The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-11
Foreign Powen and ~ Propasaada

ADRAHAN LNCOIAf
Foreign Powen and shs Propaganda.
II Was recently asserted BY Mr.. MANcrNI.
tho Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, that
no protest had been nAdo by foreign Gov.
ernments against the contemplated spolia-
ton Of the Propaganda. But how long will
this silence last7 IL II likely that Catholic
countries, or those Protestant States which
recognize the duty OF protecting their
Catholic citizens, will see without remon-
STRANGE the Papscy deprived Of the pecunlary
resources without which its promised indie
pendence would be sham7 VIII they not
insist that the society, now threatened with
partial conilscation. is the handspring Of the
Papal system, and. 40 such, 10 entitled to In
voko the Papal Ruaranteesp
We may take for granted that Spain and
Portugal would seaiousiy take part IN any
vital organ Of the Catholic Church. But a.
their interrogation would have little effect
unless supported by ono Of the great powers,
they will doubtless leave the Initiative to
others. Neither is any vigorous action on
behalf OF the imporilled Propaganda to be
looked for from France. II is true that Mr..
FERRY has Of late evinced . disposition to
check the aggressive spirit displayed
by the French republic toward Ca
tholicism, but . Government which It.
self suppressed the Jesuits by Min
isteriAl decree. and whose supporters
advocate tho abolition Of tho Concordat, Ii In
no position to dispute the competence Of an
Italian court TO conRscate Church property.
And even II Mr.. FERRY could take any de-
cided step on behalf OF the Propaganda with
out losing his control of the Chamber Of
Deputies-which 10 hardly conceivable
such demonstration would excite only OBJ
duracy and resentment, owing to the strained
and acrimonious relations which already
exist between France and Italy. The Papacy
must find some more weighty mediator In
its quarrel with King HUMBRRr than the
country which defies the principle Of nation
alities by retaining Nice and Savoy, and
stiles the hope OF italian ACKNOWLEDGMENT by
Its seizure OF Tunis.
It IL to England and the United States,
even more than to the two great powers Of GEN.
trail Europe, Germany and Austria, that the
Catholic Church must look for help In It's ex-
listing difficulties As regards the building
occupied by the American College in Rome,
which was exposed to sale under the judg-
ment rendered by the Court Of Cessation, our
State Department has appealed successfully
to the Italian Government. But the real
estate now recognized as the property OF tho
American College represents only an insig-
niiicant fraction Of the sums subscribed by
our Catholic fellow citizens In aid Of the edu-
cational functions discharged by the Propa-
ganda, and the reason assigned by Mr.. MAN
c1N1 for relieving particular building from
the operation Of the Suppression act may be
Justly put forward to shield III, the assets OF
an essentially educational association. There
IL ground for believing that the interest OF
English and Irish Catholics In maintaining
unmpaired the resources Of the Propaganda,
derived as these partly are from their own
contributions, have not been overlooked by
the present British Ministry which knows
that without the good will Of the
Catholic Church Ireland would be un-
governable. There is no likelihood that
any British Cabinet would now exhibit
the discreditable Indifference shown some
years ago, when the Irish College was
sold, and lands on the Esquiline purchased
by Father DOUGLAS were sumnarily confis-
Gated. The promptness and firmness, how
ever, with which tho Governmsnts Of the
United Kingdom and the United States may
be led to protest against the spoliation OF
property accruing from international SUBJ
scriptions and devoted to educational and
missionary purposes, will depend, manifest
ly. on the earnestness with which American
and English and Irish Catholics defend the
cause OF the assailed society.
We incline to think that q concerted appeal
hHyth o az 49, ho TYnlf oAG n<no
and Great Britain to considerations OF equity
and expedlency would Of Itself prevail on the
italian Ministry to stay the execution Of the
spoliative decree. There Is, OF course, no
doubt that at word from BISMARCK the
Governments Of Germany and Austria could
bring to bear pressure on the DRPRKrIs-
MANon1 Cabinet that would prove irresisti-
BILE. But whether he will speak the word
will depend probably upon the course Of the
Clerical party when the anti-Sociallst bill
comes up for final action in tho Reichstag
Catholics, therefore, who do not feel that
the fate Of the Propaganda ought to hinge on
the vicissitudes Of German politics, will do
well not to walt for the uncertain help Of
BISMARCK. We repeat, that by organized
and strenuous expressions Of public opinion
they can elicit In this country and In Great
Britain such proofs Of Official sympathy and
support as may obtain from King HUM
BERT's Government suspension. II not an
annulment, Of the decree by which the re-
sources and the usefulness Of the Propaganda
would be grievously curtailed.
The National Guard Uniform.
The snowy and unsuitable garments In
which militia arc ordinarily won't to array
themselves have long been the subject of
ridicule. In our own country this evil was
greatly increased many years ago, when vol
unteer organizations began to take the place
Of the militia contemplated by the Constitu-
| ton; for then the very fact that these organ