Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-23
THE PoPRs AND REPUBLICS.


Pope Leo'g orders to the French
clergy as to their conduct towards the
republic, which seems to have come to
stay in France, is puzzling those who do
not fully comprehend the elements of
principle as we'll as OF interest that rule
in the premises.
To one class OF superficial thinkers
the action Of the pope may appear in
sincere. Evidently even some of the
French bishops took that view. To
others it may appear that the supreme
pontiff is simply instructipg the church
to follow the scriptural injunction to be
passively obedient to the "powers that
be-"
/ The pope has set the French bishops
right by reminding them of his instruc-
tions, and by insisting that they shall
be accepted in their spirit as well as in
their letter. He gives them to under
stand that he means exactly what he
says, and that he is deeply in earnest.
This has caused some disturbance
among the French Royalists and Impe-
rialists, who both thought the Holy See
would be with them in any emergency
that might arise. This attitude of the
vatican will create some CONSERVATION
among crowned heads in all parts of
Europe. They had come to regard the
pope asNin measure one of themselves,
as throned monarch whose sympa-
thies would necessarily be with crowned
heads. In these same connections come
rumors of a partly conceived plan to
make Italy a republic, and the pope is
reported to be in their counsels.
Why should he not? What bond of
union is there at this time between the
successor OF st. Peter and the crowned
heads of Europe? The king OF Italy
and the occupant OF the vatican can
never be on terms OF friendship. The
pontiff ruled so long for the Quirinal
that it will be difficult to find pope
who will not regard the king as usnrper,
or pope the king will not regard with
jealous fear. The erratic young ruler of
Germany cannot be very close ally ofthe
pontiff, ami the emperor of Austria is
too old personally to count fol-. much.
Where is the crowned head in all the
world with whom the pope is in close
sympathy?
The religious flock over which the
pope watches are not by any means all
subjects of kings or emperors. South
America is all Catholic, but it is all re-
publican. Republican North America
is very largely Catholic. Republican
France is Catholic. Why should not
Catholic Italy become republic?
There Is nothing imperial in the con-
stitution OF the church. There are no
ties of family any more than OF religion
between the pontif and royal blood.
The occupant of the chair of Peter is not
usually even aristrocratic. Time was
when members of great families sought
the place OF highest honor and power
in the church. The Sforzas and
Medicis coveted the honor. But in the
long ages since the poor fisherman OF
Galilee was made a bishop in the
church. even these chief bishops who
presided over all the church for the see
Of Rome have. been oftener poor men
than not. The greatest of them in all
ages have been poor priests who won
preferment by zeal, learning and devo-
ton. They have been men Of the peo-
pie.
Pope Leo is a man of the broadest
popular sympathies, and he is thor
oughly informed OF the state OF the
church in all lands. He finds it doing
it's work in peace, and prospering spirit
ually and temporarily as well in England
under a Protestant monarchy as in
Austria under Catholic one. He finds
the church nowhere able to do more
good than in the United States, where
all forms of religion are tolerated by a
broad, free government, republican in
form.
The church is thing for the people.
Its earthly management is directed by
the people. In all ages, with rare ex-
ceptions, the church has been the open,
ardent champion of the people. The
liberty of the people has been advocated
and fostered by the church.
The pope will not interfere with the
republic in France, and the pope will
not view with any misgiving the estab-
lishment Of republic IN Italy.