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And His Time by The Rev. Æneas MacDonell +Dawson</p></div><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost + and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, + give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License <a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">included with this + eBook</a> or online at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a></p></div><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">Title: Pius IX. And His Time + +Author: The Rev. Æneas MacDonell + Dawson + +Release Date: June 17, 2009 [Ebook #29143] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIUS IX. AND HIS TIME*** +</pre></div> + </div> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + + </div> + + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Pius IX.</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">And His Time</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.20em"><span style="font-size: 120%">By</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Rev. Æneas MacDonell +Dawson.</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">London:</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">Printed by Thos. Coffey, Catholic Record Printing House.</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">1880</p> + </div> + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Contents</span></h1> + <ul class="tei tei-index tei-index-toc"><li><a href="#toc1">Preface.</a></li><li><a href="#toc3">Pius IX. And His Time.</a></li><li><a href="#toc5">Footnotes</a></li></ul> + </div> + + </div> +<div class="tei tei-body" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="pagei">[pg i]</span><a name="Pgi" id="Pgi" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc1" id="toc1"></a> +<a name="pdf2" id="pdf2"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Preface.</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The history of Pius IX. will always be read with interest. +His Pontificate was, indeed, eventful. In no preceding age +were the annals of the Church so grandly illustrated. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The spiritual sovereignty, <span class="tei tei-q">“with which,”</span> to use the words +of a British statesman, <span class="tei tei-q">“there is nothing on this earth that +can at all compare,”</span> was crowned with surpassing glory. +Doctrines which, hitherto, had been open to theological discussion, +were ascertained and pronounced to be in accordance +with the belief of all preceding Christian ages. The Church +was enabled, through the labors of her Chief and the zeal of +her Priesthood, to extend vastly the place of her tent. The +life of Pius IX. himself was a marvel and a glory. None of +his predecessors, not even Peter, attained to his length of days. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the other hand, the venerable Pontiff, and, together with +him, the Catholic people, were doomed to behold and lament +the loss of the time-honored patrimony of St. Peter. The +Papacy, however, unlike all temporal sovereignties, was able +to sustain so great a loss. More ancient than its temporal +power, it still survives; <span class="tei tei-q">“not a mere antique, but in undiminished +vigor.”</span> +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page005">[pg 005]</span><a name="Pg005" id="Pg005" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc3" id="toc3"></a> +<a name="pdf4" id="pdf4"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Pius IX. And His Time.</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +John Mary Count Mastai Ferreti was born at Sinigaglia, +on the 13th of May, 1792. At the age of twenty-two he came +to Rome. Anxious to serve the Holy Father, and yet not +aspiring to the priesthood, he resolved to become a member of +the Noble Guard. This the delicate state of his health forbade. +Repelled by the Prince Commandant, he sought counsel of the +Pope. Pius VII. pronounced that his destiny was the Cross, and +advised him to devote himself to the ecclesiastical state. The +words of the Holy Father were, to the youthful Mastai, as a voice +from on high. He decided for the Church, and, as if in testimony +that his decision was ratified in heaven, the falling-sickness +left him. His studies were more than ordinarily +successful, and he already gave proof of those high qualities +which were afterwards so greatly developed. The distinguished +Canon Graniare, his professor, little dreaming of the exalted +destiny which awaited him, held him up as a pattern of excellence +to his fellow-students, saying that he possessed the heart +of a Pope. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst yet a student, Mastai interested himself in an +orphanage, which was founded by John Bonghi, a charitable +mason of Rome. He spent in this institution the first seven +years of his priesthood, devoting himself to the care of the +orphans, who were, as yet, his only parishioners. The income +which he derived from family resources was liberally applied +in supplying the wants of these destitute children, and even in +ministering to their recreation. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page006">[pg 006]</span><a name="Pg006" id="Pg006" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It now became his duty to accompany, as a missionary +priest, Monsignore Mazi, who was appointed Vicar-Apostolic for +Chili, Peru and Mexico. These countries had thrown off the +yoke of Spain and adopted Republican forms of government. +The Vicar-Apostolic and his companions suffered much in the +course of their voyage to America. They were cast into prison, +at the Island of Majorca, by Spanish officials, who took it amiss +that Rome should hold direct relations with the rebellious subjects +of their government. Their ship was attacked by corsairs, +and was afterwards in danger from a storm. A single +circumstance only need be mentioned in order to show what +the faithful ministers of the Church had to endure when +traversing the inhospitable steppes of the Pampas. Once, at +night, they had no other shelter than a wretched cabin built +with the bones of animals, which still emitted a cadaverous +odour. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In those arid deserts, they suffered from thirst as well as +from dearth of provisions. Great results can only be attained by +equally great labors. If, after a period of privation, the travellers +enjoyed no more luxurious refreshment than the waters of +the crystal brook, it might well be said, <span class="tei tei-q">“de torrente in viabibet +propterea exaltabit caput.”</span> (They shall be reduced to +quench their thirst in the mountain stream, and therefore shall +be exalted.) The delegates of the Holy Father were received +with enthusiasm by the South American populations. Meanwhile, +the narrow governments that were set over those countries +raised so many difficulties that the mission was only partially +successful. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This mission, however, was not without benefit to the Reverend +Count Mastai. It had been the means of developing the +admirable qualities which he possessed. It had afforded him +the opportunity of seeing many cities, as well as the manners +and customs of many people. These lessons of travel were not +addressed to an ordinary mind. His views were enlarged, +elevated and refined by contact with so many rising or fallen +civilizations, so many different nationalities, and by the spectacle +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page007">[pg 007]</span><a name="Pg007" id="Pg007" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of Nature, that admirable handmaid of the Divinity, with +her varied splendors and her manifold wonders, astonishing +no less in the immensity of the ocean than in the vast forests +of the New World. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The mind appears to grow as the sphere of material life +extends. Vast horizons are adapted to great souls, and prepare +them for great things. The Abbe Mastai had thus received in +his youth two most salutary lessons, which are often wanting +to the best-tried virtues of the sacerdotal state—the lesson of +the world, which Mastai had received before the time of his +vocation to Holy Orders, and the lessons of travel, which disengages +the mind from the bondage of local prejudices. Both +of these teachers he admirably understood. He had, indeed, +drank of the torrent which exalts. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Leo XII. now filled the Apostolic Chair. This Pontiff, +highly appreciating the good sense and penetration of which +Mastai had given proof in the difficult mission to Chili, appointed +him Canon of Sancta Maria, Rome, <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">in +via lata</span></span>, and, at the +same time, conferred on him the dignity of Prelate. Never was +the Roman purple more adorned by the learning and genuine +virtue of him on whom it was bestowed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There is at Rome an institution of charity, the greatest +which that city or even the world possesses, the immense hospital +of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">St. Michael a Ripa Grande</span></span>. A whole people dwells +within its vast precincts. It is at once a place of retreat for +aged and infirm men, a most extensive professional school for +poor girls, and a sort of workshop, on a great scale, for children +that have been forsaken. The greater number learn trades. +Some, who give proof of higher talents, apply, at the expense of +the hospital, to the study of the fine arts. This hospital is, in +itself, a world, and its government requires almost the qualities +of a statesman. Pope Leo XII., anxious to render available the +rare abilities of Canon Mastai, named him President of the commission +which governs this great establishment. There was +need, at the time, so low was the state of the hospital budget, +of the nicest management, unremitting care, and the highest +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page008">[pg 008]</span><a name="Pg008" id="Pg008" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +financial capacity. These qualities were all speedily at work, +and in the course of two years all the resources of the institution +were in admirable order. The fear of bankruptcy was +removed, deficits of income made up, and receipts abundant. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It had not been the custom to allow to apprentice-workmen +any share in the fruits of their labors. Herein Mastai effected +a great and certainly not uncalled-for reform. Far from impoverishing +the hospital, this liberal measure only showed, by +its happy results, that justice is in perfect harmony with +economy, and that the best houses are not those which make the +most of the labor of their inmates, but those which encourage +industry by allowing it what is just. The orphans were thus, +in two years, enabled to have a small sum, which secured to +them, so far, a mitigation of their lot. Meanwhile, the proceeds +of the hospital were doubled. This was remarkable success. +Count Mastai's reputation for administrative ability was now of +the highest order. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the Consistory of May 21st, 1827, Canon Count Mastai +was named Archbishop of Spoleto. Thus did Pope Leo XII. +signalize his solicitude and affection for the city of his birth. +The appointment came not too soon. It required all the influence +of a great mind to maintain peace at Spoleto. Party +spirit ran high. One side clamored against abuses: the other, +dreading all change, clung pertinaciously to the past. Wrath +was treasured in every bosom. If civil war had not yet broken +out, it raged already in the breasts of the people. Spoleto resembled +two hostile camps, and vividly recalled the state of +these cities of the Middle-Age, where stood in presence, and +armed from head to heel, the undying enmities of the Ghibellins +and the Guelphs. The slightest occasion would have sufficed +to cause the hardly-suppressed embers of deadly strife to burst +into a flame. Through the zeal and diplomacy of the Archbishop, +such occasion was averted. Spoleto may yet remember, +and not without emotion, how earnestly he studied to appease +wild passions, with what delicacy and perseverance he labored to +reconcile the terrible feuds that prevailed, to calm the dire spirit +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page009">[pg 009]</span><a name="Pg009" id="Pg009" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of revenge, to bury the sense of wrong in the oblivion of forgiveness. +At length, in 1831 and 1832, a hopeless rebellion +unfurled its blood-red banner. It was speedily and pitilessly repressed. +Such an occasion only was wanting in order to show +what one man can do when sustained by the power of virtue +and the esteem of mankind. The foreign and Teutonic arm +which conquered the insurrection had been always hateful to the +Italian people; nor did its display and exercise of military +force, in restoring tranquillity to the troubled State, conciliate +their friendship. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Only when vanquished did the rebels appear before the +walls of Spoleto. In their extremity, they came to beg for +shelter and for bread. In the estimation of the benevolent Archbishop, +they were as lost sheep whom it was his duty, if possible, +to save. He hastened, accordingly, to meet the wolf. +The Austrian General, although a stern warrior, was, at the +same time, the servant of a Christian Power. He listened to +the Archbishop's remonstrances, and resolved to refrain from +further military proceedings, the Prelate undertaking to disarm +the rebels, and thus satisfy the sad requirements of war without +any recourse to useless and hateful cruelties. Returning +to the city, he addressed the insurgents, and, to his unspeakable +satisfaction, they at once came to lay at his feet those +arms which the Austrian soldiers could only have torn from +their lifeless bodies. Thus did the good pastor, by disarming, +save the rebellious flock. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mastai was now transferred to Imola. This city is less +considerable than Spoleto. The diocese, however, is richer +and more populous. Its Episcopal chair leads directly to the +Cardinalate. It has also thrice given to the Catholic Church +its Chief Pastor. The people of Spoleto sent a deputation, but +in vain, to beseech the Holy Father to leave the good pastor to +his affectionate flock. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He was destined also to reign in the hearts of the good +people of Imola. The numerous institutions there, which owe +their existence to his Episcopal zeal and Christian charity, are +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page010">[pg 010]</span><a name="Pg010" id="Pg010" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +monuments of his pastoral care. The virtue of which Archbishop +Mastai was so bright a pattern had no sourness in it, +no outward show of austerity; nor was it forbidding and intolerant, +but sweet and gentle. Words of forgiveness were +always on his lips, and his hand was ever open to distress. +He labored assiduously to reform, wherever reform was needed, +but, what rarely happens, without alienating affection from the +reformer. It was his constant study to elevate the character +of the clergy, and he ceased not to encourage among them +learning as well as piety. Into the Diocesan Seminary, which +was always the object of his most anxious care, he introduced +some new branches of study, such as agriculture, practical as +well as theoretical, and a general knowledge of the medical art. +There was yet wanting to the clergy of his diocese a common +centre where they could meet for mutual edification and instruction. +To this purpose he devoted his own palace, and +founded there a Biblical Academy. The members of this +Academy met once a month in order to discuss together +some subjects connected with the Sacred Writings. None can +be ignorant how powerfully such meetings contribute to promote +the study of the Scriptures, pulpit eloquence, and the +great science of theology. In order, moreover, to obviate the +dangers to which students were exposed, who, whilst they +studied at the Seminary, were not inmates, and enjoyed not +the safeguards of its discipline, he founded an institution +called the <span class="tei tei-q">“Convitto,”</span> where the poorer alumni were boarded +without charge. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Anxious also to provide for the comfort of the lowly poor, +and to guard against all wasting of their humble means, the +good Prelate reformed the hospital of Imola, and set over it +the Sisters of Charity—that incomparable Order which owes +its existence to the most benevolent of men, St. Vincent de +Paul. Nor, in his higher state, did he forget his first care—the +orphan. An orphanage at Imola is due to his munificence. +There were no bounds to his liberality. At his own expense +alone he repaired the tomb of St. Cassien, and decorated the +Chapel of Our Lady of Dolours in the Church of the Servites. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page011">[pg 011]</span><a name="Pg011" id="Pg011" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When raised to the dignity of Cardinal, by Pope Gregory +XVI., in December, 1840, Archbishop Mastai was already universally +popular. The ovations of a later period may have +originated in political motives—may even have been promoted +by a political party; but the honors now spontaneously +heaped upon him were awarded to the man and the Christian +pastor. Congratulations in prose and in verse, illuminations, +fireworks, demonstrations of every kind, announced the joy with +which the new Cardinal was welcomed everywhere. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Gregory XVI. had the reputation of being highly conservative. +In the true sense of the term, he really was so. Nevertheless, +he was not averse to reform, and he showed that he +was not when he elevated Archbishop Mastai, whose tendencies +were well known, to the rank and office of Cardinal. +More than this, in concurrence with the Great Powers of Europe, +with whom he took counsel, he labored to introduce certain +salutary reforms in his States. Such reforms, indeed, were +needed; and the aged Pontiff resolved on them, not only in +order to render unnecessary the intervention of foreign arms in +the affairs of his government, but also with a view to bring +his rule into harmony with the spirit and civilization of the age. +If in this most laudable undertaking he did not succeed, he +owed his failure to the Socialist party, those enemies of law and +order, of property, and life even, whose fatal action at a later +period marred the political career of Pius IX. The Roman +people, generally, were capable of appreciating, and surely did +appreciate, the enlightened efforts of their Pontiff Sovereign. +They were not, as some writers would have us believe, in a +semi-barbarous condition. Sylvio Pellico, whose testimony +cannot be questioned, speaks of them in the following terms: +<span class="tei tei-q">“The eight months I have spent at Rome in 1845 and 1846 (time +of Gregory XVI.) have abounded in delightful impressions. It +can never be sufficiently told how well this venerable city deserves +to be visited, and not in passing only. How the good +and beautiful abound in it!”</span> A little later, Pellico writes: <span class="tei tei-q">“I +continue to be quite delighted with Rome, both as regards men +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page012">[pg 012]</span><a name="Pg012" id="Pg012" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and things. In the small book, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Dei Doceri</span></span>, I have shown my +inclination to avoid being absolute in my judgments, a too +common error, especially with minds that dogmatize passionately. +By such Rome is often unjustly judged.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Several types of social customs must be considered as +moderately good; and we cannot condemn, as decidedly bad, +anything but barbarism, irreligion and a superabundance of +knaves and fools. These odious elements are by no means +over-abundant in this country. And in the midst of evils that +are unavoidable everywhere, I observe great intellectual power, +much goodness, cultivated minds, gracious and sincere generosity. +Whoever comes to Rome will be morally well off as regards +intelligence. He will be so, likewise, on account of the sociability +of the inhabitants. The Romans are a jovial people. +But even their joviality is as admirably subject to good order +as it is graceful, and does not impair the natural goodness of +their disposition. But perhaps I am wrong; and it were better +I should assume a frowning aspect, and behold only attempts +on life, importunate beggary, useless priests and monks, +and reserve my praises for those happy nations where there +are no crimes, no inequality of fortune, no misery. Impassioned +men declaim, exaggerate, lie. For my part, I am +neither an optimist nor a pessimist. It is impossible to speak +with certainty of the moral of a country if we speak of it too +soon. I know that here at Rome I find amiability, science and +good sense. It seems to me that everything is much the same +as in other civilized countries.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Such was the people over whom, on the 16th day of June, +1846, Cardinal Mastai was called to exercise authority in the +twofold capacity of Pontiff and Prince. On the first day of the +Conclave several votes were cast for the liberal-minded Cardinal +Gizzi, and some in favor of the highly-conservative Lambruschini. +The second day all joined for Mastai. And thus was +elected to the Papal Chair, by the unanimous voice of the +Sacred College, one of their body, who, in all the positions +which he had held, as Priest, as Archbishop, as Cardinal, had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page013">[pg 013]</span><a name="Pg013" id="Pg013" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +shown his determination to promote reform and improvement. +No better proof could be required that the Cardinals perfectly +understood the state of the country, its urgent wants, its relations +with the Church and the rest of the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was much rejoicing in the Papal City. It seemed +as if, with the elevation of a great character to high authority, +the days of the Millennium had at length dawned on the distracted +world. There was now question only of forgiveness for +the past. Order and peace only were possible in time to come. +The new Pontiff was resolved that there should be no element +of sorrow to mar the general joy; and so he amnestied the +political offenders who had borne arms against the government +of his predecessor. Only one condition was required, +viz.: that, in the future, they should fulfil the duties of good and +order-loving subjects. Thus were fifteen hundred exiles restored +to their families, who had lost all hope of ever seeing +them again. The cases only of a small number of the ring-leaders +of the rebellion were reserved for consideration, and +they, too, were cheered with the hope of pardon. The preamble +of the decree of amnesty, all in the Pope's own handwriting, +bore the following words: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“At the time when the public joy occasioned by our accession +to the office of Sovereign Pontiff caused us to experience +in our inmost soul the most lively emotion, we could not avoid +entertaining a feeling of sorrow when we remembered that a +great number of families amongst our people could not take +part in the general rejoicing, deprived, as they were, of domestic +happiness.... On the other hand, we cast a look of compassion +on the numerous and inexperienced youth, which, although +carried away by deceitful flatterers, in the midst of political +troubles, appeared to us guilty rather of allowing itself to be +led astray, than of deceiving others. On this account it was +that, from that moment, we cherished the thought of extending +a friendly hand, and offering peace to such of these dear but +misguided children as should come to us, and give proof of +their sincere repentance.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page014">[pg 014]</span><a name="Pg014" id="Pg014" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Night was drawing on when the decree was posted on the +walls of Rome. It was observed, however, amidst the growing +darkness; and no sooner was the word <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">amnesty</span></span> read than a +cry of enthusiasm was heard. People hastened from their +houses in all directions, the passers-by stopped in crowds to read, +by torchlight, the cabalistic words. Among the fast-assembling +masses there was but one feeling. They embraced and +even wept for joy. In the depth of their emotion, and whilst +yet, as may be said, intoxicated with delight, they sought how +to express their gratitude. The cry was raised, <span class="tei tei-q">“To the Quirinal!”</span> +Arrived there, they hailed, with loud and united voice, +the beneficent Pontiff—<span class="tei tei-q">“Vivat Pius Nonus!”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Long live +our Holy Father!”</span> Crowd after crowd thus approached the +person of the Pope. It was now late, and Pius IX., much +fatigued, overwhelmed by his emotions, had withdrawn to the +silence of his Oratory. Meanwhile, fresh crowds of overjoyed +citizens were pressing forward. Ten thousand men, at least, +were now waiting, with respectful anxiety, under the walls of +the Quirinal Palace. The French Ambassador to Rome, Count +Rossi, was a witness of these events. He became also their +historian. He wrote thus to M. Guizot: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Suddenly the acclamations are redoubled. I had not yet +understood on what account, when some one called my attention +to the light which was shining through the window-blinds +at the farthest end of the Pontifical Palace. The people had +observed that the Holy Father was traversing the apartment +in order to reach the balcony. It was speedily thrown open, +and the Sovereign Pontiff, in a white robe and scarlet mantle, +made his appearance, surrounded by torches. If your Excellency +(M. Guizot, at that time Minister of the French +King, Louis Philippe) will only figure to yourself a magnificent +place, a summer night, the sky of Rome, an immense people +moved with gratitude, weeping for joy and receiving with love +and reverence the benediction of their Pastor and their Prince, +you will not be astonished, if I add that we have shared the +general emotion, and have placed this spectacle above every +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page015">[pg 015]</span><a name="Pg015" id="Pg015" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +thing that Rome had as yet offered to our contemplation. Just +as I had foreseen, as soon as the window was closed the crowd +withdrew peacefully and in perfect silence. You would have +called them a people of mutes; they were satisfied.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is not so difficult to grant an amnesty. It is delightful, +even, to men of the character of Pius IX. to dispense forgiveness. +This is particularly the office and the privilege +of the Church. Sterner duties devolve upon the statesman. +And, however reconcileable the two courses of conduct in +public affairs may really be, it is difficult often to reconcile +them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The amnesty, although far from being everything, was, +nevertheless, a beginning, and one of favorable omen. The +furrow was opened, to use the language of M. Rossi, and +no doubt the ploughing would proceed. Many formidable +difficulties must, however, be surmounted. On the one hand, +stood the influence of the old feudal Conservative party, which +frowned on the slightest change. On the other, were the +Socialists, who aimed at the destruction of every existing institution—in +whose estimation property even was not sacred, nor +life itself. It was necessary, meanwhile, to improve the condition +of the people, and, in doing so, to guard against anarchy. +By wise and well-considered reforms only could the growth +and advance of revolution be discouraged and stayed, whilst +a political system, almost entirely new, came to be firmly +established. For this purpose, it was necessary that there +should prevail in the Pontifical States a sounder state of opinion. +This was not the work of a single day. It was necessary, +nevertheless, as the people could not be safely led +by their ever-changing emotions. Based on such quicksands, +the government of the Holy Father could have no stability, +and it was his aim so to form it that it should be able to keep +its ground without the aid of foreign arms. The state of Italy, +the peculiar position of the Pontifical States, the character of +modern civilization, the spirit of the age—all conspired to +produce new wants, and, at the same time, made it a matter of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page016">[pg 016]</span><a name="Pg016" id="Pg016" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the greatest difficulty to meet them. <span class="tei tei-q">“This difficulty,”</span> writes +the Spanish Sage, Balmes, <span class="tei tei-q">“it was impossible to surmount by +chanting patriotic hymns any more than by having recourse +to Austrian bayonets.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +By none was this better understood than by Pius IX. +The study of State affairs was not new to him. He had +considered and lamented the condition of things which so +often brought upon his country foreign invasion, the horrors +of war, and punishments without end, inflicted on his fellow-citizens. +It is related even that he prepared and presented +to Gregory XVI. a programme of reforms, which he believed +would bring the necessary remedy. Now that he was at the +head of the State, he believed that the responsibility devolved +on him of introducing such reforms as were called for by the +exigency of the time, and by which alone he was persuaded +the evils which oppressed the country could be brought to an +end. It was not possible, as yet, to inaugurate any general +measure of reform. In the meantime, however, the rule of the +Pontiff was characterized by wise, just, humane and liberal acts, +which could not fail to pave the way for the greater improvements +which he meditated. Among these lesser, but by no +means unimportant, reforms may be mentioned the abolition +of an odious law which had long disgraced the legislation of so +many Christian nations. The punishment by imprisonment +for petty debts was, in the estimation of Pius IX., as unjust as +it was cruel and hateful. It answered no better purpose, for +the most part, than the gratification of private spite. By a +generous contribution from his own funds, the Pope threw open +the prisons of the Capitol. He set a great example, which could +not fail to promote the cause of virtue whilst it relieved the +indigent, by distributing twelve thousand Roman <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">ecus</span></span>, +in the form of dowries, among the young women of poor families, +whose poverty rendered an honorable settlement extremely +difficult. He also encouraged collections in favor of such of +the amnestied parties as were in need. His financial reforms +were more important. And by these he won a title to the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page017">[pg 017]</span><a name="Pg017" id="Pg017" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +gratitude of the State. The public revenue was alarmingly +deficient. Only by some great change could ruin be averted. +First of all, he proposed that his faithful clergy should make a +sacrifice; and every convent engaged to pay ten <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">scudi</span></span> +yearly, and every parish priest a <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">scudo</span></span> during three +consecutive years. He himself set the example of the most rigid economy by reducing +the scale of his establishment. He at the same time +retrenched those rich sinecures which were, so to say, engrafted +on the temporalities of the Papacy. What was well worthy +of a great statesman, he showed the most enlightened sympathy +for all the sciences which contribute to the material and +intellectual well-being of the populations, such as physiology, +natural history, political economy and mathematics. Nor was +he unwilling that his people should avail themselves of the +knowledge of foreigners. He went so far as to intimate his +intention to re-establish the celebrated Scientific Academy, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Di +Lincei</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He could not, as yet, by any other than such isolated acts +as these, evince the elevated and liberal tendencies of his +mind, in which were blended boldness with moderation, and +views of reform with all that became his position, and was +adapted to the wants of the country and the age. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., although not a constitutional sovereign, and unable +so to constitute himself, was anxious, nevertheless, to +give to his people all the benefits of constitutional government. +A first step was to choose a popular Minister, and Cardinal +Gizzi was called to the counsels of the State. This Cardinal +was beloved at Rome, and not undeservedly. When Legate at +Forli, he had opposed the establishment of an arbitrary court, +and thus won for himself the sympathies of all national reformers. +His loyalty, sincerity and patriotism were well +known; nor was he wanting in any other quality of the statesman. +Of a patient and enquiring mind, he was incapable of +coming hastily to a decision; but, when once resolved, he +could not be easily diverted from his purpose. The ministry +of such a man was full of promise; but in this lay its weakness. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page018">[pg 018]</span><a name="Pg018" id="Pg018" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +It held out hopes which, in the state of parties which +at that time prevailed, it was unable to realize. There were +two great parties at Rome, with neither of which the Gizzi +ministry was in sympathy. There existed no party with +which it could act harmoniously. There were no reformers. It +would have been most fortunate for Pius IX. if such a party +could have been formed, but the elements were wanting. The +true idea of constitutional government was as little understood +in Italy as in the rest of continental Europe. The only party +at Rome who desired change were the Socialists, who identified +reform with subversion, who denied every right, and +sought the destruction of all existing institutions. No wonder +if, in presence of such a faction, the aristocracy, so highly conservative, +dreaded and opposed all change. The Socialists, +whilst by the fear which they inspired strengthened +the hands of the conservative party, opposed and prevented +the formation of a body of reformers who, like Gizzi and Pius +IX., would have labored intelligently to forward the cause of +reform, never losing sight of the great principles of humanity +and justice, never sacrificing to Utopian theories inalienable +rights, above all the rights of property—the very groundwork +of the social fabric. Without the aid and countenance of a +body of reformers, the able ministry that now surrounded the +Pope found it difficult to proceed. They could not determine +for any important constitutional change. They could not +even undertake any considerable improvement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They were, however, not inactive. They studied to educate +the people by improving and extending the public schools, and +by what was, indeed, an advance in continental Europe—establishing +a periodical press. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There were few cities so highly favored as Rome as regards +the facilities for educating youth. Nevertheless, there was room +for improvement, and Pius IX. accordingly established in the +city a central school for the instruction of the youth of the operative +classes. This was a school of arts and manufactures, and, +at the same time, a military institution, in which the pupils +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page019">[pg 019]</span><a name="Pg019" id="Pg019" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +were qualified to become either tradesmen or subordinate +officers in the army. Whilst Cardinal Gizzi was Minister +many other useful schemes met the approbation of the Pontiff, +and were sanctioned by his signature. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Not a few commissions also were appointed—some for the +study of railway communication in the Roman States, others +for the improvement of both criminal and civil procedure, and +others for the amelioration of the municipal system and the +repression of vagrancy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Rome, so richly endowed in many respects, could scarcely +be said, as yet, to possess a periodical press. To establish such +a press was, for the reforming ministry, a labor of love. Whilst +they were preparing a law by which it should be called into +existence and its liberty secured and regulated, Pius IX., in +anticipation of their labors, authorized the publication of several +journals. First, came the <span class="tei tei-q">“Contemporaneo,”</span> which was followed +in due time by the <span class="tei tei-q">“Bilancia,”</span> the <span class="tei tei-q">“Italico,”</span> the <span class="tei tei-q">“Alba.”</span> +These publications were in sympathy, at first, with the Pontiff +and his reforming ministry. They advocated only rational +reform, real improvement, such changes as were both practicable +and useful. They had not yet discovered the excellence of the +Socialist utopia. Their enthusiasm and their +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">vivats</span></span> were all for +the reformer Pope. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is far from being matter of surprise to Catholic people, +at least, that the See of Rome should be the first to practice the +virtues—the high morality which it teaches. In regard to +their treatment of the Jewish people, the Christian nations +generally stood in need of such an example as Papal Rome has +always shown in her consideration for the race of Israel. The +nations, although professing Christianity, have been anything +but Christian in their conduct towards these people. It was +their idea, one would say, that they were called of heaven to +execute justice on an offending race. The Popes never +believed that they or any other Christians were entrusted with +such a mission. Accordingly, the Jews, when cruelly persecuted +in other countries, always found protection and safety at +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page020">[pg 020]</span><a name="Pg020" id="Pg020" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Rome under the wing of the Pope. Even such restrictions +as they were subject to, contributed to maintain them in +security and peace. The Holy Father, although it was his +sublime mission to preach the Gospel, could not always cause +its precepts to be obeyed. If prejudice was against living on +terms of charity with the Jews, was it not kind, as well as wise +and politic, to assign to them a quarter of the city where only +they should dwell, free from all interference on the part of the +rest of the inhabitants? Pius IX. believed that the time had +come when a more liberal arrangement might be advantageously +adopted. In pursuance of this conviction, he regulated that +the Jews should enjoy the privilege of establishing their +habitations wherever they should deem it most suitable, that +they should be governed by the same laws as the other citizens, +and in no way be treated as a foreign people. Such of them +as stood in need of assistance Pius IX. admitted to a share in +his benefactions, and without occasioning the slightest murmur +on the part of his Christian subjects. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Jews, whilst considered as foreigners in Rome, were +subject to the custom of coming yearly to the Capitol to pay +tribute. With this custom the Holy Father generously +dispensed. All this liberality and kindness were highly +appreciated. The Jewish people generally beheld in the wise +and Holy Pontiff the looked-for Messiah. The aged Rabbins, +more considerate, affirmed only that the Pope was a great +prophet. The chief of the Synagogue, Moses Kassan, composed +in his honor a canticle marked by poetic inspiration. +It extols and blesses the Holy Father for having gathered +together in the same barque all the children whom God had +confided to his care ... for having snatched from the +contempt of nations, and sheltered under his wing, a persecuted +people. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There being many Christians of the United Greek rite +throughout the dominions of the Sultan, it was necessary that +the Holy Father should negotiate, occasionally, with the +successor of Mahomet. Pius IX. yielded not to any of his +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page021">[pg 021]</span><a name="Pg021" id="Pg021" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +predecessors in zeal for the welfare of all Catholic people. +Those who lived and often suffered under the Moslem yoke +were, especially, objects of his fatherly solicitude. Policy had +not yet brought the Cross into the same field of strife in union +with the Crescent, when, on the 20th of February, 1847, the +portals of the Quirinal were thrown open to the Ambassador +of the Sublime Porte. To the Jews the Rome of Pius IX. +was as a new Jerusalem. Islamism, from its tottering throne +at Constantinople, looked towards it with hope and rapture. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The armed protection of Christians in the Turkish dominions, +by the great European Powers, was, no doubt, galling to +the Sultan's court. It was, therefore, ardently desired, we can +readily believe, to place the Christians of the Levant under the +peaceful guardianship of the Roman Pontiff. The Embassy +may also have had other objects in view. Be this as it may, +it was new and quite extraordinary to behold the representative +of the prophet at the palace of the Sovereign Pontiff. No +wonder if all Europe was moved to admiration. The presentation +was very solemn—in the high ceremonial of Eastern +lands. Chekif Effendi, the Turkish Ambassador, saluted the +Holy Father in Oriental style, and addressed to him a magnificent +oration, which was richly interspersed with metaphors—the +pearls and diamonds of his country's eloquence. The +Sublime Porte was compared to the Queen of Sheba, and Pius +IX. to King Solomon. Whatever may be thought of the figures, +the sentiments expressed in the speech were appropriate and +affecting. The Pope replied by assuring the Ambassador that +he was anxious to cultivate friendly relations with the Sultan, +his master. Three days later Chekif Effendi took his departure +from Rome, bearing with him on his breast, as a <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">nishun</span></span> +(decoration), the portrait of the Holy Father. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This Embassy was more than mere show—more than an +interchange of friendly sentiments. It enabled the Pope to +adopt a measure which was calculated to be highly beneficial +to the Christians of the East. The Latin Patriarchate of +Jerusalem was restored. And thus was accomplished a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page022">[pg 022]</span><a name="Pg022" id="Pg022" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +wonderful revolution in European diplomacy as regarded the +Eastern world. At the request of the Porte, the Latin Patriarch +became bound to reside in the city of Jerusalem. In the +confidential position which he held there, he was the natural +protector of the Catholic subjects of the Sultan. In addition +to the duties of his sacred office, he was, as a consul, appointed +by the Holy See to watch over the interests of religion—interests +as important, surely, as those of trade and worldly +policy. The first whom the Pope named to the dignity of +Latin Patriarch was Monsignore Valergo, who had formerly +been a missionary at Paris. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There appears to have been something irresistibly attractive +in the character of Pius IX. That illustrious champion +of Ireland and of liberty, Daniel O'Connell, resolved, towards +the close of his days, to visit Rome and pay the homage of a +kindred spirit to the Holy Father. Not only was he anxious +to be enriched with the choicest heavenly benedictions, whilst +kneeling reverently at the shrine of the Apostles, but he desired +also, with a fervor which finds place only in the most nobly-moulded +souls, whose love of liberty and whose patriotism are +unfeigned and pure, to hold communion with one who was, no +less than himself, a friend of liberty, and whose exalted station, +and whose high duties towards mankind at large, hindered +him not from laboring, as did Ireland's patriot, to liberate his +country, not, indeed, from such cruel bondage as that +under which the land of O'Connell had for so many ages +groaned, but from the no less dangerous tyranny of abuses +which, like weeds that grow most luxuriantly in the richest +soil, it becomes necessary, in due season, to extirpate. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was not, however, appointed that Ireland's liberator +should ever see Rome. His illness continued to increase. +No sooner had he reached the shores of Italy than the strength +of his once powerful frame declined rapidly, and he was +unable to proceed. Arrived at Genoa, O'Connell understood +that his last hour on earth was near at hand. He now +expressed the wish that his heart should rest in the Holy City. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page023">[pg 023]</span><a name="Pg023" id="Pg023" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Thither, accordingly, it was borne by friendly hands to commingle +with the consecrated dust of heroes, saints and martyrs. +To Rome it was a relic of incomparable price. Although cold +and inanimate, it was still eloquent in death, and grandly +emblematic of all that he had been to whom it was the centre +of life, and to whose generous impulses it had so long and so +faithfully beat responsive. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That son of O'Connell who bore his name, together with +the Rev. Dr. Miley, of Dublin, who had accompanied him to +Genoa and ministered to him in his last hours, now proceeded +to Rome and sought the presence of the Holy Father. On +their arrival at the Quirinal, the halls and ante-chambers were +already filled with groups of personages in every style of +costume, from the glittering uniform to the cowl. The +travellers, therefore, must wait till all these have had an +audience. But no. The name of O'Connell, as if possessed +of talismanic power, caused them to be at once admitted to the +presence of the Holy Father. The reception was most cordial. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Since the happiness I had so much longed for,”</span> said the +Pontiff, <span class="tei tei-q">“was not reserved for me, to behold and embrace the +hero of Christianity, let me, at least, have the consolation to +embrace his son.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“As he spoke,”</span> writes Dr. Miley, <span class="tei tei-q">“he drew the +son of O'Connell to his bosom and embraced him, not unmoved, +with the tenderness of a father and a friend. Then, with an +emotion which stirred our hearts within us, this great Father +of the faithful poured out his benign and loving soul in words +of comfort, which proved that it was not new to him to pour +the balm of heaven into broken and wounded hearts.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“His +death,”</span> said the Pontiff, <span class="tei tei-q">“was blessed. I have read the letter +in which his last moments were described with the greatest +consolation.”</span> The Pope then proceeded to eulogize the +liberator, as the great champion of religion and the Church, +as the father of his people and the glory of the whole +Christian world. <span class="tei tei-q">“How else,”</span> observed Monsignore Cullen, +late Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin, who was present, <span class="tei tei-q">“could +the Pope have spoken of him than he has done, even if he had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page024">[pg 024]</span><a name="Pg024" id="Pg024" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been the bosom friend of the liberator, as well as the ardent +admirer of his career.”</span> Nor must we fail to record the terms +in which the venerable Pontiff, on this memorable occasion, +referred to Ireland. The thought of O'Connell was one with +that of his native Erin. Death, even, could not sever them. +Whilst the living image of grief and bereavement stood in his +presence, the Holy Father could not refrain from giving +expression to his paternal sympathy. But, at the same time, +the country of O'Connell was not forgotten. Writes Dr. Miley: +<span class="tei tei-q">“While he spoke of the sufferings of the Irish, of their fidelity, +of his solicitude and his hopes regarding them, it was beautiful +and impressive beyond my power to describe, to observe that +countenance, which, like a mirror, reflects the charity, the +compassionate care, the fortitude, with a hundred other +sentiments divine, which are never dormant within his breast.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., anxious that due honor should be done to the +memory of O'Connell, gave orders for the celebration of a +solemn funeral service, and intimated his will and command +that it should be celebrated in his name. <span class="tei tei-q">“The achievements +also of his wonderful existence I desire to be commemorated +and made known to the world”</span>—not that this is necessary, +<span class="tei tei-q">“because,”</span> said the Pontiff with a sublime look and gesture, <span class="tei tei-q">“his +grand career was ever in the face of heaven—he always stood +up for legality—he had nothing to hide; and it was this, with +his unshaken fidelity and reverence for religion, that secured +his triumph.”</span> It is only justice to the people of Rome to state +that they vied with the Sovereign Pontiff, the magnates of their +country and the representatives of European nations at the +Holy City, in doing honor to the memory of O'Connell. <span class="tei tei-q">“From +the Campus Martius,”</span> writes Dr. Miley, <span class="tei tei-q">“and the Roman +Forum, from both sides of the Tiber, and from all the seven +hills and their interjacent valleys, this people, who grow up +from infancy with the trophies of thirty centuries of greatness +around them on every hand, assembled with enthusiasm to +supplicate heaven for the eternal happiness of Ireland's +liberator, and to exult in the wonders he had achieved, as if +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page025">[pg 025]</span><a name="Pg025" id="Pg025" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +he had been their own.”</span> The greatest homage paid by Rome +on this melancholy occasion, was undoubtedly, the funeral +oration, which was spoken by the Bossuet of Italy, the celebrated +preacher, Father Ventura, the friend and fellow-student +of Pius IX. This most eloquent discourse was listened to +with attention and delight by the vast congregation that had +gathered round the cenotaph of the immortal patriot. Let a +passage or two here suffice to give an idea of the magnificent +panegyric: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It is, then, because these two loves—the love of religion +and the love of liberty, common to all good Princes, to all +great minds, to all truly learned men, to all elevated souls, to +all generous hearts might be said to be personified in Daniel +O'Connell—because in him they manifested themselves in all +the perfection of their nature—in all the energy of their +deeply-felt conviction—in all the potency of their strength—in +all the splendor of their magnificence, and in all the glory of +their triumph; it is because of all this that this singular man—who +was born and has lived at such a distance from Rome—is +now admired, is now wept for by you, as if he had been +born in the midst of you. Hence it is that this great character, +this sublime nature, has awakened all your sympathies.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +O'Connell had studied for some time at the College of St. +Omer, in France. What he saw and learned in that country +is ably described by the Italian orator: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He saw with his own eyes monarchy compelled to degrade +itself, and to inflict its death-wound with its own hand; he saw +the throne that base courtiers had dragged through the mire +defiled by the grip of parricidal hands, and buried, fathoms +deep, beneath a sea of blood; he saw the best of kings expire +upon a scaffold, the victim not less of other men's crimes than +of his own weakness; he saw that vice was hailed, as if it +were virtue, wickedness uplifted, as if it were morality atheism, +proclaimed aloud, as if it were religion; that the <span class="tei tei-q">‘Goddess of +Reason’</span> (or rather a vile strumpet) was recognized as the only +Deity, and honored with hecatombs of human victims; the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page026">[pg 026]</span><a name="Pg026" id="Pg026" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +people decimated and oppressed by cruel tyrants, in the name +of the people; whilst beneath the shade of the tree of liberty +was instituted universal slavery; and that the most Christian, +as well as the most civilized of all nations, had fallen down to +the lowest limits of impiety and barbarism.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Now, God having so disposed that the young O'Connell +should be witness of these events—the most celebrated and the +most instructive to be found in the annals of history—they +served to inspire him with the greatest horror for tumults and +rebellion; they persuaded him that there is nothing more +insane, and, at the same time, more pernicious than to proclaim +the rights of man, in trampling upon those of heaven—in +establishing liberty on the ruins of religion—in making laws, +under the dictation of passion, or through the inspiration of +sacrilege—and, finally, they convinced him, that to <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">regenerate</span></em> +a people, religion is omnipotent—philosophy of little or no +avail.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In alluding to the well-known piety of O'Connell, the +preacher said: <span class="tei tei-q">“What more moving spectacle than to see +the greatest man in the United Kingdom—to see him, who was +the object of Ireland's devotion, of England's fear, and of the +world's admiration, kneeling with the people before the altar, +practicing the piety of the people, with that humble simplicity, +that recollection, that devoutness, and that modesty, which +supercilious science and stolid pride abandon as things fit +only to be followed by those whom they disdain as the people?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is matter of notoriety that the Tory party, whose death-knell +was soon to be tolled, constantly poured on the great +Irish Tribune the most scurrilous abuse. One of the mock +titles with which they honored him was that of <span class="tei tei-q">“King of the +Beggars.”</span> Such pitiful ribaldry awakened the highest powers +of the Roman orator. <span class="tei tei-q">“Poor, miserable, and most pitiful +fatuity which, while intending to mock, actually did +him honor. For, what sovereignty is more beautiful than +that whose tribute is not wrung from unwilling fear, +but that is a voluntary, love-inspired offering? What +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page027">[pg 027]</span><a name="Pg027" id="Pg027" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sovereignty is more glorious than that whose sword is the pen, +and whose only artillery the tongue; whose only couriers are +the poor, and its sole bodyguard the affections of the people? +What sovereignty more beneficent than that which, far from +causing tears to flow, dries them; which, far from shedding +blood, stanches it; which, far from immolating life, preserves +it; which, far from pressing down upon the people, +elevates them; which, far from forging chains, breaks them; +and which always maintains order, harmony and peace, without +ever inflicting the slightest aggression on liberty? Where is +the monarch who would not esteem himself happy in reigning +thus? Of such a sovereignty, we may with truth say +what was said of Solomon's, that none can equal its grandeur, +its glory and its magnificence.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +So favorable an opportunity for instructing the Italians was +not thrown away. False liberty was already strewing their +path with its meretricious allurements. <span class="tei tei-q">“As true liberty +diffuses around it peace and grace and calm, so does false +liberty disseminate, wherever it is implanted, terror, dismay +and horror. The brows of one are illuminated with the +splendid halo of order, and those of the other are covered with +the red cap of anarchy. One holds in her hand the olive-branch +of peace; the other waves the torch of discord. One +is arrayed in robes white as those of innocence, and the other +is enveloped in the dark, blood-stained mantle of guilt. One +is the prop of thrones; the other a yawning abyss beneath +them. One is the glory and the happiness of nations; the +other their disgrace and their punishment. The latter bursts +out of hell as if it were a poisonous blast issuing from the jaws +of the devil himself; whilst true liberty descends sweetly and +gently upon the earth, as if the spirit of God had sent it down +to us a holy and blessed thing from heaven. <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Ubi spiritus +Domini ibi Libertas.</span></span>”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +None will be surprised to learn that on hearing these +singularly eloquent words, the immense auditory could no +longer control their emotions. A general murmur of approbation +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page028">[pg 028]</span><a name="Pg028" id="Pg028" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was heard throughout the vast temple and was breaking +out into loud applause, when the preacher, mindful of the +reverence due to the holy place, made haste to repress it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This great demonstration may well be considered as the +best testimony that could be given as to the real sentiments +of the Italian people. They were not ignorant of the nature +of that liberty for which O'Connell had so long and successfully +contended. Nor were they under any erroneous impression as +to what the gifted preacher meant when he extolled in such +glowing terms that true liberty which is the glory, at once, +and the best security of nations. If, a little later, they +pursued the phantom instead of the reality, it must be considered +that, as yet, they had no political education or experience, +and that no high-principled Tribune, like O'Connell, stood +forward to lead them. All who aspired to guide them, and +who won their confidence, were tainted with the doctrines of the +Socialist party, whose ideas of government and liberty were +utterly utopian. