scope and
strengthen the foundations of the Vatican
influence. But that IS rather an infercnc,
than point affecting the main purport Of
this letter. The capital significance Of the
document, which has naturally aroused the
eager interest Of Europe, Is that in it Lee
Kill, without regard to his unfriendly rela-
tiDns, or his abortiYe negotiations with GER
tain European States, stands forth as the
unwaverlng upholdcr Of the existing scheme
Of society, and the implacable opponent o.
the communal system.
We do not overlook a concluding para
graph Of the encyclicaI manifestly intended
TO except from the Pontif7s disapproval the
aims and methods adopted by the Chris
tan Socialists of Germany. And here We
may point out that the associations Of Ger
llan workmcn under the above mentioned
name have suffered no Interference during
the rigorous application Of the anti-Social
list laws These societies, founded by Arch
bishop KErrELER Of Mayence, contemplat,