The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-18

royal Government would welcome an
intimation Of a willingness to accept the
subvention allotted to the Pope by the
Italian Parliament some thirty-6ve years
ago, together with the arrears, which
now amount with interest to tens Of mill
ions of dollars. II is true that Plus Y.
has given no such intimation and still
depends for support on the voluntary
contributions of faithful Catholics; but
he must see with satisfaction the striking
change in the attitude or che civil power,
which, formerly hostile, mas now become
conciliatory and friendly.
In France, too, the same method OF
proceeding sudriter in modo, fortiter in
re has averted collisions that might have
caused a civil war, for, although refusing
with frmness to sanction the cultural
associations prescribed by the Separa-
ton act, the Pope has carefully refrained
from any provocative word or act, and
has given the Radicals and Socialists no
excuse for the exhibition of anti-clerical
rancor. The result has been that the
Clemenceau Cabinet has put the most
liberal construction possible or the text
Of the Separation act and has announced
that Catholics will be at liberty TO wor-
ship in the churches for a year from
December II; and although other Church
property will be taken possession Of by
the Government on the date named, it
has been limited that this might be trans
ferred by a Ministerial decree to cultural
associations, should such be formed dur
ing the coming twelvemonth. The spirit
of forbearance thus evinced by the civil
power is obviously a response to the calm
and gentle, though unwavering, tenor OF
the Pope's encyclical to the French
Bishops.
In Spain also a Pope who had no
training in diplomacy and statesman
ship is showing the virtue of the soft
answer that turneth away wrath. Tho
Dominguez Cabinet, which represents a
coalition Of Liberals and Constitutional
Democrats, is following to a certain
extent the example set by the anti
Clericals in France. But although it
is resolved upon the introduction OF
civil marriages and upon subjecting to
Government control those religious asso-
Citations which Engage in teaching, par
ticularly those which have emigratcd
from France, it is expected to stop short
of a rupture with the Holy See, partly
because all it's members are Catholics
and partly because the Vatican has
avoided provoking it by giving any en-
couragement I o the Carlists, who would
start a rebellion in the northern prov
inces tomorrow il the Bishops and
priests would say the word. According
to a telegram sent from Rome on Novem-
Der II an authoritative declaration has
been made on the part of Plus y. that
the differences between the Vatican and
the Spanish Government have been much
exaggerated by Spanish and French
newspapers, and that as a matter Of
fact the negotiations between Rom and
Madrid are most friendly.
The freedom accorded to Catholics in
Russia by a recent ukase may justly be
regarded by Plus X. as an achievement
that reflects honor on his pontificate.
There is no doubt that the instructions
issued by him TO Catholic Bishops in Rus
sian Poland had much to do with pre-
venting the outbreak of a formidable
Polish instruction, and they deserved
requital at the hands of the Russian
sovereign. In Prussia there are some
signs Of tension between Church and
state because the Pope has thus far
hesitated TO comply with Emperor
WILLIAMS request that he cooperate
strenuously in the process OF Germaniz-
ing the Poles in the province OF Posen.
1t is scarcely credible. however, that a
sovereign who remembers the lesson
administered to BISMARCK will under
any circumstances attempt to renew
the Kulturkdmpf.
On the whole, it will be generally
acknowledged that, although Plus y.
has had to endure some of the severest
trials to which the Papacy has been sub
iected since the occupation of Rome by
VICTOR EMMANUEL, he has emerged from
them with dignity unimpaired and re-
mains a sympathetic, interesting and