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If it could be said that public rejoicings afforded any +assistance to the Pope, in his labors as the head of the Roman +State, he was not left without aid in his great undertakings. +Such things, however, rather hindered than promoted his +endeavors. His people had, so to say, commenced, under his +auspices, a long and laborious journey. There was no time for +mere pleasure and amusement. Nevertheless, whenever a new +scene or landscape opened to their view, they stopped to rejoice, +and gave themselves up, without control, to the intoxication of +delight. In so doing they laid themselves open to the snares +and attacks of many secret enemies, who availed themselves +of their frequent gatherings to sow the seeds of discord and +corrupt their minds with false political doctrines. Far better +would it have been if they had left to the Sovereign in whom, +at first, they placed unbounded confidence, and the wise +Ministers whom he called to his counsels, the care of forwarding +the cause of reform. It had been most benevolently and +successfully begun, and was proceeding, in the estimation of all +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page029">[pg 029]</span><a name="Pg029" id="Pg029" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +but an impatient people, with rapidity which had no +parallel in the history of nations. The people, by assembling +tumultuously on occasion of every popular measure, no doubt +meant no more at first than to show gratitude and affection to +their pastor and prince. Such meetings, however, were not +without danger to the cause of reform. The political enemies +of the Pope easily foresaw that, by his wise and popular +improvements in the State, he would certainly secure to himself +a peaceful, strong and glorious reign. So, laying hold of the +general enthusiasm, they trained and disciplined to their will a +people who were naturally good and unsuspecting. These +men came at length to give the watchword, and, according to +their wishes and the views which it suited them to insinuate +into the popular mind, the uneducated and fickle multitude +expressed satisfaction or discontent, as they defiled in imposing +masses before the mansion of the Pontiff. Thus was formed a +sort of government out of doors, which, if it did not yet oppose +or appear to oppose at least, powerfully swayed the official +authority. Cardinal Gizzi, whose ministry was so popular, +deemed it necessary to require by proclamation that these +noisy demonstrations should cease. It was too late. The +people, defying the Cardinal's mandate, hastened in crowds to +the Quirinal, saluted, as usual, the Pope with enthusiastic +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">vivats</span></span>, expressing, at the same time, their detestation +of his ministry, which they were wont to applaud so loudly, and +which, if it had not by any great activity done much to acquire, +had certainly done nothing to forfeit their favor. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Viva Pio +Nono! Pio Nono Solo!</span></span>”</span> was now their cry. The Pope himself +next came to be considered as intolerably dilatory in preparing +measures of reform. Nor did he escape the accusation, at the +same time, of sacrificing to his zeal, as a temporal ruler, the +higher duties which he owed to religion and the Church. +According to one set of revilers, he was breaking with inviolable +tradition. Others insisted that so enthusiastic a reformer of +the State must be a revolutionist in the Church. Such attacks +were met by anticipation in the Encyclical of 9th November, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page030">[pg 030]</span><a name="Pg030" id="Pg030" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +1846. This well-known document was received with applause +by the civilized world. It leaves no ground for the charges in +question. It would only destroy the Church to pretend to +reform its dogma and revolutionize its discipline and government. +Such an idea could proceed from no other source than +the stratagems of unbelief, or from the snares of the wolf, who, +in sheep's clothing, seeks to insinuate himself into the fold. +It is nothing short of sacrilege to hold that religion is susceptible +of progress or improvement, as if it were a philosophical +discovery, which could advance with the march of science. +The Holy Father enumerates also in this Encyclical the +principal grounds of faith, and exhorts all bishops to oppose +with all their zeal and learning those who, alleging progress +as their motive, perversely endeavor to destroy religion by +subjecting it to every man's individual judgment. He +condemns indifference as regards religion, eloquently defends +ecclesiastical celibacy, and, mindful that the Church is the +teacher of the great as well as of the humble, he enforces the +obligations of sovereigns towards their subjects, not forgetting +the fulfilment of all the duties which the people owe to their +rulers. In a former Encyclical, Pius IX. had expressed his +predilection for the religious orders. This expression was now +renewed. Time may have interfered, more or less, with their +discipline. Anxious to preserve them and promote their +prosperity, he was ever willing to correct such abuses as may +have existed. To some communities he offered the most +admirable suggestions. Others he honored with personal +visits, evincing always a truly pastoral zeal for the well-being +of institutions so precious to religion. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., although deeply occupied with affairs of State +that would have commanded all the attention and energy of +any ordinary mind, found time, nevertheless, for the discharge +of duties of a still higher order. He never forgot that he was +the Bishop as well as the Sovereign of Rome. The Romans, +although inhabiting the Holy City, like all other people, stood +in need of the instructions and warnings of religion. The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page031">[pg 031]</span><a name="Pg031" id="Pg031" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Pope was aware, besides, that bad habits prevailed, such as +profane swearing, luxurious living, the neglect of parents in +the training of their children. The knowledge of such things +grieved him exceedingly. He now resolved to have recourse +to a measure which was as striking as it was unexpected. In +the trying days of the Crusaders, and moved by their zeal for +the safety of Christendom, the Popes of an earlier time had +addressed, as the ministers of God, immense public assemblages. +No Pope, however, had appeared in the pulpit since +Gregory VII. The Church of St. Andrew, where the eloquent +Father Ventura was accustomed to preach, was selected, but, +lest there should be too great a crowd, no notice of the Pope's +intention was published. At half-past three o'clock on a +Sunday afternoon, just as the congregation were expecting to +see Abbate Ventura enter the church, the Pope himself made +his appearance. The sermon was not a long one; but it was +memorable, and to be long remembered. <span class="tei tei-q">“In this city,”</span> said +the Holy Father, <span class="tei tei-q">“which is the centre of Catholicity, there are +men who insult the holy name of God by profane and blasphemous +language. On all those who now hear me I lay this +charge: publish everywhere that I have no hope for such men. +They cast in the face of Heaven the stone which will, one day, +recoil upon them and crush them. I would also most earnestly +exhort you as regards the duty of fasting. Many fathers and +mothers come to me in order to impart to me the sorrow +which they experience in considering the melancholy fact +which cannot escape their observation, that the demon of +uncleanness exercises a destructive empire over the youth +of Rome. Our Lord Himself in the Holy Gospel assures +us that, by no other means than prayer and fasting, is it +possible to overcome this demon who poisons the sources of +life and works the ruin of immortal souls.”</span> The sermon, +although comparatively short, spoke of the chief obligations +of a Christian life. It was delivered with great unction, and +the Holy Father concluded with a fervent prayer for Rome +and the Roman State. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look down upon this vine, O Lord, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page032">[pg 032]</span><a name="Pg032" id="Pg032" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +which Thy right hand hath planted! Look upon it in mercy, +and remove from it the hand of iron which weighs so heavily +upon it. Pour into the bosoms of the rising generations those +two most precious attributes of youth,—modesty and a teachable +mind. Listen to my prayer, O Lord, and bestow upon +this congregation, on this city and all people, Thy most precious +blessings.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Appropriate gesticulations added to the power of words. +Another influence, also, came in aid,—an influence peculiar +to Pius IX.,—that indescribable expression of goodness which +lighted up his countenance as he spoke. The people, whose +feelings are naturally fine, were moved even to tears and +sighs. The occasion itself was well calculated to move the +minds of a Catholic audience. It was an element, no doubt, +which, together with the eloquence of the preacher, and the +power of apostolic preaching, could not fail to produce a +profound impression. And, indeed, the whole congregation +were filled with enthusiasm. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst thus finding consolation in the exercise of his +sublime ministry, the benevolent Pontiff was destined to +encounter formidable attacks on the part of political opponents. +On the one hand, the ultra-Conservatives, who held +in abomination the mere idea of reform, endeavored by every +means to confound in the popular mind the beneficial measures +which the Pope was introducing into the economy of +the State, with radical changes in the most essential points +of religion itself. The Socialists, on the other hand, studied +to excite the people and increase their impatience by misrepresenting +all the acts of the ministry, and causing it to be +believed that, by the delay which was unavoidable in labors +of such magnitude and importance, they were only abusing +the confidence of the sovereign and betraying the cause of +reform. Some remains of chivalry might have been expected +in the ranks of the high Conservative party. But, alas! too +truly the age of chivalry was gone, and these sticklers for the +usages of a bygone age, only showed by their modes of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page033">[pg 033]</span><a name="Pg033" id="Pg033" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +proceeding that they clung to an empty and inanimate form +of things from which life and substance had departed. As +was related at the time, they stepped down to the depths of +calumny and published a cruel libel, in which the Holy +Father was held up to the scorn of all right-thinking +men as an <span class="tei tei-q">“intruder,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“an enemy of Religion,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“the +chief of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Young Italy</span></span>.”</span> In the estimation of such men discretion +is the better part of valor. But whilst they fought +with the coward's weapon—slander—they could not wholly +escape detection. Their libel was seized in the hands of a +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">colporteur</span></span>. This wretched man offered to disclose the +names of the libellers. Pius IX. declined his offer, generously forgave +him the offence, and even bestowed upon him a sum of +money in order to induce him and enable him to give up +his nefarious trade. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, there was at Rome a still more numerous +body who sustained the policy of the Holy Father. These +friends of order, it is most pleasing to record, made every +effort to aid him in carrying out the measures of reform +which he contemplated. This influential body of faithful +and patriotic citizens, who can never be sufficiently praised, +organized a considerable force which kept the populace in +check. This party consisted, chiefly, of the burghers of +Rome. They were encouraged and headed by the higher +nobles, such as the Borghese, the Rospigliosi, the Riguano, +the Piombino, and the Aldobrandini. Acting as a noble +guard, they were able to preserve order in the city, when, +on occasion of celebrating the memorable amnesty, it was +seriously threatened by the factions. They were, indeed, +a party of reform, order-loving and law-abiding. It can +never be sufficiently regretted that, unaccustomed as they +were to political turmoil, they knew not how to keep their +ground in the face of new dangers which arose so soon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The health of Cardinal Gizzi had begun to decline. The +toils of office were not calculated to improve it, and so he +relinquished a post which was, every day, becoming more +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page034">[pg 034]</span><a name="Pg034" id="Pg034" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +onerous and difficult. There was another Cardinal whose +high character had endeared him to the Romans. Ability +and learning were not his only qualities. He was energetic +and resolute, faithful, straightforward and self-sacrificing. +When the dread scourge of cholera swept over his episcopal +city and impoverished his people, Cardinal Ferretti gave up +for the relief of the sufferers all that he possessed—money, +clothing, plate, furniture, and remained in his empty Palace, +as destitute as a pauper. To this eminent Cardinal Pius +IX. appealed, offering him the high office which Gizzi could +no longer hold. On 26th July, 1847, the new Chief Minister +arrived at Rome. He was warmly received. The citizens +gave him an ovation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Shortly before his arrival, news had come to Rome that +Austrian troops were marching on Ferrara, a city of the Papal +States. They were, indeed, entitled, by the treaty of 1815, to +occupy this fortress, as well as that of Camachio. They could +urge no better excuse for a display of military power in the +Pope's States on occasion of the threatened disturbance of 16th +July. This parade was only the prelude to further military +operations. On 13th August, General Count Auesperg occupied +all the posts of Ferrara. Whatever may be said as to +treaty rights, this was, undoubtedly, an insult to the Papal +flag. The most energetic remonstrances were immediately +addressed to the Cabinet of Vienna. Austria endeavored to +justify her proceeding by a wide interpretation of the right of +occupation, by alleging the disturbed state of the public mind +at Rome, and by insisting on certain precedents. But to no +purpose. The diplomacy of Ferretti contended successfully +with that of Metternich. And Austria, yielding with the best +grace possible to the representations of the Holy Father, +evacuated Ferrara. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Pope, far from allowing himself to be disquieted by the +presence in his States of Croat troops, proceeded with the work +of reform which he had undertaken, slowly, indeed, but with +energy and perseverance. In these labors of the statesman, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page035">[pg 035]</span><a name="Pg035" id="Pg035" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +he was ably aided by the Cardinal Minister Ferretti. A promise +was given that before the end of the year two great political +and administrative institutions would be called into existence. +Accordingly, so early as the month of October, two State papers +appeared, the one instituting the municipality of Rome, which +was to be called <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">the Senate</span></span>, the other decreeing an assembly +that should be, to a certain extent, representative, under the +name of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Council of State</span></span> (consulta). The City of Rome had +not, for a long time, possessed, like the other cities of the Pontifical +States, municipal institutions. It was now ordained +that there should be a City Council, consisting of the mayor +(in the language of the country, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Senator</span></span>), with eight colleagues +and a hundred other members. This is not unlike our own +municipal magistracy, wherein are the mayor, aldermen and +common councilmen or councillors. With us, however, aldermen +could hardly be called the colleagues of the mayor. This +functionary stands alone in his worshipful dignity. The first +nomination of the members of this municipal body was reserved +to the Pope. But it was appointed that, ever after, it should +be chosen by free popular election. None will question the +wisdom and liberality of the language in which the Pope +expressed himself in the preamble to the new law. <span class="tei tei-q">“When +we were called by Divine Providence to govern the Church and +the State, our paternal solicitude was at once directed to every +portion of the Dominion subjected to our Government, but +especially towards the capital, the chief of all our cities, to +which it is consoling for us to devote our watchings and our +labors. What was, above all, important, and what we think +will be a subject of joy to all, is the restoration to this beloved +city of its ancient glory of communal representation, by granting +to it a deliberative council. The study of this project has +been particularly pleasing to us, and we have not allowed ourselves +to be discouraged by any difficulty.”</span> This important +decree was published on the 2nd day of October, 1847. On +the following day there was a national festival. The people +were in raptures, and loudly demonstrated their gratitude to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page036">[pg 036]</span><a name="Pg036" id="Pg036" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the Holy Father for an institution which recalled the glorious +associations of ancient Rome, and restored it to its place and +rank among modern cities. The Cardinal-prince Altieri was +named president. He opened the first session of the municipal +council by a speech which was marked by the homage +paid therein to Pius IX. <span class="tei tei-q">“He considered not,”</span> said the orator, +<span class="tei tei-q">“whether the work be difficult. He sees its utility and hesitates +not.”</span> The council almost unanimously elected to the post of +Senator (Mayor) Prince Corsini, who was, at that time, devoted +to the policy of the reforming Pontiff. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A measure of more general importance now occupied the +attention of the Sovereign Pontiff and his Ministers. The +Council of State (consulta) was established. It was a deliberative +assembly. It was not sovereign, but possessed the right +to advise the Sovereign. There were twenty-four councillors. +The President was a Cardinal Legate. Each councillor was +chosen by the Pope from a list of three candidates presented +by each Province of the Pontifical States. The Council was +divided into four sections, whose office it was to prepare laws +relating to the Departments of Finance, Home Affairs, Public +Works and Justice. It was the duty also of these four Committees +to hold a general meeting on certain days, in order to +take counsel together on the draughts of proposed laws which +they had separately prepared. On the 25th November, 1847, +the National Representatives met for the first time. Their +place of meeting was the throne-room of the Quirinal Palace. +Cardinal Antonelli was the first President. The proceedings +were commenced, and most appropriately, by a respectful +address to the Holy Father. It was well known to Pius IX. +that the creation of this institution had awakened exaggerated +and premature hopes in the minds of a portion of the people, +and that some of the Deputies were not disinclined to encourage +them. So he considered it necessary, in his reply, +to define, in a very decided manner, the true character +and functions of the National Representative Body. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is +chiefly,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“in order that I may become better acquainted +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page037">[pg 037]</span><a name="Pg037" id="Pg037" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with the wants of my people, and that I may better provide +for the exigencies of the State, that I have called you together. +I am prepared, in time, to do everything, without, however, +diminishing the Sovereignty of the Pontificate. That man +would be grievously mistaken who should behold in the functions +which devolve on you, or in your institution itself, his own +Utopias, or the commencement of anything incompatible with +the Pontifical Sovereignty.”</span> In concluding, he spoke in a still +more determined tone, and reproached his people with the +ingratitude which they had already begun to manifest. <span class="tei tei-q">“There +are some persons who, having nothing to lose, wish for disorder +and insurrection, and go so far as to make a bad use even of +our concessions.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was in this Council a commencement of representative +government. Deputies from the Provinces assembled—deliberated. +They heard a Speech from the Throne. They +presented an address in reply. In due time this germ of constitutional +monarchy would be developed. But the Sovereign +would not proceed rashly. The full measure of reform, he was +well aware, must, like all great works, be the fruit of time, of +much labor and patient consideration. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Count Rossi, the French Ambassador, considered that it +was already time to introduce a lay element into the political +administration of the Papal States. The Holy Father, accordingly, +after due consideration, appointed some distinguished +laymen to the Ministry. In so doing, no doubt, he sacrificed +time-honored usage; but not so much to the wishes of his friends +and allies, as to the spirit of the age, which, whether right or +wrong, will have men of the world to deal with the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Italy, although divided into several States, looked to Rome +as its centre and its capital. Whatever occurred in the city +of the Popes was at once known throughout the whole peninsula. +Such important and unlooked-for measures of reform as +were now carried into effect could not fail, as they were communicated, +to affect deeply the Italian mind. Public opinion +was aroused. The most profound sympathy was everywhere +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page038">[pg 038]</span><a name="Pg038" id="Pg038" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +felt and expressed. Liberty had revived under the auspices of +Religion. It had emanated as a new blessing from the Cross. +The Chief of Religion, the Father of the Faithful, had become +its High Priest. His name was held in benediction. His +praises were proclaimed not only by the Italian people, but +also by every civilized nation. It was no longer violence—no +longer insurrection—that contended for liberty. The greatest +of all sovereigns had announced its reign. It was not indebted +to any secret society. It relied upon society at +large. It rested secure, so men believed, on the firm +foundation of enlightened public opinion. Philosophy, +as represented by M. Cousin, hailed its advent. The +statesmanship of France, headed by M. Thiers, extolled +its champion. Protestantism, forgetting its illiberal +prejudices, re-echoed with enthusiasm the warm <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">vivats</span></span> of +reformed Italy. Pius IX., meanwhile, enjoyed his reward,—not +in the flattering echo of the thousand voices which +sounded his praise, but in the one still voice of approving +conscience. He was consoled, moreover, by a profound conviction +that the cause which he had taken in hand would, one +day, prove triumphant. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With every new concession came the desire for further +change. The people generally were satisfied, even grateful, +and they frequently expressed their gratitude in the most +sincere and enthusiastic manner. They were not, however, +all sincere. There were not wanting those who studied only +to make available for their own ends the tumultuous gatherings +and warm expressions of satisfaction in which the people +so often indulged. This was the Socialist faction. It aimed +at nothing less than to establish a Republic—a <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Republic, one +and undivided</span></span>, or, as it has been called, because of its cruel +and blood-thirsty character, the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Red Republic</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With a view to the establishment of such a Republic, the +men of this party took advantage of the numerous assemblages, +which could not now either be regulated or diminished +in number, to gain new friends, to increase popular excitement, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page039">[pg 039]</span><a name="Pg039" id="Pg039" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and so to discipline it as to bring it, through some +favorite demagogues, under their control. It will shortly be +seen with what a dangerous weapon they were arming themselves. +It can scarcely be doubted that but for the machinations +of these factionists and their influence with the masses, +which was every day increasing, Pius IX. would have succeeded +in establishing a system of government as constitutional +and as free as was at all compatible with his own rights +as sovereign. These rights he was not at liberty to abandon. +No greater measure of political freedom could be reasonably +desired by any people. From all history it is manifest that +liberty is as fully enjoyed, and established on a more secure +and permanent basis, under the fostering auspices of a constitutional +monarchy, than in the best regulated republics. +Such a form of government may indeed be said to be more +republican than monarchical. But although possessing many +properties, and all the popular advantages of a Republic, it +does not cease to be a monarchy. The kingly dignity still +remains with all that appertains to it, and is an essential +element of its constitution. Such was the monarchy that +Pius IX. desired to retain, and which he was bound in +conscience, he believed, never to relinquish. That in this +he was sincere his high character bears witness. Never +was there a less selfish sovereign, or a man of more upright +mind and sounder judgment. No prince ever held +less to prerogative. Essential rights he was firmly resolved +to maintain, whilst he never would have shrunk from any +legitimate concession. Whatever was adapted to the time +and the circumstances of his country, useful to his people, +and conformable to a well-informed and sound public opinion, +he was prepared to introduce into the economy of the State. +But, the complete secularization of public power in the Pontifical +States, in other words, the establishment of a Republic +based on anti-Christian principles,—the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Red Republic</span></span>,—could +never for a moment be contemplated. What may be called +the consultative Government had just entered upon the discharge +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page040">[pg 040]</span><a name="Pg040" id="Pg040" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of its duties, when Pius IX. resolved to render it completely +representative. This important resolution was the +subject of frequent conversations with M. Rossi, at the time +ambassador at Rome of the French constitutional monarchy. +M. Rossi wrote as follows, to his government, in January, +1848: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">It is a problem which, after much reflection, I consider +may be solved. The divisions of sovereignty in the world +have been numerous and diverse. And as they lasted for +ages, we might even try one more, beginning by separating +entirely the temporal from the spiritual—the Pope from the +King. Only it would be necessary to leave wholly to the +spiritual, and the clergy, matters which with us are mixed.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Not many days later, the ambassador imparted to his +government this more decided intelligence: <span class="tei tei-q">“The Pope will +shortly grant the constitution. It is his serious and constant +study.”</span> M. Rossi earnestly recommended that there should +be no delay in adopting this important measure. It would, +he conceived, put an end to agitation,—a most desirable +result, surely, when it is considered how fatal to the cause +of liberty and reform might any day become the too frequent +tumultuous assemblages which, once constitutional government +was established, would necessarily cease. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Pope held the same idea as the eminent diplomatist. +The great idea was as yet, however, far from being realized. +A new and most serious difficulty unexpectedly arose. On the +5th of March, 1848, a courier arrived, bearing the startling +intelligence that the constitutional monarchy of France had +fallen, and that a Republic was established at Paris. No +greater misfortune could have befallen Rome. The public +excitement was increased beyond measure, and exaggerated +hopes were enkindled that could never be fulfilled. The +people, at first enthusiastic only, were now turbulent. The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page041">[pg 041]</span><a name="Pg041" id="Pg041" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +events in France exercised a still more fatal influence. They +caused anarchy to prevail. The extreme or Socialist Republicans, +whom the proclamation of the constitution would have +paralyzed, were now in the ascendant. What had been done +at Paris, they conceived, might be done at Rome. And they +induced the inexperienced multitude to share their conviction. +Such belief was only an idle and a culpable dream. For +surely it could not be guiltless to resolve on sacrificing thousands +on thousands of precious lives for an Utopia,—a system +that could never be realized. Events have shown that in +France itself, which was entirely free to make whatever +political arrangement it pleased, a Republic was not possible, +even such a Republic as was established at the downfall of +the citizen monarchy, in preference to the Red Republic. +How, then, should it be possible to build up at Rome an +extreme system in opposition to the views and wishes of +the whole Christian world,—in opposition even to the people +of Rome themselves, who, when free from undue excitement, +were the loyal supporters of the sovereign who had already +introduced into the economy of the State so many liberal +institutions—institutions that were in perfect harmony with +their ideas, and admirably adapted to the exigencies of the +times? There was no need, as yet, that the Catholic nations +should come to the aid of their Chief. It was necessary +only to appeal, in defence of his sovereignty, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">from +Rome drunk to Rome sober</span></em>,—from Rome intoxicated with +unwonted draughts of liberty to Rome in its normal state—to +Rome, cool, and calm, and intellectual, even as in the +days of her ancient glory, when her sages and grave senators +sat by her gates sorrowing but dignified in their defeat. +With the like countenance ought modern Rome to +have met the tide of Socialist invasion, which every successive +endeavor to establish the Red or Communist Republic +proves to be more destructive than the war of mighty legions, +which can only cast down material walls. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A Socialist Republic was impossible at Rome, the city of +the Popes. It never could have held its ground against the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page042">[pg 042]</span><a name="Pg042" id="Pg042" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sound principle which universally prevailed throughout the +Pontifical States. Nor would it ever have been able to obtain +the countenance, or even the recognition, of the European +governments. Not France and Austria only; every other +Catholic nation as well would have exerted all their influence +against it. Nor in doing so would they have acted unwisely +or unjustly. Had not Rome been the residence of their Chief +Pastor, that great historic city would have ceased long ago to +exist, or would be known only as an insignificant village, +scarcely perceptible on the map of Europe. How often has +not the celebrated city been rescued from destruction by the +direct agency of the Popes? How long have they not governed +it with wisdom and blessed it with prosperity? If there +be any such thing as prescriptive right, undoubtedly it is +theirs. If there be any right better founded and stronger +than that of conquest, such right belongs unquestionably to +the saviors of Rome. They have saved it for the Christian +world, for mankind, for the Church. It is no man's property. +It cannot be let, like a paltry farm, to those who shall bid the +highest, in vain compromises and delusive hopes of liberty. +Should the Roman people, of their own free will, pretend to +give themselves away,—to sell themselves to a faction whose +subversive principles they abhor, their forefathers of all preceding +ages would protest against their base degeneracy; the +children of the generations to come would curse their memory; +all reflecting men of the present time would accuse them of +black ingratitude,—ingratitude to the mighty dead among +their Pontiffs, to whom they are indebted for their very name, +their city's fame, its honored State, its very existence in modern +times; ingratitude, above all, to that ruler who offered +them, who bestowed upon them, liberty, and who would have +gladly rescued them in his day from tyranny,—the tyranny of +faction,—even as his predecessors, in bygone times, snatched +them from the cruel grasp of barbarism. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. had made up his mind to institute thoroughly +representative and constitutional government. And this was +all that the Roman people, as yet, desired. They were +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page043">[pg 043]</span><a name="Pg043" id="Pg043" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +only anxious that the views of the Pontiff should be speedily +carried into effect. Accordingly, Prince Corsini, the Senator +(Mayor), and the eight principal members of the Municipal +Council, were commissioned to make known their wishes to the +Pope. His reply was dignified and candid. In declaring his +intention to grant the constitution which they asked for, he +took care to intimate in the most decided manner that he was +not making a concession to the urgency of the moment, but +accomplishing his premeditated purpose. <span class="tei tei-q">“Events,”</span> said he, +<span class="tei tei-q">“abundantly justify the request which you address to me in +the name of the Council and Magistracy of Rome. All are +aware that it is my constant study to give to the Government +the form which appears to me to be most in harmony with the +times. But, none are ignorant, at the same time, of the difficulties +to which he is exposed, who unites in his own person +two great dignities, when endeavouring to trace the line of demarcation +between these two powers. What, in a secular +Government, may be done in one day, in the Pontifical can +only be accomplished after mature deliberation. I flatter myself, +nevertheless, that the preliminary labours having been +completed, I shall be able, in a few days, to impart to you the +result of my reflections, and that this result will meet the +wishes of all reasonable people.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 14th of March, accordingly, was published <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">the +fundamental statute for the temporal government of the Holy +See</span></span>, and so was inaugurated constitutional rule in the most +complete and straightforward manner which it is possible to +conceive. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The constitution was framed according to the model of the +French Liberal Monarchy of 1830, so modified as to render it +capable of being adapted to the Pontifical Government. Under +its provisions there were a Ministry which was responsible, +and two Houses of Parliament, one of which was elective, and +the other composed of members who should hold their appointment +during their lifetime. To the Council of State belonged +the framing of laws to be afterwards submitted to the votes of +the two Chambers. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page044">[pg 044]</span><a name="Pg044" id="Pg044" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In all constitutional monarchies, the assent of the sovereign +is necessary, in order to give the force of law to measures voted +by Parliament. So, under the constitution promulgated at +Rome by Pius IX., the College of Cardinals were constituted a +permanent council, whose office it was to sanction finally the +decisions of the Legislative Chambers. Such, in substance, +was the statute by which the Pontifical States became undeniably +constitutional. A few days later the Ministry was +named. Three-fourths of their number were laymen. Cardinal +Antonelli was appointed President or First Minister. +And thus the constitution was no sooner framed than it came +into operation, so anxious was Pius IX. to advance the interests +and meet the wants and wishes of his people. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now, one would say, gratitude only could await the Pontiff. +But no! at the moment when, of all others, he was entitled to +rely on the devotedness of his people, a new and great difficulty +arose. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +By the diplomacy of 1815, at the close of the great European +War, certain portions of Italy had been left subject to +German rule. By war only, some Italians imagined, could +this evil be removed. This was an extravagant idea. War +could only raise up new enemies to the cause of Italy and +that regeneration which appeared to be so near at hand. +Diplomacy would have served them better. What it had done +at one time, under pressure of the most trying circumstances, +it would have been ready to achieve when circumstances were +changed, and imperatively demanded a new order of things. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the new emergencies that had arisen, the learning and +ability of statesmen ought, at least, in the first instance, to +have been appealed to. As between individuals, it is reasonable +that all peaceful means of adjusting a quarrel should be +employed, so, in the greater affairs of nations, all the arts of +statesmanship ought to be had recourse to before resort is had +to bayonets and blood. How successful such a course would +have proved, and how beneficial to the cause of Italian liberty, +is more than sufficiently shown by the great result which +diplomacy obtained, when Austria, insisting on treaty rights, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page045">[pg 045]</span><a name="Pg045" id="Pg045" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +displayed the flag of war at Ferrara. In that case, no doubt, +the Pope was the chief diplomatist. But would he not have +been so, likewise, when there was question, not of one city +only, but of many of the greatest cities and best provinces of +Italy? It is not to be supposed, that in these more momentous +circumstances he would have found <span class="tei tei-q">“the Barbarians”</span> +more hard to deal with. Austria, indeed, was so barbarous +as to ignore that exquisite refinement of modern times, +which despises religion and its ministers; and so she would +have shown, as of old, her reverence for the Pontiff, by withdrawing, +at his request, her soldiers from Italian soil. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Italians, however, did not think so. They would have +war, cost what it would. The people even of the Papal States, +whose august Chief could have conquered without war, were +bent on the same fatal purpose. They were wholly under the +influence of the Socialist agitation, and no wiser counsel could +be made to prevail. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was decided among the popular leaders that the question +of war should be agitated in the greatest assembly which it +was possible to gather together. The Coliseum was appointed +as the place of meeting, and it was destined to present an unwanted +spectacle, a grand but ill-omened scene. All Rome, it +may be said, was congregated in the ancient arena, the favorite +tribunes at their head. These demagogues were determined +that the question of war should be settled by acclamation, +hoping thus to influence the Sovereign Pontiff to induce him +to abandon his policy of neutrality by this imposing display of +opinion and excitement, by so much popular enthusiasm, by +such intoxication, so to say, of patriotism. At an early hour +the vast arena was already crowded. All orders of the State +were there—Nobles, Burghers, Soldiers, Princes—everybody. +Priests even came in tolerable numbers to swell the crowd, +and monks of every order, ecclesiastics of every college, members +of every congregation. Such was the immense open air +assemblage in which the question of the new crusade was to +be solemnly discussed. It would have been a grand and noteworthy +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page046">[pg 046]</span><a name="Pg046" id="Pg046" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +spectacle, had it not been arranged beforehand by skilful +leaders who were adepts in the art of getting up revolutionary +displays. In the great assembly there may have been +sincerity. In the chief actors there was none. Such a spontaneous +expression of public sentiment, if really such, would, +indeed, have been imposing—grand. Viewed only as a theatrical +performance of parts learned to order—and it was nothing +more—it was deserving of nothing but contempt. There was +in this display, besides, a sinister and melancholy feature—a +set of actors practising on the popular mind to-day, in order +to discover what they might safely attempt to-morrow. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Near the tribune which overlooks the arena were ranged +all those agitators who were destined to become, at a later +period, so notorious in the commotions of the time. Among +them was observed Padre Gavazzi, a Barnabite monk, whose +puerile vanity made him aspire to distinction, and whose +career was already marked by pretentious eloquence, a bombastic +style, confused ideas, and a mind still undecided as to +the limits of orthodoxy, which, a little later, he stepped +beyond. He was the preacher of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">the crusade</span></span>. Next came the +shepherd poet, Rosi; Prince Canino's Secretary, Masi; a +young French monk of the order of Conventualists, Dumaine; +Generals Durando and Ferrari; the journalist, Sterbini, afterwards +so fatally popular; and, of course, the demagogue, +Cicerruacho, who had been, at first, enthusiastic in the cause +of the Pope, but who now burned for war, and, ere long, imparted +to the revolution a character of fitful fanaticism and +absurd sympathies. The day was spent in magniloquent addresses, +which affected the style of ancient types, urgent exhortations +to war, poetical orations, rounds of applause, +rapturous demonstrations. The result was, lists for the enrolment +of volunteers; the establishment in the different quarters +of the city of tables for receiving patriotic offerings, and a +threatening demonstration against the Quirinal Palace, where +it was intended to force the Pope to bless the colours for the +expedition against Austria. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page047">[pg 047]</span><a name="Pg047" id="Pg047" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The movement was now beyond all control. The orders of +the Pope were treated with a sort of respect, but not obeyed. +The spirit of rebellion was abroad, although the people still +made a show of reverence. They were no sooner from the +presence of the Pontiff than they transgressed his most sacred +commands. Pius IX. had distinctly specified, when he authorized +the enrolment and the departure of volunteers, that it +was his intention and his will that the expedition should be +exclusively defensive; that it should protect the territory, but +avoid passing the frontier. The leaders, notwithstanding, +adding perfidy to rebellion, made use of the Pontiff's name in +order to deceive the people. General Durando had no sooner +arrived at Bologna than he issued a proclamation, in which, +falsifying the Pope's wishes, he adduced his authority in order +to encourage the war. <span class="tei tei-q">“Radetsky,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“fights against +the cross of Christ. Pius IX. has blessed your swords together +with those of Charles Albert. This war of civilization against +barbarism is not merely national, it is a Christian war. With +the cross and by the cross, we shall be victorious. God wills +it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nothing could have tended more completely to compromise +the character of the Pontiff. It became necessary, accordingly, +to publish the Encyclical Letter of 29th April, 1848. <span class="tei tei-q">“Men +are endeavouring,”</span> said the Holy Father, in this admirable +document, <span class="tei tei-q">“to disseminate suspicions that are injurious to the +temporal administration of our States. It is our duty to prevent +the scandal that might thus be given to the simple and +unreflecting.”</span> He then proceeds to declare that he is resolved +to expose clearly and to proclaim loudly the origin of all the +facts of his Government. He refers to the memorandum of +1831, which contained the collective counsels of the European +Cabinets to the Apostolic See, recommending the necessary +reforms. Some of these reforms were adopted by Gregory XVI. +Circumstances and the danger of the times caused others to be +deferred. Pius IX. considered that it was his duty to complete +what his predecessor had begun. He does not disclaim having +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page048">[pg 048]</span><a name="Pg048" id="Pg048" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +taken the initiative on certain other points. He had pardoned +extensively, and he congratulates himself on this clemency. +He repels the calumny which would ascribe to the +reforms which he had inaugurated the general movement of +Italy towards its enfranchisement. This agitation he attributes +to events that occurred elsewhere, and which became +facts of overwhelming influence for the whole of Europe. +Finally, he protests that he gave no other order to his soldiers +than that which required that they should defend the Pontifical +territory. He cannot be held responsible for the conduct of +those amongst his subjects who allow themselves to be swayed +by the example of other Italians. He had given his orders +distinctly. They had been transgressed. On the disturbing +question of war with Austria, the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Encyclical</span></span> bears the following +words: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">They would have us declare war against Austria. We +have thought it our duty to protest formally against such a +resolution, considering that, notwithstanding our unworthiness, +we hold on earth the place of Him who is the Author of +peace—the Friend of charity; and that, faithful to the Divine +obligations of our Apostolate, we embrace all countries, all +peoples, all nations, in a like sentiment of paternal love. Nor +can we refrain from repelling, in the face of all nations, the +perfidious assertions of those who desire that the Roman +Pontiff should be the chief of the government of a new republic, +consisting of all the peoples of Italy.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Moreover, we earnestly exhort, on this occasion, these +same Italian peoples to keep particularly on their guard against +these treacherous counsels. We conjure them to remain +devotedly attached to their princes, whose affection they have +experienced. To act otherwise would be not only to fail in +their duty, but also to expose Italy to discord and factions. +As regards ourselves, we declare once more that all the +thoughts and all the efforts of the Roman Pontiff tend only to +increase every day the kingdom of Jesus Christ, which is the +Church, and not to extend the limits of the temporal sovereignty, +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page049">[pg 049]</span><a name="Pg049" id="Pg049" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +with which Divine Providence has endowed the Holy +See, for the dignity and the free exercise of the sublime Apostolate.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No better argument could have been offered in reply to +those parties who clamored so unreasonably for war. Nor +could the Pontiff have vindicated more eloquently the pacific +character of that religion of which he is the Chief and Representative +on earth. At the same time, he offered wise and +authoritative counsel to the Italian nationalities. It was too +late. The voice of friendly warning remained unheard amidst +the din of strife and revolution. Need it be added—the cause +of liberty perished for a time, victimized by its own excess. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Socialist party had succeeded in gaining the populace of +Rome, and they now constituted a power which prevailed in +the city, whatever it might have been in the field. Skilfully +managed by its leaders, it gave law to the Pontifical +government. The Pope was not, however, powerless. A +merely secular sovereign would have been crushed. He would +have had no other resource than to abdicate. The Holy +Father was not reduced to this extremity. He was still able +to repel the unacceptable measures which the Socialists endeavoured +to thrust upon him. They and their myrmidons +vociferated for war with Austria. The Pope could still say +there should be no war, and his people did not engage in the +contest. A few among the Roman youth took the field. But, +as effeminate as they were ardent, their courage cooled at the +first sight of a <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">barbarian</span></span> camp. They returned to their +hearths, and there talked magniloquently of the tented fields +which they had traversed, the savage hordes which they had +encountered, and the dangers they had escaped. The party +succeeded, however, in forcing a ministry on the reluctant +Pontiff. Such a thing, when done through the representative +body, however unreasonable, does not so much shock our idea +of constitutional government. Neither can we approve the +conduct of a faction which, whilst it was anything but constitutional, +imposed a minister who held its principles, on the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page050">[pg 050]</span><a name="Pg050" id="Pg050" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +prince who had, of his own accord, become a constitutional +monarch. Count Mamiani was one of those whom the +clemency of Pius IX. had restored to their country, of all the +parties thus favored, he alone refused to become bound in +honor to the Holy Father never to abuse the favor, but +to remain always a good and faithful subject. He was not +without ability; was well informed, cool and resolute, but +without any fixed principle in politics. He would as readily +have set up a Red Republic as a constitutional monarchy. +His political conduct was guided more by events and circumstances +than by any well-conceived idea of what is right and +fitting. He was one of those Italian Liberals who might be +compared to the Necker of the French Revolution, whilst +Mazzini and his followers were the ultra-radicals—the Robespierres +of Roman politics. The Mamiani ministry necessarily +arose out of the popular commotions, and was a protest of the +excited masses against the Encyclical of 29th April. Its policy +was no secret. In the days of popular turmoil they immediately +preceded his nomination. Mamiani had declared distinctly +in his harangues to the people that no priest should be +appointed to any public office; that although Pius IX. should +remain at the head of the government, they ought to obtain +from him the revocation of his Encyclical of 29th April, and a +declaration of war against Austria; that a new expedition should +be speedily organized, and that an official bulletin of the war +should be published daily. The warlike and revolutionary +pronunciamentos, thus pompously made, could not fail to +arouse the enthusiasm of the multitude, whose excitement was +already so great. In matters of this nature, however, it is +more easy to make fine speeches than to act. The popular +Tribune was no sooner elevated to the ministry than he came +to experience this difficulty. So it was convenient to forget +the grand lessons which he had labored so vehemently to impress +upon the people. He still, however, insisted, or appeared +to insist, on the Austrian war. It may have been necessary +for the new minister, in order to maintain his influence over +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page051">[pg 051]</span><a name="Pg051" id="Pg051" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the masses, to announce a war policy. Such policy, nevertheless, +was chimerical. It was decidedly opposed by the +legitimately-constituted powers of the State—the Sovereign on +the one hand, who, by his name, his character, his virtues, his +office, was still powerful; and on the other, the representative +body. Accordingly, when this body came together in the +beginning of June, there was an end to the government of the +streets. But there arose new difficulties, and these difficulties +the government of the Holy Father diligently studied to overcome. +Cardinal Altieri delivered, on the part of the Sovereign +Pontiff, an energetic and moving exhortation in support +of unity and concord. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the same time, he expressed his earnest hope that the +newly-elected deputies would show their good will by concurring +with the ministry in rendering the new adaptation of the constitution +compatible with the Pontifical government. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This address, however ineffectual, possessed the merit of +being thoroughly constitutional. The same praise cannot be +awarded to Count Mamiani's inaugural oration. Next day, +which was the 9th of June, he ascended the Tribune, and there +enunciated ideas which belonged more to the ministry in their +individual capacity, than as the representatives of their Sovereign. +This was supremely unconstitutional, and could only +be the result of inexperience. What knowledge could those +men have had of a free and national constitution? They +ought, at least, to have been guided by the laws of honesty +and honor. Who will say that they were so, when they gave +out that the opinion which they expressed in favor of war +was also that of the Pontiff? They endeavored thus to extend +the sanction of a venerated name to designs that were subversive +of Pontifical rule. Neither inexperience nor ignorance +of constitutions presents any valid excuse, or even palliation of +such a proceeding. No doubt they called it policy. It was +the basest trickery. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the hands of honest and judicious ministers the new +constitution might have proved successful. So thought many +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page052">[pg 052]</span><a name="Pg052" id="Pg052" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +persons who were well informed and competent to form an +opinion in regard to so difficult a question. It had also +many well-wishers. But for the war agitation, it would, to all +appearance, have had a different fate. According to the exaggerated +idea of Italian patriotism which prevailed, all true +Italians were bound to fight for their country. On the Mamiani +ministry devolved the very arduous task of reconciling this +warlike spirit with the pacific character of the Pontificate. +The Pope, like any other sovereign, had a right, no doubt, to +defend himself. But both the theology which guided him +and the traditions of his sovereignty forbade him to wage +war on any people. Such was the difficulty which it fell to +the lot of his ministry to solve. The arguments to which they +had recourse, however well meant, were certainly very puerile. +The Pope, as such, they insisted, might decide for peace, and +condemn the shedding of blood, whilst, as temporal sovereign, +he would authorize his ministers to act as should seem to them +proper, and they would declare for war. This miserable +sophistry only showed the weakness of the government which +employed it. The Pontiff could not be expected to act as if he +were two distinct persons. Nor whilst his ministers waged +war, could he, whose representatives they were, be considered +as neutral. For a few months that this ministry remained in +office, the Pope continued to save his States by resisting the +war-cry in opposition to their wishes. They were constantly +at variance with him on this one great topic. His repugnance +to war they could neither comprehend nor overcome. Popular +demonstrations of the most threatening kind were often made, +but to no purpose. +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Justum et tenacem propositi virum,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Non civium ardor prava jubentum mente quatit solida.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Pontiff could not be moved from his firm resolve. +The ministry, however, was shaken. With no better stay than +sophistry and inconsistency, its weakness became apparent, +and, as had been for some time clearly inevitable, it fell. