- with menaces by every Catholic power, has | Roman Catholic Church. The precise evils exhibited an astonishing superiority in in- threatened may not, it is true, matter very tellect, eloquence, and learning, and has much. The Liberal Catholics, it is said, for reward been crushed by a vote of may depart; but Liberal Catholicism is al nearly five to one, a vote far greater than most a contradiction in terms, is at best that which extinguished Arianism, a vote the day-dream of a few learned men, and which may be accepted as irreversible. if all Liberal Catholics departed, the Church The only ground on which it could be re- as an organization would probably be all versed without destroying the Catholic sys- the stronger. No Pope has ever succeeded tem would be the allegation that the Coun- like this Pope, and he is a man of slight cil was not free, an allegation which is though shrewd intellect, no worldly attainnot true, as every man there present could ments, and very limited theological culture, have shouted " Non placet!" had he been much less, in all probability, than any so moved, and which, if true, could be one of his own chaplains. North Germany, affirmed only by another Council assem- it is said, may go, and it very likely will; bled under similar circumstances, subjected but South Germany went once, and went to similar intellectual influences, and pressed back again. What really matters to Rome by the same necessity for the concentration is the loss of the people's devotion, the of power. Nor do we affect to wonder, as drying-up of that grand reservoir from most of our contemporaries do, at the tri- which she has drawn through ages such umph of the Papacy. They call the dogma an endless array of instruments and pow new, but though not formulized as dogma, ers, and it is this loss with which the dogma it has been accepted as fact by the Church threatens her. The masses never have for generations. The assent of the Bish- been and probably never will be accurate ops was held to be needful to the decision theologians, but they are always keen obof the Papacy, but the assent was never servers of the appearance of things; and witheld. They declared that it was an in- this dogma, though it changes so little in sult to reason, but an Infallible Person is reality, in appearance changes all. It reno more contrary to reason than an Infal- places the vast, formless, mystical entity, lible Book, and has the advantage of be- the Church, which is never seen in the ing able always to explain himself and fit flesh, and cannot be cross-examined, which the application of truth to the necessities is like the universe in its aggregate invisi of the time. They said that faith must bility, by an individual Italian who eats his crack under so terrible a strain, and forget dinner, and seems to observers a man like that, to an immense proportion of mankind, other men, and who can and will be watched to the majority of women, for instance, a by a million eyes eager to convict him of straining exercise of faith, like a straining error. The substitution will operate as exercise of obedience, is a delight, an the introduction of a new book into the effort which strengthens the quality itself as Canon would operate among Protestants, use strengthens a muscle. And finally, will compel them to criticize, and consider, they argued that an impossible unanimity and give reasons to themselves for believ was essential to the promulgation of so im- ing in verbal inspiration, and consideration mense a dogma, as if the Holy Spirit could of that kind is always fatal to blind faith. not act through a majority as well as The veil is torn away, and Catholic manthrough an unanimous body, as if the kind is not only forced to believe, but election of each successive Pope, which forced to acknowledge to itself, that it no Catholic doubts to be dictated from believes that Mastai Ferretti, worthy and above, were not invariably the result of a slightly humorous Italian of seventy, cannot conflict sometimes latent, but more fre- make an official blunder about faith or quently avowed. morals; and that his successor, be he Nevertheless, though we conceive the re- whom he may, however different in mind, sult to have been sooner or later inevi- character, and training, must inevitably, table, and see clearly that most of the pop-upon all subjects, implicitly agree with him. ular arguments against the dogma assume The masses, who never blind themselves all the great points at issue are, in fact, wholly to outward facts, will be more and based on the theory that Catholicism is more tempted to ask for proof that this false though we do not hope that the man, whom they see described by a thou vote will be followed by schism, and though sand pens as a man considering, scheming, we can understand that it may produce in arguing, perhaps plotting, is indeed the some quarters a strange revival of energy, exponent of unerring truth; and the silent we cannot but believe that it will produce scepticism of the South, the scepticism terrible, it may be fatal results upon the which is not religious but contemptuous, - which does not encourage schisms or accept | tion