The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-29
The Now Encyclical.


We print, as a document of great re-
ligious and still greater political interest,
the long encyclical letter recently promul-
gated by His Holiness Leo XIII. 1t is di-
rected against the theories Of society yari-
ously designated as socialism, communism
and nihilism. 1t is very emphatic in it's
condemnation, as we'll rs very argumenta-
tive in its exposure, OF the errors OF these
social revolutionists. We cannot be ex-
pected to express any opinion ms to the
soundness of the fundamental tenets on
which the Pope bases his reasoning, it
being quite too late for secular
journal to take any part in the great "world's
debate" which has been in progress since
the carly part Of the sixteenth century. 1t
is matter of course that Leo XIII. adheres
to the Catholic view both of all questions
relating to the Church and of NIL questions
relating to the civil constitution OF society.
The interest of this remarkable encyclical
letter consists in the light it throws on the
skill of the new Pope rs an ecclesiastical
statesman. and it is only in this aspect that
We think it expedient to consider it. Ever
since the Papacy has been stripped of its ter
ritorial possessions the head of the Catholic
Church is necessarily statesman as we'll as
Pontiff, and the conduct Of every new
wearer of the tiara is closely watched by
the governments Of Europe with view to
ascertain his policy and to judge of his
temper and ability. There is no position
Of authority in which strongly marked
peculiarities Of individual character have
been more apparent than on the Papal
throne. Leo XIII. is in some respects
work seems to lie before him. So far as he
has yet afforded the world mat erial for judy
ing, it seems to be the general verdict that
he is o Pontiff of enlightened views and
liberal impulses, who is aiming to restore
that influence Of the Papacy with secular
governments which was interrupted in the
later years Of his venerated predecessor.
Without surrendering any of the claims
or pretensions Of the Church the new Pope
judges it wise to pave the way for the res
toration of cordial relations with the gov
ernments of Italy and Germany. He is not
insensible of the obstacles which lie in the
way of such policy. Plus 1X. had to fight
the great and losing battle for the temporal
power, and the necessities of that contest
required him to take positions from which
he could not afterward recede, and which,
to certain extent, bind his successor
Moreover, the Sacred College consists of
cardinals, great part of whom were
created by Pope Plus with a view to insure
the permanence of his policy. On the new
Pope is devolved the difficult task of renew
ing relations with certain temporal Powers
without seeming to deviate from the views
SO stubbornly maintained by the late Pope,
and without exposing himself to be
thwarted by the Sacred College. As piece
of ecclesiastical craftsmanship the new
encyclical must be judged with reference to
the condition of things on the accession of
its author. His aim being what it is, and
the impediments being what they are we
think the encyclical displays the hand of a
master.
In order to judge of it we must keep our
eyes fixed on Italy and Germany, the two
countries to which the late Pontiff stood in
an attitude of irreconciable opposition.
The true source of civil authority, rs ex-
pounded by Leo MIL, is such as cannot be
accepted in the United States or France
but these are not the countries with which
the Papacy has been in conflict. His theory
Of the divine origin Of civil authority will
not be objected to by the Emperor William
or by King Humbert, and it is with these
two monarchs that he seeks to come to q
better understanding. He skilfully avails
himself of the recent attempts on the lives
ofthese sovereigns to point out the difference
between the teachings of the Church and the
theories of the socialists in their bearing
on the safety of rulers and the tranquility
of society. He makes it apparent that the
Catholic Church is valuable ally Of civil
governments against the perils of wild and
desperate communism, and this not from
any new born zeal against these desperate
and dangerous fanatics, but because the
Church has always held submission to the
existing civil authority to be an important
Christian duty. In reading such manifes-
toes as this enoyclical we must look be-
meath the mere wording if we would catch
tho real drift. They are to be interpreted
in the light Of contemporary history and
tho known policy of the authority by which
they arc issued.
Will Hanlan Win i'm England!
1t is doubtful if any man ever went to