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Before considering further the statesman-like efforts of Pius +IX. in the cause of reform, it may not be out of place to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page053">[pg 053]</span><a name="Pg053" id="Pg053" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +review briefly the political opinion of the time. Although +all men cannot be expected to accept, especially in many +important matters, all the ideas of those distinguished writers, +Gioberti, Balbo, D'Azeglio, it would be unjust, nevertheless, +to deny them the credit of having imparted new vigor, if not +its first impulse, to the cause of reform in Italy. They were +not, like so many others, rash and inconsiderate. They +desired not to hurry on recklessly to the wished-for goal. +They thought it was unwise to aspire, all at once, to the +greatest degree of liberty that might be attained. The end +in view could be best reached, they conceived, by judicious and +well-timed measures of reform, and by such institutions as +might be developed at a later period, when the Italian people, +unaccustomed as yet to a constitutional <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">regime</span></span>, should be +capable of a greater degree of freedom. Nothing more wise +can be supposed than this view of educating the people for +liberty before bestowing on them the precious boon. Their +idea of commencing the work of reform by waging war on +Austria does not appear to be so commendable. It was not, +surely, the part of prudence, when on the eve of a great and +arduous undertaking, to stir up enemies on every side. And +this was really what they sought to do by provoking Austrian +hostility. The government at Vienna was not inclined to be +hostile. It had joined with other powers in recommending +reform to the late Pope. And now it would rather have been +an ally than an enemy. But the <span class="tei tei-q">“barbarian”</span> Germans were +entirely odious to the Italian people. The power of education +ought to have been brought to bear on this same people, if +only in order to disabuse their minds of this one noxious prejudice. +It had become necessary at length to extend to them +the benefits of a political education. And surely the eradication +of illiberal ideas would have formed a profitable branch of +study. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., as has been already shown, was a practical +reformer, and he had zealously undertaken the work of reform. +Austria was not inclined to throw any impediments in the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page054">[pg 054]</span><a name="Pg054" id="Pg054" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +way of his patriotic labors. Only on one occasion did that +powerful empire show a disposition to interfere. It was when +Rome and the Sovereign Pontiff were threatened by popular +commotions. Then, even on the representation of the Holy +Father, Austria laid down her arms. With these constitutional +reformers, if we except their insane idea of waging a +needless war, very little fault can be found as politicians. +So lately as the early part of the year 1848, their opinions +were generally accepted throughout Italy. They were, at that +time, also the most powerful party. Their numbers, authority +and talent, gave them a decided superiority, whilst the Republicans +were still a weak minority. In a few months, to all +appearance, everything was completely changed. Talent, +respectability, authority, and influence, were still on the side +of the constitutional reformers. But, in the meantime, the +Red Republic had gained the command of numbers. How this +came to pass it may be well now to enquire. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In every great community there are many people who have +no fixed principles in politics, and others, perhaps, not less +numerous, who have no political principles at all. Both these +classes of people depend entirety on other men for the sentiments +and opinions by which, at any given moment, they +shall be guided. Such people were sufficiently numerous +at Rome and the other cities and provinces of Italy. +Demagogues, therefore, who were not without ability and possessed +fluency of speech, found it no very difficult task to +fashion as they had a mind, for these classes of citizens, any +amount of political principles and <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">programmes</span></span>. Those even +who were fairly imbued with constitutional ideas, but whose +minds were not wholly decided, the leaders of the Red Republic +endeavored, and not without success, to gain to their side, by +persuading them to compromise, as regarded certain points, +to modify their opinions on others, change their designations, +enter into coalitions, and adopt such ingenious arrangements +as were proposed to them. Thus, by degrees, and as was only +to be expected in such circumstances, the ultra-radicals succeeded +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page055">[pg 055]</span><a name="Pg055" id="Pg055" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +but too well in causing the most extravagant political +notions to prevail among the masses. As fate would have it, +the revolution in France of February, 1848, which brought to +an end the constitutional monarchy, afforded no slight aid and +encouragement to the Red Republic of Italy. The men of this +party might have understood, on reflection, to what extreme +peril France became exposed, when she preferred brute force +to constitutional proceeding, and tore down by violence a system +which was, in many respects, good; and which, inasmuch as it +was a constitution, could in due time have been extended and +improved, receiving, as new wants arose, and wisdom and +experience warranted, new developments, new adaptations, and +daily increasing excellence. The constitutional element once +removed, there was no medium between and safeguard against +absolutism; on the one hand, and on the other anarchy, or the +reign of violence and terror. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The extremists of Italy, however, beheld only in the too +successful action of the Parisian populace a new step towards +liberty. It became the duty of the Italian people, they declared, +to march onward in the wake of enlightened France, and seize +the prize that was at length presented for their acceptance. +By such counsellors were the people abused and led astray. +The moderate reform party were themselves excited by the +enthusiasm which events had inspired, and heeded not the +snares which the radical chiefs were laying for them. They +were thus caught in the toils of those designing men, whilst +they imagined that they were only working out their own idea. +They supposed even that they were gaining Mazzini, whilst, in +reality, Mazzini was making proselytes of them. Gioberti and +his more immediate friends, who certainly were not without +their faults, were abandoned by the crowd. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Reverting to what has been said already concerning Mazzini +and his political doctrines, there need be no hesitation in pronouncing +him the evil genius of modern Italy. In his book, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Italy in its Relations with Liberty and Moral Civilization,”</span> +which was published in France, where he was an exile, in 1847, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page056">[pg 056]</span><a name="Pg056" id="Pg056" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +he formally declared that <span class="tei tei-q">“Young Italy”</span> (the extreme Republicans) +was the only party that could exercise any decisive +influence on the destiny of Italy. At the same time, he treated +with supreme contempt the ideas and hopes of the Reform +party. In his mystic republic only was to be found, he +affirmed, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">the principle of unity, the ideal formula of actual progress</span></em>. +This theory was the idol at whose shrine he offered +sacrifice. His followers were also his fellow-worshippers, and +he was their high priest. They were fascinated by his brilliant +utopias. He was no longer a legislator, a politician, a philosopher +only. He was a man of inspiration, a prophet, the +Mahomet of a new hegira. His sayings were oracles. His +doctrines were enunciated in sententious and poetical language; +and from his place of exile they were disseminated over the +Italian peninsula. It has been shown already how generously +Pius IX. had recalled from banishment many subjects who had +violated the laws of their country. These men were, at +one time, no doubt, sincerely grateful, and showed how +highly they appreciated the clemency of the Pontiff. It +is not, however, surprising, if, as is usual in such circumstances, +they began to consider more the severity which +punished than the goodness which forgave them. Mazzini, +among others, dissembled for a time. It may be—it +has even been suggested that he was at first sincere, and +had nobly resolved to sacrifice his favorite ideas to the cause +of Italy. This opinion, however, was destined to be soon dispelled. +It was not long till the newspaper <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Italia del Popolo</span></span>, +revealed the fact that he still held to extreme and revolutionary +views. The minds of the people were poisoned by the +ravings of this journal, and filled with mistrust. It became +the instrument by which sects and parties were stirred up to +work the ruin of the country. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Unita e non unione. Assemblea +del Popolo Italiano e non dieta.</span></span>”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Unity; not union. The +assembly of the Italian people; not a federal diet.</span></span>”</span> Such was +the watchword of Mazzini's paper. And now the masses in +the streets, under the guidance of the revolutionary leader, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page057">[pg 057]</span><a name="Pg057" id="Pg057" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +vociferated, <span class="tei tei-q">“Live the Constituent Assembly!”</span> with as much +wild enthusiasm as they had formerly shouted for Pius IX. +and reform. They had no distinct idea as to the meaning of +the cry, but held it to be something extreme—a boundless +measure of liberty. The populace wanted nothing better; +and so they continued to shout, as they believed, for unity and +Republican Government. Such a system was, from the very +nature and position of the States of Italy, impracticable, and +without pressure from without, foreign war—which the Mazzinians +so much deprecated—could never have been established. +How bring under the yoke of a general popular convention so +many diverse peoples? They were all Italian, no doubt, but of +different races, different nationalities, and each of them had for +ages enjoyed its own national laws, customs, manners, prejudices, +predilections, and antipathies. Nor had they common +interests. What would be good and suitable in one State +might, by no means, be adapted to the requirements of another; +might even in some cases prove disastrous. The Grand Dukes +had, by their mild and liberal rule, endeared themselves to the +Tuscan people. Piedmont and Naples were alike devoted to +their respective monarchies. The people of the Papal States, +with the exception of the populace of Rome, were loyal to their +government. That populace was greatly increased in 1848 by +the influx of strangers—men holding Republican opinions, who +were diligently culled from foreign nationalities. All but these +abnormal masses were attached to the wise and clement rule +of their Pontiff Sovereigns. Of late years many things had +occurred to confirm their devoted loyalty. Above all, proof +had been given that the sacred monarchy itself could, without +any diminution of its real power and dignity, adopt such +political reforms as were adapted to the wants of the time. +All these monarchies, already so moderate and popular, were +becoming every day more constitutional. Were they now to +be overthrown? The Mazzinian idea aimed at nothing less. +And yet, what would it not have cost? So many time-honored +rights would never have been given up without a struggle—without +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page058">[pg 058]</span><a name="Pg058" id="Pg058" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bloodshed, if they were at all to be sacrificed. The +torch of civil strife would have blazed from end to end of the +Italian peninsula. And the ruin of the ancient monarchies—if, +indeed, they had been destined at that time to fall—would +probably have been succeeded by more despotic forms of +kingly rule. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If, at the time in question, the people of the different States +of Italy had acted in concert, uniting their influence, they +would have assumed an imposing attitude, and might have +obtained not only the forbearance but the aid even of their +powerful neighbors in developing such of their institutions as +already contained germs of liberty, in extending constitutional +rights which had long existed in monarchies that were by no +means absolute. In the place of political wisdom, however, a +universal mania appeared to prevail. In the confusion of +popular demonstrations, and the clamor of party cries, the +<span class="tei tei-q">“still small voice of reason”</span> was unheard. The revolutionary +chiefs harangued anew for war, and Italy, listening to their ill-omened +counsels, took up arms against its sovereigns; and so +gave the death-blow to its political existence. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The moderate Reform party conceived a plan which, if it +had been carried into effect, would have been attended, no +doubt, with great and happy results. They proposed to unite +all the States of Italy by means of a Federal Parliament. +They directed their efforts in the first place to promote union +between the rulers and the people, recommending to the former +moderation, to the latter a wise forbearance. They hoped +thus to postpone the idea of absolute unity, and of the popular +convention by which it was designed to establish and maintain +it. The federal diet, an excellent idea of which was reduced to +writing by the reverend and learned Abbate Rosmini, would +have held the place of this assembly. According to this plan +of confederation, the Pope, the King of Sardinia, the Grand +Duke of Tuscany and the other Princes would have been +united in an offensive and defensive league. Based on these +principles, and provided that nothing were admitted in its +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page059">[pg 059]</span><a name="Pg059" id="Pg059" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +details which could interfere with the sacred character and +office of the Sovereign Pontiff, the proposed political arrangement +would have found favor generally with all who held constitutional +views. Eminent authors, at least, have written +concerning it approvingly. M. Laboulaye, in his learned work +on Count Balbo, says: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">It was necessary that the Princes should be induced to +take an interest in the independence which concerned them so +much, by forming a confederation like the </span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">Zolverein</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">, which has +so powerfully contributed to the union and the greatness of +Germany. A confederation is undoubtedly that organization +which is most suited to the character and the history of Italy, +and it is also the best means of reviving Italian nationality +and of checking Austria.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Need it be added, that when there should have been question +of restraining Austria, there would have been at hand an +influence which Austria respected, and to which that mighty +empire and its disciplined armies would have yielded more readily +than to all Italy in arms. Without a confederation, or an +arrangement equally good, there could be no better lot for Italy +than civil war and national ruin. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Events, meanwhile, were hastening on with alarming rapidity. +The Red Republic persisted in maintaining its idea. +The danger with which the country was threatened from without +did not, in the least, moderate its efforts, and they were +attended by the only results which they were calculated to +produce. Italy remained divided. The sword of Charles +Albert could not cope alone with the formidable arms of Austria. +A united people might have stayed the tide of battle. The +imposing spectacle of their union might even have influenced +the German Cabinet, and the legions of Radetsky might never +have presumed to cross the Mincio. But it was fated to be +otherwise. Excess followed on excess, and the inevitable consequence +was speedy chastisement. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Perish Italy rather than +our idea</span></span>,”</span> was the watch-cry of the Socialist leaders. And as +if fate had combined with their phrenzy to destroy a people, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page060">[pg 060]</span><a name="Pg060" id="Pg060" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Italy was crushed by the invader. What cared they? What +imported it to them that their country was brought low, and +its Princes humbled in the field of Novara? The downfall of +the Sardinian monarch, which at the same time was the defeat +of Italy, was to them a victory. One more impediment to their +designs was removed. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The war of Kings</span></span>,”</span> +said Mazzini, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">is +at an end; that of the people commences</span></span>.”</span> And he declared +himself a soldier. But Garibaldi did not long command him. +His warlike enthusiasm was soon exhausted. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The war of the +people</span></span> also ended disastrously; and the revolutionary chief, +tired of the sword, resumed his pen and renewed his attacks +on the moderate Reformers, who alone had fought, like brave +men, in the Austrian war. The strife of words was more congenial +to the revolutionist; and he set about editing a new +publication. In this journal he raged against the Reformers. +They were a set of traitors, ante-chamber Machiavels, who had +muzzled the popular lion for the benefit of kings and aristocracies. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +These <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Machiavels</span></span> were such men as Count Balbo, who had +given his five sons to the war of independence; Signor +D'Azeglio, who had been in the campaign with Durando, and +who had a leg broken by a ball at Vicenza, whilst defending +Monte Benico with two thousand men against twelve thousand +Austrians. D'Azeglio, still smarting from his wounds, as well +as from the insults of these reckless politicians, replied in a +pamphlet, which appeared under the title of <span class="tei tei-q">“Fears and +Hopes.”</span> He took no pains to spare those club soldiers, those +tavern heroes and intriguers, who could wage war so cleverly +against the men who had stood under the enemy's guns. +<span class="tei tei-q">“For my part,”</span> he wrote, <span class="tei tei-q">“I do not fear your republic, but +despotism. Your agitation will end with the Croats.”</span> And +so it fell out. The prediction was but too speedily and too +completely realized. A French author, M. Mignet, comments +on this subject at some length, and with remarkable eloquence: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">A party as extreme in its desires as in its doctrines, and +which believes that it is possessed of nothing so long as it does +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page061">[pg 061]</span><a name="Pg061" id="Pg061" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +not possess everything, and which, when it has everything, +knows not how to make anything of it, imagined the establishing +of a republic in a country which is scarcely capable of +attaining to representative monarchy, and where the only thing +to be thought of, as yet, was territorial independence. This +party divided the thoughts, weakened the efforts of the country, +and caused mutual mistrust to arise between those governments +and peoples which were reconciled under constitutional +liberty, and had an understanding against the common enemy. +They thus compromised the deliverance of the land. The King +of Naples, threatened by an insurrection in his capital, retained +his troops that were on the point of marching to the theatre of +war; the Pope ceased to give encouragement; the King of Piedmont, +already in full march, hesitated; and Italy, agitated, +without being free, became once more powerless, because she +was disunited, and beheld the Austrians reappear as conquerors, +and re-establish themselves anew as masters, in the +recovered plains of Lombardy.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +These eloquent words confirm the view so generally entertained, +that the Red Republicans were all along the cause of +Italy's disasters. In consequence of the national weakness +which their baneful operations produced, Radetski was enabled +to reconquer Upper Italy, whilst they themselves directed their +steps towards Rome, spreading terror as they approached, even +as if they had been an army of Goths and Vandals. Swelling +by their presence the numbers of men who held the same opinions, +who, like them, were dissatisfied, and whom nothing +could satisfy, they occasioned an extraordinary agitation of the +people, caused fearful disquietude, and excited inordinate hopes. +They imbued the masses with their subversive principles, and +there was an end to all transaction with the Papal government. +They had already done all that lay in their power in +order to destroy monarchy in Piedmont. They now brought +into play every scheme that could be devised, in order to +advance the sinister work of dispossessing the Holy Father. +They succeeded in gaining many Reformers, who, too easily, +allowed themselves to become their dupes. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page062">[pg 062]</span><a name="Pg062" id="Pg062" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At first, as has been shown, the popular demonstrations in +honor of Pius IX. were honestly expressive of gratitude to the +beneficent Pontiff. The Socialists now succeeded in gaining possession +of this great influence, and they employed it, certainly, +with consummate ability. The masses, when once under the +spell of agitation, are at the disposal of the boldest demagogues. +The Reformers who had allowed themselves to be ensnared, +continued to sing their patriotic hymns, the Roman <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Marseillaises</span></span>, +without heeding that Socialist radicalism was imperceptibly +taking the crown of the causeway, and that the popular +demonstrations had undergone a complete change. At an +earlier date <span class="tei tei-q">“Young Italy”</span> had only used them as a threat. +They were now an arm in its hands. And so it governed in +the streets, making a tribune of every milestone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was only wanting to them at this moment a common +centre or general headquarters of insurrection, from which +should go forth the word of command, the signal for every +rising of the people. This was found in the celebrated <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Roman +Circle</span></span>. This circle was a kind of convention without commission—a +travelling cohort of two or three hundred agitators, +who carried from town to town the dread and dismal flag of +the Red Republic. This mob-power had, in opposition to the +wishes of the Holy Father, brought into office the Mamiani +ministry. This weak and irresolute minister broke the ranks +of his own party, and passed over to <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Young Italy</span></span>”</span>. This +party now dictated to him on all occasions. They urged on +him with special earnestness war with Austria, knowing full +well that the Pope would never agree to it, and so by his refusal +would decline in popularity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The constitution was now in abeyance, the minister being +at the orders of a party out of doors, and no longer the organ +of the Sovereign and the representative body. The Pontifical +authority, although still venerated by many, was no longer +obeyed. It was only a name. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The republic reigned, and only waited for the moment, +too surely to come at last, when it should be openly recognized. +In such circumstances the Mamiani ministry rapidly lost +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page063">[pg 063]</span><a name="Pg063" id="Pg063" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ground. Now in its death agony, and impotent for good, it +persisted, with a degree of perverseness which nothing could +moderate, in reiterating its declarations of war against Austria. +This only added to the confusion which prevailed. The +ministers and their more ardent adherents were ready, as +became patriots and heroes, to fight for their country. Nevertheless, +with all this boasting, they made no haste to be +enrolled. Whilst these men were indulging in such idle and +vain-glorious talk, the few who had volunteered and taken the +field, returned from Vicenza, which, during two days, had +been bravely but fruitlessly defended. The forum warriors +had only set out in time to meet their defeated and wounded +fellow-countrymen, and give them the honors of an ovation on +their return to the city. The war agitation was evidently nothing +else than a weapon of offence against the Holy See. In +its results it was most unprofitable, every day bringing news +of fresh disasters. Circumstances now rendered the war-cry +more inopportune than ever. Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, +had been driven from the Mincio to the Oglio, thence to +the Adda, thence to Milan. He was now recrossing the +Piedmontese frontier, vanquished, despairing and heart-broken. +Piedmont, nevertheless, in the silence of her humiliation, set +about preparing for a final effort. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The various ministers whom Pius IX. had called to his +counsels were all alike unsuccessful. Circumstances of greater +difficulty than ever had now arisen, and not without a sad foreboding +of the greater evils that were yet in store, the Holy +Father had recourse to the well-known statesmanship of Count +Rossi, who had formerly been French Ambassador to the Holy +See. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +M. Mignet, the able biographer of this eminent statesman, +gives a distinct and interesting account of the difficulties with +which, as Chief of the Pope's Council of State, he was called to +contend: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">M. Rossi at first hesitated. He knew what formidable +problems there were to solve. To conduct, according to constitutional +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page064">[pg 064]</span><a name="Pg064" id="Pg064" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +principles, a government that had been heretofore +absolute; to administer by the hands of laymen the affairs of +a country that had been hitherto subject to Ecclesiastics; to +unite in an Italian league a state that had been almost always +opposed to a political union of the Peninsula; in a word, to +establish all at the same time, a Constitutional Government, a +Civil Administration, a National Federation, were not the only +difficulties that he would have to overcome. The minister of +a Prince, whose confidence others would dispute with him, a +stranger in a country, where he would exercise public authority, +he would be liable to be left without support notwithstanding +his devotedness, and without approbation notwithstanding his +services; to be attacked as a revolutionist by the blind advocates +of abuses, and disavowed as an enemy of liberty by the +impassioned partisans of chimeras. He continued to decline +for a considerable time. The conditions which he at first proposed +to the Sovereign Pontiff not having been accepted, M. +Rossi thought that he had escaped the lot that was in store for +him. But the Pope, after having essayed in vain a new +ministry, pressed him more urgently, in the month of September, +1848, to come to his aid, offering him at the same time +his full confidence and unlimited authority. M. Rossi accepted.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the time of his accession to office Count Rossi was sixty +years of age. He was no stranger to politics. His life, indeed, +had been spent in the midst of political turmoil. As may be +supposed, he suffered much in the course of his checkered +career. He had, at the same time, learned much at the stern +school of experience. He had been several times an exile, and +had thus become the citizen of more than one country. In +1815 he was banished from the Peninsula, on account of the +part which he had borne in the cause of Italian liberty; and +having resided at Geneva and Paris, he had made for himself, +in those cities, a brilliant reputation. He wrote on the +important subjects of political economy and jurisprudence, +displaying intimate knowledge of these sciences, great intellectual +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page065">[pg 065]</span><a name="Pg065" id="Pg065" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +power and superior penetration. Although relying on +principles and theory, he did not ignore facts, nor refuse to +accommodate the lofty forms of science to practical requirements. +He was versed in the knowledge of mankind, and was +far from being one of those, who, adhering rigidly to theories, +would force nature itself to yield to their opinion. At a time +when the affairs of Italy were in a most dangerous crisis, and +anarchy actually prevailed at Rome, he was the ablest counsellor +and auxiliary that Pius IX. could have placed at the head +of his ministry. Possessing many rare endowments, Count +Rossi was not gifted with those outward graces which tend so +much to win favor for public men. His manner was such that +he appeared cold and reserved; and his keen, searching lynx-like +eye, was calculated to cause embarrassment. Familiarity +with the objects of science and habits of diplomacy had imparted +to him a gravity of demeanor which was easily mistaken +for superciliousness and disdain. Withal he cared not to +please, preferring to exercise influence by strength of will and +the authority of superior intellect, rather than by attractive +and amiable qualities and the charm of the affections. He +had the mind of a statesman, but owned not that winning +exterior which gains the crowd and disarms hostility. None +but his own family knew how good he really was, and how +tender-minded, so completely was all this excellence concealed +by his cold and repulsive manner. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The new minister was resolved, above all, to preserve the +sovereignty of the Holy See. <span class="tei tei-q">“The Papacy,”</span> he wrote at the +time, <span class="tei tei-q">“is the last living glory of Italy.”</span> His conduct was in +perfect harmony with his language. He applied with no less +ardour than ability to the work that lay before him. In less +than two months he accomplished more than can be well conceived, +and further measures were in course of preparation. +Those matters to which he first devoted his chief attention were +the Interior Government of Rome, the state of the Pontifical +finances and the territorial independence of Italy. He found +the public treasury in imminent danger of bankruptcy, and he +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page066">[pg 066]</span><a name="Pg066" id="Pg066" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +saved it by obtaining three millions of <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">ecus</span></span> from the +Roman clergy. Through this munificent donation the minister was +relieved from all disquietude as regarded finance, and so was +enabled to direct his energies to the more difficult task of +adapting the administration to the new institutions. The +constitution was, indeed, legally established. The object now +to be aimed at was to bring its wise provisions into practical +operation; in other words, to create a constitutional Pontificate. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With a view to this desirable end, M. Rossi prepared such +legislative measures as were calculated nicely to determine the +sphere of action that should be proper to each of the powers. +By such means only could the disorderly force of popular +movements be controlled and restrained within fixed limits. +The Civil Government of the Roman States required to be +entirely reorganized. To this task also the minister diligently +applied, impressed with the conviction that good laws are at +once the strongest bulwark of liberty, and the most efficient +check to arbitrary power. Count Rossi was by birth an Italian. +He was so in feeling also, and was naturally led to consider +how he should best avail himself in his political arrangements, +of the sound and enlightened doctrines of Gioberti and Rosmini. +With a view to this end he commenced negotiations at Turin, +Naples and Florence, for a confederation of the Italian States. +It was his policy that all these States should unite under a +general government, whilst each State retained the forms, laws +and institutions to which it had been accustomed. Certain +relations between them, suitable to the time of peace, should +be established, as well as such regulations as would facilitate +their common action in case of war. Pius IX. saw the wisdom +of this great design, and favored its realization. It redounds +to his glory, as a ruler of mankind, that he decided for this +salutary measure from which, if it had been carried into effect, +might have resulted, in time, the complete emancipation and +regeneration of Italy. Time, however, was not granted, and +as we shall presently see, anarchy resumed its dismal reign. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page067">[pg 067]</span><a name="Pg067" id="Pg067" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Anterior to the accession of Count Rossi's Ministry, the +Legislative Chambers had only wasted their time in unprofitable +debates. It was appointed that they should meet on the +15th of December, 1848, and the minister prepared a bold and +energetic, but conciliatory address. The representatives of the +people, it was designed, should now hear no longer the +ambiguous and factious harangues of a weak-minded demagogue, +but the true and candid utterances of a Constitutional +Government. Rossi showed himself on this occasion, to which +melancholy circumstances have added extraordinary solemnity, +a grave and resolute minister, determined to appear as the +counsellor of his Sovereign and the exponent of his views, not +as the slave of the people and the organ of their blind passions. +This discourse was not destined to be delivered. It commenced +as follows: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Scarcely had his Holiness ascended the Pontifical throne +when the Catholic world was filled with admiration at his +clemency as a Pontiff and his wisdom as a temporal Sovereign.... +The most important facts have shown to mankind +the fallacy of the groundless predictions of that pretended +philosophy which had declared the Papacy to be, from the +nature of its constitutive principle, the enemy of constitutional +liberty. In the course of a few months, the Holy Father, of +his own accord, and without aid, accomplished a work which +would have sufficed for the glory of a long reign. History, +impartially sincere, will repeat—and not without good reason—as +it records the acts of this Pontificate, that the Church, +immovable on her Divine foundations, and inflexible in the +sanctity of her dogmas, always intelligently considers and +encourages with admirable prudence, such changes as are suitable +in the things of the world.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The oration was, throughout, a bold and luminous exposition +of the ideas and policy which M. Rossi was charged to +carry into effect. It was, at the same time, an earnest appeal +to the representative body in order to obtain the aid, which +was so necessary, of their loyal concurrence, and the minister +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page068">[pg 068]</span><a name="Pg068" id="Pg068" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +held himself bound in honor to abide strictly by the provisions +of the constitution. The constitution, meanwhile, was in +presence of very determined enemies. They had sworn its +overthrow. They met, however, with a formidable opponent +in the ministry, which was resolved to sustain the new order of +things, and prepared to defeat all the schemes of the radical +faction. The constitution itself was also a serious impediment +to their contrivances. Both constitution and ministry accordingly +became the objects of violent attacks at street meetings +and in the revolutionary journals. The minister was undaunted. +<span class="tei tei-q">“To reach the Holy Father,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“they must pass +by my lifeless body.”</span> This noble determination only rendered +him more odious to the revolutionists. The leaders of the Red +Republic party, on their return from a scientific Congress at +Turin, where the name of science was only used as a cloak the +better to conceal their plots, decreed that Rossi should be put +to death. Mazzini, in a letter which was published, declared +that his assassination was indispensable. In one of the clubs +of Rome the Socialists selected by lot the assassins who should +bear a hand in the murder of the minister. The wretched +man who was appointed to be the principal actor in the deed +of blood actually practised on a dead body in one of the +hospitals. The day on which Parliament was summoned to +meet, 15th November, was to see the full purpose of the faction +carried into effect. As almost always occurs in such cases, +warnings reached the ears of the intended victim. Some of the +conspirators, struck with remorse, had so far revealed the plot. +Others boasted cynically that they would soon be rid of the +oppressor. The Duchess de Rignano conjured the minister to +remain at home. Equally solemn and urgent words of warning +came from other quarters, and were alike unheeded. If, +indeed, he believed that there was a plot, he relied on disarming +the hatred of the conspirators by his courageous bearing, +and proceeded from his house to the Quirinal Palace. When +there he addressed comforting words to the Pope, who was in a +a state of great anxiety. Pius IX., in bestowing a parting benediction, +earnestly recommended that he should keep on his guard. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page069">[pg 069]</span><a name="Pg069" id="Pg069" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the door of the Pope's apartments he met an aged +priest, who beseeched him to remain. <span class="tei tei-q">“If you proceed,”</span> said +he, <span class="tei tei-q">“you will be murdered.”</span> M. Rossi paused a moment and +replied: <span class="tei tei-q">“The cause of the Pope is the cause of God.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A guard of carabiniers, treacherously disobeying the orders +which had been given them, were absent from the approach to +the house where parliament assembled. The minister had +reached the stairs, and was ascending when a group of conspirators +came around him. At first they insulted him. +Then one of the assassins struck him on the shoulder. As he +turned indignantly towards this assassin, his neck was exposed +to the poniard of another, who, availing himself of the opportune +moment, dealt the fatal blow. The minister fell, bedewing +with his blood the steps at the very threshold of the +legislative chamber. As the details of the murder were +related to the members, they remained ominously silent. Not +one of them uttered a word in condemnation of this monstrous +crime. They proceeded at once to the business of the day. +Although in the open space at the foot of the stairs which +led to the assembly hall the civic guard was stationed in +arms, nobody arrested, or showed the slightest inclination to +arrest, the murderer. On the contrary, the criminal was conducted, +not only unpunished but in triumph, through the +streets of the city by his accomplices. A new hymn was sung—<span class="tei tei-q">“Blessed +be the hand that slew Rossi.”</span> The dagger of the +assassin was enwreathed with flowers and exposed for public +veneration in the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">cafe</span></span> of the Fine Arts. The populace, in the +excess of their phrenzy, insulted the widow of the murdered +minister; and, by an extravagance of irony, they required that +she should illuminate her house. The newspapers expressed +approval of the crime, as it was, they pretended, the necessary +manifestation of the general sentiment. The whole people, by +their silence, although not by actual participation in such +demon-like rejoicings, declared themselves accomplices in the +deed of blood. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Together with the noble Rossi perished, for the time, the +cause of Rome, the cause of Italy. What might not have been +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page070">[pg 070]</span><a name="Pg070" id="Pg070" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the gain to both, if the devoted minister had been allowed to +fulfil his appointed mission? Constitutional government +would have been established on a solid and permanent basis; +the wild agitation of the streets would have been brought to an +end, and the excited passions of the revolution, beholding the +sound, regular and beneficial working of free political institutions, +would have been awed into composure. But, sad reflection! +by an act which history will never cease to stigmatize, +the only man who, by the authority of his reputation, abilities +and experience, was equal to the stupendous labor of building +up on sure foundations the social fabric was struck down, and +the nations of Europe, which had looked on hitherto in sympathy, +recoiled with horror. Liberal men throughout the +civilized world had long been deeply interested in the state of +Italy. Such was their belief in the bright future, which they +were confident awaited her, that they could pardon the ill-controlled +agitation of her children, and even their greatest +excesses, when they first began to enjoy, before they knew how +to use it, the unwonted boon of liberty. With crime and the +evils which followed in its train they had no sympathy. A +system which relied on assassination could not prosper. Inaugurated +by violence, it could exist only by violence. The +better feelings of mankind were shocked. The die was cast, +and Rome was doomed. The fated city had rejoiced in the +exercise of unhallowed force, and through that legitimate force +which, in due time, Divine Providence allowed to be brought +against her, she met her punishment. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With the death of Rossi ended all hope of liberty. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The conspirators were resolved that nothing should be +allowed to delay the benefits which they anticipated from their +crime. All sense of propriety was not yet extinguished in the +representative body. There was question of sending a deputation +to the Pope, in order to convey to him the condolence of +the Chamber, and express their regret for the sad event. +This step, which good sense and proper feeling so urgently +demanded, was opposed, and only too successfully, by Charles +Bonaparte, Prince of Canino. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page071">[pg 071]</span><a name="Pg071" id="Pg071" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Further violence.—Attack +on the Holy +Father.—Murder of +Monsignore Palma.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The revolutionists now resolved themselves into a kind +of permanent club. This club set about +making a great demonstration, and required +that both the civic guard and the army should join them. +When all was ready for this purpose, a mob which had for some +time been in course of organization marched to the Quirinal +Palace, where the Pope resided, and pointed cannon against +the gates. They also caused muskets to be discharged from +the neighboring houses. Monsignore Palma fell, mortally +wounded, and expired<a id="noteref_1" name="noteref_1" href="#note_1"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">1</span></span></a> at the feet of the Holy Father. They +next set fire to one of the gates. But the Swiss Guards succeeded +in extinguishing the flames. The rebels now threatened +to put to death all the inmates of the palace, with the exception +of Pius IX. himself, unless he consented to their unreasonable +demands. Even he would not have been spared, as +was but too well shown by the balls which fell in his apartments. +Until this moment the Holy Father had resolutely +refused to accept a ministry, to press which upon him was an +insult. Now, but only in order to save the lives of the people +around him, he submitted to this indignity. Mamiani, with +his former programme, supported by the constituent assembly, +which consisted of the representatives of all Italy, together +with Dr. Sterbini, Garetti, and four other persons equally +unacceptable, constituted this Socialist ministry. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They desired also to include in the sinister list the celebrated +Abbate Rosmini. But this gifted and eminent divine +refused to take part with them, or lend any countenance to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page072">[pg 072]</span><a name="Pg072" id="Pg072" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +their proceedings. On the 17th November several members of +the representative chamber proposed that a deputation should +be sent to Pius IX., in order to express to him their devotedness +and gratitude. They were not wholly lost to all sense of +propriety. But the Prince de Canino, true to his antecedents, +succeeded in preventing so laudable a purpose from being +carried into effect. He declared that such a step would be +imprudent, and that they might have cause to repent it. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Citizen Bonaparte,”</span> such was the appellation he gloried in, +further said that the Italian people were undeniably the masters +now, and that they well understood how to humble all parliaments, +ministers and thrones that should oppose their energetic +impulses. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Pope abandoned +by his people. +The Pope protests +against the Socialist +ministry and its acts.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile the Pope, in such a fearful +crisis, was abandoned by all save a few friends, the officials of +his Palace, his faithful Swiss Guards and the foreign ambassadors. +Among those who remained with him were six Noble +Guards, and the Cardinals Soglia and Antonelli. This was +all the court and army that was left to the great Pontiff, who +had been so deservedly the idol of his people and the hope of +mankind. In so desperate a condition he never lost confidence. +Throughout all the trying circumstances he was self-possessed +and serene. Nothing pained him so much as the ingratitude +of his people. The new ministry of subversion had extorted +from the Pope his forced and reluctant consent to their formation. +He deemed it his duty to protest, +which he did in the most solemn manner, +against them and all their acts, before all the Christian European +nations, as represented by their ambassadors. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +These ambassadors and diplomatists were Martizez Della +Rosa, the ambassador of Spain, with the Secretary of the +Embassy, M. Arnao; the Duke d'Harcourt, ambassador of +France; the Count de Spaur, ambassador of Bavaria; the +Baron Venda Cruz, ambassador of Portugal, with the Commandant +Huston; the Count Boutenieff, who represented at that +time the Emperor of Russia and King of Poland; Figuereido, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page073">[pg 073]</span><a name="Pg073" id="Pg073" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ambassador of Brazil; Liedekerke of Holland, and several +other diplomatists, of whom not one was an Italian. There +was at Rome also on the occasion, although not in the apartments +of the Pope, a British statesman, who was not an +ambassador, inasmuch as, whatever may have been his business +at Rome, he had no recognized mission, if any mission at all, +to the Sovereign of Rome. He was rather officious than +official, and whether he had commission or not, he held, as is +well known, serious communications with the enemies of the +Pope. Lord Minto was enthusiastically received by the secret +societies of Rome. The people, forgetting at the time the way +to the Quirinal, went to serenade him. Lord Minto frequented +<span class="tei tei-q">“the popular circle”</span> (a band of three hundred chosen agitators, +whose office it was to carry the torch of discord into all the +cities of the Papal States and of Italy) and the offices of the +Socialist newspaper. He went so far as to receive courteously +Cicervacchio, and made verses for his son Cicervacchietto. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Earl of Minto was not, however, a faithful exponent of +the opinions of British statesmen. Few of them, fortunately, +held the subversive doctrines that were countenanced by his +lordship when representing at Rome the least respectable +portion of the Whig party. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The multitude, intoxicated with their delusive success, and +the desperate men who led them, were still celebrating their +ill-gained victory, the frequent discharge of fire-arms and the +impassioned vociferations of the crowd were yet reverberating +through the venerable edifices of Rome, when the Holy Father +addressed the following words, giving proof of the deepest emotion +whilst he spoke, to the ambassadors who remained with +him: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Gentlemen, I am a prisoner here. Now that I am +deprived of all support and of all power, my whole conduct will +have only one aim—to prevent any, even one drop of fraternal +blood from being uselessly shed in my cause. I yield everything +to this principle; but at the same time I am anxious +that you, gentlemen, should know, that all Europe should be +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page074">[pg 074]</span><a name="Pg074" id="Pg074" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +made aware, that I take no part, even nominally, in this government, +and that I am resolved to remain an absolute stranger +to it. I have forbidden them to abuse my name; I have +ordered that recourse should not be had even to the ordinary +formulas.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The representatives of the European Powers received respectfully, +and with feelings which found expression in tears, +the protestation of Pius IX., who was now a prisoner in his +own mansion, and a hostage of the revolutionary faction. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. was in imminent danger. A prisoner, and surrounded +by implacable enemies, he had no power to protect his +own life or that of any faithful citizens. Many who were +devoted to his cause had been obliged to leave the city. The +Cardinals, indeed, were all true to their illustrious Chief. But +several were driven by threats of assassination to go into exile. +The children of Saint Ignatius withdrew, at the request of the +Holy Father, in order to escape the wrath of the excited multitude. +The Pope himself knew not whither to direct his steps. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Unsettled state of +the European nations.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The revolution was everywhere. It had +not yet conquered, but it disturbed all +Europe. The representatives of the Powers remained devotedly +with the Pope. But the countries which would have sustained +them were distracted by political commotions. The King of +Naples was threatened on all hands by revolution. Lombardy +and Venice were in a state of insurrection. Piedmont was +making war on Austria, and all Hungary was in rebellion. +The Emperor Ferdinand was compelled twice over by civil +commotion to abandon his capital. Unable to face the revolutionary +tide, he handed over his tottering throne to a youth of +eighteen years. The King of Prussia and other German +Sovereigns, who hoped at first to direct the revolutionary +movement as to derive from it new strength, were obliged +either to fly before it or to struggle against it in the streets. +France, who commenced the disturbance which was now so +general, was compelled to fight for her existence against her +own children. Her chief city, Paris, had become a battle-field, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page075">[pg 075]</span><a name="Pg075" id="Pg075" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +where wicked men and equally wicked women slew the soldiers +of the country with poisoned balls. A greater number of the +best officers of France fell in a single fight against Parisian +anarchy than during the whole time of the war with the wild +Bedouins of Africa. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. retires to +Gaeta.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At Rome the revolutionary faction was +gaining strength, and the position of the Pope was becoming +every day more perilous. It was the opinion of his most +devoted friends that he should leave the city. But to what +country should he repair? All Europe was agitated by revolutionary +troubles. The Holy Father was still undecided, when +he received from the Bishop of Valence a letter of wise counsel, +together with a precious gift—the Pyx which the venerable +Pius VI. had borne on his person when an exile and the captive +of an earlier revolution. Pius IX., on receiving a present +which was so suggestive, resolved to remain no longer in the +power of his enemies. With the assistance of the Duke +d'Harcourt, ambassador of France, and the Bavarian Ambassador, +Count de Spaur, he left the Quirinal Palace and the city +of Rome. He was safely conducted by the latter personage to +Albano, and thence in this ambassador's carriage to Gaeta, in +the kingdom of Naples. As soon as his arrival there was intimated +to King Ferdinand, who was not yet deprived of his +royal power, this monarch, attended by a brilliant suite, embarked +for Gaeta, in order to welcome the Holy Father and +assure him of protection. During seventeen months that Pius +IX. resided as a voluntary exile in the kingdom of Naples, +Ferdinand ceased not to afford all the comfort in his power to +the Sovereign Pontiff. His conduct towards him in every +respect was beyond all praise. As a fellow-man, he consoled +him in his sorrows; as a prince, he entertained him with +truly royal magnificence, sparing nothing that was calculated +to lessen, even to do away with the pain and tedium of exile, +whilst, as a faithful Christian, he fulfilled every filial duty +towards the Vicar of Christ, expiating, as far as was possible, +the crimes committed against him by so many ruthless +enemies. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page076">[pg 076]</span><a name="Pg076" id="Pg076" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Treacherous conduct +of sworn servants +of the Papacy.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The revolution of another country had +for chiefs such men as Robespierre. That +of Rome and Italy gloried in Mazzini, who ordered the assassination +of Count Rossi. There was at Rome another revolutionary +leader, the Advocate Armellini, who pronounced the +downfall of the Pope from his temporal sovereignty. This +consistorial advocate had, six times over, solemnly sworn +fidelity to the Pontiff. He had even composed in honor of the +Papacy a sonnet, in which are read these remarkable words: +<span class="tei tei-q">“I spoke with Time, and asked it what had become of so many +empires, of those kingdoms of Argos and Thebes and Sidon, +and so many others which had preceded or followed them. +For only answer, Time strewed its passage with shreds of +purple and kingly mantles, fragments of armor, wrecks of +crowns, and cast at my feet thousands of broken sceptres. I +then enquired what would become of the thrones of to-day. +What the first became, was the reply—and Time waved the +direful scythe which levels all things under its merciless +strokes—these also will be. I asked if a like destiny was in +store for the Throne of Peter. Time was silent; Eternity alone +could reply.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Not long after the departure of the Holy Father, this +traitor, Armellini, gave a banquet to the principal chiefs of the +revolution. His wife, who had often charged him with the violation +of his oath, remained on this occasion in her apartment, +lest she should be contaminated by any, even an apparent +association with, such men as Sterbini, Mamiani, Galetti and +others. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The guests enquired the cause of her absence, when suddenly +the door opened, and Madam Armellini, pale, animated, +in a threatening attitude, and with a roll of paper in her hand, +exclaimed: <span class="tei tei-q">“You are all accursed! Fear the judgments of +God, you, who in contempt of your oaths, although unable to +slay, have banished his minister. Dread the Divine anger. +Pius IX., from his place of exile, appeals to God against you. +Listen to his words.”</span> She unrolled slowly, as she spoke, the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page077">[pg 077]</span><a name="Pg077" id="Pg077" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +paper which she held in her hand, and read in a firm voice, +emphasising every word, the decree of the Holy Father, which +contained a threat of excommunication. This reading came +like a lightning stroke on the startled guests. Madam Armellini, +after a moment's silence, resumed: <span class="tei tei-q">“Sirs, have you +understood? The avenging hand which none can escape is +suspended over your heads, ready to strike. But there is still +time. The voice of God has not yet, through that of his Vicar, +fulminated the terrible sentence. For the sake of your happiness +in this world and your salvation in the next, throw +yourselves on his mercy. The cup of your iniquities is filling +fast. Dash it from you before it overflow.”</span> Having thus +spoken, this courageous woman, whose just indignation was at +its height, approached her husband and threw down before +him, on the table, the decree of the Holy Father. She then +withdrew. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Sentiments and +declarations of the +Revolutionists.