of the Dogma which its defenders bereformations, but quietly surrenders belief, lieve is so greatly to strengthen the Church. will receive a new and amazing impetus. That dogma brings the first claim of the Silently, without parade, without, it may Church, the one without which she has no be, giving up the offices of the Church, the locus standi down from the heavens to the people will retire from its pale, as for exam- earth, makes it visible, concrete - incarple, the middle-class of France and Italy nates it, so to speak and does this in the have done, until some event, perhaps triv-most realistic and inquisitive cycle through ial in itself, reveals to themselves the depth which man has ever passed. How is it posof their own unbelief. This event may be sible to believe that faith in infallibility the proclamation of some new dogma by will not be diminished?—and among Caththe Pope's own authority, or some de-olies everywhere one syllogism, at all mand of extreme inconvenience, or the events, is universally admitted. The consecration of some old idea which the Church is Christianity. If the Church is world has given up witchcraft for ex- capable of error, Christianity is a delusion. ample while the priesthood has not. It is not, therefore, only the Catholic Church The world saw nothing extraordinary in but Christianity, which in Catholic counthe Church affirming through a Pope that tries is threatened by the Dogma. to take interest for money was sin, because that affirmation was at that time in accord with the silly prejudice against renting out money entertained by all agricul tural communities, whatever their creed; but Pio Nono to reaffirm that on suppose the authority of his infallibility, continuing the while to pay interest on his own Debt. There would be no escape possible for the priesthood, no confusion to be created between the Papal authority and that of the Church, there would be a hard, unmistakable. infallible utterance on a high question of morals. And the utterance would be an utterance demonstrably wrong, silly an utterance of the kind which men, almost without reasoning upon it, feel that they cannot respect. Some such blunder, some such patent proof that the oracle can err, is sooner or later certain, for the Pope after this decree is under a temptation which it is scarcely in human nature to resist, the temptation to use his From The Economist. THE DECLARATION OF WAR BY FRANCE. THE declaration of war by France against Prussia is one of those awful events which bring comment to a stand, and which of themselves make an impression far deeper and greater than anything which can be said about them. This time last week almost all the best judges in Europe would have considered such an event impossible. it was bad enough that France should say that the accession of a very distant relative of the King of Prussia to the throne of Spain would be esteemed by her a casus belli; it was worse in her to volunteer this in an offensive way before any occasion required it, and so as if possible to cause a quarrel; it was yet worse in France when new Prince Leopold resigned his candidature to power, to settle once for all some problemask for more," and want stipulations for or other which has hitherto perplexed man- the future which were inconsistent with the kind. Now he is restrained from blun- dignity of Prussia and which were meant to dering by a necessity, more or less felt, be refused; it was yet worse to make these of consulting the episcopate,then he will be alone, uncontrolled, and in theory uncontrollable, save by the necessity of apparent accord with his predecessor, which necessity would not be felt on any novel point. Whenever such an incident occurs, the Catholic community will become conscious that it has ceased to believe that infallibility exists in any mortal, will say so, and will throw off, it may be with agony and effort, it may be with a mere To account for such conduct we have to movement of its shoulders, the chain of abandon all recent ideas of the French Emits ancient creed. This is the process go-peror, and forget our experience of him as ing on everywhere in all Catholic countries, an important statesman and as for years except Ireland where it has been pre- one of the conservators and guardians of vented by Protestant social persecution the peace of Europe. We must recur to and it will be aggravated by the proclama- the times following the coup d'état when further offensive demands in an unprece dentedly offensive manner on the King of Prussia in a public place; but worse than all is the sudden declaration of war which implies a foregone conclusion," and shows that, whatever may be said, the momentary candidature of the Hohenzollern Prince was but a pretext, that the Emperor meant from the beginning to fight Prussia, and meant nothing in the least else. Louis Napoleon was regarded as a gambler sonal. It is said (and is we fear true) that and a desperado capable of planning any war is popular in Paris, because Prussia is misdeed and of committing any crime, as a man who might invade any country without notice, and who would not want even decent pretext for a war he thought