The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

M. Veuillot. -- We learn from some observations in our exchanges that the Gallican portion of the French episcopate are much offended by the special mark of favor recently bestowed by the Pope upon the chief editor of the Univers. We can conceive nothing more natural than the conduct of the Holy Father in that instance. M. Veuillot is, and always has been, the steady, and not always the gentlest opponent of the Gallican faction as represented by the Correspondant. Since the assembly of the General Council that faction has given vent to feelings the most irreverent in language the most offensive, against the prerogatives of the Supreme Pontiff, and even against the person of Pius IX. These outrages culminated in the scandalous letter of the late leader of that faction (they are numerically too insignificant to be a party), who, having renounced the principles of his earlier and nobler career, calumniated the Pope, and went to his account. Can anything be more natural or more consonant with reason, propriety, and the generous character of Pius IX., than that his Holiness should bestow a special mark of favor and approval upon the zealous defender of the Holy See against its lay and clerical literary assailants? While it must be acknowledged his zeal occasionally carries him too far, we have always admired his fearless defence of the Holy See, and we are not surprised that the Holy Father has availed himself of the presence of M. Veuillot and his family in Rome to favor them with a personal private interview in attestation of his Holiness's appreciation of M. Veuillot's unremitting labors in defence of the Church and of the Holy See.