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +About two months and a half after the +assassination of the Pope's minister, Count +Rossi, the leading conspirators caused it to be decreed, in their +revolutionary assembly, that the Papacy was fallen, <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">de facto et +de jure</span></span>, from the government of the Roman States. They +made a fashion of providing, at the same time, that the Pontiff +should have all necessary guarantees for his independence in +the exercise of his spiritual office. Above all, they forgot not +to declare that the form of government should be purely democratic, +and assume the glorious name of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Roman Republic</span></span>. All +this was very little in harmony with the sentiments which +were expressed at the commencement of the popular movements. +With regard to these sentiments, which were so loudly +and apparently also so sincerely proclaimed, new light was +dispensed. Mazzini arrived at Rome as a deputy to the +Revolutionary Convention. He had no sooner taken his place +there than he declared that the reiterated <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">vivats</span></span> +in honor of the reforming Pope were lies, and were had recourse to in +order to conceal designs which it was not yet time to reveal. +Is there not reason to believe that the new watchword, <span class="tei tei-q">“Live +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page078">[pg 078]</span><a name="Pg078" id="Pg078" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the Roman people!”</span> was equally sincere? It is well known +that they never would admit a fair representation of the people. +And had they not declared that they are incapable of governing +themselves, and must be ruled with a rod of iron? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">What the world +thought of the proceedings +at Rome.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Public opinion at the same time gave the +lie to their unwarrantable pretensions. The +revolutionary chiefs gave out in an official proclamation, <span class="tei tei-q">“that +a republic had arisen at Rome on the ruins of the Papal +Throne, which the unanimous voice of Europe, the malediction +of all civilized people and the spirit of the Gospel, had levelled +in the dust.”</span> Not only the nations of Europe, but also the +whole civilized world and people, the most remote, who scarcely +yet enjoyed the blessings of civilization, made haste to deny +an assertion which was as false as it was audacious. All the +nations of Christendom were deeply moved when they heard of +the outrages which the Roman populace had heaped upon the +common Father of the faithful. Compassion was universally +expressed, together with professions of duty and obedience, +whilst there was only indignation at the base conduct of the +faction which persecuted him. There was scarcely a Sovereign +Prince in Europe who did not send to Pius IX. most affectionate +letters, expressive of reverence and devotedness, whilst they +promised assistance and defence. The four Catholic Powers, +and not without the consent of the other States, united in +order to drive the rebels from Rome and the Roman States, +and restore to the Pontiff his temporality. In the representative +assemblies of France and Spain, the most eloquent orators +upheld the rights of the Holy See, the utility and necessity of +the complete independence of the Roman Pontiff, both for the +government of his States and the exercise of his spiritual +power. At the same time numerous associations were formed +under the auspices of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, +for the purpose of collecting offerings in aid of the Sovereign +Pontiff, impoverished as he was by the privation of his +revenues. These associations extended not only throughout +Europe, but were established also in North and South America, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page079">[pg 079]</span><a name="Pg079" id="Pg079" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +India, China and the Philippine Islands. The poorest even, +like the widow of the Gospel, insisted on contributing their +mite. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Many touching instances are quoted. Some young persons, +who were only humble artisans, managed by great economy to +save some thirty-five livres, and sent them, accompanied with +a very feeling address, to the association of their locality. <span class="tei tei-q">“If, +at this moment,”</span> they said, <span class="tei tei-q">“we were near the Holy Father, +we would say to him, whilst reverently kneeling at his feet: +Most Holy Father, this is the happiest of our days. We are a +society of young persons who consider it our greatest happiness +to give proof of our veneration for your Holiness. We claim +to be your most affectionate children; and notwithstanding the +efforts of ill-disposed persons to separate us from Catholic +unity, we declare that we recognize in your Holiness the successor +of St. Peter and the Vicar of Jesus Christ. We are +prepared to sacrifice all that we possess, and even our life, in +order to prove ourselves worthy children of so good a Father.”</span> +The testimony of youth and innocence is precious in the sight +of heaven. Hence, allusion is made to this case in preference +to so many others. <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Ex ore infantium et lactantium +perfecisti laudem.</span></span> On occasion of receiving such genuine marks of filial +devotedness Pius IX. was often moved to tears. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The revival of the offering of <span class="tei tei-q">“Peter's Pence”</span> recalls to +mind the piety of the early ages. This practice was in vigor +when the world had scarcely yet begun to believe. It is not a +little remarkable that it has been renewed in an age when so +many have fallen from belief. The more the Church was persecuted +in the early days the more were her ministers held in +honor. Such, one is compelled to say, is her destiny in all +ages. Pius IX., when an exile at Gaeta, was the object of +the most respectful and devoted attentions of all classes of +Christians in every land. Bishops, ecclesiastical communities, +religious congregations, all orders of Christian people, vied with +one another in their zeal to do him honor. As many as six, +eight, eleven thousand signatures were often appended to the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page080">[pg 080]</span><a name="Pg080" id="Pg080" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +same dutiful address. The memory of such faith and devotedness +can never perish. A selection of letters and addresses to +the Holy Father was published at Naples in two large quarto +volumes, under the title: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Catholic world to Pius IX., +Sovereign Pontiff, an exile at Gaeta from 1848 to 1850</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Catholic Powers +resolve to reinstate +the Pope.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When Peter himself was in prison the +whole Church was moved, and prayed for +his release. It speedily followed. Prayer, no less earnest, was +made in behalf of his successor. With what success a few +words will show. The deliverers were the Princes and people +of Catholic Europe. If there was still some delay it was only +that for which diplomacy is proverbial. Austria, that had +more than once obeyed the voice of the Holy Father, in withdrawing +her troops from the Roman States, and against which +he had so often refused to allow war to be declared, was the +first now to propose that measures should be adopted for his +restoration. In a note addressed by this State to the other +Powers we find the following words: <span class="tei tei-q">“The Catholic world is +entitled to require for the visible Chief of the Church the plenitude +of liberty which is essential for the government of Catholic +society, and the restoration of that ancient monarchy which +has subjects in every part of the world. The Catholic nations +will never allow the head of their Church to be robbed of his +independence and reduced to be the subject of a foreign Prince. +They will not suffer him to be degraded by a faction which, +under the cloak of his venerable name, is endeavoring to undermine +and destroy his power. In order that the Bishop of +Rome, who is at the same time the Sovereign Pastor of the +Church, may be able to exercise the duties of his exalted office, +it is necessary that he should be also Sovereign of Rome.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Spain came next. On the 21st December, 1848, the +Spanish ministry addressed to the other Catholic nations the +following circular letter: <span class="tei tei-q">“The government of her Majesty +has decided on doing whatever shall be necessary in order to +reinstate the Holy Father in a state of independence and +dignity, which will admit of his discharging the duties of his +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page081">[pg 081]</span><a name="Pg081" id="Pg081" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sacred office. With a view to this end the government of +Spain, having been apprised of the Pope's flight, addressed the +French Government, which declared itself prepared to sustain +the liberty of the Pontiff. These negotiations, nevertheless, +may be considered as insufficient when we glance at the turn +which affairs have taken at Rome. There is no question any +longer of protecting the liberty of the Pope, but of re-establishing +his authority on a solid and stable basis, and of securing +him against violence. It is well known to you that the Catholic +Powers have always had it at heart to guarantee the +sovereignty of the Pope, and assure to him an independent +position. Such position is so important for the Christian +States that it cannot on any account be subjected to the will +and pleasure of so small a portion of the Catholic world as the +Roman States. It is the belief of Spain that the Catholic +Powers cannot commit the liberty of the Pope to the caprice of +the city of Rome. Nor can they permit that, whilst all the +Catholic nations are warmly offering to the Holy Father proofs +of their profound respect, a single town of Italy shall dare to +outrage his dignity, and restrict the Pope to a state of independence +which could be so easily abused at any time as a +religious power. These considerations induce the government +of her Majesty to invite the other Catholic Powers to come to +an understanding on the means to be employed for averting +the evils which would arise, if matters remained in their present +position. In furtherance of this object, her Majesty has ordered +her government to address the governments of France, Austria, +Bavaria, Sardinia, Tuscany and Naples, in order to invite them +to name Plenipotentiaries, and appoint the place where they +shall meet.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Catholic Powers welcomed cordially this admirable +note, which expressed so clearly the idea which they all entertained. +Piedmont alone, as if already casting a covetous eye +on Rome and its territory, refused to concur. Its refusal was +expressed by the pen of the once so highly esteemed Abbate +Gioberti, who was President of the Council. It was not long +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page082">[pg 082]</span><a name="Pg082" id="Pg082" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +till Piedmont reaped its reward. The following year, 1849, on +the 22d of March, it had to lament the disastrous battle of +Novara. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Not long after, Cardinal Antonelli, who remained with the +Pope, addressed, on the part of the Holy See, to the governments +of France, Austria, Spain and Naples, a highly important +paper. It recapitulated, in a clear and forcible manner, all +that had occurred at Rome from the time of the Pope's +departure till the 18th of February, and then requested, in the +most formal and pressing way possible, the intervention of these +four Catholic Powers. The governments thus appealed to +promptly replied by sending Plenipotentiaries to Gaeta, where +the Pope desired that the diplomatic conference should be +opened. The Catholic countries had already anticipated the +intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff—some by acts, others by +energetic resolutions. On the one hand, General Cavaignac, +to whom France had for the time committed her sword, had +concentrated, as early as the month of September, 1848, a body +of troops under the command of General Molliere, whose duty +it should be to hold themselves in readiness to embark for Italy +at the first signal. Spain, on the other hand, prepared her +fleet. The King of the Two Sicilies could scarcely restrain the +ardor of his soldiers. Portugal, even, which had not been +mentioned in the document addressed to the four Catholic +Powers, considered it a duty to cause it to be represented to +the government of the Pope through its ambassador, the Baron +de Verda Cruz, that the Portuguese people would be most +happy to take up arms in the interest of the Papal cause. +Portugal was among the first, on occasion of the 16th November, +1848, to offer hospitality to the Sovereign Pontiff, and to +invite him to one of the finest residences in Christendom, the +magnificent palace of Mafra. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page083">[pg 083]</span><a name="Pg083" id="Pg083" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Dutiful conduct of +Ferdinand of Naples, +towards the exiled +Pope.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The time of the Holy Father at Gaeta was employed, as it +usually is, in prayer, the giving of audiences +and the business of the Church. In one +point, there was an exception to the rules of +the Papal Court. The King of Naples, the +Queen and the Princes were admitted every day to the table +of the Pope. King Ferdinand, notwithstanding his friendly +relations with Pius IX., never availed himself of this privilege +without a new daily invitation. In all other respects, likewise, +his conduct towards the Holy Father was all that the +most devout Catholic could desire. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Action of the Powers +delayed. +Prince Louis Napoleon +repudiates the +conduct of the Prince +of Canino.—Declares +for the temporal sovereignty.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The internal state of the Catholic Powers caused their +action to be delayed. The political troubles +of the Austrian Empire obliged the Emperor +Ferdinand to abdicate in favor of his youthful +nephew, Francis Joseph. France was laboring to consolidate +her newly-founded Republic. There was question +of electing a president. And if, on the occasion, Prince +Louis Napoleon Bonaparte secured the greatest number of +votes, he owed this success, if not wholly, in great measure, +at least, to his repudiation of the undutiful conduct of his +cousin, the Prince of Canino, at Rome, and his declaration in +favor of the temporal sovereignty of the Pope. On the eve of +the election he wrote as follows to the Papal Nuncio: <span class="tei tei-q">“My +Lord, I am anxious that the rumors which tend to make me +an accomplice of the conduct of Prince Canino at Rome +should not be credited by you. I have not, for a long time, +had any relations with the eldest son of Lucien Bonaparte; +and I am profoundly grieved that he has not understood that +the maintenance of the temporal sovereignty +of the venerable Head of the Church is +intimately connected with the glory of Catholicism, +no less than with the liberty and +independence of Italy. Accept, my Lord, +the expression of my sentiments of high esteem.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Louis Napoleon Bonaparte</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page084">[pg 084]</span><a name="Pg084" id="Pg084" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Several Powers undertake +to restore the +Pope. France sends +an army to Rome. +Treachery of the +Roman populace. +Determination to +besiege Rome. The +siege delayed by diplomatic +manœuvres.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Spain had already despatched a fleet to Gaeta, the Austrians +had advanced in the direction of Ferrara, +and the King of Naples at Terracina, +when, on the 25th of April 1849, a French +army, under the command of General Oudinot, +disembarked at Civita Vecchia. This military expedition was, +at first, considerably thwarted by diplomacy. The general-in-chief +was assured at the outset that he had only to +show himself before the walls of Rome, and the gates would +be opened immediately in consequence of the reaction which +was taking place within. Accordingly, the army advanced, +on the 30th April, to the foot of the ramparts, and was +received with a discharge of fire-arms. Nevertheless, one +of the gates was opened to a French battalion. The Romans +came out in crowds, waving white handkerchiefs, and shouting, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Peace is concluded! Peace for ever! Enemies in the +morning, we are brothers this evening! +Long live the French!”</span> The soldiers, deceived +by these demonstrations, were persuaded +to enter they city. They were at once disarmed and +declared prisoners of war. It was now manifest that a regular +siege was necessary. An impediment was, however, thrown +in the way of military operations, by a civil or diplomatic +agent who entered Rome, and in the course of a +few weeks concluded with the revolutionists a treaty which +was contrary to his instructions, to those of the commander-in-chief, +to the honor of France and the objects of the +expedition. Odillon Barrot was, at that time, President of the +French Ministry—the same Odillon Barrot +who, in 1830, was prefect of police, and allowed +the mansion of the Archbishop to be +demolished without taking any measures +for its protection. Such conduct, as has +been well observed, showed that this official loved +anarchy more than order. Hence, probably, arose those +impediments to the Roman expedition which gave time to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page085">[pg 085]</span><a name="Pg085" id="Pg085" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Excesses of the +Revolutionists.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +the revolutionists to organize, under the leadership of a +chief of banditti, Garibaldi, of Genoa. They +availed themselves, at the same time, of +the leisure afforded, to massacre many +faithful priests, to enable some renegade monks to profane +the solemnities of religion, and to commit, in the +hospitals, outrages which were, until that time, unheard +of. Unfortunate soldiers, sick and at the point of death, +beholding persons dressed like Nuns and Sisters of Charity, +expected to hear from them the language of religion, in order +to assist them in preparing for a Christian death. It can +easily be imagined how greatly they were shocked to hear only +lascivious expressions and the most infamous provocations to +vice. These pretended Sisters of Charity were nothing else +than professed prostitutes. Their president, a revolutionary +princess, admits, in her memoirs, this melancholy fact. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The King of Naples +and the Spaniards +offer to assist the +French.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The King of Naples and General Cordova, commander-in-chief +of the Spanish army, offered to General +Oudinot the aid of their arms. He +thanked them, but declined their offer, +desiring, for the honor of the French army, that as it +had begun, so it should complete the duty which it had +undertaken. The French general represented, and with +reason, to the Spanish commander, that he would have +entered Rome several weeks sooner but for the diplomatic +negotiations already alluded to. The Plenipotentiary, who +conducted these negotiations, having been disavowed, the +general held himself alone responsible, and it was his duty +to simplify matters as much as possible. He urged, moreover, +that when an army is besieging a place no foreign troops +can approach it, unless their assistance is requested either by +the besiegers or the besieged. The latter were far from having +any claim to the protection of Spain, and the French army +was in a position to meet every contingency. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page086">[pg 086]</span><a name="Pg086" id="Pg086" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Rome surrenders +to the French.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 30th June, 1849, the city surrendered, unconditionally. +On 3rd July the French army entered +Rome, amidst the joyous acclamations of +the native Roman people. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Colonel Niel despatched +to Gaeta +with the keys of the +city.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the same day General Oudinot despatched Colonel Niel +to Gaeta, in order to deliver to the Sovereign +Pontiff the keys of his capital. Pius IX. +was overjoyed at the arrival of the French +officer. His people were now free. The war was at an end. +Blood no longer flowed. There was nothing wanting to his +satisfaction and happiness. <span class="tei tei-q">“O! speak to me of my +children of Rome and France,”</span> he exclaimed. <span class="tei tei-q">“How +they must have suffered! How earnestly have I prayed +for them!”</span> He then listened with interest, and the feelings +of a father, to the recital of the sufferings of the +French army and their prolonged labors, which were patiently +undergone; in order to save the edifices and monuments of +Rome from irreparable destruction. Unable, at length, to contain +his emotion, he spoke thus to Colonel Niel: <span class="tei tei-q">“Colonel, I +have often said, on other occasions, and I am happy to be able +to repeat the same to-day, after so great a service, that I have +always relied on France. That country had promised me +nothing, but I understood full well, that when opportunity +offered she would give to the Church her treasures, her blood, +and what is, perhaps, still more difficult for her valiant children, +that bravery which can restrain itself, that patience and +perseverance to which is due the preservation of Rome, that +treasure of the world, that beloved and sorely-tried city, +towards which, during these days of exile, I have always looked +in great anxiety of mind. Say to the commander-in-chief, to +all the generals and all the officers—would it could also be said +to every soldier of France!—that there are no bounds to my +gratitude. My prayers for the prosperity of your country will +be more fervent than ever. My love for the French people has +been increased, if, indeed, anything could make it greater than +it was, by the great service which I now acknowledge.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page087">[pg 087]</span><a name="Pg087" id="Pg087" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Letter of Pius IX. to +General Oudinot.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the same time, Pius IX. addressed an appropriate letter +to General Oudinot. He recognized the well-known +valor of the French armies, which was +sustained by the justice of the cause which they came to defend, +and which won for them the meed of victory. In congratulating +the general on the principal share which he bore in the +important event, the Holy Father was careful to say that he +rejoiced not over the bloodshed which had necessarily occurred, +but in the triumph of order over anarchy, and because liberty +was restored to honest and Christian people, for whom it would +no longer be a crime to enjoy the property which God had +bestowed upon them, and to adore Him, with becoming pomp +of worship, without incurring the risk of being deprived of life +or liberty. In the difficult circumstances which might arise, +the Holy Father would rely on the Divine protection. As it +might prove useful to the French army to be acquainted with +the events of his Pontificate, he sent, along with his letter, a +number of copies of the Allocution, in which these events are +related. This paper, he stated, proved abundantly that the +army had won a victory over the enemies of human society, +and that their triumph, consequently, would awaken sentiments +of gratitude in the breasts of all honest men throughout +Europe and the whole civilized world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">General Oudinot +repairs to Gaeta and +invites the Pope to +return to his Capital.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The President of the French Republic, Louis Napoleon, the +French Minister of War and the National +Assembly, all joined in congratulating General +Oudinot and his army. Pius IX. had +just appointed (31st July) a commission of +three Cardinals for the government of the Roman States, when +General Oudinot arrived at Gaeta, and urged the Pope to +return himself to his capital. Pius IX. had already stated to +M. de Corcelles, the Plenipotentiary of France, his objections +to an immediate return. He now held the same language to +General Oudinot. He could not, he said, so far forget the +purely moral nature of his power as to bind himself in a +positive way, when there was nothing settled as to matters of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page088">[pg 088]</span><a name="Pg088" id="Pg088" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +detail, and especially when he was called upon to speak in +presence of a first-class Power, whose exigencies were no secret. +Ought he to condemn himself to appear to act under the impulsion +of force? If he did anything good, was it not necessary +that his acts should be spontaneous, and should also have +the appearance of being so? Were not his inclinations well +known? Were they not calculated to inspire confidence? +Nevertheless, it was his intention to return, in a few days, to +his States, and to remain some time at Castel-Gandolfo, in the +midst of the French army. General Oudinot returned to +Rome fully assured of the speedy return of the Holy Father. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The French Republic +tries to coerce the +Pope.—Letter to +Colonel Edgar Ney.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +About this time it became manifest that the French Republic +desired to restore the Pope as a mere +agent of their newly-instituted government. +The French ministry, of which Odillon Barrot +was the head, saw, with impatience, that +Pontifical affairs were not proceeding to such a conclusion as +they wished. Accordingly, General Oudinot was recalled and +replaced by General Rostolan, the next in command. Two +days later, a letter signed <span class="tei tei-q">“Louis Napoleon,”</span> and addressed +to Colonel Edgar Ney, who was also the bearer of it, was +despatched to Rome. This letter contained insulting allusions +to the Pontifical government; and its requirements would have +annihilated, in the estimation of Europe, the independence of +the Sovereign Pontiff, whilst personally dishonoring him. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +thus recapitulate,”</span> said the president, in this memorable +epistle, <span class="tei tei-q">“the temporal power of the Pope, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">a general amnesty, +secularization of the administration, and liberal government</span></span>.”</span> It +was appointed that General Rostolan should publish this ill-timed +letter, and carry it into effect. He refused to do so, +tendered his resignation, and thus firmly replied: <span class="tei tei-q">“Conscience +requires that I should sacrifice my position and my sympathies. +My successor, more fortunate than myself, will perhaps enjoy +the signal honor to terminate peacefully the work which we +have begun at the head of the army. As a soldier and a +Christian, I will rejoice on account of the Sovereign Pontiff, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page089">[pg 089]</span><a name="Pg089" id="Pg089" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +who will have been restored to his people, and because of +France, which will have accomplished a noble and most worthy +mission.”</span> To the Odillon Barrot ministry, which at one +time disowned the letter, and at another acknowledged it, and +ordered its publication, the general declared that he would +never identify himself with an act which, besides being unjust, +would endanger the peace of all Europe. According to his +view, which was the same as that of the French ambassadors, +M. de Rayneval and M. de Corcelles, a general war would follow +the official publication of the letter of 18th August; and +such a war could not but prove fatal to the ideas of order +which were beginning to resume their empire. He loved his +country too well to bear part in incurring for it such fearful +risks. Messrs. de Rayneval and de Corcelles wrote to the same +effect, and communicated to the French Government the resolution +of the Sovereign Pontiff to seek the protection of Austria, +or even to repair to America, rather than submit to the constraint +with which he was threatened. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Address of Montalembert +to the National +Assembly of +France.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was not, however, ordained that the conditions of the +Pope's restoration should be decided by the President of the +French Republic, or the Odillon Barrot ministry. The National +Assembly of France took the matter in hand, +and after a keen debate, which lasted three +days—13th, 18th and 19th October—came +to a resolution favorable to the Holy See. +There can be no doubt that the Chamber was greatly influenced +by the powerful eloquence of M. de Montalembert. <span class="tei tei-q">“It has +been said,”</span> observed this orator, <span class="tei tei-q">“that the honor of our flag +was compromised by the expedition undertaken against Rome +in order to destroy the Roman Republic and restore the +authority of the Pope. All in this Assembly must feel insulted +by this reproach, and cannot but repel it, as I do at this moment. +No! the honor of our flag was never compromised. +No! never did this noble flag cover with its folds a more noble +enterprise. History will tell. I confidently invoke its testimony +and its judgment. History will throw a veil over all the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page090">[pg 090]</span><a name="Pg090" id="Pg090" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ambiguity, tergiversation and contestation which have been +pointed to with so much bitterness and so eager a desire to +spread discord amongst us. It will ignore all this, or, rather, +it will proclaim it all, in order that the greatness of the undertaking +may become apparent from the number and nature of +the difficulties that have been surmounted.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“History will say that a thousand years from the time of +Charlemagne, and fifty from that of Napoleon—a thousand +years after Charlemagne had won for himself imperishable +glory by restoring the Pontifical State, and fifty years after +Napoleon, in the zenith of power and prestige, had failed in his +endeavor to undo the work of his predecessor; history will say +that France has remained true to her traditions and deaf to +odious counsels. History will say that thirty thousand Frenchmen, +under the leadership of the worthy son of one of the +giants of our great imperial glories, left the shores of their +country, in order to re-establish at Rome, in the person of the +Pope, right, equity, European and French interest. History +will further say what Pius IX. himself said, in his letter of +thanks to General Oudinot: <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The victory of the French arms is +won over the enemies of human society</span></span>.’</span> Yes! gentlemen, such +will be the judgment of impartial history; and it will be one of +the brightest glories of France and the nineteenth century. +You will not attenuate, tarnish, eclipse this glory by plunging +into a mass of contradictions, complications, and inextricable +inconsistency. Know you what would dim for ever the lustre +of the French flag? It would be to set it in opposition to the +Cross, to the Tiara, which it has delivered. It would be to +transform the soldiers of France, the protectors of the Pope, +into his oppressors. It would be to exchange the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">role</span></span> and the +glory of Charlemagne for a pitiful mimicry of Garibaldi.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Municipality +of Rome invites the +Pope to return.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A large majority of the legislative assembly agreed with +Montalembert. The news of their decision, +which was in accordance with the general +sentiment of the French nation, was speedily +conveyed to the Pontifical Court. It dispelled all the unpleasant +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page091">[pg 091]</span><a name="Pg091" id="Pg091" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Pope returns +to Rome.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +apprehensions which had hitherto prevailed, and gave +great satisfaction to the Holy Father. The influence which it +exercised over his plans for the future may be learned from +the reply which he gave to a deputation from the municipality +of Rome, which now came to pray that he +would return to his States. <span class="tei tei-q">“It was repugnant +to us,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“to return to our +States, so long as France made it a question whether we should +be independent. But now that a happy solution has been +reached, which appears to put an end to all doubt on this point, +we hope to be able, in a short time, to return to our city of +Rome.”</span> Accordingly, on 12th April, 1850, Pius IX. made his +entrance into Rome amidst the dutiful and joyous acclamations +of the French army and the Roman people. On the 18th +day of the same month he formally blessed the arms and +colors of France in front of St. Peter's Church. Thus ended +at Rome a political revolution, which nothing less powerful +than Catholic sentiment could have overcome. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">State of religion in +countries affected by +the Photian schism +and the Mahometan +imposture.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst the comparatively small Pontifical State was agitated +by revolution, the greater kingdom of the +church was steadily pursuing, under the +auspices of its august Chief, its grand career +of progress and development. A new era +seemed to have dawned over all those great countries which +the Photian schism had so seriously affected. About the time +of Pius the Ninth's accession, more favorable dispositions +had come to prevail among the Greeks of Constantinople, of +Syria, of Palestine, of Egypt. Among the Armenians and +Chaldeans there were numerous conversions, whilst even the +Turks showed a better feeling towards the Catholic people, +among whom their lot was cast. We have already seen how +well such sentiments were encouraged by the newly-elected +Pontiff. His words of kindness were repaid by increased affection +for the Catholic people, and the wish, not to say the belief, +that when the Turkish Empire fell, the fragments of its once +great inheritance would be gathered up by Catholics. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page092">[pg 092]</span><a name="Pg092" id="Pg092" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +this belief and friendship,”</span> asks the Abbe Etienne, <span class="tei tei-q">“an indication +of the speedy reunion of the children of Mahomet with +the great Christian family? We have much reason to think +so, when we behold Islamism everywhere dwindling away and +giving place to the true faith.”</span> Damascus, so sacred in +Mussulman estimation, and so intolerant that no Christian +could pass within its gates except bareheaded, and on paying +a capitation tax, now beholds with pleasure the celebration of +Catholic rites. So great was the change that in a short time +all the inhabitants of a village in the neighborhood embraced +the Catholic faith. The Mahometans who are most capable of +appreciating religious questions, study Christianity secretly. +Not long ago, a Turk of Damascus caused a Catholic priest to +be called to his deathbed, and begged to be baptized. Great +was the surprise of the missionary to find him as well acquainted +with the truths of religion as he was anxious to receive the +sacrament of regeneration. A few moments later the good +priest beheld his neophyte expire, expressing the most pious +sentiments. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In Russia, the most powerful seat of the great eastern +schism, Catholics were long subjected to the most trying persecution. +It is well known what influence the venerable +Pontiff, Gregory XVI., exercised over the mind of the late +Emperor Nicholas, and that he succeeded in causing him to +mitigate the evils which weighed so heavily on his Catholic +subjects. Pius IX. was still more successful. Having concluded +a Concordat with the Czar, which was signed at Rome +on the 3rd August, 1847, by Cardinal Lambruschini, on the +part of the Holy See, and Counts Bloudoff and Boutenieff, on the +part of Russia, Pius IX., in a consistory held on 3rd July of the +same year, instituted bishops for the following Sees of the +Russian Empire: The Metropolitan Church of Mohilow, the +united dioceses of Luccoria and Zitomeritz, in Volhynia, the +diocese of Vilna, in Poland, and a coadjutor, with right of succession, +for the archbishopric of Mohilow. The Concordat +contained 31 articles. Article 1st. Seven Roman Catholic +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page093">[pg 093]</span><a name="Pg093" id="Pg093" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +dioceses are established in the Russian Empire—an archbishopric +and six bishoprics, viz.: the archbishopric of Mohilow, +which comprises all those parts of the Empire which are not +contained in the undermentioned dioceses. The Grand Duchy +of Finland is also included in this archdiocese. The diocese +of Vilna, comprising the governments of Vilna and Grodno, +according to their present limits; the diocese of Telsca, or +Samogitia, comprising the governments of Courland and Kowno; +the diocese of Minsk, comprising the government of Minsk, as +at present limited; the diocese of Luceoria and Zitomeritz, +containing the governments of Kiovia and Volhynia; the +diocese of Kaminiec, comprising the government of Podolia; +the new diocese of Kherson, containing the Province of Bessarabia, +the governments of Khersonesus, Ecatherinaslaw, +Taurida, Saratow and Astracan, together with the regions that +are subject to the general government of the Caucasus. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In glancing at the articles of the Concordat, the Catholic +reader will be agreeably surprised to observe that in so many +important things the wishes of the Holy Father were acceded +to, whilst it is matter for regret that in regard to others the +Plenipotentiaries could not come to an understanding. It is +provided by the 2nd and 3rd articles that apostolic letters under +the leaden seal shall determine the extent and limits of the +dioceses, as indicated in article 1st. The decrees of execution +shall express the number and the names of the parishes of +each diocese, and shall be submitted for the sanction of the +Holy See. The number of suffragan bishoprics, as settled by +the apostolic letters of Pius VI. in 1789, is retained in the six +ancient dioceses. In the following articles, from 4 to 10, it is +agreed that the suffragan of the new diocese of Kherson shall +reside in the town of Saratow. The annual allowance to the +Bishop of Kherson shall be 4,480 silver roubles. His suffragan +shall have the same income as the other bishops of the Empire, +viz.: 2,000 silver roubles. The chapter of the Cathedral +Church of Kherson shall consist of nine members, viz.: two +prelates or dignitaries, the president and archdeacon; four +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page094">[pg 094]</span><a name="Pg094" id="Pg094" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +canons, of whom three shall discharge the duties of theologian, +penitentiary and rector; and three resident priests, or beneficiaries. +In the new bishopric of Kherson there shall be a +diocesan seminary, in which from fifteen to twenty-five students +shall be supported at the cost of the government, the same as +those who enjoy a pension in other seminaries. Until a +Catholic bishop of the Armenian rite is named, the spiritual +wants of the Armenian Catholics of the dioceses of Kherson +and Kaminiec shall be provided for by applying the ninth +chapter of the Council of Lateran, held in 1215. The bishops +of Kaminiec and Kherson shall determine the number of +Catholic Armenian ecclesiastics who shall be educated in their +seminaries at the expense of the government. In each of these +seminaries there shall reside a Catholic Armenian priest, in +order to instruct the students in the ceremonies of their national +rite. As often as the spiritual wants of the Armenian Roman +Catholics of the newly-instituted diocese of Kherson shall +require it, the bishop, besides the means hitherto employed for +this purpose, may send priests as missionaries, and the government +will supply the funds that shall be necessary for their +journeys and sustenance. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Articles 11 and 12 provide that the number of dioceses in +the Kingdom of Poland shall remain the same as ordained by +the Apostolical Letters of Pius VII., of date 30th June, 1818. +There is no change as to the number and designation of the +suffragans of these dioceses. The appointment of bishops for +the dioceses and the suffragan bishoprics of the Empire of +Russia and the Kingdom of Poland shall only take effect after +each nomination shall have been agreed upon between the +Emperor and the Holy See. Canonical institution will be +given by the Roman Pontiff in the usual form. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In articles 13-20 are contained the following regulations: +the bishop is the sole judge and administrator of the ecclesiastical +affairs of his diocese, having due regard to the canonical +obedience which he owes to the Holy Apostolic See. Certain +affairs must be, in the first place, submitted to the deliberations +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page095">[pg 095]</span><a name="Pg095" id="Pg095" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the diocesan consistory. Such affairs are decided by +the bishop, after having been examined by the consistory, +which, however, is only consultative. The bishop is by no +means bound to give the reasons of his decision, even in case +of his opinion being different from that of the consistory. The +other affairs of the diocese, which are called <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">administrative</span></span>, and +among which are included cases of conscience, and, as has been +said above, cases of discipline which are visited only by light +punishments and pastoral admonitions, depend entirely on the +authority and the spontaneous decision of the bishop. All the +members of the consistory are ecclesiastics. Their nomination +and their revocation belong to the bishop. The nominations +are so made as not to displease the government. The officials +of the consistorial chancery are confirmed by the bishop, on +the presentation of the secretary of the consistory. The secretary +of the bishop, who is charged with official and private correspondence, +is named directly by the bishop; and an ecclesiastic, +as the bishop thinks proper, may be chosen. The duties +of the members of the consistory cease when the bishop dies +or resigns, and also when the administration of a vacant See +comes to an end. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From articles 21-29 we read as follows: The bishop has +the supreme direction of the teaching of doctrine and discipline +in the seminaries of his diocese, according to the prescriptions +of the Council of Trent. The choice of rectors, inspectors +and Professors for the diocesan seminaries is reserved to the +bishop. Before naming them, he must ascertain that, as +regards their civil conduct, they will not give occasion to any +objection on the part of the government. The Archbishop +Metropolitan of Mohilow shall exercise in the ecclesiastical +academy of St. Petersburg the same jurisdiction as does each +bishop in his diocesan seminary. He is the sole chief of this +academy—its supreme director. The council or directory of +this academy is only consultative. The choice of the rector, +the inspector and professors of this academy, shall be made by +the archbishop, after he has received the report of the Academical +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page096">[pg 096]</span><a name="Pg096" id="Pg096" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Council. The professors and assistant-professors of Theological +science shall always be chosen among ecclesiastics. +The other masters may be selected among lay persons, professing +the Roman Catholic religion. The confessors of the +students of each seminary and of the academy shall take no +part in the disciplinary government of the establishment. +They shall be chosen and nominated by the bishop or archbishop. +When the limits of the dioceses shall have been fixed +according to the new regulation, the archbishop, with the +advice of the ordinaries, shall determine, once for all, the number +of students that each diocese may send to the academy. +The programme of studies in the seminaries shall be regulated +by the bishops. The archbishop shall decide upon that of the +academy after having conferred with the Academical Council. +When the rule of the ecclesiastical academy of St. Petersburg +shall have been modified conformably with the principles agreed +upon in the preceding articles, the Archbishop of Mohilow will +send to the Holy See a report on the academy like that which +was made by Archbishop Koromanski when the academy was +restored. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Articles 30 and 31. Wherever the right of patronage does +not exist, or has been discontinued for a certain time, parish +priests shall be appointed by the bishop. They must not offend +the government, and must have undergone examination and +competition according to the rules laid down by the Council of +Trent. Roman Catholic churches may be freely repaired at +the expense of communities or individuals who shall please to +take charge of this work. When their own resources are +insufficient, they may apply to the Imperial Government in +order to obtain assistance. New churches shall be constructed, +and the number of parishes augmented, when such measures +become necessary from the increase of population, the too +great extent of existing parishes, or the difficulty of communications. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Such matters as could not be agreed upon and embodied +in the Concordat may be gleaned from the allocution which +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page097">[pg 097]</span><a name="Pg097" id="Pg097" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Pius IX. addressed, at the time, to the Cardinals. <span class="tei tei-q">“Many +things of the greatest importance still remain, in regard to +which the Plenipotentiaries could not come to an agreement, +and the omission of which awakens our most lively solicitude, +and causes us the utmost pain; for they concern, in the highest +degree, the liberty of the church, its rights, its essential +principles, and the salvation of the faithful in those Russian +countries. We allude to that true and complete liberty, which +ought to be secured to the Christian people, of being able, in +regard to the things which relate to religion, to communicate, +without impediment, with this Apostolic See, the centre of +Catholic unity and truth, the Father and Master of all the Faithful. +All men may understand how deeply grieved we are, when +they call to mind the multiplied appeals which this Apostolic +See has never ceased to cause to be heard at divers times, in +order to obtain free communication of the faithful, not only in +Russia, but also in other countries, where, in certain affairs of +religion, it is seriously impeded, to the great loss of souls. We +would speak of the property which ought to be restored to the +clergy. We would have removed from the Episcopal Consistories +the lay person chosen by the government, in order that, +in these assemblies, the bishops may be able to act with all +liberty. We must advert to the law according to which mixed +marriages are not recognized as valid, until they have been +blessed by a Russo-Greek Catholic priest; and also to the +liberty which Catholics ought to possess of trying and judging +their matrimonial causes, in eases of mixed marriages, by a +Catholic ecclesiastical tribunal. Finally, we would allude to +divers laws prevalent in Russia, which fix the age at which +religious professions may be made, which destroy entirely the +schools that are held in the houses of religious orders, which +prevent the visits of provincial superiors, which forbid and +interdict conversion to the Catholic faith.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In this same allocution the Holy Father deplores the miserable +state of the illustrious Ruthenian nation, which, dispersed +throughout the vast countries of Russia, is, from various causes, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page098">[pg 098]</span><a name="Pg098" id="Pg098" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +exposed to great dangers as regards salvation. Without +bishops, they have none to guide them in the paths of righteousness, +none to administer to them spiritual succour, or to warn +them against the insidious approaches of heresy and schism. +The Holy Father is confident that the Latin priests will bestow +all their care and employ every available resource in affording +spiritual aid to these <span class="tei tei-q">“most dear children.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“From our inmost +soul,”</span> concludes the venerable Pontiff, <span class="tei tei-q">“we exhort, +earnestly and lovingly in the Lord, and urge the Ruthenians +themselves to remain faithful and steadfast in the unity of the +Catholic Church, or, if they have been so unfortunate as to +abandon it, to return to the bosom of their most loving mother, +to have recourse to us, who, with God's assistance, will do +whatever is best calculated to secure their salvation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As regards some of these highly important matters, the +wishes of the Holy Father were acceded to by the Russian +Emperor. The bishop of Kherson was allowed a second +suffragan. It was also regulated that matrimonial and other +ecclesiastical causes, whether in Russia proper or in the kingdom +of Poland, should, on appeal from a sentence pronounced +by the ordinary, be heard before the tribunal of the metropolitan, +or before the more neighboring bishop, in case of judgment +having been first given by the metropolitan. Such causes, +in the event of final appeal, should be referred to Rome—to the +tribunal of the Apostolic See. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In considering, at some length, the Concordat with Russia, +and the more favorable terms by which it was followed, we +learn what hopes may be entertained as regards the spiritual +well-being of the more numerous Catholics, Armenians and +others, who will now, in all probability, come under the sway +of Russia.<a id="noteref_2" name="noteref_2" href="#note_2"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">2</span></span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">French colonies and +foreign missions—Africa.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Society of the Holy Ghost had labored successfully in +France, the Indies, Canada, China, Acadia, +or Nova Scotia, the islands, Miquelon and +St. Peter. In the countries referred to, there +were bishops, vicars apostolic, of this society, and several missionary +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page099">[pg 099]</span><a name="Pg099" id="Pg099" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +priests. In Cayenne and French Guiana, they maintained +an apostolic prefect and twenty missionaries apostolic. +The troubles of the French revolution all but extinguished this +zealous and influential missionary society. It was revived in +the year 1848, under the auspices of Pius IX., and resumed its +labors under the title of Society of the Holy Ghost and the +Immaculate Heart of Mary. During the negotiations which +led to the restoration of this society, the Vicariate Apostolic of +Madagascar became vacant by the death of Bishop Dalton. +Abbe Monnet, Superior of the Society of the Holy Ghost, was +appointed to succeed him, and Rev. Abbe Liebermann, a distinguished +convert from Judaism, was unanimously elected to +the post of superior-general of the two united societies. The +labors of Abbe Liebermann were crowned with complete success. +In 1850, the Holy Father, in order to confirm and perpetuate +the fruit of so much apostolic labor, erected three +bishoprics—one in the low country of Guadeloupe, another at +Fort Francis, in Martinica, and a third at St. Denis, of Bourbon +Island. The eminent convert died in 1852, after having +had the satisfaction to behold such great developments of his +missionary work. The death of the first superior-general did +not, by any means, retard the increase of the new society. On +the contrary, new blessings seemed to descend upon it. Under +the guidance of the second superior, the Abbe Schwindenhammer, +who had been the friend and confidential counsellor of the +first, the society came to be as an order of three choirs—Fathers, +Friars, Sisters. To the Rev. Fathers, who were missionaries +apostolic, the Father of the great Christian Family, +Pius IX., assigned a field of labor, a hundred times more +extensive than the land which was promised of old to the children +of Israel—a territory from eleven to twelve hundred +leagues in length, and broad in proportion. The friars were +lay missionaries, whose duty it was to assist the Rev. Fathers, +teach the neophytes the arts of Christian civilization, and +change the deserts, the wild forest lands and dismal swamps, +into smiling fields. A brother, who is a printer, has already +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page100">[pg 100]</span><a name="Pg100" id="Pg100" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +departed for those missions, carrying with him a complete set +of types. The sisters, in order to draw down the mercy of +heaven on the negro lands, devote themselves to prayer, works +of charity and self-denial, perpetual adoration of the Blessed +Sacrament, and the continual offering of themselves in sacrifice +for the salvation of the souls that are most neglected. +They would even, if it were the call of heaven, repair to Africa, +and found there religious communities, in order to confirm the +good work commenced by the missionaries. So early as their +first year, 1852, they had established two or three houses in +France. This great missionary society came into existence at +a singularly opportune moment, and none can tell what an +important part it may bear in carrying the light of Christianity +into that benighted Africa which modern discovery, the discovery +of our age, the age of Pius IX., is now throwing open to +the many blessed influences of civilization. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the early days of the Pontificate of Pius IX., the Guinea +missions extended over regions of negro-land nine hundred +leagues from east to west, and seven hundred leagues from +north to south, with a coast-line of eleven hundred leagues. +These African countries are very populous; and there are +towns of 20,000, 30,000, and even 60,000 inhabitants. The +greatest barbarism prevails. With the exception of a few +Mahometans in Sanegambia, the people are idolators. They +are also cannibals, and human sacrifices are frequent. Polygamy +is one of their vices, and those on the sea coast of Guinea +have learned many others from contact with Europeans, such +as hard drinking and all kinds of excess. Their women are +in a degraded condition, doing all the drudgery, and not being +admitted to an equality with their husbands. Notwithstanding +all this, the missionaries give them a high character. They +bear pain with fortitude, and have a horror of slavery, although +so many of them are reduced to servitude by greedy traders. +A sea captain once offered a negro any amount of money, on +condition that he should become his slave. <span class="tei tei-q">“All the gold your +ship could hold,”</span> said the spirited African, <span class="tei tei-q">“is no price for my +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page101">[pg 101]</span><a name="Pg101" id="Pg101" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +liberty.”</span> They are very sensitive, grateful, and even affectionate +towards those who befriend them. To the missionaries +they always showed hospitality; and the peaceful explorer, +Livingstone, and his friends generally met with the same +kindness. If it was otherwise with the adventurous discoverer, +Stanley, he owed the hostility with which he was often received +by the African tribes to the armed force by which he was +accompanied, and his determination to traverse their countries, +whether they liked it or not. They listened attentively to the +missionaries, and this circumstance induced these excellent +persons to express the belief that, with proper precautions, +they may be induced to embrace the Christian faith. Many +things have occurred, in the course of this favored age, to +encourage this hope for the future welfare of so many millions +of the human race. Science has thrown its light into the +hitherto dark regions of Central Africa, where no European +had, as yet, been able to penetrate. The petty and corrupting +traffic on the coasts will speedily expand into wide extended +and improving commerce. The slave trade is gradually +diminishing, and must, ere long, disappear under the blessed +influences, more active than ever, which are now at work; the +whole church is moved by the edifying narratives of zealous +missionaries; and the countenance of the Apostolic See is +willingly bestowed on missionary effort. So, it is not too much +to say that, with such auspicious commencements in the age +of Pius IX., the days of some future Pontiff, at no very distant +epoch, will be blessed to behold Africa, so long neglected, +happily, at length, brought within the pale of Christianity and +civilization. