The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-11

FOfefUn FOWon ono 10 0P0euHVos
II WAS recently assorted BY Mr.. MANcrNI
the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, that
no protest had been made by foreign Gov.
ernments against the contemplated Spolia-
ton OF the Propaganda. But how long will
this silence last IL It likely that Catholic
countriea or those Protestant States which
recognize the duty OF protecting their
Catholic citizens, will ESQ without remon-
STRANGE the Papacy deprived Of the pecuniary
resources without which its promised indie
pendence would be shsm7 viii they not
insist that the society, now threatened with
partial conilscation. IL the handspring Of the
Papal system, and, a. such, 10 entitled to In
voko the Papai guarantees?
We may take for granted that Spain and
Portugal would zealously take part In any
international effort to SAW nom injury .
vital organ Of the Catholic Church. But az
their interpretation 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 imperilled Propaganda to be
looked for from France. It 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 tho Jesuits by Min
isterial decree. and whose supporters
advocate the abolition Of tho Concordat, is In
no position to dispute tho competence Of an
Italian court to conRscate Church property.
And oven II M. FERRY could take any de-
cided step on behalf OF tho 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 aud Italy. The Papacy
must find some moro weighty mediator In
It's quarrel with King HUMBERT than the
country which defies the principle Of nation
alities by retaining Nice and Savoy, and
stiles the hope Of Italian aggrandizement by
its seizure OF Tunis.
It Is 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 its 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 the
American College represents only an insig-
nificant 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
cINI for relieving particular building from
the operation Of the Suppression act may be
Justly put forward to shield all the assets Of
an essentially educational association. There
IL ground for believing that the interest Of
English and Irish Catholics In maintaining
unimpaired 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 Esqulline purchased
by Father DOUGLAS were summarily cOnfis-
Gated. The promptness and firmness. how
ever, with which the Governmsnts Of the
United Kingdom and the United States may
be led to protest against the spoliation OF
property accruin9 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 concerted appeal
by the representatives OF the United States
and Great Britain TO considerations OF equity
and expediency 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 DKPRKrIs-
MANorN1 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-Socialist bill
comes up for final action In the Reichstag.
Catholics, therefore, who do not feel that
the fate Of tho Propaganda ought to hinge on
the vicissitudes Of German politics, will do
we'll not to walt for the uncertain help Of
BISMARCK. We repeat, that by organised
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 gricvously curtailed.
The National Guard Uniform.
The snowy and unsuitable garments In
which militia are ordinarily wont 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
izations paid their own expenses seemed to
give them q certain claim to array them
selves In any startling or gorgeous costumes
they might fancy. In addition, the very de-
sire Of the rival bodies to Guido each other In
splendor Of apparel, or. at any rate. to obtain
for each peculiar and distinctive uniform.
A. t. a. L.