New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-27
THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW. u

THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.
The most striking feature in this number
although not the most interesting. is paper on " Inc
Catholic Church and Modern Society,"" by Cardinal
Manning. In commencing the discussion the writer an
nounces it his object ascertain the relations OF the
Church in the nineteenth century to the political society
of the world in the nineteenth century defining society
as the state of man. or Of human life, In the haiura
order apart from faith No portion OF MANKIND sueh as
a people, race, tribe has ever been a mere n'F
megical multtudc, without head without social re'a
lions or without authority. Every generation OF ueh
Iepoduces these elements in the domestic me- ana 10
civil or political life Is without these conditions IL
would be anarchy and anarchy cannot last but destroys
itself by reaction which again produces order ana au
thority Authority therefore, is an lmperiShabe eie-
ment in the condition and history of man. 1t Is not
human creation but is in itself divine Hence there is
no truth in the theory that authority is created by de-
legation from the people This negaton OF the rutn
and inversion of the moral and intellectual order OF man
kind. The people society of man may designate inc
person, the family, the group OF persons VINO sha
bear authority they cannot create IT, nor revoke
at WILL The root of authority Is either fighI vi
might 1t either devoves peacefully from sire to son.
or proceeds from conflict in the hand of the strongest
Might becomes right when confirmed by stability and
permanence. Pure right perhaps exists In unbrokeh
devoutiOn only IN the sovereignty OF the vicar vi
Christ Might either the root or the renewal OF every
other authority In the world But the authority which
begins In might becomes rlgt III many ways, US III cV"
quest followed by prescription, by voluntary cessloh
by immemorial possession, and the like. The order
which arises from ght is better than anarchy snch
is the rude outline of natural society. But the Catholic
Church the society of III the supernatural ordeI
1t is perfect society, Cardinal Manning asserts IN all
the sense and extension Of the term IL has authority
subection inequality, equality obligations, with all
the duties and affections arising from them III SOCIOLOGY
were capable of a scientific sense. it wonld be the
philosophy Of society. Modern society is the oid
society OF the Christian world modified 10y the character
forced upon 1t by the last three hundred years IL Is
not the natural society of the world before Christianity
nor is it the society Of Christendom when the TWO
societies were amty but it is the political society oil
the natural ORDER fallen from the unity faith COM
mnnlop and obedience to the divine voice OF the
Church, revolutionary in political creed ana practice
and usurper of the rights and sovereignty oil the vicar
~ Christ Hence Cardinal Manning iniers, that the
Catholic Church only partially hold rouca rea-
tons with such States in Europe as have departed from
the Catholic unity like England. Denmark, Sweden
Prussia But 1t can mold relations with the domestic
social and civil relations of those countries In all that
is of the natural order OF mankind. But so far as the
civil powers OF state are under the dominion OF an
erroneous religion or OF a royal supremacy, or Of
an imperial despotism, or OF an anti-Christlan
revolution, the Church can hold relations
with them. TIE conclusion OF the whole matter,
according 20 Cardinal Manning, who refers to his
own words on previous occasion. IL that the civil and
political society of Europe is steadily returning to the
mere natural order. The perpetuity OF marriage Is as
sailed by making II relation OF civil contract and To-
CALLING divorce With this will surely perish the moral
,ty of the Household and of society settlement In the
foundations may slow In sinking but 1t brings every
thing TO the ground at last Secular education Is taking
the place OF slasca education, which dechristan
izes the political life OF nation, and BODIES III Tor the
Church and still for the State The depression Of
the moral order Of right and truth is the elevation OF the
material order OF and force. An unseen power
is everywhere . work. wi ch is the trre natural and
nplacab enri1 OF the one visible. uni versal Church
The CATHODE Church in Europe has been weakened and
wounded IL may be unto death. But there Is an abyss
opening before civil society into which thrones and laws
and rights and Liberties may sink together Cvilzatlon
has TO choose between the revolution and the Church OF
God Cardinal Manning expresses his convictions with
earuesness and force, but with attractyeness OF
manner to give them pausiDty His severe analytic
method almost converts his style into series OF
aphorisms which oppose their brstlng points TO the
prOgress Of the discussion. The Third Term" and
The EmanciDaon Proclamation are vigorous politi
cal articles which will call forth assent or protest ac
corng to the previous convictions or tendencies oil the
reader.