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The missionaries speak of a Prince, whose history, if +related by less trustworthy parties, could not fail to be considered +fabulous. His territory is situated on the river Gabon. +He speaks English and French fluently, as well as an African +dialect called <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Boulou</span></span>. He is a man of gentle and polished +manners, and possesses the self-control of the most accomplished +European. In point of sobriety, he is equal to the best of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page102">[pg 102]</span><a name="Pg102" id="Pg102" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Europeans. He never drinks intoxicating liquor, and forbids +his children to use it. He is beloved by his subjects, and +respected by the neighboring tribes, who hold with him commercial +and friendly relations. He shows great friendship to +the missionaries, and takes great delight in assisting them. A +good bishop is also mentioned, whose horror of the slave trade +was such that he would not allow a negro to serve him. In +addition to the mission-house, which is a solid stone building, +there is also a seminary, where some of the native youth are +educated for the duties of the Christian priesthood. The +aboriginal populations receive the bishop and the heads of the +missions with extraordinary honors. The salubrity of the +climate is favorably spoken of, being nowise inferior to that of +France. Everything appeared to favor the Guinea missions in +the early years of the Pontificate of Pius IX. With the aid of +continued countenance and encouragement, they cease not to +be developed every day more and more throughout the vast +countries extending from Senegambia to the Equator. At Joal +and St. Mary of Gambia, there were flourishing missions so +early as 1852. In 1850 M. L'Abbe Arlabosse founded a mission +at Galam, 150 leagues in the interior of Senegal. Another +mission was successfully established at Grand Bassam, in 1851. +The printing press, already referred to, has contributed powerfully +to facilitate missionary work. Seven diverse languages +are now taught, viz.: Wolof, Serer, Saracole, Abule, Mpongue, +Bingue and Balu, or Boulou. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is somewhat remarkable that in all the countries connected +as colonies with Great Britain, where Protestantism is +so persistently adhered to, there should prevail the greatest +liberty as regards the exercise of the Catholic religion. Thus, +Cape Colony (Cape of Good Hope) was no sooner transferred +from the rule of Holland to that of Britain than the Holy +Father was enabled to extend his care to the Catholics of that +remote land. A bishop was appointed, and missions speedily +established. There are now three bishops, vicars apostolic, at +Cape Town, Graham's Town, Natal. The islands Mauritius +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page103">[pg 103]</span><a name="Pg103" id="Pg103" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and Bourbon, each of which has a population of more than +100,000 souls, share the solicitude of the church and its august +Head. They are not both equally favored by their civil rulers. +The former was annexed to Great Britain in 1810. The Holy +Father provides for its spiritual welfare, confiding its administration +to a bishop and a sufficient number of priests, all of +whom receive salaries from the government. The bishops +hitherto have been members of the illustrious order of St. +Benedict, and some of them have enjoyed a high reputation in +the church, such as the learned and eloquent Bishop Morris, +and the pious and accomplished Bishop Collier. Bourbon +Island, until of late, 1850, when a bishop was appointed, had +not been so fortunate. An eminent French writer rather +satirically remarks, that it would have to wait until France +ceded all her colonies to the British. There are, however, some +priests who, together with the bishop, minister to the spiritual +wants of the people. Great efforts have been made to establish +missions in the large and populous Island of Madagascar, +which, according to geographers, is 1,000 miles in length. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The priests of the congregation of St. Vincent of Paul, as +zealous now as in the days of their illustrious founder, have +penetrated into Abyssinia, and are laboring to bring about a +complete reconciliation of that once eminently Christian nation +to the church of Pius IX. The Æthiopian may not, indeed, +change his skin. But, according to the reports of the missionaries, +these people are changing their ideas, and giving +proofs of a disposition to return to the centre of Christian +unity. Everywhere the missionaries are received with kindness +by princes and people, and favored with a respectful hearing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +So great is the reverence of the nations of the Turkish +Empire for the character of the Pope, that one would say that +he had a Concordat with those nations and their chiefs. The +legate of the Holy See, Archbishop Auvergne, of Iconium, was +received with the greatest honor by the Sovereign of Ægypt, on +occasion of his legation to that country and Syria. A Catholic +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page104">[pg 104]</span><a name="Pg104" id="Pg104" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bishop was established at Alexandria, a city so intimately +associated with the memory of Saint Athanasius. His jurisdiction +extends over the Æthiopian countries, and this circumstance, +considering their relations in bygone ages with the +Patriarchs of Alexandria, facilitates their communion with the +centre of unity. The Catholic bishop of Cairo, assisted by +thirty priests, so long ago as 1840, governed a flock of nearly +twenty thousand Copts of the ancient race of Ægypt. This +body of faithful Christians is daily increasing, by the adherence +of other Copts who had fallen into the Eutichyan heresy, more +from want of instruction than obstinacy. Nothing could surpass +the generosity of the Khedive towards the church. He +presented to the Pope several marble columns, for the restoration +of the Basilica of St. Paul at Rome, and built for the missionaries +and sisters of St. Vincent de Paul a college, schools, +and an hospital in the city of Alexandria. At Tunis and +Tripoli there are 7,000 Catholics, who are ministered to by +nine priests of the order of St. Francis. So early as 1840, +Sisters of Charity went from France in order to establish a +community at Tunis, with the full concurrence of the Mussulman +government. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is well known that as soon as a French colony was +founded at Algiers, a bishop was appointed. That African +Christendom, so happily commenced, still prospers, and extends +its labors under the auspices of the august Head of the church. +It is consoling to observe that there are so many nascent and +even flourishing churches around the vast continent of Africa, +from Senegambia and Sierra Leone, by the Cape of Good Hope, +the islands on the south-east coast, Æthiopia and Ægypt, to +the gates of Hercules. They stand there as sentinels, ready to +intimate the moment when the army of the Cross may penetrate +to the central continent, and conquer new kingdoms to +the cause of Christ. This is surely not too much to hope for +in an age when science has done so much, and commerce, that +great handmaid of civilization, is opening a highway to the +darkest recesses of the wide and long-lost heathen land. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page105">[pg 105]</span><a name="Pg105" id="Pg105" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">German associations +of Pius IX.—State +of religion in +Germany.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Some serious-minded Catholics of Germany, dreading lest +a national or schismatical church should +come to be established in that country, conceived +the happy idea of organizing, under +the auspices of Pius IX., associations of +laymen, who made it their duty to assist the clergy in everything +that could tend to improve morals and education, relieve +suffering, and restore the liberty and rights of the church, +whilst they studied, at the same time, to impart a spirit of +faith to the pursuits of science, the arts, and even the more +humble occupations of trade. The chief founder of these associations, +Mr. Francis Joseph Busz, has written a book, in +which he shows what progress they had already made in +1851, and what it still remained for them to accomplish. +They continued to prosper, and gave birth to associations of a +like nature. Thus, at Cologne, Abbe Kolping, Vicar of the +Cathedral, founded a society of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Catholic Companions</span></span>, the object +of whose institute was, that they should spend their leisure +hours together in a Christian manner, and increase the knowledge +suited to their state of life, instead of losing their time, +their money and their morals in taverns. By the year 1852, +such associations of workmen had taken root in no fewer than +twenty-five cities in Germany. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ever since the Thirty Years' War, Germany had been distracted +by religious divisions. And yet the sectarian spirit +does not appear to have been so bitter as in some other +countries. There was at least a desire for religious peace and +union. This is sufficiently expressed in the articles of the +treaty of Westphalia, which seems to have been intended as a +temporary arrangement for the pacification of the country, +until peace should be permanently established <span class="tei tei-q">“by the agreement +of all parties on points of religion;”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“until all controversies +should be terminated by an amicable and universal +understanding.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“But if, which God forbid! people cannot +come to such amicable agreement on the controverted points +of religion, that this convention shall, nevertheless, be perpetual, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page106">[pg 106]</span><a name="Pg106" id="Pg106" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and this peace always continue.”</span> Thus was the great treaty +only a preliminary of that lasting peace which can only be +finally concluded when all minds and hearts are united in the +bonds of a common faith. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst many good men labored to bring about this most +desirable end, others, such as Frederic of Prussia, and Joseph +II. of Austria, by ill-advised measures, and the countenance +which they gave to unsound and even irreligious doctrines, +sowed the seeds of anarchy and unbelief, which failed not, in +due time, to produce fruit according to their kind, and well-nigh +accomplished the overthrow of society as well as that of the +Christian Church. The Austrian Emperor appears to have +understood the situation, and has generally maintained friendly +relations with the Chief Pastor. Germany, besides, has not +been without able and pious men, who have nobly sustained +the cause of Truth and Union. Among these are particularly +deserving of honorable mention the Counts Stolberg, father +and son, whose writings have exercised a salutary influence. +Whilst many other noble laymen contributed, like them, to the +regeneration of their country, others, who were noble only in +the ranks of literature and science, vied in their efforts with +the learned of noble birth. The elder Gœrres headed the +Catholic movement when Prussia so cruelly persecuted the +Archbishop of Cologne. So good an example was not lost on +the son. The younger Gœrres ceased not to emulate his +worthy parent until the day of his death, in 1852. Another +distinguished author, who, by his writings, greatly contributed +to inform and encourage the Catholics of Germany, was Mr. +Francis Joseph Busz, already mentioned in connection with +the associations of Pius IX. He was a native of Baden, and +an Aulic Counsellor of the Grand Duke. He had also been a +member of the great National Parliament, which assembled at +Frankfort for the purpose of restoring German unity. The +best-known of his works are: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Catholic Association of Germany, +and the necessity of reform in the instruction and education of +the Catholic secular clergy of Germany</span></span>. Some of his remarks +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page107">[pg 107]</span><a name="Pg107" id="Pg107" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +may be appropriately quoted, as they throw light on the present +(1877-78) state of Germany, and explain in great measure the +extraordinary relations between Church and State in the New +German Empire: <span class="tei tei-q">“The year 1848 proved to us Germans that +we could not rely on our governments. Both diplomacy and +bureaucracy are, and will remain, incorrigible. Our misery is, +indeed, great. Dissension prevails among our good citizens; +the ill-meaning are united. The Revolutionary War of 1848 +and 1849 was a war of principles, but without results. It was +repressed, but not exhausted. It keeps alive under the appearances +by which it is concealed. The inexhaustible volcano is +at work amongst us, not only since 1848, but for three hundred +years. The abjuration of law, and even of all principle of +right, is only the form or expression; the essence of our +malady is the denial of God and His Church. The revolution +is apostacy, the disunion of the nation is schism, its anarchy +Atheism. Whoever, like myself, has witnessed the public +negotiations of Germany, knows full well that the political +struggle was, for a long time, and particularly for the last three +years, a contest between the religious confessions. Such +evolutions of evil possess a certain life, although it be only +that which leads to dissolution. They spring one from +another, and the new growth is always an improvement on +that by which it was preceded. I say it with sorrow. The +strife of political parties comes at last to be civil war, which, +in its turn, becomes a religious war, and such war soon grows +to a war of unbelief against Faith, of antichrist against +Christ. The end is not uncertain. Christ will be victorious; +for it is appointed that the power of hell shall not prevail.”</span> +In such a state of things the first duty of German Catholics is +that they be united. It is necessary that the German church +should remain in intimate union with the Holy Apostolic See, +relinquishing all pretension to be a separate National Church. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The aspiration of our author, so warmly expressed in 1850, +that the German Episcopate should, in mind and action, be one +body in the nation, acting and suffering together, appears, in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page108">[pg 108]</span><a name="Pg108" id="Pg108" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +these later days, to have been realized. It was also his firm +conviction that it behooved them to labor to obtain complete +liberty of action for the church, particularly in forming an +exemplary clergy, both in the lesser and greater seminaries, as +well as in those higher institutions, the German universities. +Neither should the laity fail in the fulfilment of all Christian +and charitable duties. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Degeneracy of Spain +and Portugal, and +their colonies—Restoration +under the +auspices of Pius IX.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is well known that, in ancient times, no countries in the +world were more Catholic than Spain and +and Portugal. The great wealth and power and +glory to which they attained was, one would +say, a mark of Heaven's approbation. +Wealth, however, is a dangerous possession. In the countries +referred to it induced corruption and degeneracy. Principles +of anarchy came to be disseminated, devolution on revolution +followed. The authority of the Chief Pastor was resisted. +The ministers of religion and the religious orders were treated +with contempt—were persecuted in lands where they had been +so long cherished and revered. The children of a corrupt +nobility were sent to govern the provinces and churches of the +falling Empire. The result was, it is superfluous to say, the +decline of religion—the overthrow of the once flourishing +churches of Spain and Portugal. And yet were they not +destined to perish wholly. A remnant was left; and it was +appointed that this remnant should take root and fructify in a +soil which trials and persecution had prepared for a new +growth. It was reserved for the age of Pius IX. to behold +Spain and Portugal renew their early fervor. They have +returned to the centre of Catholic unity; and in both countries +arrangements have been entered into for staying the spoliation +of ecclesiastical property, appointing learned and edifying +bishops to the vacant Sees, restoring seminaries and clerical +education. The clergy, who had been infected more or less +by the Jansenist heresy, now purified in the crucible of persecution, +have resumed the sound doctrines and the heroic virtues +of the apostolic men who will ever be the brightest glory of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page109">[pg 109]</span><a name="Pg109" id="Pg109" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +their land—Thomas of Villa-Nova, Francis Xavier, Ignatius of +Loyola, Peter of Alcantara, Francis Borgia, St. John of the +Cross, and Saint Theresa. The Holy See, with the concurrence +of the Spanish Government, has organized anew the +churches of Spain. In the consistory of 3rd July, 1848, Pope +Pius IX. instituted bishops for the following Sees: Segovia +and Calahorra, in Old Castile; Tortosa and Vich, in Catalonia; +Porto Rico, in North America; Cuenca and St. Charles de +Aucud de Chilœ, in South America. This last-named diocese, +at the time of the appointment, was newly erected. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">State of the Catholic +Church in England +prior to 1850.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From the epoch of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Reformation,”</span> when the ancient +Catholic hierarchy of England, which had +been so successfully founded by St. Augustine +and the disciples of St. Columba, was +swept away, until the year 1850, the church was missionary, +and governed, as missions usually are, by prefects, who may be +arch-priests, or vicars-apostolic, with episcopal titles. Until +the year 1625, the English mission was under the guidance of +an arch-priest. In that year Pope Gregory II. appointed a +vicar-apostolic for all England. Circumstances appearing +favorable to the church after the accession of King James II., +Pope Innocent XI. placed the English mission under the +spiritual charge of four vicars-apostolic, who were bishops, +with titles taken from churches, <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">in partibus +infidelium</span></span>. The +country was, at the same time, divided into four missionary +districts—the London, the Eastern, the Midland and the Western. +The numbers of Catholics having greatly increased during +the early portion of the present century, the Holy Father, +Gregory XVI., took into consideration the new requirements +that had arisen, by letters apostolical, of date 3rd July, +1840, made a new ecclesiastical division of the English counties, +and doubled the number of vicars-apostolic. There were now +eight districts under the spiritual jurisdiction of these vicars-apostolic, +who governed and were governed by the wise constitutions +given to their predecessors by Pope Benedict XIV. +Meanwhile, the state of the Catholics of England was rapidly +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page110">[pg 110]</span><a name="Pg110" id="Pg110" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +improving. Relieved of so many of their disabilities by the +gracious Act of 1829, there were no longer any serious legal +impediments to the legitimate development of their church. +It grew accordingly, and by the year 1840 had become comparatively +flourishing. It possessed many stately churches, +eight or ten important colleges, the buildings of which were of a +high order of architecture; numerous charitable institutions, +each of considerable extent; over six hundred public churches +or chapels, and eight hundred clergy. Many of the most +ancient families of the land were among its devoted adherents, +and it also claimed a not unequal share of the intellect and +learning, the literary and scientific distinction of the country. +Many of the British colonies had already been favored, and +not without the full concurrence of the Imperial government, +with that more suitable and normal state of church government, +which depends on the institution of bishops in ordinary. +Was the Mother Country, the seat of empire, whose church +was so much more developed than that of any of the colonies, +alone to be deprived of so great an advantage? Were the +Catholics of England, who were certainly in no respect behind +the rest of their fellow-countrymen, even in an age of light and +improvement, to rest satisfied with a primitive state of things, +when a broader, a more free, and in every way a more beneficial +system of spiritual rule was within their reach? The +Chief Pastor was willing to inaugurate such rule, provided that +he found, on examination, that it was suited to the spiritual +state and religious wants of the Catholic people. There was +nothing, besides, in the legislation of the country that could be +called an impediment to a new and better condition of ecclesiastical +government. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. restores the +English Hierarchy.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For some time the Catholics of England had desired that +their church should enjoy the advantage of +being governed by bishops in ordinary. So +early as the year 1834, they petitioned the +Holy See to this effect. At that time, however, nothing was +concluded. In 1847 the vicars-apostolic assembled in London, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page111">[pg 111]</span><a name="Pg111" id="Pg111" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and deputed two of their number to bear a petition to the Holy +Father, earnestly praying for the long-desired boon. It was +craved, not as a mark of triumphant progress, far less as an +act of aggression on the law-established church, but simply in +order to afford greater facility for the administration of the +affairs of the church, and more effectually to promote the edification +of the Catholic people. The existing code of government +had been adopted about a hundred years before, when +heavy penal laws, together with endless disabilities, were in +force, and religious liberty was unknown. Part of this code +had been repealed by Pope Gregory XVI. But it still tended +to embarrass rather than to aid and guide. Since Emancipation, +in 1829, the Catholic church had greatly expanded, and +the bishops, vicars-apostolic, were in a situation of great difficulty, +as they were most anxious to be guarded against arbitrary +decisions by fixed rules, whilst as yet none were provided for +them. No doubt the system of church government by vicars-apostolic +could have been amended and made more suitable to +the altered circumstances of the church. But it would have +been necessarily complicated, and at best could only have +been a temporary arrangement. It was thought expedient, +therefore, that the ordinary mode of church government should +be extended to the Catholic church in England, in as far as +was compatible with its social position. It was, accordingly, +necessary that there should be a hierarchy. The canon law +could not be applied under vicars-apostolic, nor could provincial +synods be held, however necessary their action might be, without +a metropolitan and suffragan bishops. The vicars-apostolic +petitioned only with a view to improve the internal organization +of the church. They had no idea of attacking any other body, +and surely never dreamt of rivalry with the established Anglican +church. What they did, besides, was perfectly within the law, +and according to the rights of liberty of conscience. The Holy +Father kindly listened to the petition, and referred it for +further consideration to the congregation of Propaganda. +When every point was carefully examined, and objections satisfactorily +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page112">[pg 112]</span><a name="Pg112" id="Pg112" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +replied to, the favor petitioned for was granted. Difficulties +having been started in regard to some matter of detail, +the publication of the new code of church administration was +delayed. These difficulties were removed the following year +by Bishop Ullathorne. But the measure was again retarded +by the revolution which broke out at Rome in 1848. The +delay was not without its uses. It gave time to the statesmen +of England to become acquainted with and consider the measure +of reform which was proposed for adoption in the internal +organization of the Catholic church in England. It was +officially communicated to them when printed, in 1848. They +made no objection. And yet, when it was promulgated in 1850, +their chief spoke of it, in his ill-timed letter to the Bishop of +Durham, as <span class="tei tei-q">“insolent and insidious.”</span> For many an age to +come, Catholics will read with astonishment that so inoffensive +an act of the Holy See, done at the request of the Catholic +bishops of England, and in the interest of the Catholic people, +at the time some seven millions in number, should have +excited the anger of so great a portion of the English nation. +The isle was literally frighted from its propriety. From the +Queen on her throne to the humblest villager, all were seized +with sudden and unaccountable fear, as if the monarchy had +been threatened with immediate overthrow. The Queen, in +terror, called her Council of State around her. But her chief +adviser, a weak-minded old man, had very little comfort to +bestow. He could only help her Majesty's bishops to inflame +the public mind. In all conscience, they had done quite +enough in this direction without his assistance. The spirit of +bigotry was enkindled, and the clergy, with their chiefs, gave +proof of their bitter hostility through every newspaper of the +land. This acrimonious opposition was, however, chiefly confined +to the ministers of the church by law established. They +believed, or pretended to believe, that the titles and legal rights +of their bishops were aimed at, whilst, in reality, care had been +taken to avoid offending them, or violating the law, by conferring +on the new bishops the titles of the ancient Sees which +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page113">[pg 113]</span><a name="Pg113" id="Pg113" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +were held by the established church. It is impossible to mention +anything connected with the establishment of the hierarchy +which can at all explain the violence of the bishops and +clergy generally of the establishment. The popular commotion +arose from misconception and the absurd falsehoods that were +industriously disseminated. The masses were still raging, +when Dr. Wiseman, who had just been raised to the dignity of +Cardinal, published an appeal to the people of England, in +which he showed that the measure which had occasioned so +much disturbance concerned only the internal organization of +the Catholic church, that the Pope had not sought such a measure, +but had only acceded to it at the earnest request of the +bishops, vicars-apostolic of England: that there was nothing +connected with it contrary to the laws of the country, or that +could not be reconciled with liberty of conscience, which was +now so completely and generally recognized. It was as +ridiculous as it was illiberal to heap torrents of abuse on the +Pope, as if he had sought to usurp the rights of the Crown, or +seize on the territory and revenues of the established Anglican +church. As for himself, he was reviled because he had received +the title of Archbishop of Westminster, whilst, in reality, as +regarded the church of that name, and any territory or property +connected with it, it was only an empty title. He was to +be metropolitan. The title of London was inhibited by law. +Southwark was to be itself a diocese. To have taken the title +of a subordinate portion of the great metropolis, such as Finsbury +or Islington, would only have excited ridicule, and caused +the new episcopate to be jeered at. Westminster was +naturally selected, although not by himself, as giving an +honorable and well-known title. He was glad that it was +chosen, not because it was the seat of the courts of law, or of +parliament, but because it brought the real point of the controversy +more clearly and strikingly before the opponents of +the hierarchy. <span class="tei tei-q">“Have we, in anything, acted contrary to +law? And if not, why are we to be blamed?”</span> But he rejoiced, +also, for another reason. The chapter of Westminster had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page114">[pg 114]</span><a name="Pg114" id="Pg114" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been the first to protest against the new archiepiscopal title, +as though some practical attempt at jurisdiction within the +Abbey had been intended. To this more than absurd charge, +the Cardinal eloquently replied: <span class="tei tei-q">“The diocese, indeed, of Westminster, +embraces a large district, but Westminster proper +consists of two very different parts. One comprises the stately +Abbey, with its adjacent palaces and its royal parks. To +this portion the duties and occupations of the dean and chapter +are mainly confined, and they shall range there undisturbed. +To the venerable old church I may repair, as I have been wont +to do. But perhaps the dean and chapter are not aware, that +were I disposed to claim more than the right to tread the +Catholic pavement of that noble building, and breathe its air +of ancient consecration, another might step in with a prior +claim. For successive generations there has existed ever, in +the Benedictine order, an Abbot of Westminster, the representative +in religious dignity of those who erected and beautified +and governed that church and cloister. Have they ever +been disturbed by this titular? Have they heard of any claim +or protest on his part touching their temporalities? Then let +them fear no greater aggression now. Like him, I may visit, +as I have said, the old Abbey, and say my prayer by the shrine +of good St. Edward, and meditate on the olden times, when +the church filled without a coronation and multitudes hourly +worshipped without a service. But in their temporal rights, +or their quiet possession of any dignity and title, they will not +suffer. Whenever I go in I will pay my entrance fee, like other +liege subjects, and resign myself meekly to the guidance of the +beadle, and listen without rebuke when he points out to my +admiration detestable monuments, or shows me a hole in the +wall for a confessional. Yet this splendid monument, its +treasures of art and its fitting endowments, form not +the parts of Westminster which will concern me; for there +is another part which stands in frightful contrast, though +in immediate contact with this magnificence. In ancient +times the existence of an abbey in any spot, with a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page115">[pg 115]</span><a name="Pg115" id="Pg115" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +large staff of clergy and ample revenues, would have sufficed +to create around it a little paradise of comfort, cheerfulness +and ease. This, however, is not now the case. +Close under the Abbey of Westminster there lie concealed +labyrinths of lanes and courts, and alleys and slums, nests of +ignorance, vice, depravity and crime, as well as of squalor, +wretchedness and disease; whose atmosphere is typhus, whose +ventilation is cholera; in which swarms a huge and almost +countless population, in great measure, nominally, at least, +Catholic; haunts of filth which no sewerage committee can +reach; dark corners which no lighting board can brighten. +This is the part of Westminster which alone I covet, and which +I shall be glad to claim and to visit, as a blessed pasture in +which sheep of Holy Church are to be tended, in which a +bishop's godly work has to be done, of consoling, converting +and preserving. And if, as I humbly trust in God, it shall be +seen that this special culture, arising from the establishment +of our hierarchy, bears fruits of order, peacefulness, decency, +religion and virtue, it may be that the Holy See shall not be +thought to have acted unwisely, when it bound up the very +soul and salvation of a Chief Pastor with those of a city, +whereof the name, indeed, is glorious, but the purlieus infamous—in +which the very grandeur of its public edifices is as a +shadow to screen from the public eye sin and misery the most +appalling. If the wealth of the Abbey be stagnant, and not +diffusive; if it in no way rescue the neighboring population +from the depths in which it is sunk, let there be no jealousy of +any one who, by whatever name, is ready to make the latter +his care, without interfering with the former.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the passage which follows, the established clergy are +rather unceremoniously handled; and not undeservedly, for +there can be no doubt that their reckless diatribes in the pulpit, +on the platform, and in the press, were the chief cause of the +unhallowed uproar which attended the publication of the new +and much-needed organization of the Catholic church in England. +It certainly was not their fault if the country was not +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page116">[pg 116]</span><a name="Pg116" id="Pg116" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +disgraced by deeds of violence. In one or two places, indeed, +such things were attempted. At a town in the north of England, +where there is a Catholic mission, a mob of excited +people threatened the chapel and priest's house. The presence +of a counter-mob from a neighboring colliery speedily restored +tranquillity. In another town a crowd of the unwashed were +proceeding to burn the Pope and Cardinal in effigy, when +these august persons were wisely seized by order of the magistrates, +and, with some of their unruly escort, secured within the +prison walls. Although a few <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">hired</span></em> ruffians could attempt +such things (it is known that those last named were hired), the +English people were far from contemplating anything like violence. +So it is with no small pleasure that is here recorded +the high compliment paid to them in the following eloquent +passage of Cardinal Wiseman's appeal: <span class="tei tei-q">“I cannot conclude,”</span> +he says towards the end, <span class="tei tei-q">“without one word on the part +which the clergy of the Anglican church have acted in the late +excitement. Catholics have been their principal theological +opponents, and we have carried on our controversies with them +temperately, and with every personal consideration. We have +had no recourse to popular arts to debase them; we have never +attempted, even when the current of public opinion has set +against them, to turn it to advantage, by joining in any outcry. +They are not our members who yearly call for returns of +sinecures or episcopal incomes; they are not our people who +form antichurch-and-state associations; it is not our press +which sends forth caricatures of ecclesiastical dignitaries, or +throws ridicule on clerical avocations. With us the cause of +truth and of faith has been held too sacred to be advocated in +any but honorable and religious modes. We have avoided the +tumult of public assemblies and farthing appeals to the ignorance +of the multitude. But no sooner has an opportunity been +given for awakening every lurking passion against us than it +has been eagerly seized by the ministers of the Establishment. +The pulpit and the platform, the church and the town hall, +have been equally their field of labor; and speeches have been +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page117">[pg 117]</span><a name="Pg117" id="Pg117" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +made and untruths uttered, and calumnies repeated, and flashing +words of disdain and anger and hate and contempt, and of +every unpriestly and unchristian and unholy sentiment, have +been spoken, that could be said against those who almost alone +have treated them with respect. And little care was taken at +what time or in what circumstances these things were done. +If the spark had fallen upon the inflammable materials of a +gunpowder-treason mob, and made it explode, or, what was +worse, had ignited it, what cared they? If blood had been +inflamed and arms uplifted, and the torch in their grasp, and +flames had been enkindled, what heeded they? If the persons +of those whom consecration makes holy, even according to their +own belief, had been seized, like the Austrian general, and ill-treated, +and perhaps maimed, or worse, what recked they? +These very things were, one and all, pointed at as glorious +signs, should they take place, of high and noble Protestant +feeling in the land, as proofs of the prevalence of an unpersecuting, +a free, inquiring, a tolerant gospel creed!</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Thanks to you, brave and generous and noble-hearted people +of England! who would not be stirred up by those whose +duty it is to teach you, gentlemen, meekness and forbearance, +to support what they call a religious cause, by irreligious +means; and would not hunt down, when bidden, your unoffending +fellow-citizens, to the hollow cry of <span class="tei tei-q">‘No Popery,’</span> and on +the pretence of a fabled aggression.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Times</span></span> might well say, referring to this magnificent +appeal, that the Cardinal had at length spoken English. +It was easy to mystify the people in regard to theological +utterances. They could be no longer deceived now that the +Chief of the new hierarchy had addressed them in round Saxon +terms, about the meaning of which there could be no mistake. +The <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">appeal</span></span> first published in +the London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Times</span></span> was reproduced +in all the newspapers of the country. The public mind +was tranquillized, and very little was heard, afterwards, of the +<span class="tei tei-q">“Papal aggression.”</span> The Prime Minister, however, was bound, +for the sake of consistency, to do something. What he did was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page118">[pg 118]</span><a name="Pg118" id="Pg118" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +highly in favor of the hierarchy. It proved that everything +had been done according to law, simply by the fact that parliament +was urged to make a new law by which everything that +had been done would be illegal. This was the famous Ecclesiastical +Titles Bill. It was designed to accomplish a great deal—to +extinguish for ever the Cardinal Archbishop, and all the +other newly-instituted bishops. It proved utterly futile—<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">telum imbelle sine ictu</span></span>. The people could not be made to put +down the Catholic institution; and religious liberty was so +thoroughly recognized that even an act of parliament was +powerless against it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Numbers and names +of the new Sees.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The new Sees constituted by the Letters Apostolical of 29th +September, 1850, were thirteen in number—Westminster, +the Metropolitan See; Southwark, +Hexham, Beverly, Liverpool, Salford, +Shrewsbury, Newport, Clifton, Plymouth, Nottingham, Birmingham +and Northampton. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Dr. Wiseman and +thirteen other eminent +persons raised +by Pius IX. to the dignity +of Cardinal.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the time of the restoration of the English hierarchy, Dr. +Wiseman was created a Cardinal, not so +much in honor of the important act to which +it was his charge to give effect, as because +the Holy Father having resolved on a creation +of Cardinals so eminent a man could +not be overlooked. At the accession of Pius IX. there were +sixty-one living Cardinals. Of these only nine were not Italians. +When, on his return to Rome, after his sojourn in the kingdom +of Naples, he determined to add fourteen Cardinals to the +Sacred College, only four of the prelates selected were natives +of Italy. The rest were, at the time, the most distinguished +men of the Catholic world. Of this number Archbishop Geissel +of Cologne was one, and the King of Prussia, more liberal than +certain magnates of England, thanked the Holy Father, in an +autograph letter, for the honor thus done to the Catholic church +of his country. Since that time the Prussian monarch appears +to have changed his sentiments as well as his ministry. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page119">[pg 119]</span><a name="Pg119" id="Pg119" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Success of the English +Hierarchy.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Notwithstanding the noisy demonstrations in opposition to +the Cardinal Archbishop and his brother +bishops, they were allowed to pursue in peace +their labors of Christian zeal. The English +grumbled, as is their wont. But discovering in time that they +were neither attacked nor hurt, the rights of liberty of conscience +were respected, and no persecution followed what it +was at first the fashion to call the <span class="tei tei-q">“Papal aggression.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Increase of Catholics +during the decade—1840-1850.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Emancipation Bill of 1829, by which liberty of conscience, +which was so proudly called the +birthright of every Englishman, was extended +to Catholics, tended powerfully, no doubt, +to promote the development of the Catholic church. It grew +also by emigration from Catholic Ireland, and there were some +conversions occasionally from the Protestant ranks. It was +not, however, till the decade immediately preceding the restoration +of the hierarchy, that there was a very marked and +decided movement of the educated and learned men of England +towards the Catholic church. It is not recorded anywhere that +Catholic missionaries or envoys of the Pope had penetrated +into those sanctuaries of Protestant learning—the celebrated +universities of Oxford and Cambridge. There, at least, there +was no <span class="tei tei-q">“Papal aggression,”</span> and tract upon tract was issued +from the press of those seats of learning, in which it was argued +that the doctrines taught by the Fathers of the first five centuries +were the real Christian teaching which all men were bound +to accept. It appeared to have escaped the learned men of +Cambridge and Oxford that these were the very doctrines so +perseveringly adhered to by the long-ignored and down-trodden +Catholics of England. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This fact, however, flashed upon their minds at last, and +they who were lights in the Anglican establishment, which had +been so long surrounded by a halo of worldly glory, and to be +connected with which was a sure title to respectability, hesitated +not to place themselves in communion with those whose +position as a church had been for so many generations like to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page120">[pg 120]</span><a name="Pg120" id="Pg120" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that of the early Christians who lurked in the catacombs of +Rome. The clergy of the Catholic church in England, although +they did not and could not have inaugurated the +Cambridge and Oxford movement, recognized its importance, +and freely seconded what it was beyond their power to initiate. +Foremost amongst those who were ever ready to afford comfort +and encouragement to the able and inquiring men who +sought the one true fold, was the learned ecclesiastic of world-wide +renown who, a little later, bore so conspicuous a part in +the re-establishment of the sacred hierarchy in England. This +highly-gifted divine was a willing worker in the great Master's +field. His labors were beyond even his great powers; and so +his career, though brilliant, was comparatively short. The +cause which he so well sustained is one which cannot suffer an +irreparable loss; and great would be the joy of the pious and +devoted Cardinal, so early snatched away, if it were given him +to behold the rapid developments of the church which, in his +day, he so ably and successfully upheld. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Wonderful growth +of the Catholic +Church in England +during the Pontificate +of Pius IX.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If the increase of Catholics in England was rapid during +the decade which preceded, it was much +more so immediately alter the restoration of +the hierarchy. This event appears to have +given a new impetus to the growth of the +church and her salutary institutions. Religious +communities multiplied under the fostering care of the +Cardinal Archbishop, and the encouragement which the Holy +Father never ceased to afford. From 80, at the accession of +Pius IX., they rose to 367; and schools and colleges increased +from 500 to 1,300. The number of priests in Great Britain +was more than trebled. It grew from 820 to 1,968, whilst +churches and chapels rose in proportion—from 626 to 1,268. +The number of dignitaries and other ministers of the Church of +England, by law established, who, within the same period, embraced +the Catholic faith, is estimated at over one thousand. +There were, at the same time, numerous conversions among +the laity. All this, together with the natural growth of population +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page121">[pg 121]</span><a name="Pg121" id="Pg121" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and immigration from Ireland, accounts for the increase +of Catholics throughout the British isles in the days of Pius +IX., as well as for the great additions to the number of their +clergy, churches, religious and educational institutions. Monsignore +Capel ascribes these extraordinary developments in +great measure to the action of that section of the Church of +England which is known as the High Church or Ritualist +division of the Establishment. This is true, no doubt, as regards +any augmentation of the church through conversions +from Protestantism, and the impetus given by the movement +towards Catholic union. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is scarcely possible,”</span> says the +Rev. Monsignore Capel, <span class="tei tei-q">“to find a family in England that will +not own that one of its members, or, at least, some acquaintance, +has relations with the Catholic church, or observes some +of the practices of that church, whether it be adoration of the +Blessed Sacrament, auricular confession, devotion to the Blessed +Virgin, or veneration of the saints. This movement is of +such powerful proportions, and possesses such vitality of action, +that no power on earth, no persecution on the part of Protestantism, +the government or the press, is able to suppress it. +Catholics would never have been able, themselves alone, to +realize what is now accomplished by a section of the established +Anglican church. The members of this party, by their discourses +in the pulpit, have familiarized the public mind with +expressions which Catholics never could have spread among +the English people to the same extent, such as altar and sacrifice, +priest and priesthood, high mass, sacrament, penance, +confession, &c. The movement has produced this result. +Many persons have become seriously religious, who had been +in the habit of considering that the service of God was only a +fitting employment for Sunday. In fine, the spirit of God +which breathed on the waters at the commencement is now +passing over the British nation and impelling it towards Catholic +truth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Not a few of those who were once distinguished ministers +of the Anglican church are now officiating, with great +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page122">[pg 122]</span><a name="Pg122" id="Pg122" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +acceptance, as Catholic priests. Of the 264 priests of the diocese +of Westminster, there are 40 who were members of the +official or law church. There passed not a week, M. Capel +assures us, that he did not receive four or five Ritualists into +the communion of the Catholic church. This was no fruit of +his labor and ability, he modestly as well as truly declares. +They were persons with whom he had no relations whatsoever, +until they came to him, their minds made up, and expressed +that serious determination which is so characteristic of them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The publications of the celebrated statesman, Mr. Gladstone, +although they have not won for him reputation as a +theologian, have, nevertheless, promoted the cause of Catholic +theology. The opinions of so eminent a man were naturally +subjects of general discussion; and thus, whilst he opposed +Pius IX. and his decisions, he caused many, who would never +probably have thought seriously of anything a Pope could say, +to give their attention to matters spiritual of the highest import. +As regards his own theology, it is partly sound, partly +the reverse. Whilst entirely misapprehending the doctrine of +infallibility, and denying what he conceives it to be, he vigorously +maintains the indefectibility of the Catholic church, and +acknowledges the claim of her pastors to <span class="tei tei-q">“descent in an unbroken +line from Christ and His apostles.”</span> Such is one of the +powerful agents in the great movement of the age. The most +influential of all, however, was Pope Pius IX. himself. English +people and Americans often sought his presence. And +who shall tell how many, after having conversed with him or +his representatives, have been disabused of their erroneous +notions, or have even embraced the Catholic faith? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One chief cause of the remarkable development of the +Catholic church in the British isles, is the complete religious +liberty which Catholics enjoy. This important fact was +thoroughly recognized on occasion of the celebration of the +anniversary of O'Connell in August, 1875, when a solemn <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Te +Deum</span></span> was ordered in all the churches by the Cardinal Archbishop, +in thanksgiving for the liberty of conscience which was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page123">[pg 123]</span><a name="Pg123" id="Pg123" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +so gloriously won for the United Kingdom as well as Ireland +and all the colonies. Pius IX. and the whole Catholic world +joined on the same occasion in acts of thanksgiving with the +spiritual heirs of Sts. Patrick, Augustine, Columba and St. +Thomas of Canterbury. It is a noteworthy fact that the +number of archiepiscopal and episcopal sees, together with +vicariates-apostolic, &c., created by Pius IX. throughout the +British Empire, is not less than one hundred and twenty-five. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">State of the Catholic +Church in Holland +anterior to the restoration +of its Hierarchy +in 1853.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For three hundred years the Catholics of Holland were +sorely tried by persecution. Until the time of +the Concordat of 1827, they were governed +by archpriests, whose superior or prefect +resided at the Hague. When Holland was +separated from Belgium, the king of the +former country wisely resolved to act as a constitutional monarch. +He was considerate as regarded his Catholic subjects. +His successor, William II., to whom in 1840 he resigned the +crown, treated them with still greater benevolence. He sought +an understanding with the Holy See, and gave effect to the +Concordat of 1827. Vicars-apostolic, invested with the episcopal +character, were now the chief pastors of the church of Holland. +The king also sanctioned the establishment of several +religious communities, among the rest the Society of Jesuits +and the Liguorians. These arrangements were joyfully accepted +by the Catholics of Holland, and paved the way for greater +developments. These worthy people were, for a long time, +believed to be few in number, and scarcely more than nominally +Catholics. Relieved, at length, from the pressure of persecution, +they astonished the world, not only by their numbers, +but also, and even more, by their zeal in the cause of +religion. According to the census of 1840, they were nearly +one-half of the entire population of Holland. Total population, +2,860,450; Protestants, 1,700,275; Catholics, 1,100,616. The +remainder was made up of Jews and other dissenters. Thus +were the Catholics of Holland as eleven to seventeen. +Since that time they have not ceased to increase. Nor +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page124">[pg 124]</span><a name="Pg124" id="Pg124" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +have they lost the high character which +induced Pius IX., in 1853, to restore, the +king concurring, their long-lost hierarchy. An archbishopric, +Utrecht, and four episcopal sees were established—Harlem, +Herzogenbosch, or Bois le Due, Breda and Roermonde. This +wise and necessary measure was followed by an outburst of +wrath on the side of the anti-Catholic party. But in Holland, +as in England, it soon subsided, and left only the impression +that Protestants and other non-Catholic people claim an exclusive +right to religious liberty. Pius IX. never ceased to +entertain a high opinion of the good Catholics of Holland. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ah!”</span> said he to visitors from that country, <span class="tei tei-q">“could we ever +forget that these single-minded, loyal, patient Hollanders +formed the majority of our soldiers, who were not native +Italians, at Castelfidardo and Mentana.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Persecution in New +Granada. Pius IX. +remonstrates.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst in the old world, wherever really free political institutions +existed, the spirit of persecution quailed +before the recognized principle of religious +liberty, in certain portions of the new it +appeared to gain strength, and to increase in the violence of +its opposition to the liberty of the church. This was particularly +the case in New Granada, where politicians, without +statesmanship or experience, imagined that they had made +their people free, when they succeeded in separating them from +Spain and establishing a republic, in which the first principles +of liberty were ignored. It is not recorded that the clergy of +New Granada sought to do violence to any man's conscience, +or ever thought of forcing any one to accept the Catholic creed. +To say the least, they were too wise to attempt, thus to fill the +church with hypocrites and secret enemies. Of such there were +already too many in those societies which shun the light, and +in the new world as actively as in the old intrigue and +manœuvre in order to overthrow every regular and legitimately +established government. Even the republic of New Granada, +which had been fashioned so much according to their will, was +far from perfect in their estimation, so long as the church was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page125">[pg 125]</span><a name="Pg125" id="Pg125" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +not completely subject to the state. So early as 1847, Pius +IX. addressed a fatherly remonstrance to the President of the +New Republic. It was of no avail. The evil continued. Anti-Catholic +legislation was coolly proceeded with. In 1850 the +seminary of Bogota was confiscated. The following year +bishops were forbidden the visitation of convents. Laws were +enacted requiring that lay parishioners should elect their parish +priests, and that canons should be appointed by the provincial +councils. The clergy were robbed of their proper incomes, and +the congress or parliament of the republic arrogated the right +to determine what salaries they should enjoy as well as what +duties they should fulfil. This surely was nothing less than +to reduce the church to be nothing more than a department of +the civil government. The church could not so exist. Its +principle and organization were from a higher source. The +Socialists and secret plotters fully understood that they were +so, and that in this lay the secret of the church's power to +promote virtue and check the course of evil. It consisted, it +appears, with their ideas of justice and liberty, that the church +should, if possible, be deprived of this great and salutary moral +power. So, whilst neither its members, generally, nor its +clergy desired radical and subversive changes in the essential +constitution of the church, the republican leaders determined +that it should be completely revolutionized. The bishops and +priests protested, with one voice, against such fundamental +innovations. The republicans, no less resolute, and, bent on +their wicked purpose, imprisoned and banished the clergy. +One dignitary alone showed weakness. He was no other than +the Vicar-Caputular of Antioquia. Pius IX. charitably rebuked +him, and exhorted him to suffer courageously, like his brethren. +The persecution, meanwhile, was very sweeping. The Archbishop +of Bogota, Senor Mosquera, and almost all the suffragan +bishops, were driven from the country, so that there was +scarcely a bishop left in the republic. It was now speedily +seen that the godless radicals had overdone their ungracious +work. The country was roused. The tide of popular indignation +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page126">[pg 126]</span><a name="Pg126" id="Pg126" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +set in against the short-sighted politicians who persecuted +the church, and they, dreading an insurrection, withdrew, with +the best grace they could command, from the false position +which they had so unwisely assumed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Persecution ceases +at last in the Scandinavian +countries.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst the spirit of persecution brooded gloomily over many +countries of the new world, its influence began +to decline in those lands where for +centuries the idea of liberty of conscience +was unknown, where even the slightest toleration existed not. +Those northern lights, those champions in their day of Protestantism +and <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">religious liberty</span></span>”</span> Gustavus Wasa and Gustavus +Adolphus, were not mistaken when they bequeathed to +their country laws which were intended to be as unchangeable +as those of the Medes and Persians, and which forbade all +Scandinavians, whether Swedes, Danes or Norwegians, under +pain of death, to embrace the Catholic faith. Those princes +were wise in their generation. They understood the power of +Truth; they knew that half measures were of no avail against +it; and that in order to stifle it, even for a time, all the terrors +of worldly tyranny must be brought into play. Their +laws, more terrible than the code of Draco, remained in force +and without mitigation until a great revolution had swept +over Europe, and sent a military adventurer to fill the regal +seat of the formidable Wasas. In the time of Bernadotte (the +Doct Baron), the infamous penal laws were relaxed. To become +a Catholic now only led to imprisonment or exile. Six +ladies of Sweden, in defiance of this <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">milder</span></em> law, came to profess +the Catholic faith. They were tried, condemned and +sentenced to be banished from the country. The execution of +this barbarous sentence roused all Europe, and caused the +abrogation of the Swedish penal laws against religion. +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. sends a +Catholic pastor to +Stockholm.