The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-11-21
r. RomANIsm FAILINer

=
openly opposed to the republic is clear.
The French priests have ceased praying
in their churches for the safety and
prosperity Of the republic, as stated in
our kilograms of yesterday. As to
this point, it is not clear that the
French government misses the value
or influence Of prayers, CON they
from priest or parson or the laity.
But the omission is taken as an indica-
ton Of the hostility of Rome to the re-
public, and that may mean secret
plottings against the present form OF
government.
Under an emperor or king, France Is
a Catholic power. Under a president
1t is not. Catholic institutions we're
revered, protected and assisted, under
the empire. They are discouraged,
assailed and legislated against under
the republic. The pope was sustained
and secured in his worldly authority
and possessions by the emperor, The
pope is ignored, II not despised, by the
republic. Papal influence was power
full throughout all Europe by reason OF
the backing of the empire. 1t now
stands on its own basis with its inner
ent strength alone to command obedi-
ence, and the republic lends no aid.
Germany's quarrel with the vatican
wouldnever escape the interference OF
the empire. The republic gazes on as
listlessly as the kingdom OF Madagas-
car. To Rome the transition is very
great. France is changed from her
staunchest supporter to an open enemy.
No wonder, then, that the vatican has
set its face against the republic. No
wonder that the priesthood has ceased
to pray for 1t. What wonder If the
hierarchy plots for the restoration OF
the empire? 1t is only natural that
such should be the case. Self interest
prompts it. There is no statesmanship
in religion-not In any sect. All ID
for self. The priesthood are welded to
the church. They are right in using
all honorable methods in subscribing the
church. To do aught else were treason.
They are loyal to their vows and con-
sistent in their actions, for they ac-
count church higher than state and
their pledges as priests above their
fealty as citizens. With them time has
run mad. The France of history Is ito
their thinking being Knocked; in the
France of to-day they see an unholy
masquerade; a living ~caricature; a
b~urlesque. To-day, the great Riclilieu
would not be heard to exclaim:
France! my welded wife.
Who can divorce US?
No; things have changed. Time no
longer flies with leaden wings. Person
itied Time strides not upon his thin,
puny legs, but sweeps along on the
pilot of the swift engine Of progress.
Empires, kingdoms, ~aristocracies and
other relics of bar barism are melting
before the peoples advent. The gov
eminent of the dead past is giving way
to the government Of the living present.
Fitness is made the test. IL existing
institutions cannot stand Of their
own strength, they are to be allow
ed to fall. individuality is
asserting itself and proficiency will
win. Brains are elevated above blood.
The man Of untiring genius that
makes his mark is to stand
higher than a mere freak of nature
the accident of birth.
In all these mutations empires are
passing away never more to return.
France belongs to progress. 1t cannot
be fettered by the clammy, bony arms
of the past. Rome spans the fifth and
nineteenth centuries. But she does not
hold fixed in her grasp,tha was once of
steel, any single nation. The Roman
empire has perished; Germany has
evolved into Professionalism; the daz-
cling empire of the east has been torn
asunder and partially occupied by the
despised Mohammedan; England BE-
came centuries agoa Protestant power:
the smaller kingdoms Of Europe have
been from time to time frightened from
allegiance by their stronger %neighbors;
Spain, priest ridden and weak, yields
but a homage; Austria, polite and
crafty, finds herself busy settling inter-
nal affairs; of France we have spoken;
while Italy-Italy, that holds the famed
city Of all the world. that was once its
very heart, has spurned Rome, and
knows no pope, o papal authority.
Nowhere on earth eau Rome boast the
open support Of a single nation; while
only a few centuries ago her resplend-
ent diadem glittered and blazed with
all the gems of the civilized nations of
the world. But they are gone; some
some are gone forever. Rome must
stand alone. If she is fit she will live.
If not she will fall and crumble into
dust, and her re :orl be graved on the
most wondrous pages of history. But
her life is like that of a human being,
in that it undergoes change. Two hun
dred years ago it could not live save
upon the sustenance of vassal nations.
To-day it lives within itself. 1t lives
In peace; no mole sting hand disturbs
its being. And if in time it be assailed
it may fluid itself changing to overcome
even such a grave contingency. Mu-
tatIon is written upon the face of every
thing-on the church as well as on the
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