The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-21

waged between tho vast material power
Of the remodelled German Empire and
tho purely moral resources at the dis
posal Of the captive Of the Vatican was
that BISMARCK, who had sworn that he
never would 60 to Canossa, was. at last,
constrained to make that very journey,
most Of the anti-clerical legislation being
either repealed or unenforoed, so as to
leave the Catholics in Prussia and In
Alsace-Lorraine practically free from in
reference. As things are now within
the German Empire, although the head
Of IL Is a Protestant, Catholicism has
more influence than 1t possessed in the
loose confederacy which came to an end
in 1865. This is another of the striking
achievements which must be credited
to a Pope, deprived Of temporal do
minion, and dependent ON the offerings
of the faithful for the maintenance OF
his contracted household.
The peaceful victory gained by Ca
tholicism In Germany is not, by any
means. the only triumph Of spiritual
over material force which has marked
LEO XIII g pontificate. The loss Of the
Pope's temporal authority and the ex-
pected collapse of the Papacy were be-
lieved at st. Petersburg to offer favor
able opportunity to resume the long
cherished design of substituting the
Greek, or so-called Orthodox Church,
for Catholicism in the large part OF the
former Kingdom OF Poland which is
controlled by the Gear. The failure OF
the attempt may well be regarded az
amazing, when one contrasts the abso-
lutte authority Of the Russian sovereign
and the almost limitless means of pres
sure at his disposal with the ostensible
weakness Of the Holy See As matter
Of fact, however. the warfare upon the
Catholic episcopate and priesthood in
Russian Poland has been abandoned,
and NICHOLAS H. is now on the most
cordial diplomatic relations with the
Vatican. The firmness with which Rus
sian autocracy was withstood is not
more memorable than the foresight and
sagacity with which LEO XIII. conciliated
the democratic spirit Of the English
speaking world. The growth Of Ca
tholicism in England and the United
States during his tenancy Of the Papal
chair has been one of the most notable
phenomena in the religious history Of
the century. He lived to see Catholicism
strike deeper and deeper root in the soil
Of the American republic, and prove that
1t needs not the prop OF pecuniary as
sistance which in France it derives
from the Concordat.
Even with regard to socialism there
is no doubt that LEO XIII. while stead
lastly refusing to renounoe the funda-
mental principle of individual property,
desired to stand forth benignant media
tor between employers and the em-
ployed. 1t is even conceivable that he
might have sanctioned considerable
notifications Of that fundamental prin-
ciple, could he have succeeded in his
attempt to fuse socialism with Christian
ity. Unfortunately for the prospects Of
such fusion, and for the evolution of a
| Christian socialism, the practicability of
which the Pope at one time asserted In
a memorable encyclical, it is an entirely
goddess State to which the followers Of
KARL MARX would sacrifice the system OF
individual ownership. When he learned
that by vast majority of European
socialists atheism is looked upon az
an essential article Of their creed, the
cornerstone of their programme, LEO
XIII. ceased to regard the marriage of
socialism and Christianity as a project
within the range of early realization. So
long as socialism should remain defiantly
atheistic, no cooperation or compromise
on the part OF Catholicism would be
practicable, or even thinkable. Toward
the so-called higher criticism similar
attitude was maintained, an attitude
tolerant and conciliatory with reference
to minor points, but infe1ible as to fun
damentals. That some mistranslations
NAV be detected in the vernaclilar YER
sons OF the Greek and Hebrew Script
| ures, or that, in the transmission Of the
original texts through the human hands
OF copyists, some mistakes may have been
made, LEO XIII. did not dispute, and he
was perfectly willing TO delegate TO
Catholic men of learning the thorough
investigation of such alleged errors OF
detail Not for a moment. however,
would he countenance q denial, or even
o qualification, of the plenary inspira-
ton ascrikd to the original text, holding
this to be the rock on which the whole
edifioe of Christian theology is based.
1t is, upon the whole, figure at once
mild and majestic, which LEO XIII. will
present to the eye Of the historian. The
singularly untoward circumstances amid
which he entered upon his functions
might we'll excite compassion, but the
manner in which he has played his part
cannot but challenge admiration, even
from secular onlookers. 1t was reserved
for him, az it had been for scarcely any
other Bishop Of Rome since HILDEBRAND
to demonstrate the tremendous power Of
resistance, the elasticity and ductility thai
seem inherent in the Catholic Church.
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