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> Thus +was a new field laid open to missionary zeal, +and Pius IX., availing himself of so favorable +a change of circumstances, appointed a +Catholic pastor missionary apostolic at Stockholm. This +devoted priest labors assiduously and in the midst of difficulties, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page127">[pg 127]</span><a name="Pg127" id="Pg127" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +but not without fruit. He contends, with all the success +that can be as yet expected, against prejudices hostile to +the religion which brought civilization to the Scandinavian +nations, and which have been accumulating for three centuries +and a half. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Denmark—600 +conversions.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Denmark followed in the wake of Sweden. Within the +first two years after the abrogation of the +cruel Danish penal code, there were six +hundred conversions to the Catholic faith. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. establishes +a Metropolitan See at +Athens.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Catholic church in the recently-erected kingdom of +Greece was governed by vicars-apostolic. +It grieved King Otho, who, as is well known, +was of the Catholic royal family of Bavaria, +to see his country treated as if it were a heathen land. It was +not, however, till the time of his successor, who is a son of the +King of Denmark, that Pius the Ninth was able to establish a +hierarchy in Greece. There is now an archbishop of Athens +as well as an archbishop of Corfu. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Germany—Wars +against the Church.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At a time when crime abounded, the governments of certain +petty States of Germany, instead of directing +their energies towards its repression, +and so fulfilling one of the chief duties incumbent +on the State, employed all the authority with which +they were invested to disorganize the church and destroy its +salutary influence. As is usual, when States, forgetting the +great objects for which they are entrusted with the sword of +justice, follow such a course, they attacked the ministers of +the church, banishing, imprisoning, thwarting and molesting +them in every possible way. In the Grand Duchy of Baden +the civil authorities arrogated the right to appoint parish +priests and other members of the sacred ministry. They went +so far as to endeavor to poison religious instruction at its +source, and declared that the students in Catholic seminaries +must undergo, before ordination, an examination by civil +officials. This tyrannical law was courageously opposed by the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page128">[pg 128]</span><a name="Pg128" id="Pg128" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +venerable archbishop, Vicary, of Friburg. +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">An archbishop and +other priests cruelly +persecuted. Sustained +by Pius IX. and +finally by the people.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Although eighty +years of age, he was dragged before the +courts, and placed like a criminal under +charge of the police. The faithful clergy +were banished, imprisoned and fined. The +Holy Father, with his usual zeal, remonstrated. +It was to no purpose. At length the Catholics of +Germany were roused. They could no longer be indifferent. +The day was come when the church, in her utmost need, could +not dispense with their assistance. All must now be for her or +against her. The great majority flocked around her standard. +Meanwhile, the public offices in the churches were suspended. +The bells and organs were heard no more. Silence and death-like +gloom overspread the land. Baden gave way. Wurtemberg, +Hesse Cassel and Nassau, which had done their best to +follow in the wake of Baden, paused in their mad career. +Thus, throughout those lesser States peace reigned once more, +and continued to reign in Germany until a greater State, +Prussia, unwisely disturbed the religious harmony which so +happily prevailed. The chiefs of States, alarmed by the revolutionary +spirit which spread, like contagion, throughout Germany +as well as the rest of Europe, adopted a more rational +policy. They encouraged the clergy to hold missions everywhere. +They invited the Liguorians and Jesuits, as well as the +secular clergy, to assemble the people in the towns and throughout +the country, knowing full well that they would preach +peace and concord no less than respect for property and life. +These pastoral labors were attended with extraordinary success. +Faith, piety, and every virtue flourished among the +Catholic people. All honest Protestants were filled with admiration. +Among the latter there was also a remarkable movement. +Some striking conversions took place, especially in the +higher and better educated classes of society. The Countess +de Hahn, so renowned in the literary world for her wit, abilities, +and fine writings, joined the Catholic church, and published +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page129">[pg 129]</span><a name="Pg129" id="Pg129" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +her reasons for so doing. Not satisfied with this step, +she came to the town of Angers, in France, and placed herself +as a novice under the direction of the devout sisters of the +Good Shepherd. It is on record also, that a Protestant +journalist of Mecklenburgh, in view of the commotions which +prevailed, and the anti-social doctrines which pervaded society, +went so far as to declare that there was no other remedy for +Protestant Germany than a return to the Catholic church. His +remarks conclude with the following words, extraordinary +words, indeed, when it is considered whence they proceed: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Forward, then, to Rome!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. laments +the state of religion +in Sardinia.—Condemns +the Act secularizing +marriage.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In countries nearer the Holy City, and professing to be +Catholic, the venerable Pontiff found not +such a source of consolation. Sardinia had +banished the archbishop of Turin. It not +only refused to recall him, but added to its +list of exiles the archbishop of Cagliari. Many more bishops +were, at the same time, threatened with banishment. A professor +in the Royal University of Turin, encouraged by the +government, attacked the doctrine of the church, and was so +bold as to deny, in public, that matrimony is a sacrament. +Pius IX. issued a condemnation of his anti-Catholic writings. +The sentence did not move him. Nor did it stay the hand of +the Sardinian government which was raised against the church +and her institutions. It continued the preparation of its anti-marriage +law. In addition, accusations were laid against the +clergy. The king himself, evading the real question at issue, +accused them of disloyalty, and declared that they were warring +against the monarchy. The Holy Father, in the following letter +to the king, distinctly set forth the real state of the case: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">If by words provoking insubordination are meant the +writings of the clergy against the proposed marriage law, we +declare, without endorsing the language which some may have +adopted, that in opposing it the clergy simply did their duty. +We write to your Majesty that the law is not Catholic. Now, +if the law is not Catholic, the clergy are bound to warn the +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page130">[pg 130]</span><a name="Pg130" id="Pg130" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +faithful, even though by doing so they incur the greatest +dangers. It is in the name of Jesus Christ, whose Vicar, +though unworthy, we are, that we speak, and we tell your +Majesty, in His sacred name, not to sanction this law, which +will be the source of a thousand disorders. We also beg your +Majesty to put a check to the press which is constantly vomiting +forth blasphemy and immorality. Your Majesty complains +of the clergy. But these last years the clergy have been persistently +outraged, mocked, calumniated, reviled and derided +by almost all the papers published in Piedmont.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That country, unfortunately, appears to have been entirely +at the mercy of the party of unbelief. It was ever ready to +inflict new wrongs on the church, and occasion anxiety and +sorrow to the Holy Father. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. puts an +end to the celebrated +Goa Schism in 1851.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are few readers of ecclesiastical history who are not +deeply interested in that portion of India +which was the first field of the extraordinary +apostolic labors of Saint Francis Xavier. +The blessing of the Saint appears to have rested on the land of +Goa; for after many years of trial and difficulty and schism, +this Portuguese settlement, once so great and important, still +remains a province of the church. The Portuguese government, +by unjustly claiming right of patronage, originated the +schism which, unfortunately, was of such long continuance. +It was reserved for Pius IX. to restore harmony to the Colonial +church of Goa. Happily, in 1851, the schism was brought to +an end. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Encyclical on the +Immaculate Conception—1849.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. was still an exile at Gaeta when, observing the +increasing piety of the Catholic world towards +the Blessed Virgin, and moved by the +representations of many bishops that were +in harmony with his own conviction, he issued the Encyclical +of the 2nd February, 1849, addressed to the Patriarchs, Primates, +Archbishops and Bishops of the whole world, in order +to obtain from them the universal tradition concerning the +Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother of God. In this +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page131">[pg 131]</span><a name="Pg131" id="Pg131" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Encyclical the Holy Father recognizes the fact that there was +a universal movement among Christians in favor of the belief +in question, so that the complete acknowledgment of it appeared +to be sufficiently prepared both by the liturgy and the formal +requisitions of numerous bishops, no less than by the studies +of the most learned theologians. He further states that this +general disposition was in full accordance with his own thought, +and that it would afford him great consolation, at a time when +so many evils assailed the church, to add a flower to the crown +of the most holy Virgin, and so acquire a title to her special +protection. He declares, moreover, that with this end in +view he had appointed a commission of Cardinals in order to +study the question. He concludes by inviting all his venerable +brethren of the Episcopate to make known to him their sentiments +and join their prayers with his in order to obtain light +from on high. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As the cross itself was folly in the estimation of the early +unbelieving world, so were such theological occupations, at a +time when the Sovereign Pontiff had not an inch of ground +whereon he could freely tread, a subject for jesting and sarcasm +to the worldly-wise of the nineteenth century. It was some +time before they came to understand that a Pope is a theologian +more than a king, that, as such, he is sure of the future, and +that the solemn proceeding in regard to the Immaculate Conception +was a triumphant reply to all the errors of modern +thought. This dogma brings to naught all the rationalist +systems which refuse to acknowledge in human nature either +fall or supernatural redemption. The means, besides, which +were adopted in order to prepare its promulgation, tended to +bring the various churches throughout the world into closer +relation with their common Head and Centre. They who had +hitherto laughed, now raged when they saw this great result, +and attacked with the utmost fury what they called the <span class="tei tei-q">“new +dogma.”</span> Both sectarianism and the schools of sophistry +descanted loudly, although certainly not learnedly, on the +ignorance and ineptitude of the institution which so powerfully +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page132">[pg 132]</span><a name="Pg132" id="Pg132" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +opposed them. All this was only idle clamoring. It never +hindered the Holy Pontiff from prosecuting calmly the important +work which heaven had inspired him to begin. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Encyclical was warmly responded to by the Episcopate. +Six hundred and three replies were duly forwarded to +the Holy Father. Five hundred and forty-six urgently insisted +on a doctrinal definition. A few only, and among these +was Mgr. Sibour, Archbishop of Paris, doubted whether the +time were opportune. But there was no doubt as to the sentiments +of the Catholic world. Only in our time, when the +facilities of communication are so much greater than in any +former age, could the plan of consulting so many bishops in +all parts of the world have been successfully adopted. Pius +IX. was now at Rome, and invited around him all bishops who +could travel to the Holy City. No fewer than one hundred and +ninety-two from every country except Russia sought the presence +of the Chief Pastor. The absence of the Russian bishops +was all the more surprising, as the Russo-Greek church vies +with Rome in the honor which it pays to the Blessed Mary. +The bishops, however, were not to blame. Their good purposes +were frustrated by the jealous policy of the Emperor +Nicholas. The bishops assembled at Rome, in obedience to +the wishes of Pius IX., did not constitute a formal council. +They were, nevertheless, a very complete representation of the +universal church. There were of their number some highly +distinguished cardinals, archbishops and bishops, such as +Cardinals Wiseman and Patrizzi, Archbishops Fransoni of +Turin, Reisach of Munich, Sibour of Paris, Bedini of Thebes, +Hughes of New York, Kenrick of Baltimore, and Dixon of Armagh, +together with Bishops Mazenod of Marseilles, Bouvier of Mans, +Malon of Bruges, Dupanloup of Orleans, and Ketteler of Mayence. +Who will say that the learning of the Catholic world was +not at hand to aid with sound counsel the commission of +cardinals and theologians whom the Holy Father had appointed +to prepare the Bull of definition? There had never +been so many eminent bishops together at Rome, since the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page133">[pg 133]</span><a name="Pg133" id="Pg133" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Œcumenial Council of 1215. On so great an occasion Pius +IX. had requested the prayers of the faithful, and throughout +the Catholic world supplication was made to heaven, in order +to obtain, through the light of the Holy Ghost, such a decision +as could tend only to promote the glory of God, the honor due +to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the salvation of mankind. +The bishops at one of their sessions gave a very practical +utterance as regards the infallible authority of the Pope. The +question having arisen whether the bishops were to assist him +as judges in coming to a decision, and pronounce simultaneously +with him, or leave the final judgment solely to the word +of the Sovereign Pontiff, the debate, as if by inspiration from +on high, came suddenly to a close. It was the Angelus hour. +The prelates had scarcely resumed their places after the short +prayer, and exchanged a few words, when they made a unanimous +declaration in favor of the supremacy of St. Peter's chair: +<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Petre, doce nos; confirma fratres +tuos</span></span>—<span class="tei tei-q">“Peter, teach us; confirm +thy brethren.”</span> The teaching which the Reverend Fathers +sought from the lips of the Supreme Pastor was the definition +of the Immaculate Conception. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. solemnly +promulgated the +Dogma of the Immaculate +Conception.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The 8th December, 1854, was the great triumphal day +which, according to the fine language of +Bishop Dupanloup, <span class="tei tei-q">“crowned the expectation +of past ages, blessed the present time, +claimed the gratitude of the centuries to +come, and left an imperishable memory—the +day on which was pronounced the first definition of an +article of Faith which no dissentient voice preceded, and which +no heresy followed.”</span> All Rome rejoiced. An immense multitude +of people of all tongues crowded the approaches to the +vast Basilica of St. Peter, which was by far too small to contain +the imposing host. Then were seen advancing the bishops, +in solemn procession, placed according to seniority, and followed +by the cardinals. The Sovereign Pontiff, surrounded by +a brilliant cortege, closed the procession. Meanwhile was +heard the grave chant of the Litanies of the Saints, inviting +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page134">[pg 134]</span><a name="Pg134" id="Pg134" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the heavenly court to join with the Church militant in doing +honor to her who was Queen alike of angels and of men. Pius +IX. ascended his throne; and as soon as he had received the +obedience of the cardinals and bishops, the Pontifical Mass +began. When the Gospel had been chanted in Greek and in +Latin, Cardinal Macchi, Dean of the Sacred College, accompanied +by the deans of the archbishops and bishops, by an +archbishop of the Greek rite, also, and an Armenian archbishop, +advanced to the foot of the throne, and begged of the Holy +Father, in the name of the whole church, <span class="tei tei-q">“to raise his apostolic +voice and pronounce the dogmatic decree of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Immaculate +Conception</span></span>.”</span> The Pope, bowing his head, gladly welcomed the +petition; but wished once more to invoke the aid of the Holy +Ghost. Then rising from his throne, he intoned in a clear and +firm voice, which rang through the grand Basilica, the +<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">veni creator spiritus</span></span>. +All who were present, cardinals, bishops, +priests and people, mingled their voices with that of the Father +of the Faithful, and the sonorous tones of the heavenly hymn +resounded through the spacious edifice. Silence came. All +eyes were rivetted on the venerable Pontiff. His countenance +appeared to be transfigured by the solemnity of the act in which +he was engaged. And now, in that firm and grave, but mild +and majestic, tone of voice, the charm of which was known to +so many millions, he began to read the Bull, which announced +the sublime dogma of the Immaculate Conception. +It established, in the first place, the theological reasons for the +belief in the privilege of Mary. It then appealed to the ancient +and universal traditions of both the Eastern and the Western +churches, the testimony of the religious orders, and of the +schools of theology, that of the Holy Fathers and the Councils, +as well as the witness borne by Pontifical acts, both ancient +and more recent. The countenance of the Holy Father showed +that he was deeply moved, as he unfolded these magnificent +documents. He was obliged, several times, so great was his +emotion, to stop. <span class="tei tei-q">“Consequently,”</span> he continued, <span class="tei tei-q">“after having +offered without ceasing, in humility and with fasting, our +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page135">[pg 135]</span><a name="Pg135" id="Pg135" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +own prayers and the public prayers of the church to God the +Father through His Son, that He would deign to guide and +confirm our mind by the power of the Holy Ghost, after we +had implored the aid of the whole host of heaven, to the glory +of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, for the honor of the Virgin +Mother of God, for the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the +increase of the Christian religion; by the authority of our Lord +Jesus Christ, of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and by +our own”</span>—at these words the Holy Father's voice appeared to +fail him, and he paused to wipe away his tears. The audience +was, at the same time, deeply moved; but, dumb from respect +and admiration, they waited in deepest silence. The +venerable Pontiff resumed in a strong voice, which shortly rose +to a tone of enthusiasm: <span class="tei tei-q">“We declare, pronounce and define, +that the doctrine which affirms that the Blessed Virgin Mary +was preserved and exempt from all stain of original sin from +the first moment of her conception, in consideration of the +merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, is a doctrine +revealed by God, and which, for this cause, the faithful must +firmly and constantly believe. Wherefore, if any one should +be so presumptuous, which, God forbid! as to admit a belief +contrary to our definition, let him know that he has suffered +shipwreck of his faith, and that he is separated from the unity +of the church.”</span> As the Pontiff concluded, a glad responsive +<span class="tei tei-q">“Amen”</span> resounded through the crowded temple. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Cardinal-dean once more reverently approached, and +petitioned that order be given for the publication of the +apostolic letters containing the definition; the promoter of the +Faith, accompanied by the Apostolic Protonotaries, also came +to ask that a formal record of the great act should be drawn +up. At the same time the cannon of the castle of Saint +Angelo, and all the bells of Rome, proclaimed to the world that +the ever-blessed Mary was gloriously declared immaculate. +Throughout the evening the holy city echoed and re-echoed +to the sounds of joyous music, was ablaze with fire-works, and +decorated with innumerable inscriptions and emblematic transparencies. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page136">[pg 136]</span><a name="Pg136" id="Pg136" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The example of Rome was immediately followed by thousands +of towns and villages over the whole surface of the globe. +It would require libraries rather than volumes to reproduce the +expressions of pious concurrence which everywhere took place. +The replies of the bishops to the Pope before the definition, +were printed in nine volumes; the Bull itself, translated into +all the tongues and dialects of the universe, by the labors of a +learned French sulpician, the Abbe Sire, appeared in ten +volumes; the pastoral instructions, publishing and explaining +the Bull, together with the articles of religious journals, would +certainly make several hundred volumes, especially if to these +were added the many books by the most learned men, and the +singularly beautiful hymns and poems which flowed from the +pens of Catholic poets, no less than the eloquent discourses of +the most gifted orators. Descriptions of monuments and celebrations +would also immensely swell the list. Sanctuaries, +altars, statues, monuments of every kind, as well as pious +associations rose everywhere in honor of the Immaculate Conception. +The ever-increasing devotion to Mary had become +greater than ever. It was to the unbelieving a phenomenon +in the moral world of the nineteenth century, which they could +neither comprehend nor account for. They could only see +that it was as a source of new life to the church. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Disputes concerning +the study of the +ancient classics happily +terminated by +Pius IX.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The education law of France, enacted in 1850, had given +rise to differences of opinion among earnest +Catholics. These only increased after the +celebrated <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">coup d'etat</span></span> of 2nd December. M. +de Montalembert, who had become hostile +to Prince Louis Napoleon, on occasion of the +iniquitous confiscation of the Orleans property, M. de Falloux, +and their friends of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Correspondant</span></span>, +and the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Ami de la Religion</span></span>, +insisted that they ought not to accept the protection of +Cæsar in place of the general guarantees which were so profitable +to the liberty of the church. They were right, as was but +too well shown in the sequel. M. Louis Veuillot and the +writers of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Univers</span></span> opposed their views, and so they accused +these gentlemen of servility. But this was too much, as the +event also showed. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page137">[pg 137]</span><a name="Pg137" id="Pg137" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The congregation of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Index”</span> had condemned several +French works, some absolutely, and others only until they +should be corrected. Among these last were books generally +used, notwithstanding their faults, in the public schools, such +as the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Manual of Canon Law</span></span>, by M. Lequeux, vicar-general of +the Archbishop of Paris, and the theology, so long in use, of +Bailly. The authors of these works at once submitted. One +of the sentences, however, that which affected the Dictionary +of M. Bouillet, greatly offended the Archbishop of Paris—Mgr. +Sibour, who had signified his approval of this publication. He +blamed the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Univers</span></span> and the lay religious press in general. +He formulated his complaints in a charge of 15th January, +1851, and by a still more vigorous one in 1853, which was +written at the instigation of a Canon of Orleans, M. L'Abbe +Gaduel, who had accused Donoso Cortes, in the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Ami de la Religion</span></span>, +of several heresies, and who complained of having been +refuted in the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Univers</span></span> with a warmth that was far from respectful. +Mgr. Sibour forbade the priests of his diocese to read the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Univers</span></span>, and threatened with excommunication the editors of +this journal, if they presumed to discuss the sentence which +he had pronounced against them. A similar sentence came to +be uttered by Mgr. Dupanloup, Bishop of Orleans, against the +same writers, condemning the opinions which they held concerning +the study of the classics. M. Veuillot, following in the +wake of M. L'Abbe Gaume, maintained that one of the principal +causes of the weakening of faith since the time of the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">renaissance</span></span>, was the obligation imposed on youth of +studying, almost exclusively, Pagan authors. Mgr. Dupanloup contended +rather against exaggerations of this opinion than against +the idea itself. But having developed his views in an episcopal +letter to the professors of his lesser seminaries, he would +not allow them to be opposed; and so, like Mgr. Sibour, interdicted +the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Univers</span></span> to his clergy. M. Louis Veuillot appealed to +the supreme bishop. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The French episcopate was <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">greatly</span></em> divided on the subject +of these untoward controversies. The Bishops of Chartres, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page138">[pg 138]</span><a name="Pg138" id="Pg138" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Moulins and others, had publicly defended the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Univers</span></span> in opposition +to the Archbishop of Paris. Cardinal Gousset, Archbishop +of Rheims, patronized the opinions of M. Veuillot in +regard to the use of heathen classics. An anonymous paper +on <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">the right of custom</span></span>, addressed to the episcopate, now added +to all these subjects of controversy the recriminations of Gallicanism, +which was almost extinct. The author denying that +the customs of the church of France were abrogated by the +Concordat, maintained that the disciplinary sentences of the +Popes could not be applied in any diocese until they were first +promulgated therein. He disputed the authority of the decrees +of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Index,”</span> blamed the liturgical movement, reproached the +religious journalists with seeking, above all, to please the Court +of Rome, and concluded by advising the bishops to come to an +understanding among themselves, in order to obtain from the +Pope a modification of his decisions. Pius IX. could be silent +no longer. Accordingly, he addressed to all the French bishops +an Encyclical, which is known in history as the Encyclical <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">inter +multiplices</span></span>. He commenced by acknowledging the subjects of +joy and consolation afforded him by the progress of religion in +France, and especially by the zeal and devotedness of the +bishops of that country. He gave special praise to these prelates, +because they availed themselves of the liberty which had +been restored to them in order to hold Provincial Councils, and +expressed his satisfaction, <span class="tei tei-q">“that in a great many dioceses, +where no particular circumstance opposed an impediment, the +Roman Liturgy was re-established.”</span> He could not, however, +dissemble the sorrow which was caused him by existing dissensions, +and for which he blamed, although indirectly, political +opposition and party spirit. <span class="tei tei-q">“If ever,”</span> said the Holy Father, +<span class="tei tei-q">“it behooved you to maintain among yourselves agreement of +mind and will, it is, above all, now, when, through the disposition +of our very dear son in Christ, Napoleon, Emperor of the +French, the Catholic church amongst you enjoys complete +peace, liberty and protection.”</span> In speaking of the good education +of youth, which he earnestly recommended as being of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page139">[pg 139]</span><a name="Pg139" id="Pg139" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +highest importance, he gave a practical solution of the vexed +question of the classics. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is necessary,”</span> he insisted, <span class="tei tei-q">“that +young ecclesiastics should, without being exposed to any danger +of error, learn true elegance of language and style, together +with real eloquence, whether in the very pious and learned +works of the Holy Fathers, or in the most celebrated Pagan +authors, when thoroughly expurgated.”</span> In this same Encyclical +also, the venerable Pontiff, speaking of the Catholic +press, declared it to be indispensible. <span class="tei tei-q">“Encourage, we most +anxiously ask of you, with the utmost benevolence, those men +who, filled with a truly Catholic spirit, and thoroughly acquainted +with literature and science, devote their time in +writing books and journals for the propagation and defence of +Truth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Catholic writers, in return, it is added, ought to acknowledge +the authority of bishops to guide, admonish and rebuke +them. The anonymous paper is then severely censured, and +the Pope concludes by a new and pressing appeal in favor of +concord. As soon as this Encyclical of 21st March, 1853, was +published, M. Louis Veuillot and his fellow-laborers addressed +to Mgr. Sibour a letter expressive of respect and deference, in +which they promised to avoid everything that could render +them unworthy of the encouragement of their archbishop. This +prelate immediately withdrew the sentence which he had issued +against them, and thus was peace restored, once more, by the +authority of the Supreme Pastor. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Accident at St. +Agnes. Narrow escape +of Pius IX. and +many eminent persons.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 12th of April, 1855, the fifth anniversary of his return +from Gaeta, Pius IX. drove by the via +Nomentana, the beautiful Church of St. +Agnes and the Porta Pia, to a spot five miles +from the city, where, on grounds belonging +to the congregation of Propaganda, catacombs +had been recently discovered. In these subterranean +recesses were found, among other venerated tombs, that which +contained the relics of St. Alexander I., Pope and Martyr, and +those of the companions who shared his sufferings. The professors +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page140">[pg 140]</span><a name="Pg140" id="Pg140" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and students of Propaganda had assembled at the place +in honor of the Pope's visit. They descended with him to the +Crypt, where the Holy Father, as soon as he entered, knelt in +prayer beside the remains of his sainted predecessor, who, +more than seventeen centuries ago, had sealed his faith with +his blood. After examining the long corridors of the catacomb, +the Holy Father took his seat on the ancient throne of the +chapel, which, no doubt, in the dark days of heathen persecution, +several of his predecessors had filled. So placed, he +delivered to the pupils of Propaganda a feeling allocution on +the high career which lay before them as preachers of the true +Faith. He then addressed a few words to the eminent persons +who surrounded him, and proceeded back to the Church of St. +Agnes. Having adored the Blessed Sacrament, and venerated +the relics of the Virgin Martyr, he entered the neighboring +convent of canons regular of St. John Lateran, where a suitable +repast awaited the august visitor. This was followed by +a conversazione in the parlor, in which the distinguished +parties who had accompanied the Pope took part. Almost +every Catholic country was represented there; and, among the +rest, were Archbishop Cullen of Dublin (long since a Cardinal), +and Bishop de Goesbriand of Burlington. The Pope was on +the point of departing, when the Superiors of Propaganda +prayed him to grant an audience to the students. Pius IX. +graciously complied, and resumed his seat in the chair of state +which was appropriately canopied. A hundred young ecclesiastics +now rapidly entered the room. All of a sudden the floor +gave way with a loud crash, and the whole assembly disappeared +in a confused mass of furniture, stones, plaster, and a +blinding cloud of dust. The joists had given way, and the +whole flooring fell to a depth of nearly twenty feet. The voice +of the Pope was first heard, intimating that he was safe and +uninjured. As a few inmates of the convent had remained +outside, assistance speedily came, and the Holy Father was +promptly extricated from the ruins. Solicitous only for the +safety of the company, he urgently ordered that they should +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page141">[pg 141]</span><a name="Pg141" id="Pg141" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +all be withdrawn as rapidly as possible from their perilous position; +and he waited in the garden till every one of them was +rescued. Not so much as one was dangerously injured. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It is a miracle,”</span> said the Pope, who was greatly rejoiced. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Let us go and thank God.”</span> Followed by the whole company, +as well as those who had come to rescue them, he entered +the church, where, deeply affected, he intoned the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Te Deum</span></span>, +and concluded with the solemn benediction of the most Holy +Sacrament. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The news of the accident spread rapidly through the city. +The people flocked to the churches. At St. Agnes the +wonderful deliverance was commemorated by a special service. +The interior of this church has been since restored at great +cost by Pius IX. A fresco in the open space in front represents +the scene at the convent. The 12th of April is now a +holiday at Rome, and it is observed every year with piety and +gratitude. Twenty years later—12th of April, 1875—the +Romans held a magnificent celebration of the anniversary of +the accident at St. Agnes. It was also the day of the Pope's +return from Gaeta, in 1850. In reply to the address, expressive +of duty and devotedness, which was presented to him on +that occasion, the Holy Father alluded, in the language of an +apostle, to the mysterious ways of Providence. <span class="tei tei-q">“Our fall at +St. Agnes,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“appeared at first to be a catastrophe. It +struck us all with fear. Its only result, however, was to cause +the works by which the ancient Basilica was renewed and embellished +to be more vigorously prosecuted. The same will be +the case in regard to the moral ruins which the powers of +darkness are constantly heaping up against us and around us. +The church will emerge from the confused mass more vigorous +and more beautiful than ever.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Piedmont seeks a +French alliance +against the Pope.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Piedmont, surely, had little to do at the Congress of Paris, +the object of which was to make the best +arrangements possible for the Christians, +and especially the Catholics, of the East. +Count Cavour, its representative, nevertheless, +found a pretext for being present, and introduced as he +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page142">[pg 142]</span><a name="Pg142" id="Pg142" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was by the Minister of France, Count Walewski, and sustained +by the British Plenipotentiary, Lord Clarendon, he became +more important than the power of his country, or the share it +had in the Crimean War, would alone have warranted. He +availed himself of his position to attack and undermine two of +the minor sovereigns—the Pope and the King of Naples. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The States of the Holy See,”</span> he insisted, <span class="tei tei-q">“never knew +prosperity, except under the rule of Napoleon I., when they +formed part of the French empire and the kingdom of Italy. +Later, the Emperor Napoleon III., <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">with that precision and firmness +of view by which he is characterized</span></em>, understood and clearly +pointed out in his letter to Colonel Ney the solution of the +problem: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Secularization and the Code Napoleon</span></span>; but it is evident +that the Court of Rome will struggle to the last moment, +and by every possible means, against the realization of this +twofold combination. It is easily understood that it may appear +to accept civil and even political reforms, taking care +always to render them illusory. But it knows too well that +secularization and the code Napoleon, once introduced into the +edifice of the temporal power, would undermine it and cause it +to fall, simply by removing its principal supports—clerical +privileges and canon law. Clerical organization opposes insurmountable +impediments to all kinds of innovations.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Cavour urged, in conclusion, that <span class="tei tei-q">“the legations”</span> must be +separated politically, and a viceroy set over those provinces. +Walewski and Clarendon supported these views, but cautiously +using the enigmatic language of diplomacy. The Plenipotentiaries +of the other Powers were silent, or refused to give an +opinion, on the ground that they had no instructions. M. de +Mauteuffel alone, the Prussian representative, sternly observed +that such recriminations as M. de Cavour had brought forward +were very like an appeal to the revolutionary movements in +Italy. Prussia did not, at that time, foresee what advantage +it was destined to reap from the alliance of the Italian revolution +with Napoleon III. France, however, had reason to dread +lest the chief of her choice should return to the dark practices +of his youth. Her too well-founded apprehensions were confirmed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page143">[pg 143]</span><a name="Pg143" id="Pg143" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and aggravated when it came to the public ear, through +the newspapers of the time, that the Emperor had held a too +intimate interview with M. de Cavour at the waters of Plombieres. +All this, notwithstanding an alliance of France with +Piedmont, for the destruction of the Pope's temporal sovereignty, +appeared as yet to be so completely out of the question, +that the French ambassador at Rome refuted publicly the +calumnies which M. de Cavour had so selfishly promulgated. +Count de Rayneval had been a long time at Rome, first as +Secretary of the Embassy of King Louis Philippe, and afterwards +as Plenipotentiary of the Republic, before he was appointed +to represent the Emperor Napoleon. None could be +better qualified to give a luminous report of the state of matters +at Rome. The revolutionary press, however, never noticed +it, and the government refused to publish it in the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Moniteur</span></span>, +preferring the wretched pamphlet of M. About on the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Roman +Question</span></span>. The French, who wished to be well informed, sought +the words of M. de Rayneval's report in the columns of the +London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Daily News</span></span>: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +COUNT RAYNEVAL's REPORT TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Pius IX. shows himself full of ardor for reforms. He +himself puts his hand to the work. From the very day Pius +IX. mounted the throne he has made continuous efforts to +sweep away every legitimate cause of complaint against the +public administration of affairs.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Already have civil and criminal cases, as well as a code +relating to commerce, all founded on our own, enriched by +lessons derived from experience, been promulgated. I have +studied these carefully—they are above criticism. The Code +des Hypotheques has been examined by French +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">juris consults</span></span>, +and has been cited by them as a model document. Abroad +(says this distinguished and able writer), those essential +changes that are introduced into the order of things, those +incessant efforts of the Pontifical government to ameliorate the +lot of the populations, have passed unnoticed. People have +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page144">[pg 144]</span><a name="Pg144" id="Pg144" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had ears only for the declamation of the discontented, and for +the permanent calumnies of the bad portion of the Piedmontese +and Italian press. This is the source from which public opinion +has derived its inspiration. And in spite of well established +facts, it is believed in most places, but particularly in England, +that the Pontifical government has done nothing for its +subjects, and has restricted itself to the perpetuation of the +errors of another age. I have only yet indicated the ameliorations +introduced into the organization of the administration. +Above all, let us remember that never has a more exalted spirit +of clemency been seen to preside over a restoration. No vengeance +has been exercised on those who caused the overthrow of +the Pontifical government—no measures of rigor have been +adopted against them—the Pope has contented himself with +depriving them of the power of doing harm by banishing them +from the land.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ECONOMY OF THE PAPAL GOVERNMENT—MODERATE TAXATION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“In spite of considerable burdens which were occasioned +by the revolution, and left as a legacy to the present government—in +spite of extraordinary expenses caused by the reorganization +of the army—in spite of numerous contributions +towards the encouragement of public works, the state budget, +which, at the commencement, exhibited a tolerably large <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">deficit</span></span>, +has been gradually tending towards equilibrium. I have had +the honor recently of pointing out to your Excellency, that the +deficit of 1857 has been reduced to an insignificant sum, consisting +for the most part of unexpected expenses, and of money +reserved for the extinction of the debt. The taxes remain still +much below the mean rate of the different European States. +A Roman pays the state 22 francs annually, 68,000,000 being +levied on a population of 3,000,000. A Frenchman pays the +French government 45 francs, 1,600,000,000 being levied on a +population of 35,000,000. These figures show, demonstratively, +that the Pontifical States, with regard to so important a +point, must be reckoned amongst the most favored nations. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page145">[pg 145]</span><a name="Pg145" id="Pg145" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +The expenses are regulated on principles of the greatest +economy. One fact is sufficient. The civil list, the expenses +of the cardinals, of the diplomatic corps abroad, the maintenance +of Pontifical palaces and the museum, cost the state no +more than 600,000 crowns (3,200,000). This small sum is the +only share of the public revenue taken by the Papacy for the +support of the Pontifical dignity, and for keeping up the principal +establishments of the superior ecclesiastical administration. +We might ask those persons, so zealous in hunting +down abuses, whether the appropriation of 4,000 crowns to +the wants of the princes of the church seems to them to bear +the impress of a proper economy exercised with respect to the +public revenue?</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +AGRICULTURE—DRAINING THE CAMPAGNA—PRISON DISCIPLINE—ADMINISTRATION +OF CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS—ABUSES—JUDICIAL SYSTEM, ETC. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Agriculture has been equally the object of encouragement, +and also gardening and the raising of stock. Lastly, a commission, +composed of the principal landed proprietors, is now +studying the hitherto insoluble question of draining the +Campagna of Rome, and filling it with inhabitants. There is, +in truth, misery here as elsewhere, but it is infinitely less +heavy than in less favored climates. Mere necessaries are +obtained cheaply. Private charities are numerous and effective. +Here also the action of the government is perceptible. Important +ameliorations have been introduced into the administration +of hospitals and prisons. Some of these prisons +should be visited, that the visitor may admire—the term is not +too strong—the persevering charity of the Holy Father. I +will not extend this enumeration. What I have said ought to +be sufficient to prove that all the measures adopted by the +Pontifical administration bear marks of wisdom, reason and +progress; that they have already produced happy results; in +short, that there is not a single detail of interest to the well-being, +either moral or material, of the population, which has +escaped the attention of the government, or which has not +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page146">[pg 146]</span><a name="Pg146" id="Pg146" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been treated in a favorable manner. In truth, when certain +persons say to the Pontifical government, <span class="tei tei-q">‘form an administration +which may have for its aim the good of the people,’</span> +the government might reply, <span class="tei tei-q">‘look at our acts, and condemn +us if you dare.’</span> The government might ask, <span class="tei tei-q">‘not only which +of its acts is a subject of legitimate blame, but in which of its +duties it has failed?’</span> Are we, then, to be told that the Pontifical +government is a model—that it has no weakness or imperfections? +Certainly not; but its weakness and imperfections are +of the same kind as are met with in all governments, and even +in all men, with very few exceptions. I am perpetually interrogating +those who come to me to denounce what they call the +abuses of the Papal government. The expression, it must be +remembered, is now consecrated, and is above criticism or +objection. It is held as Gospel. Now, in what do the abuses +consist? I have never yet been able to discover. At least, +the facts which go by that name are such as are elsewhere +traceable to the imperfection of human nature, and we need +not load the government with the direct responsibility of the +irregularities committed by some of its subordinate agents. +The imperfections of the judiciary system are often cited. I +have examined it closely, and have found it impossible to discover +any serious cause of complaint. Those who lose their +causes complain more loudly and more continuously than is +the custom in other places, but without any more reason. +Most of the important civil cases are decided in the tribunal of +the Rota. Now, in spite of the habitual license of Italian +criticism, no one has dared to express a doubt of the profound +knowledge and the exalted integrity of the tribunal of the Rota. +If the lawyers are incredibly fertile in raising objections and +exceptions—if they lengthen out lawsuits—to what is this fault +to be attributed if not to the peculiarity of the national genius? +Lastly, civil law is well administered. I do not know a single +sentence the justice of which would not be recognized by the +best tribunal in Europe. Criminal justice is administered in a +manner equally unassailable. I have watched some trials +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page147">[pg 147]</span><a name="Pg147" id="Pg147" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +throughout their whole details; I was obliged to confess that +necessary precautions for the verification of facts—all possible +guarantees for the free defence of the accused, including the +publication of the proceedings—were taken.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +BRIGANDS—BANDS OF ROBBERS DISPERSED BY THE GOVERNMENT. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Much is said of the brigands who, we are told, lay the +country desolate. It has fallen to our lot to pass through the +country, in all directions, without seeing even the shadow of a +robber. It cannot be denied that, from time to time, we hear +of a diligence stopped, of a traveller plundered. Even one +accident of this kind is too much, but we must remember that +the administration has employed all the means in its power to +repress these disorders. Thanks to energetic measures, the +brigands have been arrested at all points and punished. When +in France a diligence is stopped; when in going from London +to Windsor a lady of the Queen's palace is robbed of her luggage +and jewels, such incidents passed unnoticed; but when, +on an isolated road in the Roman States, the least fact of this +nature takes place, the passenger, for a pretext, prints the +news in large characters, and cries for vengeance on the government. +On the side of Rome the attacks which have taken +place at distant intervals have never assumed an appearance +calculated to excite anxiety.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“In the Romagna, organized bands have been formed, +which, taking advantage of the Tuscan frontier, easily escaped +pursuit, and were for a time to be dreaded. The government +declared unceasing war against them, and after several +engagements, in which a certain number of <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">gens d'armes</span></span> +were either killed or wounded, these bands have been in a great +measure dispersed. The Italians always depend for the completion +of their projects on foreign support. If this support +were to fail, then they would adopt a proper course much +more readily than would be necessary. Meanwhile, in England +and Sardinia, the organs of the press should cease to +excite the passions, and Catholic Powers should continue to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page148">[pg 148]</span><a name="Pg148" id="Pg148" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +give the Holy See evident marks of sympathy. But how +can we hope that enemies, animated with such a spirit as +influences the opponents of the Holy See, should put a stop +to their attacks when they have been made in so remarkable a +manner?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL NUMBER OF ECCLESIASTICS EMPLOYED +BY THE PAPAL GOVERNMENT. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Those who are generally mentioned as <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">ecclesiastics</span></em>, are not +necessarily priests or in holy orders. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Count Rayneval took occasion to show, with proofs in his +hands, that the half of these supposed priests were not in +orders.... The Roman prelates are not all +bound to enter into holy orders. For the most part they +dispense with them. Can we then call by the name of priests +those who have nothing of the priest but the uniform? Is +Count Spada a more zealous or a more skilful administrator +now than when, in the costume of a priest, he officiated as +Minister of War? Do Monsignor Matteuci (Minister of Police), +Monsignor Mertel (Minister of the Interior), Monsignor Berardi +(substitute of the Secretary of State), and so many others, who +have liberty to marry to-morrow, constitute a religious caste, +sacrificing its own interests to the interests of the country, and +would they become, all of a sudden, irreproachable if they were +dressed differently? If we examine the share given the prelates, +both priests and non-priests, in the Roman administration, +we shall arrive at some results which it is important to +notice. Out of Rome, that is, throughout the whole extent of +the Pontifical States, with the exception of the capital—in the +Legations, the Marshes, Umbria, and all the Provinces, to the +number of eighteen, how many ecclesiastics do you think are +employed? Their number does not exceed fifteen—one for each +Province except three, where there is not one at all. They +are delegates, or, as we should say, prefects. The councils, the +tribunals, and offices of all sorts, are filled with laymen. So +that for one ecclesiastic in office, we have in the Roman Provinces +one hundred and ninety-five laymen.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page149">[pg 149]</span><a name="Pg149" id="Pg149" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The following table, which appeared in the London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Weekly +Register</span></span> (<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Weekly Register, June</span></span>, 1859.), +shows at a glance what a small proportion the clerical +bore to the lay element in the government of the Papal +States: +</p> + +<table summary="This is a table" cellspacing="0" class="tei tei-table" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><colgroup span="5"></colgroup><tbody><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Ministries.</td><td class="tei tei-cell">Eccles. Places.</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">Lay Places.</td><td class="tei tei-cell">Eccles. Salary</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">Lay Salary</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Secretariate of State</td><td class="tei tei-cell">14</td><td class="tei tei-cell">18</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">$100,500</td><td class="tei tei-cell">$8,340</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Justice and Police</td><td class="tei tei-cell">277</td><td class="tei tei-cell">3,271</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">110,205</td><td class="tei tei-cell">637,602</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Public Instruction</td><td class="tei tei-cell">3</td><td class="tei tei-cell">9</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">1,320</td><td class="tei tei-cell">1,824</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Finance</td><td class="tei tei-cell">7</td><td class="tei tei-cell">3,084</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">10,320</td><td class="tei tei-cell">730,268</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Commerce, P. Work</td><td class="tei tei-cell">1</td><td class="tei tei-cell">347</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">2,400</td><td class="tei tei-cell">69,808</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Arms</td><td class="tei tei-cell"></td><td class="tei tei-cell">125</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell"></td><td class="tei tei-cell">51,885</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-row"><td class="tei tei-cell">Total</td><td class="tei tei-cell">303</td><td class="tei tei-cell">6,854</td> + <td class="tei tei-cell">$224,755</td><td class="tei tei-cell">$1,490,747</td></tr></tbody></table> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +M. De Rayneval admits that the people are not enterprising. +If they do not show much industrial activity, this is to be +ascribed not to the government, but to the climate, the facility +with which everything necessary for comfort is obtained, and +the long-established habits of the natives of the South of +Europe. <span class="tei tei-q">“The condition of the population, nevertheless,”</span> +adds the ambassador, <span class="tei tei-q">“is comparatively good. They readily +take part in public amusements, when pleasure may be read +on every countenance. Are these the misgoverned people +<span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">whose miseries excite the commiseration of all Europe?</span></span>’</span> +There is misery, no doubt, as there is everywhere. But it is less +than in lands that are not so highly favored. The necessaries +of life are so cheap as to be easily procured. Private charity +never fails; and there are numerous and efficient public +benevolent establishments.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. encourages +Science and the Fine +Arts—</span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 80%">“</span><span style="font-size: 80%">Vindex antiquitatis.