New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-23
CARDINAL MANNING AND HIS WORK.
NEITHER HE NOR IT WE'RE WHAT HIS ENEMIES
COULD HAVE WISHED.

NEITHER HE NOR IT WE'RE WHAT HIS ENEMIES
COULD HAVE WISHED.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
'>ir: Your brilliant London correspondent cables 10
this mornings Tribune an opinion or Cardinal Man
ming which, he adds rs not perhaps that Of the
jority.7 Cardinal Mannings life for nearly half
century was an earnest conflict In moral and religious
issues. but his sphere grand enough TO be con
sde,ed from many sides Your correspondent looks al
him from II hostile side and tgumiively calls him "a
soldier of the Church OF England who deserted to
Rome"
1t IS true Archdeacon Manning soldier OF the
Church Of England lie held high rank In tina.
Church and fighting its battles with skill and
energy when the "Gorllam controversy made the
docinal decision o. the Crown the obligatory creed OF
the Church OF England Archdeacon Manning and
many Of the prominent clergy aud l3ty OF the Estab
shment dissented from tho creed established by the
courts and Joined in declaration that unless they
formally repudated this decision 1t would be binding
upon them. The English Church acQuicsced In the
decision, and Archdeacon Manning found no escape
bat in resigning all his rank and prefernens In the
Church and becoming again Tree man. This was In
1851. lie was now at liberty TO take other service
and later in 1857 he ordained priest OF the Roman
| Catholic Church BY Cardinal wiseman. Is your CORE
sponden mparially recording history when for this he
STYLES Archdeacon Manning deserer! What allegiance
did lie TO the Church from which he lad resigned
and whose honors and whose prcfermens he had re-
turned to the gver? Does history call Washington
deserter because having served in the Kings army. he
subsequently took service under the Continental Con-
gre's against the Kng
Your CORE pondent contrasts Manning with the
milder and more sympathetic Newman and rightly at
| tributes TO Manning the more aggressive character
They had widely different spheres 10 occupy but both
were made princes OF the Roman Church. TO the moro
gentle and Intellectual Newman was assigned-not, as
! ondo pute IN s. taDgugh
but from his colster to guide the Thought which guides
the world. Manning on the other hand. was OF great
administrative ability and force. Your correspondent
calls him militant ecclesastic' with "bilttcs OF =
higher order" gift for organization and for propa-
gandism,' and small share Of the wisdom OF TINS
world" militant ecclesastic, he was fitted TO rule
in a militant Church. TO him was therefore assigned
continuing the figure OF your corTespondcnt-tie com
mand OF tho soldiers OF Rome In hostile country.
came not to send peace but sword is part OF
the language OF his commission. Is 1t not rather an
honor than a reproach your correspondent puts H.
that from the moment lie went over TO Rome he sci
! himself 10 drag his counrymen after him! | need
not admire the tone OF this sentence while accept us
truth. Your correspondent thinks that he >" had no
success Perhaps his success less obvous In the
arstOcratic drawing and clubs OF London than
among the tilng millions, but Catholics think that ms
,uccesS has been magnificent. When he came 70 MS
great office he said that no should be laid for
cathedral until every poor child OF his hocn nsa
!
| temperance and benevolent guilds among his People
He used his great power tn raise and protect the poor
\, your CORE pOndent puts it, He was minister Oh
religion who fOmened social strife Yes. lie TOOK
the part the poor and the lOwy as against the iich
and the powerful. And under Cardinal Mannlngs al
ministration the poor had the Gospel preached 10
| them And whole congregations OF converts among
! thn working classes attest the success OF his work
What may grow In the future upon the foundations that
Cardinal Manning has laid II would be Useless to
predict. ,, - ,,
The tone OF your spondcnts criticism on Man
ming does not call for reply There are few earnest
contests In which the other party Is not called by ha
names that think good taste VIII not justly
Your CORES pondent who has put himself on the hostile
side. tells that Cardinal Manning showed 10 INC
Church of England something OF that anmo>lty winch
the apOata often feels 70 the ca>c lie has betrayed
| We might ask how he apostate, or whom han
he betrayed but 1t Is useless to discuss history IN that
tone Aud there Is much moro In the same tone.
| several years ago there was nothing read III The
Tribune with more pleasure than the brilliant letters
Of your London correspondent At that time one OF
his strongest points seemed 10 b. the perfect fairness
with which he treated the other side In whatever might
be the question discussed. But that fairness to the
| other sde has gradually disappeared and for many
months past have found myself adopting the readers
privilege OF skipping these London letters. This
morning CHANGED 10 see the headlines referring to
! Cardinal Manning and thought | might safely read
them might better have skipped them also. but
having read them IL occurred to TO ask you 70 print
| these few comments Of a Roman Catholic
| THOMAS L. CORNELL