New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-06
Az EPISODE or THE CONFFDERACY.

John Bigclows article in "The North Amcri-
can Review" telling how the Confederate
statesmen in 1863 tried TO get declaration
from Pope Plus IX in favor Of the COnfcdcracy,
is Of great historical value. Their reasons for
desiring such a declaration were twofold. IT
might relax the zeal for the Union Of Northern
Catholics. and at the same time il might lead
the Catholic countries Of Europe, especially
France and Austria. 10 Sympafhize actively
with the South. But it is surprising that in
tcltgont men like jefferson Davis and Judah
p BENJAMIN could have imagined that the
Church Of Rome would go back On its record
Of hostility to chattcl slavery. even when it
prevailed in Catholic countries. Mr.. Bigcl0w
is inclined t. excuse them for this ignorance
on the ground that they had never studied &c
clesiastical history. But the fact is one that
enters largely into the history of Europe since
the beginning Of the papacy and it was dis
crcditable to men who were trying to create
a nation not to know it. 1t is indeed. strik-
ing proof Of Mr.. Bigclou''s assertion, that O. the
men who planned the rebellion. controlled its
policy and directed its operations from Rich
mond were about the most inadequate men that
ever had their names prominently associated
in history with the conduct of any great mil
itary enterprise in which it was necessary TO
enlist the sympathies of other enlightened ma
tOnalities."
OF course the attempt to "wori'' the Pope
failed. 4 bumptiouS person. named 4. Dudley
Mann, was intristed with the task. Mann evil
IDENTIFY thought he was making history, and
that his name would 90 laundering down the
ages. The Pope received him courteouSly. and
wrote polite non-committal letter to jefferson
Davis. But Manns fervid Imagination dis
dained to take any such prosaic view Of the
situation. In writing of his interview TO Bcnja-
min, he said "Thus terminated one Of the
most remarkable conferences that ever a for
cign representative had with potentate OF the
earth potentate who is adorrd as
the Vice Regent Of Almighty God in this sub
lunaly sphere" According to Mann's own ac-
count however the interview must have been
a rather one-sidcd one. The Pope confined
himself principally to looking interestcd-his
politanc~s was plovcrbial-lnd saying that war
was a terrible thing. But Mann improved
every moment lie knew that his Imagination
was his strong hold. and 20 he turned il loose.
II was little hard on TIC Pope, perhaps. but
il enabled Mann to write letter t. BENJAMIN.
which FIR unconscious humar ought to take a
high rank in literature. Among other things
he declared that Lincoln and Co." cmuloyod
agents in Europe t. lure foreigners ~ the
United states on the prctcnce Of getting them
work but in reality ~ GI mp "thc constantly
dcp'ct ranks Of the Northern Army. These
agents took IN especial and fcndiSh delight
in "dccoying innocent Irishmen from their
homes f. be murdered in cold blood" But
bad Is that was. there was worse yet 10 tell
The pulpit champions Or Lincoln and Co"
in the North boldly asserted a> sentiment
Greek fire for the families and cities of the
rebels: and hell fire for their Chiefs SOcn
after implrting this startling information Mann
took his leave and waited for letter from
the Pope which should make " Lincoln aud
Co." feel exceedingly sick. The letter soon
came. 1t was, a. we have said, a kindly,
diplomatic and studiously non-c0mmittal mis-