</span><span style="font-size: 80%">”</span></span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It may be said, by way of supplement to M. De Rayneval's +report, that Pius IX. did all in his power to +encourage both science and the fine arts. +His many foundations for their promotion +are his witness. Among the rest are the +College of Sinigaglia, and the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Seminario Pio</span></span> at Rome, together +with the educational establishments, endowed from his private +resources, at Perugia, Civita Vecchia, Ancona and Pesaro. To +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page150">[pg 150]</span><a name="Pg150" id="Pg150" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +him also are due the high renown to which rose the studies of +the Roman university, the restoration of the Appian way, and +the many archæological works which have won for their august +promoter the glorious surname of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Vindex Antiquitatis</span></span>. His +day would be memorable if it had been illustrated only by the +names of Vico, Secchi, Rossi and Visconti. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is impossible to overrate the importance of Count de +Rayneval's report, or the influence which it exercised over the +public mind of Europe, when, at length, through the agency +of the British and Belgian press, it obtained publicity. A refutation +of Cavour's interested calumnies, so able, distinct and +straightforward, powerfully impressed the minds of British +statesmen, and caused them to see the grievous error into which +they had been betrayed at the Congress of Paris, by Count +Cavour and the Emperor Louis Napoleon, in the interest of +their fellow-conspirators against the sovereignty of the Pope. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Lord Clarendon rebukes +Count Cavour.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lord Clarendon was the first who had knowledge of the +now celebrated state paper. He was also +the first who, for the sake of truth and +justice, made it public, committing it to the +English press, whence it found its way to continental Europe. +This eminent British statesman promptly communicated with +Count Cavour, and took him to task severely for his double +dealing at the congress, and for having induced him, as British +Plenipotentiary, by false statements, to sanction his views. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 80%">“</span><span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-style: italic">Motu proprio</span></span><span style="font-size: 80%">.</span><span style="font-size: 80%">”</span></span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The calumnies and misrepresentations of the Cavour-Napoleon +party had, indeed, been met by anticipation in the +decree, known as <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span>, which Pius +IX. issued from Portici, shortly before his +return to Rome. This decree indicated the reforms which, as +we learn from Count de Rayneval's report, were afterwards +carried out. It even granted a constitution as complete as was +consistent with the existence of the Papal Sovereignty. More +could not be looked for. The much-vaunted constitution of +England itself does not abrogate or nullify the monarchy. But +neither this nor any other measure of reform, however well +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page151">[pg 151]</span><a name="Pg151" id="Pg151" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +adapted to circumstances and the character of the people, could +ever have satisfied the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Italianissimi</span></span>, whose hatred of every +existing institution was boundless as it was incomprehensible. +The Holy Father solemnly declared that he decreed the measures +in question for the good of his people, and under the eye +of heaven. <span class="tei tei-q">“They are such,”</span> he adds, at the conclusion of the +document, <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span>, +<span class="tei tei-q">“as to be compatible with our dignity, +and, if faithfully carried out, we are convinced that they will +produce results which must command the approval of all wise +minds. The good sense of all among you who aspire to what +is best, with a fervor proportionate to the ills which you have +endured, shall be our judge in this matter. Above all, let us +place our trust in God, who, even in fulfilling the decrees of +His justice, is never unmindful of His mercy.”</span> It could not be +expected, and it was not expected, that the Pope should resign +his sovereignty. The words of Donoso Cortez, spoken in the +Spanish parliament, in defence of the temporal sovereignty, +were received at the time with universal acceptance. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Donoso Cortez, in +the Spanish Parliament, +supports the +Papal Sovereignty.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Civilized Europe,”</span> said this distinguished author and +statesman, <span class="tei tei-q">“will not consent to see enthroned +in that mad city of Rome a new +and strange dynasty begotten of crime. +And let no one here say, that in this matter +there are two separate questions—one a temporal question, +the other entirely spiritual—that the difficulty lies between the +temporal sovereign and his subjects; that the Pontiff has been +respected and still subsists.”</span> Two words on this point—just +two words—shall suffice to make us understand the whole matter. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It is perfectly true that the spiritual power of the Papacy +is its principal power; the temporal is only an accessory, but +that accessory is one that is indispensible. The Catholic +world has a right to insist upon it, that the infallible organ of +its belief shall be free and independent. The Catholic world +cannot know with certainty, as it needs must know, whether +that organ is really free and independent, unless it be sovereign. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page152">[pg 152]</span><a name="Pg152" id="Pg152" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +For he alone who is sovereign, depends on no other +power. Hence it is that the question of sovereignty, which +everywhere else is a political question, is in Rome a religious +question.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Constituent assemblies may exist rightfully elsewhere; +at Rome they cannot; at Rome there can be no constituent +power outside of and apart from the constituted power. Neither +Rome herself nor the Pontifical States belong to Rome or belong +to the Pope—they belong to the Catholic world. The +Catholic world has recognized, in the Pope, the lawful possessor +thereof, in order to his being free and independent; and +the Pope may not strip himself of this sovereignty, this independence.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The greatest statesmen of the age, such as Guizot, Thiers, +and Montalembert, in France; Normanby, Lansdowne, Disraeli, +and even Palmerston, in England; the statesmen of Prussia, +and even those of the Russian Empire; the Emperor of Austria +and his advisers; Spain, Portugal and Naples, all shared the +opinion of the illustrious Spanish statesman, Donoso Cortes. +All alike favored the restoration of the Holy Father, and the +securing of his government against the accidents of revolution +in the future by placing it under the protection of the Great +Powers. <span class="tei tei-q">“The affairs Rome,”</span> wrote the Russian Chancellor +in a circular, <span class="tei tei-q">“cause to the government of his Majesty the +Emperor great concern; and it were a serious error to think +that we take a less lively interest than the other Catholic governments +in the situation to which his Holiness Pope Pius IX. +has been brought by the events of the time. There can be no +room for doubting that the Holy Father shall receive from the +Emperor a loyal support towards the restoration of his temporal +and spiritual power, and that the Russian government shall +co-operate cheerfully in all the measures necessary to this result; +for it cherishes against the court of Rome no sentiment +of religious animosity or rivalry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Lord Lansdowne, +together with all the +statesmen and States +of Christendom, recognize +the principles +laid down in Pius the +Ninth's </span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 80%">“</span><span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span><span style="font-size: 80%">.</span><span style="font-size: 80%">”</span></span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sardinia alone held aloof. Its minister did not, like the +other European ambassadors, seek the presence of the Pope +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page153">[pg 153]</span><a name="Pg153" id="Pg153" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +when he was pressed by the revolutionists. Nor did he repair, +as they did, to Gaeta, but remained in Rome, and, to the great +surprise and scandal of all the European Courts, transacted +business with the governments which reigned there in the +absence of the legitimate sovereign. The absorption of all the +states of Italy, not excepting that of the Pope, by Piedmont, +was the ruling idea of Piedmontese statesmen. They were +guided by a selfish view to what they considered their own +interest, not by principles that were universally recognized. +Such were continental liberals. The English liberals, the +party of reform, thought differently. One of their chiefs, Lord +Lansdowne, whose high character as a statesman +gives weight to his words, declared, in +the British House of Peers, when the French +expedition to Rome was discussed there, that +<span class="tei tei-q">“the condition of the Pope's sovereignty is +especially remarkable in this, that so far as +his temporal power is concerned, he is only +a sovereign of the fourth or fifth order. In his spiritual power +he enjoys a sovereignty without its equal on earth. Every +country which has Roman Catholic subjects has an interest in +the condition of the Roman States, and should see to it that +the Pope be able to exercise his authority independently of any +temporal influence that could affect his spiritual power.”</span> Thus +did all Christendom—all the states which owned the Christian +name—true to immemorial tradition, consider that they lay +under the obligation to watch over the freedom and independence +of the great central power whence proceeded their early +civilization. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The French government, in restoring Pius IX., only obeyed +the will so often and so clearly expressed of the European +nations. Now that he was once more firmly seated on the +Pontifical throne, it was time, thought the Cavour-Napoleon-Mazzini +party, that he should introduce into his states what +they called true reform—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">the Code Napoleon and the secularization +of his government</span></span>. This, as has been seen, he could not do. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page154">[pg 154]</span><a name="Pg154" id="Pg154" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +It was tantamount to the abdication of his sovereignty. That +he did reform, however, wisely and efficiently, Count de Rayneval +has abundantly shown. His measures of reform were +large and liberal, and, in the judgment of eminent statesmen, +left little room for improvement. It is necessary to bestow a +few words in making this fact still more apparent; for it was +long the fashion to say and insist that the policy of Pius IX., +after his restoration, was reactionary, and that the once-reforming +Pope had, with inconceivable inconsistency, ceased to +be a reformer. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span>, published by the Pope on occasion of +reorganizing his states in 1849, '50, there was inaugurated as +full a measure of liberty as was compatible with the circumstances +of the country and the character of the people. Two +political bodies, a council of state and a council of finance were +instituted. These were designed as temporary institutions, +whose object it should be to remedy the fearful evils caused by +the revolution—in plain terms, to bring order out of anarchy +and chaos. M. de Rayneval has shown that in this they were +successful, and that they also put an end to the disorder and +difficulty caused by the issue of forty millions of worthless +paper which the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Republic</span></span> had bequeathed to them. The +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Moniteur</span></span>, as well as the ambassador, admitted that by the end +of the first seven years the finances had nearly reached an +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">equilibrium</span></span>, the deficit at that time being only half a million of +dollars. This temporary state of things was destined, once its +objects were accomplished, to give place to a more ample constitution, +which certainly would have been granted in due time +but for the hostile intrigues of those who blamed the most free and +complete constitutional system. It will not be without interest +to consider what was thought among distinguished foreigners +in regard to the Pope's early measures—measures which, it is +well known, were intended as a preparation for more advanced +constitutional government. The French Republic appointed a +commission, consisting of fifteen of its best statesmen, to examine +and report upon the political wisdom and practical value +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page155">[pg 155]</span><a name="Pg155" id="Pg155" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the institutions which Pius IX. had granted to his states. +M. Thiers, to whom none will give credit for being over friendly +to the Holy See, drew up, signed and presented this report: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Your commission,”</span> the report states, <span class="tei tei-q">“has maturely examined +this act, <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span>, in order to see whether the +counsels which France believed herself authorized to offer had +borne such fruits as to prevent her regretting having interfered +in Roman affairs. Well, by a large majority, twelve in fifteen, +your commission declares that it sees in the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span> a +first boon of such real value, that nothing but unjust pretensions +could overlook its importance. We shall discuss this act +in its every detail. But limiting ourselves, at present, to consider +the principle on which is based the Pontifical concession, +we say that it grants all desirable provincial and municipal +liberties. As to political liberties, consisting in the power of +deciding on the public business of a country in one of the two +assemblies, and in union with the executive—as in England, +for instance—it is very true that the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span> does not +grant this sort of political liberty, or only grants it in the rudimentary +form of a council without deliberative voice. This is +a question of immense gravity, which the Holy Father alone +can solve, and which he and the Christian world are interested +in not leaving to chance. That on this point he should have +chosen to be prudent; that after his recent experience he should +have preferred not to reopen a career of agitation among a +people who have shown themselves so unprepared for parliamentary +liberty, is what we do not know that we have either +the right or the cause to deem blameworthy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A well-known British statesman expressed similar views. +<span class="tei tei-q">“We all know,”</span> said Lord Palmerston, <span class="tei tei-q">“that the Pope, on his +restoration to his states in 1849, published an ordinance called +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">motu proprio</span></span>, by which he declared his intention to +bestow institutions, not indeed on the large proportions of a constitutional +government, but based, nevertheless, on popular election, +and which, if they had only been carried out, must have +given his subjects such satisfaction as to render unnecessary +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page156">[pg 156]</span><a name="Pg156" id="Pg156" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the intervention of a foreign army.”</span> These words were uttered +in 1856, when Lord Palmerston ought to have known, if indeed +he did not actually know, that the proposed reforms of the +Pope had been faithfully and successfully carried out. The +report of Count de Rayneval was before the world, and so important +a state paper could not have been unknown to a statesman +who interested himself so much in European affairs generally, +and those of Rome in particular. The Rayneval report, +besides, which showed how completely Pius IX. had fulfilled +his promises—how assiduously and effectually he had labored +in the cause of reform—had been specially communicated, as +has been seen, to an eminent member of the British Cabinet, +Lord Clarendon. It is not so clear that the Pope's subjects +were not satisfied. None knew better than Lord Palmerston, +that there was always a foreign influence at Rome which never +ceased to cause discontent, and was ready, on occasion, to raise +disturbance. This alien and sinister influence was only too +powerfully seconded, both by some members of the British +ministry and the intriguing head of the French government. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Baron Sauzet, who was President of the French Chamber +of Deputies in the reign of Louis Philippe, and who was, by +no means, over partial to Rome, wrote in 1860 on the system +of legislation which obtained in the States of the Church, and +gave utterance to the opinion that it was a solid basis on which +Pius IX. was endeavoring to raise such a superstructure of +improvement as was adapted to the wants of modern society. +Criminal law was regulated according to the wise codes of +Gregory XVI., which were a real progress. Civil legislation +had for its groundwork the old Roman law, which the Popes, +at various times, had wisely adapted to their age and the circumstances +of their people. There are certain points of great +delicacy, with regard to which, in Christian communities, religious +authority only can legislate. These excepted, the +Justinian code, with some necessary modifications, prevailed. +Few changes have been made since Gregory the Sixteenth's +time, and they are codified with such perfect scientific lucidity +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page157">[pg 157]</span><a name="Pg157" id="Pg157" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +as to be available to practitioners. This is one of the special +labors of the Council of State, which is aided by a commission +consisting of the most eminent and learned jurists of Rome. +The distinguished statesman (Baron Sauzet), moreover, repels +the idea of thrusting on the Romans the Code Napoleon, as +was intended by the Emperor Louis Napoleon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Galeotti, who was Minister of Justice in the Mazzini ministry, +and who cannot be suspected of much favor to the Holy +See, declares that, <span class="tei tei-q">“in the Pontifical government there are +many parts deserving of praise; it contains many ancient +institutions which are of unquestioned excellence, and there +are others of more modern date which the other provinces of +Italy might well enjoy. One may confidently say that there is +no other government in Italy in which the principle of discussion +and deliberation has been so long established and so generally +practised.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Galeotti further says, speaking of the Judicature: <span class="tei tei-q">“The +tribunal of the Rota is the best and the most respected of the +ancient institutions of Rome. Some slight changes would +make it the best in all Europe. The mode of procedure followed +in it is excellent, and might serve as a model in every +country where people would not have the administration of +justice reduced to the art of simply terminating lawsuits.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Another author, whose remarks are deserving of attention, +Monsignor Fevre, says that law expenses are very moderate, +the proceedings very rapid, and the rules of the Judiciary +among the very best of the kind. Besides, the poor are never +taxed by the courts, while they are always supplied with counsel. +In Rome itself the pious confraternity of St. Yeo (the +patron saint of lawyers) takes on itself, gratuitously, the cases +of all poor people, when they appear to have right on their +side. The arch-confraternity of San Girolamo Della Carita, +also undertakes the defence of prisoners and poor persons, +especially widows. <span class="tei tei-q">“It has the administration of a legacy +left by Felice Amadori, a noble Florentine, who died in the +year 1639. The principal objects of their solicitude are persons +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page158">[pg 158]</span><a name="Pg158" id="Pg158" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +confined in prison. These they visit, comfort, clothe, and +frequently liberate, either by paying the fine imposed on them +as the penalty of their offence, or by arranging matters with +their creditors. With a wise charity they endeavor to simplify +and shorten causes; and they employ a solicitor, who assists +in settling disputes, and thus putting an end to litigation. +This confraternity embraces the flower of the Roman prelacy, +the patrician order and the priesthood.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One is naturally inclined to ask how it came to pass that a +people, possessing such wise institutions, such an admirable +system of legislation, and a sovereign who constantly studied +to enlarge and improve their inherited benefits, were never +satisfied? It would be hard to say that the Romans, the real +subjects of the Pope, were not satisfied. But there were not +wanting those who succeeded in making it appear that they +were not, and who also contrived to induce many of the Romans +themselves to believe that they had cause to be discontented. +It was the fashion in Piedmont to rail against everything +clerical, and to such an extent did this mania proceed, that +they began to persecute the clergy. Through the agency of +the secret societies, whose chief was Mazzini, this anti-clerical +prejudice spread through all Italy, and even extended to Rome, +the government of which, as a matter of course, was bad, +for no other reason than that, being conducted by the Chief of +the clergy, it was reputed to be clerical. Thus did Count +Cavour and the Piedmontese government use the Mazzinian +faction for the furtherance of their own ambitious ends, whilst +the Mazzinians believed that they were using them as they +intended to use them, and their king and all kings, as long +as there should be kings, for their subversive purposes, +in the first instance, and for the establishment, finally, +of their Utopian republic on the ruins of all thrones and regular +governments whatsoever. As will be seen, most recent history +shows the first act of the drama has been played, apparently +to the profit of a king. Time will prove to whom, in the end, +victory shall belong. One institution at least will remain, for +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page159">[pg 159]</span><a name="Pg159" id="Pg159" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +no power, not even that of hell, can prevail against it. As in +the early days, when society had fallen to a state of chaos, and +orderly government had become impossible, it may, once more, +raise the standard of order and reconstitute the broken and +scattered elements. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Canonizations at +Rome.—Two American +Saints. +Pius IX. erects four +Metropolitan Sees in +the United States.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Rome and the Catholic world were yet rejoicing on occasion +of the happy restoration of Pius IX. to his +states, and pilgrims still flocked from every +region of the universe to the holy city, when +two remarkable events came to add new glory to the flourishing +church of America. Hitherto America could reverence +and invoke only one native saint. On 16th July, 1850, took +place the beatification of the venerable Peter Claver, of the +Society of Jesus, the apostle of New Granada; and in October, +Mariana de Paredes, of Flores, <span class="tei tei-q">“the lily of Quito,”</span> was beatified. +The latter was first cousin and contemporary of Saint +Rose of Lima. This circumstance vividly awakens the idea, +that already saints, although there were few as yet who could +claim the honors of canonization, were not uncommon in +America. Whatever may have been the measure and excellence +of her children's sanctity, the church was rapidly extending. +So great was her growth that, in the +year 1850, Pius IX. considered it opportune +to erect four metropolitan sees in the United +States—New York, Cincinnati, St. Louis +and New Orleans. Baltimore, the primatial see, was already +metropolitan. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">New See of Laval.—Rennes +becomes +Metropolitan.—Restoration +of the Chapter +of St. Denis.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Holy Father showed no less solicitude for the welfare +of the church in France, Spain, and other +European countries. Napoleon III., anxious +to gain the good-will of Catholic France, +prayed the Holy See to erect a new diocese +at Laval, to raise the see of Rennes to +metropolitan dignity, to reorganize the grand chaplaincy, and +restore the chapter of St. Denis. All this was done by a brief +of 31st March, 1857, and there was now a thoroughly good +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page160">[pg 160]</span><a name="Pg160" id="Pg160" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +understanding between the Pope and the Emperor, between +the latter and the people over whom he +ruled. +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Napoleon desires to +be crowned by the +Pope. +Pius IX. sponsor +for Napoleon's son.—Golden +rose sent to +the Empress.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was even said that Napoleon III. +desired, like his uncle, to be anointed Emperor +by a Pope; that with a view to this end, +he made many advances to Pius IX., and went so far even as +to propose in confidence the abolition of the organic articles, +and a modification of the Code Napoleon, in so far as that +parties who marry before the church should be exempted from +the civil ceremony. A still less doubtful pledge of the continuance +of amicable relations between Rome and Paris was +the baptism of the Prince Imperial. The Emperor had asked +the Pope to do him the favor to act as +sponsor for the child that Providence had +deigned to give him, and Pius IX. readily +consented. As he could not be present in +person at the ceremony, he caused himself to be represented +by his legate, <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">a latere</span></span>, Cardinal Patrizzi. This +cardinal, at the same time, presented to the Empress the golden rose, +which is blessed every year on the fourth Sunday of Lent, in +order to be sent to the princes, cities and churches on which +the Pope desires to confer special honor. The blessed rose +was a small rose-tree in gold, covered with rose-flowers. The +vessel which contained it was of massive gold. It stood on a +pedestal of lapis lazzuli, which bore in Mosaic the arms of the +Pope and the Emperor. On the vase itself were sculptured +the birth of the Blessed Virgin, and the Presentation in the +Temple. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It would have been well if all this friendship had been as +sincere as it was warmly expressed. It cannot, however, be +forgotten that the government of the Emperor Napoleon had +suppressed the Rayneval report, and Pius IX. must have +thought, although prudence forbade him to say, that there was +reason to doubt the fidelity of his apparently devoted ally. +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.</span></span>”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page161">[pg 161]</span><a name="Pg161" id="Pg161" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. godfather +to Alphonso XII. of +Spain.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It may be said that, at this time, the Powers of the world +vied with one another in seeking the favor +of the Pope. Isabella II., Queen of Spain, +like Napoleon of France, was anxious that +Pius IX. should, through a representative, stand godfather to +her son, who afterwards became Alphonso XII. Other princes +sought the like consideration, and among the rest, Victor +Emmanuel, whose daughter, the Princess Pia, thus became +the godchild of Pius the Pope. This princess is now the Queen +of Portugal. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Concordat with +Austria.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Another bond of friendship with the world's Powers was +secured, apparently, by the conclusion of a +Concordat with the great Austrian Empire. +The negotiations which led to this Concordat +had lasted several years. It was abundantly liberal in the +true acceptation of this term. Nevertheless, it awakened the +hatred and contempt of the professed liberals, who enjoy this +appellation, one would say, simply because they are not liberal, +just as in Latin a grove is called by a word expressive of light, +because it is not light (<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">lucus a non lucendo</span></span>). +How can they be called truly liberal, who have no liberality for any but themselves, +who know no other liberty than that which enables +them to tyrannize over the church, and trample under foot +her most sacred and beneficial institutions? The Concordat +with Austria provides that the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman +religion shall be preserved in its integrity throughout the whole +extent of the Austrian monarchy, together with all the rights +and prerogatives which it ought to enjoy in virtue of the order +which God has established and the canon law. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Roman Pontiff having, by divine right, in the whole +church the primacy of honor and jurisdiction, mutual communication, +as regards all spiritual things, and the ecclesiastical +relations of the bishops, the clergy and the people with +the Holy See, shall not be subject to the necessity of obtaining +the royal <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">placet</span></span>, but shall be wholly free. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page162">[pg 162]</span><a name="Pg162" id="Pg162" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In a consistorial allocution of 5th November, 1855, Pius +IX. gave expression to the joy which it afforded him to have +obtained, after so much tedious negotiation, such happy results. +The following year, on the 17th of March, he addressed a brief +to the bishops of the Austrian Empire, exhorting them to avail +themselves of the spiritual independence which they had once +more won, in order to guard their dioceses against the ravages +of rationalism and indifference. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Difficulties in Spain +and Spanish countries. +Errors of Gunther.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, new difficulties arose in Spain and Spanish +America. The government of Isabella II., +regretting the good to which it had so recently +been a party, commenced a new war +against the church. Notwithstanding the Concordat, it exposed +for sale such ecclesiastical property as was not yet sold, +forbade religious communities of women to receive novices, and +forcibly removed several bishops from their dioceses. The +excesses were such that Pius IX. was obliged to recall his +representative from Madrid. There were similar persecutions +in the South American Republics and in Mexico. The congress +of Mexico forbade monastic vows, banished the Archbishop of +Mexico, and imprisoned the Bishop of Michoacan. +Germany, at the same time, was +not without its troubles. A learned theologian of the diocese +of Cologne, Dr. Anthony Gunther, had allowed himself to drift +from the sure ways of tradition, imperceptibly gliding into +rationalism, and confounding reason and faith. His ideas had +partisans in several countries of Germany. The vigilant eye +of Pius IX. discovered in them germs of heresy, which it was +important to check before they attained development. +Gunther, on being condemned, accepted humbly the judgment +of the Holy See. But there was a long contest with some of +his partisans who were less pious than himself. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page163">[pg 163]</span><a name="Pg163" id="Pg163" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. makes a +progress through his +States.—His popularity.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The record of Pius the Ninth's progress through his States, +in 1857, is alone a sufficient reply to the +calumnies of those enemies who never ceased +to assert that ever since his return to Rome +he had pursued a retrograde policy. Reform +was always an object of his solicitude. It was with a view to +improve the condition of his people that he undertook, when +almost a septuagenarian, a four months' journey through the +States of the Church. He travelled slowly, and sometimes on +foot, in order the better to observe and ascertain the state of +the provinces. All could approach him and address him freely. +He visited churches, hospitals and workshops. He examined +the works of the ports and the public ways. Many addresses +and petitions were presented. Far, however, from asking the +abolition of priestly rule, the petitioners prayed for a return to +the former state of things, when cardinals and prelates only +were set over the provinces. The progress of the Holy Father +was a series of joyous ovations from the time that he left +Rome—4th May—till his return on the 5th September. His +journey was at first in the direction of Ancona, Ravenna and +Bologna. He returned by way of Florence and Modena. His +progress would have been crowned with success if it had only +served to show the loyalty and devotedness of his people. But +it was attended with still greater results. The Holy Father +bestowed much time at every place in seeking, personally and +through his ministers, information which became the basis of +reform and improvement. Thus, as is known by the authentic +accounts which have been published, many localities derived +very material benefit from the Papal visit. The port of Pesaro +was to be almost entirely reconstructed, the Holy Father bestowing +$80,000 from his own resources. The port of +Sinigaglia was also considerably improved, and a new sanitary +office built. The cities of Ancona and Civita Vecchia were to +be enlarged. At Bologna the High street was widened and +beautified; the fine façade of the cathedral was to be completed, +the Pope contributing $5,000 for fifteen years. At +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page164">[pg 164]</span><a name="Pg164" id="Pg164" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Perugia new prisons were to be constructed, and the condition +of the prisoners was to be in every way improved; a liberal +annual contribution was given towards preserving the splendid +native collections of art. Ravenna, although long neglected +and in decay, was not forgotten. Pius IX. wished to revive, +as far as possible, the ancient commercial prosperity of this +city, and promised $4,000 annually for ten years towards +improving the port. At Ferrara many improvements were +ordered, and $9,000 contributed for the completing of the +Pamfilio canal. The Holy Father also appointed a commission +of engineers, in order to devise a plan by which the river +Reno should be turned into the Po, and an extensive tract of +fertile land thus saved from periodical inundations. Funds +were provided for the relief of poor sailors. Liberal grants +were allotted for artesian wells, where required, and for bridges +and public roads. Especially were large allowances devoted +for the improvement of the highways at Pesaro, Macerata, +Imola, Camerino, &c. Telegraphic communication was widely +established. Prisons, hospitals and schools were special objects +of the Holy Father's care. It was the duty of Monsignor de +Merode, who accompanied the Pope, on arriving in any city or +town, to visit the prison, enquire into everything connected +with it, and report accordingly. Monsignor Talbot had commission +to look to the state of charitable, industrial and educational +institutions, in all of which he aided in promoting +valuable reforms. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is impossible to consider, without emotion, the reception +which greeted the Holy Father in his former diocese of Spoleto. +At every step proof upon proof was given of reverence and affection, +which time had not diminished. Etiquette and state +ceremony were laid aside. The youthful and the aged alike +would see their good shepherd, and he was anxious to salute +his people, and converse with them all. Many a face, familiar +to him of old, was recognized with pleasure, and even names +were not forgotten. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As has been seen, the days of the Holy Father's journey +were not all spent in pleasurable greetings or official receptions. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page165">[pg 165]</span><a name="Pg165" id="Pg165" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +He never forgot or neglected the work of reform and +improvement. Nor were such care and labor new to him. It +had often been said that the Popes were hostile to all modern +improvements. Why did they not favor railways? Why did +they not drain the Pontine Marshes, and cause the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Campagna</span></span> +to be cultivated? Let the labors of Pius IX. reply. A railway +through the States of the Church was one of his favorite +ideas, and he beheld it realized. It must have afforded him +no ordinary satisfaction to see the railway which his princely +care had provided now winding along the valley of the Tiber, +now climbing the heights and stretching its arms across the +Apennines, reaching down to the seaboard at Ancona, now +passing beyond the limits of the Papal territory, and extending +away to the Tuscan capital. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The uneducated or half-educated traveller, who surveys the +uncultivated and malarious plains around the city of the +Popes, at once discovers, in this desolation which prevails, an +argument against priestly rule. With a little more information, +however, he would see the ruins and the vestiges of a +mighty empire, the works of which, like its conquests, were the +wonder of the world. How such works came to be so successfully +executed is easily understood, when it is remembered +that heathen Rome commanded the wealth, the intellect, and +the strong arms of many subject nations. The Popes, on the +other hand, though they often tried, as did Pius IX. among +the rest, to cultivate the Campagna and drain the Pontine +Marshes, had so little means at their disposal, that they could +never accomplish anything important. Among other difficulties +that the Roman Pontiffs had to contend with, was that +of obtaining an outlet towards the sea, whilst ancient Rome +commanded all the seas and lands of the known world. Surely +it does not require a Solomon to understand that without +access to the Mediterranean, it is physically impossible to drain +and cultivate such low-lying lands as the Pontine Marshes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At Perugia the Holy Father received the kindly visit of the +Archduke Charles, who came, on the part of his father +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page166">[pg 166]</span><a name="Pg166" id="Pg166" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Leopold, to compliment the Sovereign Pontiff. Archduke +Maximilian, of Austria, who, at the time, little thought of a +Mexican Empire, came to salute the Pope at Pesaro. Neither +he nor Pius IX. had been, as yet, betrayed and abandoned by +Napoleon III. The Grand Duke of Tuscany and all his family, +together with the Dukes of Parma and Modena, came to pay +their homage at Bologna. The Holy Father accepted their +pressing invitation to visit Tuscany and Modena, the sovereigns +showing publicly, in presence of their people, such reverence +and devotedness as recalled the faith and loyalty of the +Middle Ages. The Pope himself bears witness to the truly +noble and chivalrous conduct of these provinces. <span class="tei tei-q">“He introduced +us himself into Florence,”</span> says Pius IX., in speaking of +the Grand Duke Leopold, <span class="tei tei-q">“walking by our side, and accompanied +us to every Tuscan city which we visited. All the +archbishops and bishops of his States, all the clergy, the corporate +bodies, the magistrates and the nobles showed their +delight by testifying their devotion to us in a thousand ways. +Not only at Florence, but wherever we went in Tuscany, the +people from town and country, far and near, came forth to +greet us, acclaiming the Chief Pontiff of the church with such +ardent affection, showing such an intense desire to see him, to +do him reverence, to receive his benediction, that our fatherly +heart was moved to its inmost depths.”</span> On the Holy Father's +return to Rome there was high jubilee among all classes of the +people a fact which the traducers of Pius IX. would do well +to note, as it proves beyond a doubt how idle and ill-founded +was all their clamor, to the effect that in the holy city his +popularity had departed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Mortara case.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A case in itself comparatively unimportant now became a +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">cause celebre</span></span>, and agitated all Europe. One +Mortara, a Jew of Bologna, had, in violation +of the laws of the country, taken into his service a Christian +maid. Meantime, one of his children, a boy about seven years +of age, became dangerously ill. The Christian girl, unadvisedly, +and also in opposition to the law, baptized him. Her +act could not be undone, and the law required that every +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page167">[pg 167]</span><a name="Pg167" id="Pg167" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +baptized person should be educated as a Christian. Pius IX. +refused to interfere with the action of this law. Hence the +torrents of abuse that were poured upon him by the infidel +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">liberal</span></span> press of Europe, as well as by the ultra-Protestant +organs of England. He had ignored liberty of conscience, +abused his authority, &c. Now, let us suppose that he had +acted otherwise, and prevented the execution of a well-known +law, what would have been the result? He would have been +denounced as a despot, whose arbitrary decision was the only +law. But might not he, who was so great a reformer, have contrived +to cause the law to be altered? Such alteration could not +have affected the Mortara case. A change, besides, would +have been quite unnecessary, as it was not probable that after +such a storm, and the lesson which it taught, either Jews or +Christians would expose themselves to the consequences of a +violation of their country's laws. And were not those laws a +sufficient protection to the Jewish people? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">New Sees erected +by Pius IX. in America.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From the first days of his Pontificate, America engaged the +solicitude of Pius IX. So rapid was the +growth of the church on that continent that +it became necessary to give bishops to +several countries where the Catholic faith had been scarcely +known. So early as 1846 Oregon was constituted an Archiepiscopal +See. In 1850 Episcopal Sees were erected at +Monterey and Santa Fe, in the Spanish American territory, +which was recently annexed to the United States, and in +Savannah, Wheeling, St. Paul and Nesqualy. The Indian +territory became a Vicariate Apostolic, under the jurisdiction +of a bishop. Three years afterwards six more sees were established—San +Francisco, Brooklyn, Burlington, Covington, +Erie and Natchitoches. Later still, 1857, Pius IX. gave +bishops to Illinois; Fort Wayne, in Indiana; and Marquette, in +Michigan. This last city derived its name from the celebrated +missionary who first explored the river Mississippi. It was +now more important than ever, having become a centre of +Catholic life and action. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page168">[pg 168]</span><a name="Pg168" id="Pg168" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Several names added +to the number of +the Saints.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In 1852, Pius IX. beatified John de Britto, a martyr in +India, John Grande and the renowned Paul +of the Cross, who founded the zealous and +austere order of Passionists. In 1853, the +like honor was conferred on the pious French shepherdess, +Germaine Cousin, and the Jesuit father, Andrew Bobola, who +was martyred by the Cossacks. In 1861, John Leonardi was +beatified. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Count Orsini attempts +to murder the +Emperor Napoleon +III.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is now time to record events of a less pleasing nature. +In 1853, several attempts had been made +on the life of the Emperor Napoleon III. +In 1855, Pianori made a similar attempt. +In 1858, Count Felix Orsini almost succeeded +in assassinating him. This Orsini was an accomplice of Louis +Napoleon in raising an insurrection in Romagna in 1831. He +was condemned for conspiracy in 1845, and was amnestied by +Pius IX. In 1849, he was a member of the Roman Constituent +Assembly. In his political testament, dated at the Mazas +prison, and read before the jury by Jules Favre, his counsel, he +coolly declared that the object of his crime was to remind the +Emperor of his former secret engagements in favor of Italian +independence; that he was only one of the conspirators who +had charge so to remind him; and that, although he had failed +in his aim, others would come after him who would not fail. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sire,”</span> he wrote, <span class="tei tei-q">“let your Majesty remember—so long as +Italy is not independent, the tranquillity of Europe and that +of your Majesty are mere chimeras.”</span> French authors remark +that it is painful to enquire what measure of influence these +threats may have exercised on the subsequent resolutions of +the man to whom they were addressed, and still more painful +to be compelled to recognize the unworthy motive of fear at the +first link of the fatal chain which inevitably led to Sedan, where +this same man had not the courage to seek a manly death. +God only could see his secret mind. But it is impossible not +to observe very sad coincidences. Immediately after Orsini +had penned his memorable testament, the imperial policy was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page169">[pg 169]</span><a name="Pg169" id="Pg169" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +completely changed. The declaration of Orsini is as the +dividing point between the two portions of the Emperor's reign, +the former openly, reasonably conservative and glorious, the +latter sometimes decidedly revolutionary, sometimes vacillating, +contradictory, or unwillingly conservative, and finally terminated +by a catastrophe unexampled in the annals of France. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The war of 1859.—The +legations severed +from the states of the +Church.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All who take an interest in public affairs cannot fail to remember +the startling words which the Emperor +Napoleon III. addressed to the representative +of Austria, on occasion of the +diplomatic reception at the Tuileries, on +New Year's day, 1859: <span class="tei tei-q">“I regret that my relations with your +government are not so good as in the past.”</span> This language of +Napoleon astonished all Europe. It was as a sudden clap of +thunder on the calmest summer day. Ten days later, Victor +Emmanuel gave the interpretation of this mysterious speech, +at the opening of the Piedmontese parliament, when he declared +that <span class="tei tei-q">“he was not unmoved by the cries of pain which +reached him from so many parts of Italy.”</span> Finally, the marriage +of Prince Napoleon, the Emperor's cousin, with a daughter +of the Sardinian King, removed all doubt. France was +made to adopt, without being consulted, the enmities and the +ambition of the Cabinet of Turin. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 4th of February appeared a pamphlet which increased +the alarm of the friends of peace and order. It may +not have been written by Napoleon, but it was according to his +ideas and dictation. Its title was, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Napoleon III. and Italy</span></span>;”</span> +and it set forth a programme of the political reconstituting of +Italy. It exonerated Pius IX. of all the things laid to his +charge by the revolution, but only in order to lay them at the +door of the Papacy itself. <span class="tei tei-q">“The Pope,”</span> it alleged, <span class="tei tei-q">“being +placed between two classes of duty, is constrained to sacrifice +the one to the other. He necessarily makes political give way +to spiritual duty. This is condemnation, not of Pius IX. but +of the system; not of the man, but of the situation; since the +latter imposes on the former the formidable alternative of immolating +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page170">[pg 170]</span><a name="Pg170" id="Pg170" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the Prince to the Pontiff, or the Pontiff to the Prince.”</span> +The pamphlet further taught: <span class="tei tei-q">“The absolutely clerical character +of the Roman government is opposed to common sense, +and is a fertile source of discontent. The canon law does not +suffice for the protection and development of modern society.”</span> +The document concluded by proposing the secularization of the +Roman government, and the establishment of an Italian confederation, +of which the Pope should have the honorary presidency, +whilst Piedmont should have the real control. The +pamphlet urged, in support of its arguments, the <span class="tei tei-q">“abnormal +position”</span> of the Papacy, which was obliged, in order to sustain +itself, to rely on foreign armies of occupation. Such a reproach +on the part of one of those who lent succor to the Pope +was anything but generous. Pius IX. hastened to remove this +cause of complaint. On the 27th of February Cardinal Antonelli +notified France and Austria that the Holy Father was +grateful to them for their good services, but that he thought he +could himself maintain order in his States, and so would beg of +them to withdraw their troops. This would not have suited +Piedmont, which was interested in maintaining the grievance, +as well as in rendering it possible to involve the Roman States +in the war which was so rapidly approaching. The troops +were not removed. Pius IX. was too clear-sighted not to foresee +what was so soon to happen. In an Encyclical of 27th +April, he asked prayers for peace of all the patriarchs, primates, +archbishops and bishops. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Pax vobis! pax vobis!</span></span>”</span> he +painfully repeated. But it was already too late. The young +and rash Emperor of Austria, driven to extremity, thought himself +sufficiently strong to contend at once against France and +the revolution. He summoned Piedmont to disband such of +her regiments as were composed of Lombards and Venetians, +who were Austrian subjects. As this was refused, he declared +war. He fell into a second error. He assumed the offensive +tardily, and did not push forward rapidly to the point where +the French army must concentrate, before its concentration +could be accomplished. He made a third and more serious +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page171">[pg 171]</span><a name="Pg171" id="Pg171" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +mistake, which proved ruinous. He withdrew from the war +after his first defeats when his army was beat, indeed, but +neither broken nor disorganized, when he still held the unconquered +quadrilateral, and when Prussia and Germany were +arming to support him. In 1866 he was equally imprudent +in the war against Prussia, when a continuation of the contest +would have obliged France, whether willingly or otherwise, to +intervene, and would probably have saved both Austria and +France. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, Napoleon felt that it was necessary to reassure +the Catholics of France. <span class="tei tei-q">“We do not go to Italy,”</span> said he, +boldly, but untruly, in his proclamation of 3rd May, <span class="tei tei-q">“in order +to encourage disorder, nor to shake the power of the Holy +Father, whom we have replaced on his throne, but in order to +liberate him from the foreign pressure which weighs upon the +whole peninsula, and assist in founding order on legitimate +interests that will be satisfied.”</span> M. Rouland, the Minister of +Public Worship, wrote to the bishops, in order to inspire them +with confidence as to the consequences of the contest. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +Emperor,”</span> he said, hypocritically, <span class="tei tei-q">“has weighed the matter in +the presence of God, and his well-known wisdom, energy and +loyalty will not be wanting, either to religion or the country. +The prince who has given to religion so many proofs of deference +and attachment, who, after the evil days of 1848, brought +back the Holy Father to the Vatican, is the firmest support of +Catholic unity, and he desires that the Chief of the Church +shall be respected in all his rights as a temporal sovereign. +The prince, who saved France from the invasion of the democracy, +cannot accept either its doctrines or its domination in +Italy.”</span> These declarations, which promised so much, were joyfully +accepted by the Catholics. Events, however, soon made +it appear how hollow they were. The grand conspiracy, whilst +it amused the friends of order and legality with fine words and +lying protestations, acted in such a way as to favor the revolution +and meet all its wishes. On the 27th of April, the Grand +Duke of Tuscany, uncle of Victor Emmanuel, was overthrown +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page172">[pg 172]</span><a name="Pg172" id="Pg172" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in consequence of intrigues and plots at the house of Signor +Buoncompagni, ambassador of the Piedmontese King, a fact to +which Mr. Scarlett, the British representative, bears witness in +an official despatch. The same blow was struck, and with the +like success, against the excellent and popular Duchess of +Parma. But this princess was immediately recalled by the +people, who had been taken by surprise, and remained until +Piedmont took military possession of the Duchies, which it +never gave up. Prince Napoleon, who commanded the 5th +French Army Corps, looking out for the enemy by a devious +route, in the direction of Romagna, reached the battle-field of +Solferino too late to take part in the fight, but quite in time to +make it available to the revolution. The Austrian troops who +occupied Bologna, being threatened by the movement, made +haste to recross the Po, without waiting to be replaced by a +Pontifical garrison, and without even advising the Holy See. +M. de Cavour's emissaries immediately availed themselves of +so good an opportunity, took possession of the city, where there +was not a soldier left, and offered its government to Victor +Emmanuel. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They were preparing at Rome to celebrate the thirteenth +anniversary of the coronation of Pius IX., when the news of +these sad events reached the city. The addresses of the Pope, +on this occasion, therefore, were necessarily full of melancholy +feeling. <span class="tei tei-q">“In whatever direction I look,”</span> said he, in his reply +to the cardinals, <span class="tei tei-q">“I behold only subjects of sorrow; but, <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">væ +homini illi per quem scandalum venit!</span></span>’</span> Woe to that man by +whom scandal cometh! For my part, personally, I am not +shaken; I place my trust in God.”</span> Three days later, the 18th +June, he announced, in a consistorial allocution, that Cardinal +Antonelli had been commissioned to protest at the courts of all +the Powers against the events in Romagna. But his position +as sovereign required of him something more than words, and +he did not shrink from any of his duties. Perugia had followed +the example of Bologna, and to the former city he despatched +troops, who retook it without any difficulty. In the contest +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page173">[pg 173]</span><a name="Pg173" id="Pg173" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +some twelve men were either killed or wounded, and the +clamors of the revolutionary press rung throughout Europe, +denouncing the massacres and the <span class="tei tei-q">“sack of Perugia.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Letter of the Honorable Mrs. Ross from Perugia, </span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">vide Weekly +Register</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">, February 11th, 1860. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">The Truth about Perugia</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">.—We have received from Rome +an original English copy of the letter of Mrs. Ross of Bladensburgh, +written from Perugia on the 23rd of June last, and +an Italian version of which we announced last week to our +readers as having appeared in the </span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">Giornale di Roma</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> of 23rd +ult., and which is referred to in our special correspondence +from Rome this week. We really never expected that our +former Perugino antagonist, Mr. Perkins, of Boston, should +have turned out to be such a very </span><em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">unfortunate</span></em><span style="font-size: 90%"> man. We have +now a fair sample of the authorities consulted by travellers of +his class to procure evidence against the Pontifical government. +</span></p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Extract from a letter written by the Hon. Mrs. Ross of +Bladensburgh, to her husband, from Villa Monti, at Perugia, +dated Perugia, June 21st, 1859. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">To David Ross, of Bladensburgh, Hautes Pyrenees, France.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I wrote to you last Wednesday, 15th inst., to announce a +revolution which occurred here on the previous day; now I +write to relieve your mind of anxiety in case an exaggerated +account of what has occurred here be given in the public +papers. I have to tell you of the re-entrance of the Papal +troops, which took place yesterday after a stubborn resistance +of four hours on the part of the revolutionists.