New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-09
A MERICA THE BETTER LAND.
CARDINAL GIBBONss IMPRESSIONS OF
n EUROPE.
rHE DISTINGUISHED CATHOLIC PRELATE COM
PAREs THE SOCIAL ASD RELIGIOUS
CONDITIONS or THE OLD AND
THE NEW WORLD


THE NEW WORLD
Baltimore Sept s (SpeciaD.-Cardnal Gibbons to-
day made what may be termed hs first public APP
pearance In the Cathedral since his return from
Rome. Announcement having been made that the
Cardinal would make known his Impressions OF
Europe. gathered during his recent tour the Cattle
dral was crowded on this subject the Cardinal
said In part.
The first subject which naturally occurs TO me
regards my several visits to the Pope. Represent
10 yourselves man In his eightysiHth year pale
upon him~and this palor is intensified by the white
cassock and zuchetto which the Holy Father
than il was eight or ten years ago. But his eye
is bright and penetrating: his voice is strong and
luminous, his memory Is most tenacious. which en-
ables him to recall events and incidents occurring
lived within the walls of the Vatican except when
he he takes some recreation in the Vatican gardens
lie sometimes retres 70 those gardens and resides
in the summer house during the heated term.
TWO REPUBLICS COMPARED.
II comparison were instituted between the
Governments OF the United states and Of France
regarding their attitude toward religion. the re-
suit. think. will be in favor. Whatever may
b.. the private religious convictions % candidates
for q political Office do not think that any can
1idate would publicly avOw himself an atheist or
unbeever an lnndei tor such an avowal would
shock the religious sense OF the community and
would be- bar to his success. The American peO-
others gho would not submit to the guidance OF
heaven.
It is sad to observe how the clyll authorities Of
France and of some other catholic nations ~
~ souuo'7g aFou ~ f''.''n't 10 np, 10
HF iToVld'n''' ana 10 religion. IN th"if pubic ana
ofncal uttcrancrr. But am happy 10 say that
The spirit OF religion ~ SIN deeply rooted ~ the
Clovis Of charlemagne and o. st. Louis sri, do,ni,
sion. during my sojourn In thar country to observe
~" Peiy ana devotion Of tnc people The c;ersy
zeal. learning and self-sacrihce. France continues
% send more missionaries and consecrated women
IN Vfs lan DFIaF
dom and she annually contributes four or hve
Christian faith.
TOLERANCE IN AMERICA
Again. II compare the relations OF the Cath
Ollie governments OF Europe and OF our own Gov
eminent TO the Catholic Church in particular. the
result will be the whole I'm favor The
bishops and clergy are not permitted to build a
church or schoolhouse or presbytery. or
mission OF the Government They cannot even
make any repairs without the civil sanction. |
once was the guest OF bishop in France who
occupied palatial mansion. He was honored with
military guard who paced up and down outside
his palace. congratulated the bishop on his
splendid appointments and The honor paid to him
He shook his head in reply and said to me: Mon
seigneur all Is not god that glitters. | cannot
construct a sacrsty without the previous per
mission Of the civil authorities who give the plans
exercises his Gospel freedom by crtlcIsng the con-
duct OF the Government he is liable to have his
salary Withdrawn. or TO be fined and imprisoned
or be subjected to other pains and penalties.
Thank God. We enjoy In this country the amples
liberty to worship and freedom Of conscience. We
have a fair field and no favor. We can build
and asyiums without asking the permission OF the
Government. The only restriction imposed upon
holds over us the aegis of its protection. without
interfering with our God-gven liberties inter-
tent with this state OF things For, II the Gov
eminent UNDERSTOOD to build our churches and to
subsdize our clergy, 1t might soon dictate
what doctrines OF religion We should preach
TAXATION IN EUROPE AND AMERICA.
Now. as to the relation OF the Government to
the people In Continental Europe the taxes are
enormously heavy and are most minute and search
ing in their application Not only house and
land taxed. but every door in your house is taxed
every window IL taxed. and every chimney. Your
horses are taxed. your carriage and dog are taxed
and so is your salary. And every article you
omit In your inventory IL doubly taxed The rea-
son OF this heavy taxation Is obvious. The Euro
pean Powers have immense standing armies
which are drain on the material. moral and in
ample with population OF 100000 has stand
no doubt, most anxious for a general dlsarma-
ment. but none OF them is disposed to take the in
itiative.
Whatever complaints may be made about taxa
ton among u.s. The burden is proportionately light
standing army tuness we consider as such our
grand army Of pensioners. whose claims for their
century, With a population OF s5.ooOOS. We have
an army OF less than twenty-five thousand men.
Every citizen is soldier. without being Withdrawn
from the Industrial vocations Of life ana is ready
at less than days notice. to defend his country
u.s. we have no changing Alliances We have i nor
formidable for nor threatening neghbor at our door.
The day that monarchy would be established in
close proximity to US on the American Continent
would be the beginning OF our troubles.
COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY.
From the remarks that have made you may
be disposed to imagine that the masses In CONT
mental Europe are poor and miserable. unhappy
and discontinued with their condition OF life And
you may be confirmed in this impression because
so many OF the surplus population OF Europe i'm
migrate to shores. But such an impression
would be very erroneous. In the towns and VII
people comfortably clothed happy and contented
They seemed to enjoy their holidays and recrea-
lions as much as our people do home The
secret OF heir contentment lin spite of the heavy
taxation) seemed be due two causes The |
people OF the agricultural districts not yet in.
deGted With the fever tina, burns in the breasts OF
cry and fastening to get rich This IL serious |
misfortune with us. our farmers are abandoning
the lands for the town.
III fares N. land. to Fastening Ills a prey
Where wealth aceumuisies and men decay
Wealth accupulates in our cities and men decay
yated With the greatest care In my tour through
Italy, Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Baden, Southern Ger
many ana Holland. Belgium and France. scarcely |
observed square mile OF land. except timber |
lands that was not in high state OF cultivation.
Another cause OF the contentment OF the people |
les IN the religious faith which they profess. In |
S sg c, yase a., and hame h,OSsh which passed
Ion. with It's cross ascending 10 the skies In |
mat cnurch the people are taught 10 be content |
with their condition OF life They learn there |
nat the Kingdom OF God Is not meat and drink
Dut justice. peace and Joy I'm the Holy Spirit" They
earn that the Kingdom or God consists In inno-
'snee OF life. good conscience. charity unfeigned
ina the hope OF the life to
In making these comparisons between Euro
,ean brethren and ourselves II cannot be denied |
nat have evils be red-essed. some
buses to correct. and that there some vulner-
'he spots In our political and social armor. But.
ifter making these admissions. We have reason to
- proud OF our Nations past and hopeful
" our Nations future May our glorious
tepublic continue for ages yet to come-resting