The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-19
THE POPE ON DEMOCRACY.

Democratic government is surely max
ing Roadway when it receives the indorse-
ment OF the Roman pontiff. Centuries ago
nay, not so long, not centuries, but early
in the present century. it was quite custo-
mary to hear democracy spoken of as the
most dangerous kind of government, tie
least likely to maintain the peace of society
or the security of individuals. 1t was re-
garded as the rule of the rabble and in the
estimation of the world, or at least Of q
very great portion of it, government was
thing that belonged to the well-born and
wealthy, in which the common people had
no part nor lot further than 10 obey the
DEGREES of their "betters." Now, however,
in this year Of grace, 1892. the Pope de-
clares that "the republican form of govern
ment is as proper as any other" and
then expresses words of admiration
for both the American and French re-
publics, predicting that France will rise
to her old greatness in spite of her foes"
Those are bold words for the Roman pou-
tiff to utter at this juncture of European
affairs, wherein strong monarchies stand
practically united against republican
France. Europe will be justified in con-
Guiding that the holy see is for France
and against the triple alliance = the
alliance between Germany, Austria
and Italy-kept up ostensibly for
the preservation of the peace of
Europe. But there is greater significance
in it even than that. 1t means that here
after democratic governments will be con-
cir GGoc ho
perhaps, a napal leaning in favor of that
form of government which within our own
century has been accounted a dangerous
system.
One other item in the reported interview
with the Pope, published in our dispatches
yesterday, is worthy of consideration.
That is, the statement OF his holiness in
respect to the peaceful relationship ex St
ing in the American republic between the
church and the state, and the basis on
which that peace rests. He speaks of the
United States becoming a greater nation
every day, and then adds: THE Catholic
church is going through a process Of
development there without any necessity
for conflict with the states. These two
powers agree very well, as they could
agree everywhere, on the condition that
one does not encroach upon the rights Of
the other. Liberty in their case is truly
the basis Of the relations between the civil
powers and religious convictions. and in it
the church acquires, above everything,
liberty" That is another vindication of the
wisdom of the fathers Of the American re-
public, who were the first in any
effectual way to build up partition wall
between civil and eccleslastical authority.
Previous to that these two powers had
undergone all phases of relationship, but
could never obtain peace. The state had
been held to be subordinate to the church ;
and it was argued that this was the true
relation of those two powers, because in
the moral point of view, IN the chronolog.
ical order itself, the church precedes the
state-it is to the spiritual power that SOW
ereignty belongs of right; the temporal
power should merely act as its instrument.
Next, the position was taken that it is not
the state which is in the church, but the
church which is in the state; it is the state
which rules the land. The state, there
FORE should give to the religious society
the form and constitution which best &C
cord with the interest of general society.
whenever creeds cease 10 be individual
Whenever they give birth to associa-
tions, these come within the cognizence
and authority of the temporal power. the
only veritable power in a state Next
came the admission that the state and the
church are distinct societies. but if was
held that they at the same time were close
| nelghbors and nearly interested in one an
other. And while it was held that they
should live separately they should not be
estranged; they should keep up an alliance
on certain conditions, each living to itself
but each making sacrifice for the other. ir
case OF need, each lending the other its
support. AT last came the glorious doctrin.
that the church ought to be independent
unnoticed in the state, the state havine
nothing to do with her. taking no notice Of
religious creeds, allowing them to approxi.
mate or separate, and to govern
themselves as they think best, only insist
ing that all shall be free, all equal in tn.
amount and exercise of their rights.
The last may rightfully be called tn,
American idea, because it may be said thu
it was in our land that it was first given
fair trial, and here it has achieved it,
greatest success and INDICATED the wis
dom which main tanned that it was the tru
relationship of the two powers and sucl
progress is that idea making in the worl
that the Pope now declares it to he tn,
foundation on which the liberty of tn
church depends.