convenient to himself or France. For years we have held other opinions of the French Emperor, and have thought that these old unfavourable ones were fears and fictions. But nothing in them is worse than what he has now done. The most deperate act of a midnight conspirator is not morally worse than a breach of the peace of Europe in this manner on a sudden, and with no object which anyone can state. grown suddenly great, and because France has less prestige and is less thought of since she had so large a neighbour. But what is more infamous than to declare that the more prosperous and strong another State, the more bound we are to attack it at once? The same sort of doctrine might be urged in England. No doubt the immense growth of the United States does in some degree diminish the exclusive weight of England. The present French Ambassador at Wash ington says that the nations of the past were France and England, but that the nations of the future are America and Germany." And on that showing, England has as much right to attack America as France to invade Germany. We are glad the United States are great, and similarly France ought to be glad that Prussia is powerful as well as herself. 46 When indeed the French proclamation of war reaches us we shall have the decent drapery in which the Emperor clothes his policy. But use what words he may, the momentary pretext can only come to this that what is called a "relative" of the King of Prussia, that is, a German Prince, But perhaps in the obscure mind of the who has a common ancestor with the King Emperor the personal fate of his dynasty before the year 1200,- should for a moment has precedence over the national prosperity have been a candidate for the Spanish Crown, of France. Because many soldiers voted and that the King of Prussia will not prom- against him at the plebescite he may wish to ise that he shall never be so again. But divert them, and to make himself popular what two nations are ever to be at peace if by an immense war. The new Parliashadows like these are to cause war? Eng-mentary Government to which he is bound land or Prussia might have attacked France is not probably very agreeable, and to get on the first beginning of a Bonaparte Empire, on the ground of the probable injury to European equilibrium and its inconsistency with the Vienna treaties, upon far more plausible reasons. A Bonaparte at the Tuileries was much more of a menace to Europe than a Hohenzollern at Madrid is of a menace to France. And the Hohenzollern is not even at Madrid- on the contrary, says he won't go there; and all the complaint is that Prussia will not say that if he changes his mind he shall not be let go there. A pretext for a great war so little specious and so evanescent was hardly ever seen. Of course the real reasons are very different. The only rational motives for war are two one national, and the other per 66 rid of it he wishes to turn men's thoughts elsewhere, and nothing so much as war changes the current of all ideas and all thoughts. But this is but saying that the French and the Prussians are to be killed for diversion's sake." We seem not to be speaking of this age or of any civilized age, but of some barbarous period, when we discuss the killing of multitudes to please soldiers or to keep a dynasty upon the throne. Nothing that can be said is adequate to the meaning of this most awful and painful event, and it is most melancholy that with all our boasts of civilization, and after so many centuries of Christianity, so great a crime (for it is no less) should be possible in the world. THE Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes is a praiseworthy attempt by a sinall body of French naturalists to establish an international school journal of science and natural history for the boys of France, Germany, and England. Contributions, written in either of the three languages, are invited from any schoolboy; and they will be received from no other source. The NUMBERS OF THE LIVING AGE WANTED. 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Second The Complete Work, 20 50 66 Any Volume Bound, 3 dollars; Unbound, 2 dollars. The sets, or volumes, will be sent at the expense of the publishers. PREMIUMS FOR CLUBS. For 5 new subscribers ($40.), a sixth copy; or a set of HORNE'S INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE, unabridged, in 4 large volumes, cloth, price $10; or any 5 of the back volumes of the LIVING AGE, in num bers, price $10. SPRING. Up from the glowing South- with azure eyes, And all the perfumes of spice islands breathe, All gathered in the meshes of her rainbow net, So sounds the soft wind-whisper of her voice- life!" A liquid murmur, like the west-wind stroke Of Eolus on silver lute-strings, broke I STOOD beneath some venerable pines, The silence; then a cadence wild and sharp; Till, tuned to melody, they sweep along, Awake, ye buds and blossoms! Perfume sweet Earth's primrose stars shine out. The cluster- Frosts o'er the green-grown hedge with sudden white Pure Easter-garb after the long death-night. Lo! at her voice fair Nature bursts the tomb, life." Once a Week. rose, Soars like the arch of heaven's protecting dome. |