New-York tribune., 1910-07-31
SPAN AND THE VATICAN

It b
The not unexpected breach of dfpio-
matte relations between the Spanish
government and the Vatican illustrates
anew the historic fact that while Spain
has ever been in matters of doctrine the
most obedient child of the Church OF
Rome il has in matters Of political soy
ereigntv been one of the most indie
pendent of countries and one OF the
most inclined to resist and to resent
ANYTHING savoring of Papal dictation-
That has been the rule ever since the
days of Charles Y, even in the ultra
clerical reign of Philip II, and it is
with a lack Of fngenuousness therefore
that Carlists would now intimate that
they are fruer sons of the Church than
IAlfonsists.
There are two ecclesiastical questions
ar the fore at Madrid. One is that of a
revision OF the Concordat of 1891. The
other is that of the enforcement of some
Spanish domestic laws and DEGREES. The
contention of the Spanish government
is that the two are and shall be kept
Separate. while that of the Vatican Is
that they must be considered together,
and that the Concordat negotiations
cannot he continued unless the Spanish
government accedes TO its demand for
the suspension of the laws and abroga-
tic of the DEGREES. The latter conten-
tion might he valid if the laws and de-
creeS III question were manffeStiy III
violation of the COncOrdat. but that does
not appear TO be the case. The Vatican
seems to have refused 10 negotiate re-
vision of a treaty unless Spain would
first modify domestic legislation which
did not affect that treaty. If that be an
accurate conception of the case. the
Spanish government would certainly
seem TO have strong ground for the
course which il is taking.
In one respect, it is true. there may
he connection between the Concordat
and the DEGREES, arising from one side
of disputed Interpretation Of the
former instrument. The Concordat per
mits the establishment in Spain of two
religious orders which are specified by
names "and one other to be selected b?
the Vatican. At first that was assumed
Ia mean just one other order for the
whole of Spain. But later the nrelates
insisted that il meant one order in each
diocese. with the result that all orders
came fockinc into the Kingdom practi-
aIlv at will Former ministries ac-
quiesced in this practice. but in recent
years there has been an insiStence upon
the other Interpretation of the Concor-
dat. af least to the extent of requiring
the congregations which the government
holds To be unauthorized to comply with
certain requirements of registration and
sunervisiun This is one Of the two
ma inr points of conflict.
The other point is that of the free
dom of public worship by non-Roman-
lists. This would seem TO be a constitu-
tional matter which does not concern
the Concordat The constitution pro-
rides that no one shall he hndered by
reason OF his religious opinions nor in
the exercise of his cult, except with
regard TO the respect due to Christian
morals Nevertheless. no other mani
.'festations or public ceremonies viii be
permitted than those of the religion of
'the state" II may be a question
whether the free opening OF Protestant
churches and the public conduct OF ser
vices therein is or is not compatible with
that provision. Nevertheless. that would
seem 10 be a question for the Spanish
government itself 10 decide. and not for
the Vatican or any outside power II
would scarcely do to argue that the
constitution was in conflict with the
Concordat, for if that were so the time
for such protest to be- made effective
would surely have been long ago. since
the Concordat was made in 1851 and the
constitution in 1876. There was, we be-
lieve. q formal protest by the Vatican
against the clause Of the constitution
which we have quoted, but 1t was un-
needed aud was not practically pressed
and in all the years since the Church
has acQuiesced in the constitution as it
stands