The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-04
The Political Power ofthe Pope.


The Vatican is nov one Of the dipio-
lnatie centres in Europe, where the mos
important political business Is transacted
The Pope interferes. either openly or hg
secret agencies. in the internal political
movement of al civilized countries The
reeSon for this i evident The najorisies
of the inhabitants Of nearly all the kc-
Iaan Catholic countries. and very power
fnl minorisies in Protestant lands, saeh as
Germany and England, or in sehisnatic
nations ike Ra-sia, obey the orders of
their priests. who, in their turn. receive
instructions from the bishops and the
Pope i ascertain that in countries where
IS IL Belgium. the Roman Catholic faith
has ils groand. the pope possesses ineom-
parably mere authority than the king.
The electors who decide the majority in
Parliament obey his orders, and TIE
choice Of the ministers is thus iafiu-
eneed.
The most important rsceni victory of
the papacy is the one over the greatest
politician Of our day, the Iron Ciancel-
Ior. Bismarck. He shouid not have for-
gotten that tive sovereigns had already
not only signaily failed. bur lost their
crowns in similar enterprise. JoseVh
II, Emperor Of AUSTRIA. wished 10 enforc
q regulation that aspiranfs to the priest
hood in Belgium should follow the course
OF studies al the University Of I,ouvain.
The clergy resisted this measure. and the
revolution Of IIsS followed. The King
Of the Netherlands. Wiliiem /. attempt
ei to enforce a similar measure. and the
revolution Of 1880 ensued. bismarck.
finding himself incapable cf resisting the
clergy in the Catholic provinces of Prus-
sia, and pereeiving his mistake ;1rnei
completely and suddenly rouad- Another
recent triumph Of the papscy has been
achieved in England Ia or.ier to injuce
the Irish 70 eelse their opposition to the
English Government, Lord Salisbury dis
PATCHED the Duke % Norfolk = an en-
voy 70 Rome. wherelhe represents the IN
teres;s of the IRISH landlords. Even Queen
Victoria almost prostrsted herselfat tie
feet Of the rope. II We may belive the Of
ficial gazette of the Vatican. which ne
ports tina. her gracious majesty expressed
the wish that the Catholic religion D.
permitted % prosper more and more
Throughout the vast British Empire II
leo Nil would coasentto cominanL the
Irish priesthood 10 cease from supporting
home rule. there Is nothing thlt would
be refused him. lie ui- -ht have Gath
oiic university, money f.r seminaries.
and even an embassador at the Vaticou.
Only It is doubtful whether tie Pore
viii allow himself be purchased. even ut
this price. Il Is. however, perfectly GER
tain that Leo XIIl. j. IN arbitrator in
the Irish question, and that the future Of
England largely depends upon his re-
solves IF he consented 70 act as desired,
he would become an ally Of the conser-
yative party. At all events. his authori-
y is admitted and recognized. and his
influence unquestiona5le. Ia many coun-
tries. such as Tyrol, the Riienish provin-
or. Belgium and Lower Canada. the real
sovereign i not the reigning monarch.
bat the Pope, who rules through TIE mo-
fiicm Of his bishops and priests The
Pope viii be obeyed in preference 10 the
laws Of the land, unless these are It ac-
eorianoe with, and accepted by, ecclesi-
asiical authority f.g IygL