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">When the revolt at Perugia was known at Rome, orders +were given to a body of Swiss troops to replace the little garrison +which had been driven out. The revolutionary junta +was well informed of what had been decided on at Rome, and +immediately prepared to oppose the re-establishment of social +order in the town. Victor Emmanuel, to whom they had +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page174">[pg 174]</span><a name="Pg174" id="Pg174" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +offered the town, returned no official answer, but, instead, reports +were industriously circulated among the citizens of sympathy +and support from Piedmont. An honest refusal on the +part of Victor Emmanuel, or an open acceptance, would have +prevented subsequent events, which his calculated silence +brought about. On Saturday last, the 18th inst., we heard +that the Pope's troops were close to —— and on Sunday +that they had actually arrived there. In the —— +Buoncompagni sent from Tuscany, I am told, 300 muskets in +aid and wagons were despatched to Arezzo for arms and +ammunition; barricades were commenced. The monks were +turned out of their convent at St. Peter's Gate (one of them +came down to us); and 500 armed men instead were put in to +defend the gate and first barricade. After two o'clock p.m., +the gates were closed, and no one could go in or out of the +town without an order. It was then I wrote a note to Mr. +Perkins, warning and requesting him and his family to accept +a shake-down with us; and with difficulty I got the note conveyed +up to town by a woman who happened to have a pass. +Nothing could induce any of the peasants about us to go near +the town, as the revolutionary party were making forced levies +of the youth of the place, and arming them to resist the coming +troops. Next morning (Monday the 20th) a body of shepherds +coming up from the place, told us that they had just seen the +Swiss troops at Santa Maria degli Angioli, where they stopped +and had mass,</span><a id="noteref_3" name="noteref_3" href="#note_3"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">3</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> having heard that the citizens contemplated +resistance. About ten o'clock that same morning I got Mr. +Perkins' answer to my note; it was to this effect—that he had +gone to the president (of the Junta), who assured him that the +Swiss had not yet even reached —— and that certainly +they would not arrive before the next day at sunset. And the +inn-keeper (the notorious Storti), he added, said that they were +not coming here at all, but going to Ancona! I cannot imagine +how he could trust such people, who were all implicated in the +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page175">[pg 175]</span><a name="Pg175" id="Pg175" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +business. His messenger, who was one of the servants of the +hotel, said, as he gave the note, </span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">‘</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Don't delay me, or I shall +not be in time to kill my three or four Swiss,</span><span style="font-size: 90%">’</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> showing how +well informed and prepared the hotel was. I should have +written again to the poor Perkins' to undeceive them; but it +was too late, for almost immediately the columns of the Swiss +appeared in the plain below, which you know we see from our +villa, and the president (revolutionary Junta) and other heads +of the rebellion had their carriages and horses ready waiting. +They fled at the first gun, leaving the people to act for themselves +after having inflamed, deceived and armed them, and +gathered into the town all the </span><span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">canaille</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> +they could get from the +neighboring country. From the moment the troops appeared, +all the peasants belonging to the villa flocked around us. +Anxiety was depicted on every face. The countenance of one +old man in particular was very striking—</span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">‘</span><span style="font-size: 90%">bad times,</span><span style="font-size: 90%">’</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> he murmured. +</span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">‘</span><span style="font-size: 90%">We have fallen on evil days—respect and awe are +gone, and the people are blinded.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">’</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> The parish priest was also +with us, and the monk I mentioned before. We watched with +great anxiety the slow ascent of the troops up the long five miles +to the city gate. There the colonel and his men halted, and +he parleyed with the people. We could see him stop and +address them, and then we saw a volley fired down on them by +the armed men in the convent windows. The first fire was +from the people on the troops. We could see all from our villa +windows like a scene on the stage; while the distance was sufficient +to veil the horrors of war. Then we saw some troops +separate from the main body and advance to the foot of the +wall, and in the twinkling of an eye they scaled it, amid a hot +fire from the insurgents, whom we heard shouting out, </span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">‘</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Coraggio! +coraggio!</span><span style="font-size: 90%">’</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> from behind the walls. Then we saw one +soldier rush up and tear down the revolutionary flag, and carry +it in triumph back to the main body of the troops, and then we +saw the Pontifical flag float where the revolutionary one had +been. In the meantime the rest of the troops had planted their +cannon opposite to the city gate. Boom! boom! they went at +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page176">[pg 176]</span><a name="Pg176" id="Pg176" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +the barricades, and in an hour after the firing of the first gun, +they had driven out the 500 armed men from the convent of +St. Peter's, and entered the first enclosure of the town. We +then saw no more, but sat all that afternoon in the window, +listening to the incessant firing in deep anxiety. As the soldiers +fought their way up to their barracks, and as the report +of the arms became more and more distant, we could judge +pretty well of the advance of the troops, knowing as we did the +chief points of resistance within. The first gun fired was at +three o'clock p.m. precisely, and at seven p.m. all was silent +again; the soldiers had reached their barracks. I hear that —— +have fled out towards Arezzo; all the </span><span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">canaille</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> of the +villages of the place were enlisted to defend the city, and it was +the talk of the country that had the Swiss been beaten, the +city was to have been pillaged by that armed mob. They say +that had they not had promises of succor from Victor Emmanuel +(the </span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">‘</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Re Galantuomo</span><span style="font-size: 90%">’</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">), and of encouragement from +Princess Valentini (nee Buonaparte, who resides here), they +would not have resisted as they did: thus were they deceived! +There is more in it all than one sees at first; and +clearly it was an affair got up to make out a case against the +Pope. Piedmontese money was circulated there just before +the revolution. N—— got it in change in the shops.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">June 22.—P.S.—Our servant has been to town to-day; he +brings me a letter from the Perkins', and such news as is the +general talk of the </span><span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">cafes</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">. Our poor friends in the +Hotel de France (Locanda Storti) suffered much. Deceived to the last, +they had not even been told of the actual arrival of the troops, +and had just sat quietly to dinner when the roar of the guns +startled them. They strove to go to another hotel, but alas! +the gates of their inn were fastened; they could not stir. The +letter I got from them said that the troops were </span><em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">irritated on +account of the firing from the roof</span></em><span style="font-size: 90%">. We knew beforehand how +it would be </span><em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">there</span></em><span style="font-size: 90%">; and in fact they did shoot an officer and two +men while passing the door. It was on this that the soldiers, +infuriated, rushed and assailed the house.... I hear +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page177">[pg 177]</span><a name="Pg177" id="Pg177" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +every one blames the imprudence of these people. They could +not afford to be hostile; for the hotel, if you remember, commands +the street from the base up the hill. No troops, therefore, +could risk going up that hill with a hostile house in that +position ready to take them in the rear. The escape of the +poor Perkins' is a perfect miracle; they, I hear, lost everything. +The innkeeper, waiter and stableman, they say, were killed in +the fray. The number of deaths among the Swiss were 10, +and 33 of the Perugians. Several prisoners were made. I +went up on this same afternoon (June 22) with the two little +boys to see the colonel of the regiment. The town is wonderfully +little injured, only broken windows ... after a mob +riot, with the exception of a few houses in the suburbs, +between the outer and inner gates. One was burned by the +accident of the falling of a bomb-shell. The other was cannonaded +as being a resort of the rebels. There is great talk +of how the heads of the revolution scampered off, betraying +thus the tools and dupes of their faction.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Extract from another letter to David Ross of Bladensburgh: +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">There is great terror here among all the country +people, who dread, sooner or later, vengeance being taken upon +them by the revolutionary party, because they would have +nothing to say to the movement.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The peace of Villafranca.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is well known how rapidly events succeeded one another, +when Napoleon's friendly relations +with Austria came to an end. On May 3rd +he declared war. On the 12th he arrived +at Genoa, commanded in person, on the 4th of June, at the +battle of Magenta, where, but for the superior generalship of +Marshal McMahon, he would have lost his life, together with +his army, and on the 24th of the same month won the great +victory of Solferino. He now gave out that he had enough of +glory and would fight no more, whilst in reality he was constrained +to yield to powerful pressure from without. Prussia, +foreseeing that, if Austria experienced a few more defeats, she +herself would suffer, deemed it wise to interfere. Prussia had, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page178">[pg 178]</span><a name="Pg178" id="Pg178" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +indeed, concerted matters beforehand with the Emperor of the +French, and had undertaken to isolate Austria, her hereditary +rival in Germany. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But at the first rumor of the Franco-Piedmontese aggression, +the German States were moved. The Diet of Francfort +insisted that the confederate nations should proceed to +assist the Emperor, who was President of the German Confederation. +It fell to Prussia to head the movement. But, as +may be conceived, she was not hearty in the cause. Her +statesmen hesitated, argued, equivocated, and made a show of +preparing, but slowly, for war. Meanwhile, the news of the +successive defeats of Austria roused still more the patriotism +of the Germans. The Prussian monarch, finding that he was +on the point of being overwhelmed, addressed to his Imperial +accomplice, the day after the battle of Solferino, a most pressing +telegram, informing him that he must make peace, cost +what it would. Napoleon, it need hardly be said, obeyed, and +so <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">the peace of Villafranca was concluded</span></em>. By this treaty was +established an Italian Confederation, under the honorary presidency +of the Pope, Lombardy given to Piedmont, Venice left +to Austria, the rights of the Grand Duke of Tuscany and the +other sovereigns, who were for the moment dispossessed, +expressly reserved. Thus appeared to end the intrigues of the +revolution. Pius IX. promptly invited the faithful of Rome to +join with him in offering thanksgiving to God. His letter thus +concludes: <span class="tei tei-q">“What do we pray for? That all the enemies of +Christ, of His Church and of the Holy See, may be converted +and live.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">How the treaty was +observed.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +So clear, apparently, was now the political atmosphere, +that men could not avoid accusing themselves +of having judged rashly the mighty +conqueror, who, by a word, could restore +serenity as easily as he had disturbed it. It was not yet +known by what power he was restrained. In compliance with +the requirements of the treaty of Villafranca, Piedmont, indeed, +withdrew her commissioners from Central Italy. The public, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page179">[pg 179]</span><a name="Pg179" id="Pg179" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +however, soon learned, to its great astonishment, what, at first, +it could not believe, that provisional governments took the +place of the Piedmontese Commissioners, and that Baron +Ricasoli, at Florence, Signor Farini, at Modena and Parma, +and Cipriani, at Bologna, all agents of Count de Cavour and +the revolution, dismissed everywhere such officials as were +suspected of looking seriously to the return of the legitimate +sovereigns, and had recourse to popular suffrage. This, it is +no exaggeration to say, was a mere mockery. The voting +directed, expurgated by these parties, never extended to the +landward districts, but, confined entirely to the towns, was +necessarily calculated to produce the result at which they +aimed—a <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">plebiscitum</span></span> +in favor of annexation to Piedmont. In +Romagna, for instance, where there were about two hundred +thousand electors, only 18,000 were registered, and of these +only one-third presented their votes. By such means was a +national assembly constituted. This assembly met at Bologna +on the 6th of September, and at its first sitting voted the +abolition of the Pontifical government, and invited Victor +Emmanuel. This potentate dared not, at first, to accept, but +appointed Signor Buoncompagni, governor-general of the league +of Central Italy. It did not appear from the state of the polls, +if, indeed, the polling of votes was even made a fashion of, +that the people of the Papal States were at all anxious to do +away with the government under which they and their forefathers +had enjoyed so many blessings, together with the surpassing +honor of possessing, as their capital, the metropolis of +the Christian world. They were too happy in being ruled over +by the elective monarch whom they themselves had chosen, to +desire, in preference to him, the mere shadow of a king—the +satrap of an Imperial despot. It was not they who, in a pretended +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">patriotic</span></em> endeavor to shake off the Pontifical yoke, +raised the standard of rebellion in so many cities and provinces +of the Papal States. This was wholly the work of foreigners. +A Bonaparte, attended by a numerous and well-disciplined +army, invaded Italy. His arms were, to a certain extent, successful; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page180">[pg 180]</span><a name="Pg180" id="Pg180" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and so rebellion was encouraged. Another Bonaparte +excited to revolt the city of Perugia. The disturbance was +speedily settled by a handful of troops whom the sovereign had +despatched from Rome, to the great satisfaction of the citizens +of Perugia. In other cities, by the like instrumentalities, were +like movements occasioned. They were invariably suppressed +by the loyal and devoted people. So much was this the case +that the Pontifical government warmly thanked the mayors +and municipalities of no fewer than seven or eight cities for +their good services in putting down the nascent revolution. +At Bologna, the capital of the Romagnol or Æmilian provinces, +a cousin of the Bonapartes, the Marquis Pepoli, whom the +benevolence of Pius IX. had restored to his country, stirred up +rebellion, and caused the Pontifical government to give place +to revolutionary misrule. The abettors of Pepoli, in this most +base and ungrateful proceeding, were his associates of the +secret societies; others who were foreigners at Bologna, and a +few malcontents of that city itself. But all these were far +from being the citizens of Bologna, far from being the people +of the Bolognese provinces. Whilst such things were done, +where was the peace of Villafranca? It had become, or rather, +never was anything better than, waste paper. The head of the +Bonapartes was the offender, and he contrived to make France +the partner of his guilt. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It is France,”</span> the illustrious M. de Montalembert affirms, +<span class="tei tei-q">“that has allowed the temporal power of the Pope to be shaken. +This is the fact, which blind men only can deny. France is +not engaged alone in this path, but her overwhelming ascendancy +places her at the head of the movement, and throws the +great and supreme responsibility of it upon her. We know +all the legitimate and crushing reproaches that are due to +England and Piedmont; but if France had so willed it, Piedmont +would not have dared to undertake anything against the +Holy See, and England would have been condemned to her +impotent hatred.... The Congress of Paris, in 1856—having +solemnly declared, <span class="tei tei-q">‘that none of the contracting powers +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page181">[pg 181]</span><a name="Pg181" id="Pg181" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had the right of interfering, either collectively or individually, +between a sovereign and his subjects’</span><a id="noteref_4" name="noteref_4" href="#note_4"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">4</span></span></a>—after having proclaimed +the principle of the absolute independence of sovereigns in +favor of the Turkish Sultan against his Christian subjects, +thought itself justified by its protocol of April 8th, and in the +absence of any representative of the august accused, in proclaiming +that the situation of the Papal States was <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">abnormal</span></em> +and <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">irregular</span></em>. This accusation, developed, aggravated and +exaggerated in parliament and elsewhere, by Lord Palmerston +and Count Cavour, was, nevertheless, formally put forward +under the presidency and on the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">initiative</span></em> of the French +minister for foreign affairs. Consequently, France must be held +accountable for it to the Church, and to the rest of Europe.”</span> +The war which <span class="tei tei-q">“the skilful but guilty perseverance of Piedmontese +policy”</span> succeeded in occasioning between France and +Austria facilitated not a little the work of revolution in the +States of the Church. In order to dispel the fears that prevailed, +the following words were addressed to the Bishops of +France by the minister of the Emperor: <span class="tei tei-q">“The prince who +restored the Holy Father to his throne in the Vatican wills +that the Head of the Church should be respected in all his +rights as a temporal sovereign.”</span> A little later, the Emperor +of the French, elated with his military success, issued a proclamation +which renewed the apprehensions that had been so +happily allayed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Italians!—Providence sometimes favors +nations and individuals by giving them the opportunity of suddenly +springing into their full growth. Avail yourselves, then, +of the fortune that is offered you! Your desire of independence, +so long expressed, so often deceived, will be realized, if +you show yourselves worthy of it. Unite then for one sole +object, the liberation of your country. Fly to the standards of +King Victor Emmanuel, who has already so nobly shown you +the way to honor. Remember that without discipline there +can be no army, and animated with the sacred fire of patriotism, +be soldiers only to-day, and you will be to-morrow free +citizens of a great country.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page182">[pg 182]</span><a name="Pg182" id="Pg182" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Romagnese,”</span> continues Montalembert, <span class="tei tei-q">“took the +speaker at his word. Four days after the appearance of this +proclamation, they rose against the Papal authority, created a +provisional government, convoked a sovereign assembly, voted +the deposition of the Pope, and the annexation to Piedmont. +Finally, seeing their audacity remained unpunished, they +organized an armed league, officered by Piedmontese, and commanded +by Garibaldi—that Garibaldi, who, having been +vanquished by French troops ten years ago, now avails himself +of our recent hard-won victories, to boast that he will <span class="tei tei-q">‘soon +make an end of clerical despotism.’</span> ”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Three months after the revolution had been established +in the Romagna, M. de Montalembert wrote: <span class="tei tei-q">“The revolution, +triumphant, is still asking Europe to sanction its work. France +has to impute to herself all the scandals and all the calamities +that will follow. Great nations are responsible not only for +what they do, but for what they permit to be done under the +shadow of their flag, and by the incitement of their influence. +The war which France waged in Italy has cost the Pope the +loss of the third part of his dominions, and the irreparable +weakening of his hold on what remains. The eldest daughter +of the church will remain accountable for it before contemporaries, +before history, before Europe, and before God. She will +not be allowed to wipe her mouth like the adultress in Scripture, +<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">quæ tergens os suum dicit, +non sum operata malum</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Another power which was, in the full sense of the term, +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">foreign</span></em> in the Roman States, still more directly aided the +revolution. This power was the army of Garibaldi. It will +be seen, when it is considered what troops this army was composed +of, that it was wholly alien in the States of the Church. +In this motley corps there were: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +6,750 Piedmontese volunteers.<br /> +3,240 Lombards volunteers<br /> +1,200 Venetians.<br /> +2,150 Neapolitans and Sicilians.<br /> +500 Romans.<br /> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page183">[pg 183]</span><a name="Pg183" id="Pg183" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +1,200 Hungarians.<br /> +200 French.<br /> +30 English.<br /> +150 Maltese and Ionians.<br /> +260 Greeks.<br /> +450 Poles.<br /> +370 Swiss.<br /> +160 Spaniards, Belgians and Americans.<br /> +800 Austrian deserters and liberated convicts. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Could such an army as this be held to be a representation +of the people of the Papal States? One-third of it was supplied +by two hostile nations, one of which, Piedmont, had +actually, by the intrigues of its government and in pursuance +of a policy which an able statesman, a most candid writer and +an honorable man, Count Montalembert, has stigmatized as +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">criminal</span></em>, caused the rebellion in Romagna, and has since +earnestly labored to avail itself of the state of things, by annexing +Central Italy to the territories of the Piedmontese King. +It were superfluous to direct attention to the numbers of +foreigners from various states. It is, however, deserving of +remark that the whole population of the Papal States, amounting +to 3,000,000, should have shown its alleged sympathy with +the <span class="tei tei-q">“cause of Italy,”</span> by sending only 500 men to fight its +battles. They did not want courage, as was shown in 1848, +when neither the considerate advice and paternal remonstrances +of the Holy Father, nor the wise counsel of grave statesmen +and learned cardinals, could moderate the ardor of the Roman +youth, believing, as they had been persuaded, that patriotism +and duty called them to follow the standard of King Charles +Albert. Then they took up arms, as they conceived, in the +cause of Italian liberty. But now that honorable cause was +manifestly in abeyance; and they would not leave their homes +and endanger their lives for the phantom of national independence +offered them by the revolution. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The French were equally wary. They sympathized with +Italy. They fought for their Emperor. But they had no +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page184">[pg 184]</span><a name="Pg184" id="Pg184" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +admiration for Piedmontese ambition, or that of Murats, and +Pepolis, and Bonapartes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +England was more cautious still. However much her +demagogues may have exerted their oratorical powers at home, +they carefully avoided perilling either life or limb in the cause +of the revolution. A more numerous band of fighting men of +English origin, in Garibaldi's ranks, would have shown more +sympathy with rebellion in some Italian States than the proposal +made by a right honorable member of the richest peerage +in the world to raise a penny subscription in order to +supply the rebels with bayonets and fire-arms. When we call +to mind that this suggestion was made by that very lordly +peer who was once Governor-General of India, we have little +difficulty in understanding why his superiors, the members of +the East India Company, dismissed him from the high and +responsible office with which he had been entrusted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It cannot be pretended that the army of Garibaldi was, in +any degree, a national representation. No nation or community +can be fairly represented by a number of its people, insignificantly +small, unless, indeed, these few individuals hold +commission from their fellow-countrymen. We have not read +anywhere that the Garibaldian army was thus honored. Social +status, character and respectability, may, on occasions, give to +individuals the privilege of representing their country. But +on these grounds the motley troop of the revolutionary leader +possessed no claim. They were men for whom peace and +order have no charms. The powerful corrective of military discipline +was applied to them in vain. Their insubordination +was notorious. To Garibaldi even it was intolerable. And +this man, daring as he was, withdrew from the command in +disgust. He had scarcely retired when many of his men +deserted. These the people refused to recognize, and would +not afford them assistance on their journey. Some fifty of +them arrived at Placentia, after having been reduced to mendicancy +before they could reach their homes. The revolutionary +governor, Doctor Fanti, issued an order of the day, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page185">[pg 185]</span><a name="Pg185" id="Pg185" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +requiring that these men, on account of their insubordination +and bad conduct, should not be admitted anew into the army +of the League. The general-in-chief also published an order, +under date of 26th November, 1859, absolutely forbidding to +accept any person who had belonged to Garibaldi's force. An +army so composed could, by no means, claim to represent the +highly refined, intellectual, and moral populations of Italy. +Far less did it afford any proof that the people of the Papal +States were anxious to forward the work of the revolution. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The inhabitants of Rome and the Roman States, far from +showing any inclination to side with the revolutionary party, +were wont never to let pass an opportunity of manifesting their +satisfaction with the government of the Pope. His Holiness +walked abroad without guards. And although he sought the +most retired places, for the enjoyment of that pedestrian exercise +which his health required, numbers of the people often +contrived to throw themselves in his way, in order to testify to +him their reverence and affection, as well as to receive his +paternal benediction. When taking his walk, one day, on +Monte Pincio, many thousands came around him, declaring +loudly their unfeigned loyalty. The following day, still greater +crowds repaired to the same place. But the Holy Father, with +a view to be more retired, had gone in another direction. It +ought not to be forgotten, that when returning, in the autumn +of 1859, from his villa at Castel Gandolpho, the road was +thronged on both sides to the distance of four miles from +Rome with citizens who had no other object in view than to +give a cordial and loyal welcome to their Bishop and Prince. +This was an ovation—a triumph which the greatest conqueror +might well have envied. It has already been recorded that, on +occasion of the progress which the Holy Father made through +his States, he was everywhere received with the most lively +demonstrations of enthusiastic loyalty, reverence and affection. +On the 18th of January, 1860, the municipal body, or, as it is +called, <span class="tei tei-q">“the Senate,”</span> of Rome, presented to the Sovereign +Pontiff, as well in their own name as on behalf of all the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page186">[pg 186]</span><a name="Pg186" id="Pg186" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +people, an address expressive of their filial duty and loyal +sentiments. On the following day, January 19th, one hundred +and thirty-four of the nobility of Rome, who are, in all, one +hundred and sixty, approached the person of the Pontiff in +order to present an equally loyal and dutiful address. The +sentiments of this address will be best conveyed in its own +plain and energetic language—language which does honor to +the patricians of modern Rome: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We, the undersigned, deeply grieved by the publication +of various libels which, emanating from the revolutionary +press, tend to make the world believe that the people subject +to the authority of your Holiness are wishing to shake off the +yoke which, as it is reported, has become insufferable, feel +necessitated to show fidelity and loyalty to your Holiness, and +to make known to the rest of Europe, which, at the present +moment, doubts the sincerity of our words, the fidelity of our +persons towards your Holiness, by a manifestation of attachment +and fidelity towards your person, proceeding from our +duty as Catholics, and from our lawful submission as your +subjects.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It is not, however, our intention to vie with the miserable +cunning of your enemies—enemies of the faith—of that +very faith which they profess to venerate. But placed, as it is +our fortune, by your side, and seeing the malignity of those +who attack you, and the disloyal character of their attacks, we +feel bound to gather ourselves at the foot of your twofold +throne, with vows for the integrity of your independent sovereignty; +and once more offering you our whole selves, too +happy if this manifestation of our fidelity may sweeten the bitterness +with which your Holiness is afflicted, and if you are +pleased to accept our offerings. Thus may Europe, deceived +by so many perverse writings, be thoroughly convinced that if +the nobility have hitherto been restrained from the expression +of their desires by respect and the fear of throwing any obstacle +in the way of a happy solution, so anxiously desired, they have +not the less retained them, and expressed them as individuals; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page187">[pg 187]</span><a name="Pg187" id="Pg187" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and that they, this day, unite to declare them, heartily and +sincerely pledging to them before all the world their honor +and their faith.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Accept, Holy Father, Pontiff and King, this energetic +protest and the unlimited devotedness which the nobles of +Rome offer in reverence to your Sceptre, no less than to your +Pastoral staff.”</span>—(<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">In the Weekly Register of January 28, 1860, +from the Giornale di Roma.</span></span>) +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The like loyal and patriotic feeling was manifested throughout +all the cities and provinces of the Papal States. One of +the most eminent of liberal British statesmen, the Marquis of +Normanby, bears witness to the fact that very few of the citizens +of Bologna could be compelled, even at the point of the sword, +to express adherence to the revolution. A portion of the periodical +press labored to keep such facts as these out of view. +But they would have required better evidence than they were +ever able to produce in order to convince reasonable and reflecting +men that people, blessed with so great a degree of material +prosperity as the subjects of the Pope and the other Princes +of Italy, were anxious to see radical changes introduced into +the governments under which they were so favored. That +they were highly prosperous and but slightly taxed, many distinguished +travellers, members of both houses of the British +parliament, and others bear witness. None will question the +evidence of these facts which are known on the authority of +such men as the Marquis of Normanby and his Excellency the Earl +of Carlisle. The Hon. Mr. Pope Hennessey stated in the +House of Commons: <span class="tei tei-q">“That the national prosperity of the +States of the Church and of Austria had become greater, year +after year, than that of Sardinia (where a sort of revolutionary +constitution had been established), and that documents existed +in the Foreign Office, in the shape of reports from our own +consuls, which proved it, with respect to commercial interests +in Sardinia. Mr. Erskine, our minister at Turin, in a despatch +of January 7, 1856, gave a very unfavorable view of the +manufacturing, mining and agricultural progress of Sardinia. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page188">[pg 188]</span><a name="Pg188" id="Pg188" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +But from Venetia, Mr. Elliott gave a perfectly opposite view, +showing that great progress was being made there. The +shipping trade of Sardinia with England had declined 2,000 +tons. But the British trade with Ancona had increased 21,000 +tons, and with Venice 25,000 tons, in the course of the last +two years. He attributed these results to the increase of taxation +in Sardinia, through the introduction of the constitutional +(the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Sardinian</span></em> institutional) system of government, and to the +comparatively easy taxation of Venetia. The increased taxation +of Sardinia from 1847 to 1857 was no less than 50,000,000 +francs. With respect to education in the Papal States, he contended +that it was more diffused than it was in this country—Great +Britain.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In countries that were so prosperous, every man literally +<span class="tei tei-q">“sitting under his own vine and his own fig-tree,”</span> it is difficult +to believe that there was wide-spread discontent and a +general desire for radical changes. To prove that there was, +it would have required evidence of no ordinary weight. All +testimony that can be relied on shows a very different state of +feeling. Lord John Russell, in his too memorable Aberdeen +speech, gave expression to an opinion which, through the labors +of the newspaper press, had become very prevalent in England, +that <span class="tei tei-q">“under their provisional revolutionary governments +the people of Central Italy had conducted themselves with perfect +order, just as if they had been the citizens of a country +that had long enjoyed free institutions.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Marquis of Normanby, in his place in the British +House of Peers, made reply to this allegation:<a id="noteref_5" name="noteref_5" href="#note_5"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">5</span></span></a> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page189">[pg 189]</span><a name="Pg189" id="Pg189" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I should like to know where the noble Lord found that +information. There is not in Central Italy a single government +that has resulted from popular election. They were all +named by Piedmont—which had, as it were, packed the cards. +Liberty of speech there was none, nor liberty of the press, nor +personal liberty.... The Grand Duchess of Parma was +expelled by a Piedmontese army, and restored by the spontaneous +call of her people. She left the country, declaring that +she would suffer everything sooner than expose her subjects to +the horrors of civil war.... Numberless atrocities have +been committed under the rule of these governments which, +according to my noble friend, are so wise and orderly. I +read to you the first day of this session the letter of a Tuscan, +whose character is irreproachable. Since that time I have +received from him another letter, in which he says: <span class="tei tei-q">‘You will +not be surprised to learn that my letter to you has been the +occasion of the coarsest invectives. For what reason I cannot +tell, if it was not because it spoke the truth.’</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Here is a second letter, which I received a few days ago +from an English merchant of the highest standing at Leghorn: +<span class="tei tei-q">‘No intervention is allowed in Tuscany; and nevertheless, my +Lord, intervention appears everywhere; even armed and +foreign intervention. The governor-general is a Piedmontese; +the minister of war is a Piedmontese; the commander of the +armed police is a Piedmontese; the military governor of Leghorn +is a Piedmontese; the captain of the port is a Piedmontese; +without reckoning a great number of other functionaries +of the same nation. This is what I call armed and +foreign intervention. Let us be disembarrassed of all this; let +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page190">[pg 190]</span><a name="Pg190" id="Pg190" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +us be free from the despotic pressure of this government, and +the great majority of the country would vote the restoration of +the House of Lorraine. Almost all the army would be for the +Grand Duke, and on this account it is kept at a distance from +Tuscany. I can say the same of two-thirds of the national +guard. All the Great Powers have observed strict neutrality +here, inasmuch as they have not been present at any ceremony +which could be looked upon as a recognition of the existing +government. But since the peace of Villafranca, the English +agents have taken part in all the ceremonies, in all the balls.’</span> +Assuredly, thus to recognize such a government is far from +being faithful to the assurance given last session by the noble +Lord at the head of the foreign department (cheers).”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lord Normanby's trustworthy correspondent says, moreover, +in the letter referred to, that the Tuscan troops being +kept at a distance from Tuscany, the people dreaded making +any demonstration, being well aware that an imprudent word +would be punished with imprisonment. <span class="tei tei-q">“At Leghorn, however, +some private meetings were held, at which influential +persons were present. Public meetings are impossible. Twenty-three +members of the assembly asked that it should be convened. +This was refused them. At the private meetings, +however, it was decided that Ferdinand IV. should be recalled, +on condition of granting a constitution and an amnesty. The +people have been dreadfully deceived. All promises have been +violated, the price of provisions has risen, the national debt +has been enormously increased.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lord Normanby also laid before the House of Peers the testimony +of a distinguished Italian writer, Signor Amperi, whom +he described as a man of high character. This gentleman +addressed the governments of Central Italy in the following +terms: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The false position in which you have placed yourselves +has reduced you to the necessity, in times of liberty, as you +pretend, but of false liberty, as I conceive, to make falsehood +a system of government. Of the promises of Victor Emmanuel +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page191">[pg 191]</span><a name="Pg191" id="Pg191" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that he would sustain before the Great Powers the vote of the +Tuscan Assembly, you have made a formal accepting for himself +of this vote, and, in order to deceive the ignorant multitude, +you ordered public rejoicings in honor of a fact which +you knew to be false. You declared yourselves the ministers +of a king who had not appointed you. You administer the +government in his name; you give judgments in his name; +you pledge the public faith of a sovereign who has given you +no commission to do any such thing; and although you forced +the Tuscans to acknowledge him for king, you despise his +authority to such an extent as to impose upon him the choice +of a regent. What right have you to do this, if he be really +king, and if he be not, is your right any better founded?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Marquis of Normanby laughs to scorn the various +attempts that were made to establish a government in Central +Italy against the will of the people. First of all, a certain +Signor Buoncompagni was appointed governor-general by the +King of Sardinia. The Emperor of the French judged that +the ambitious satrap had exceeded his powers, and Buoncompagni +was immediately recalled. The Prince de Carignan +was then offered the regency of Central Italy. He thought it +prudent to decline; but, unwilling wholly to relinquish a +cherished object of ambition, he named in his place the above-mentioned +Signor Buoncompagni. It would be hard to say in +virtue of what right he so acted. The appointment, it is well +known, caused the greatest indignation at Florence, and elicited +a protest from the liberal representatives themselves. Will it +be believed, in after times, that the British ministry, at that +time in power, actually recognized this spurious government, +ordering the Queen's representative to pay an official visit to +Signor Buoncompagni? Whilst all Europe held aloof, anxious +to avoid wrong and insult to the Italian people, whence this +zeal and haste on the part of the British cabinet? At first +they had resolved to be neutral. But there occurred to them +the chimerical idea of a great kingdom of Central Italy; and, +as Lord Normanby stated, they hastened in their ignorance +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page192">[pg 192]</span><a name="Pg192" id="Pg192" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to carry this idea into effect. <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> continued the illustrious +Peer, when assailed by the laughter of the more ignorant +portion of his hearers, <span class="tei tei-q">“yes, in complete ignorance of the aspirations +and the prejudices of the Italian people.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It is a painful duty,”</span> said the illustrious statesman, in +concluding his eloquent appeal to the common sense and honorable +feeling of the British peerage, <span class="tei tei-q">“to have to dispel the +illusions of public opinion in regard to Italy. I have endeavored +to fulfil this duty by laying before you information that can be +relied on; and I have the pleasure to observe that light is now +beginning to penetrate the darkness which has hitherto enveloped +this question. There is already a greater chance that +Italian independence will be established on a more legitimate +basis, free from all foreign intervention, and in such a way as +to favor the cause of fidelity, of truth, of honor and general +order (cheers).”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If there were no foreign intervention, it was long the fashion +with certain parties to say, we should soon see the end of +Papal rule, as well as that of all the other sovereignties of +Italy. Such, however, were not the views of the great majority +of the Italian people. It has been satisfactorily proved, those +people themselves being the witnesses, that such of them as +were subjects of the Pope, far from being discontented and +anxious to do away with the government which was set over +them, and substitute for it either a republic or a foreign monarchy, +highly appreciated and were steadfastly devoted to the +wise and paternal rule of their Pontiff Sovereign. The subjects +of the other Italian Princes, as well as the inhabitants of the +revolutionized portion of the Papal States, were only prevented +by the armed intervention of foreign Powers from declaring in +favor of their rightful sovereigns. There is no pretension to +deny that there were reformers and constitutionalists in those +States. Of their number the Pope himself was one. But the +well-informed and intellectual Italians were not ignorant that +all reforms must be the fruit of time and of opinion, and that +under the sway of enlightened and benevolent sovereigns, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page193">[pg 193]</span><a name="Pg193" id="Pg193" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +aided by the learning and wise counsel of able and conscientious +statesmen, such changes, in matters of civil polity, as +were adapted to the wants of the people would not have been +delayed beyond the time when circumstances called for and +justified their adoption. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The French Emperor +connives at the +violation of the +Treaty.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All eyes were turned towards the victor of Solferino, who +was the absolute master of the situation. +What would he do? Would he allow to be +violated the definitive treaty which his +Plenipotentiaries were actually completing +at Zurich? Napoleon III. did positively nothing. He repeated +in the treaty the stipulations in favor of the dispossessed sovereigns, +just as if the pretended plebiscitums were null, and he +had no knowledge of them. He quietly permitted these plebiscitums +to take effect with all their consequences, quite the +same as if the treaty had never existed. Austria saw the treaty +executed, as regarded every sacrifice to which she had consented, +and not without pain, that it was set aside in all the +points which set a limit to those sacrifices. But Austria was +not the strongest Power. Piedmont, meanwhile, adhibited her +signature without wincing under those of France and Austria. +Thus, as Mgr. Pie of Poitiers declared, the church was deprived +of all human stay. Such a state of things was not witnessed +without emotion. Even in the frivolous society of France a +change had taken place since the days of the great revolution. +Catholic sentiment had gained among the lettered classes. +The dethronement of Pius VI. had passed unnoticed, like that +of an ordinary sovereign. That of Pius VII. had excited only +some isolated animadversions. That of Pius IX. raised storms +of protestation on the one hand, and on the other thunders of +applause. One party so hated the Papacy as to become +traitors to their country, and bind themselves with a sort of +wild enthusiasm, first to the car of Italian unity, afterwards to +that of Germany. They who thought otherwise carried their +love of the imperilled institution to such an extent as to forget +all their calculations, all their political alliances, and to incur +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page194">[pg 194]</span><a name="Pg194" id="Pg194" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +freely the displeasure of men in power, even to sacrifice the favor +of the multitude, favor which was not less valuable in times of +universal suffrage than that of power. The Roman question +became the inexhaustible subject of public discussions and +private conversations. It sometimes even occasioned family +quarrels, and was a trying ordeal for long-established friendships. +Such extraordinary emotion on account of an idea—an +abstraction, as it was called by the indifferent, who took +part with neither one side nor the other—showed that society +was not yet corroded to the core by selfishness and purely +material interests. It was sick, indeed, but far from dead. +The French government ought, surely, at the outset, to have +taken warning. It ought to have learned something from the +unanimity with which all the enemies of order, who were also +its enemies, supported its new policy, and the unanimity, not +less remarkable, with which religious people who, generally, +had been its friends, combated that policy. Both liberal and +ultramontane Catholics, Protestants even, such, at least, as +were earnest Christians, and practised what they believed, +forgot their divisions. The bishops were the first who spoke +out. Mgr. de Parisis, who had so nobly contended for the +liberties of the church in the reign of Louis Philippe, gave the +keynote, and all took part with him and their venerable +colleagues of Italy and Germany, of Ireland and Spain, of +England and America. To say all in a word, the note of alarm +was sounded throughout the whole extent of Christendom. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In this magnificent concert was heard the courageous language +of Mgr. Dupanloup, the learned and illustrious Bishop of +Orleans. On the 30th of September, 1859, this prelate wrote, +no less boldly than eloquently: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“People say that to touch the sovereign is not to touch the +Pontiff. Certainly his temporal power is not a divine institution; +who does not know this? But it is a providential institution, +and who is ignorant of the fact? Doubtless, during +three centuries, the Popes only possessed independence enough +to die martyrs; but they assuredly had a right to another sort +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page195">[pg 195]</span><a name="Pg195" id="Pg195" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of independence; and providence, which does not always use +miracles for its purpose, ended by founding on the most lawful +sovereignty in Europe the freedom and the independence +necessary to the church. History proves it beyond the possibility +of doubt; all eminent intellects have confessed it; all +true statesmen know it. Yes, that the church may be free, +the Pope must be free and independent. That independence +must be sovereign. The Pope must be free, and he must be +evidently so. The Pope must be free in his own interior as +well as in his exterior government. This must be so, for the +sake of his own dignity in the government of the church as +well as for the security of our own consciences. This must be +so, in order to secure to the common parent of all the faithful +that neutrality which is indispensable to him amid the frequent +wars between Christian Powers. The Pope must not only be +free in his own conscience, in his own interior, but it must be +evident to all that he is so; he must show himself to be so, in +order that all may know and believe it, and that no doubt or +suspicion be possible on this subject. But, say the Italian +revolutionists, we do not propose to do away with the Papal +sovereignty; we merely wish to limit and restrain it. And +why so, I ask you in my turn, if thereby you also diminish +and debase the honor of the Catholic religion, its dignity and +independence? Why do so, if thereby you lower and degrade +the most Italian sovereignty of the whole peninsula? Why, +more especially, do so now, in presence of all these unchained +evil passions, and thereby give against the Holy See a sentence +of incapacity, and thus, in the eyes of Christendom, insult that +unarmed and oppressed Majesty? You say he will only lose +the Romagna and the Legations. But allow me to ask you +by what right you take them? And why not take all the rest, +if you please? Why, in your dreams of Italian unity, should +other Italian cities fare otherwise than Bologna and Ferrara? +Why have you not made up your minds to take everything +outside of Rome, with the garden of the Vatican? You have +said this, you know. But why leave him, even in Rome? +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page196">[pg 196]</span><a name="Pg196" id="Pg196" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Why should not Dioclesian and the catacombs be the best of +all governments for the church? Where are you going? How +far will your detestable principles lead you? At least, tell us +clearly? Is this a clever calculation of yours? and, not daring to +do more at present, or unable to do more, are you waiting for +time and the violence of events to accomplish the rest? But +who, think you, is to be deceived by you? Must we say, +with the highest organ of the English press, that in the present +business France is aggressive and insidious? I do not admit +that our country is willing to play the part designed for her. +Such calculations are not suited to French generosity. For +my part, I protest, with my whole soul, against the perfidious +intentions that we are supposed to entertain. But, in concluding, +I must protest, still more solemnly, as a devoted son +of the Holy Roman Church, the mother and teacher of all +others—I protest against the revolutionary impiety which +ignores her rights and would fain steal her patrimony. I protest, +in the name of good sense and honor, indignant at beholding +an Italian Sovereign Power become the accomplice of +insurrection and revolt, and at the conspiracy of so many blind +and unreasoning passions against the principles proclaimed +and professed throughout the world by all great statesmen and +politicians. I protest, in the name of common decency and +European law, against this profanation of all that is most +august, against the brutal passions which have inspired acts +of inconceivable cowardice. And if I must speak out, I protest, +in the name of good faith, against this restless and ill-disguised +ambition, those evasive answers, that disloyal policy, +of which we have the saddening spectacle before our eyes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +These burning words of the eminent and patriotic French +bishop must have pierced the soul of Napoleon III. To any +other man, at least, an Orsini shell would have been less terrible. +But, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Perversi difficillime corriguntur</span></span>.”</span> No +reproaches, however severe and well deserved, no remonstrance, however +well founded, could move the French Emperor. A greater +power than that of words had impelled him towards the evil +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page197">[pg 197]</span><a name="Pg197" id="Pg197" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +courses which the great majority of the French nation, together +with the whole Catholic world, condemned. The bishops, +meanwhile, continued to protest. The Archbishop of Sens, +Mellon-Jolly, dared to say, in accents of sorrow: <span class="tei tei-q">“Events, +alas! are far beyond all that we feared.”</span> De Prilly, Bishop +of Chalons, Dean of the French Episcopate, thus wrote a few +days before his death: <span class="tei tei-q">“Ah! who deserved less than Pius IX. +to be attacked by so many enemies! If the tears which he +sheds are so bitter for himself, they are terrible to those who +cause them! A poor bishop, at the point of death, so assures +him and craves his benediction.”</span> The expiring prelate, one +would say, had foreseen the humiliation of Sedan. The courageous +language of the bishops was so much feared that it was +thought necessary to silence them. Napoleon, having endeavored +in vain to remove their disquietude by renewing his hollow +protestations, denounced them as violent agitators, abandoned +them to the jeers of the infidel press, for which alone +there was liberty in those days, and finally forbade all journals +whatsoever to publish episcopal writings that bore any relation +to the Roman question. Thus did he think to escape the +danger with which he was threatened by silencing the tongues +which warned him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The learned Cardinal Donnet, so celebrated as a theologian, +now showed the abilities of a diplomatist. When Napoleon +III. was at Bordeaux, on the 11th October, 1859, the cardinal, +whose duty it was to compliment the Emperor as his sovereign, +failed not at the same time to remonstrate against his tortuous +policy. <span class="tei tei-q">“We pray,”</span> said the pious cardinal, <span class="tei tei-q">“we pray confidently, +persistently, and with hope which neither deplorable +events nor sacrilegious acts of violence extinguished. Our +hopes, the realization of which appears to be so remote, are +founded on yourself, sire, next to God. You were and you still +desire to be the oldest son of the church, and it cannot be forgotten +that you spoke the memorable words: <span class="tei tei-q">‘The temporal +sovereignty of the venerable head of the church is intimately +connected with the lustre of Catholicism, as also with the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page198">[pg 198]</span><a name="Pg198" id="Pg198" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +liberty and independence of Italy.’</span> Grand idea! perfectly in +harmony with that of the august Chief of your dynasty, who +said in regard to the temporal power of the Popes: <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The +centuries made it, and they did well.</span></span>’</span> ”</span> The only reply of the +all-powerful Emperor was a refusal to reply. <span class="tei tei-q">“I cannot here,”</span> +he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“discuss all the weighty matters, the development of +which would be required by the serious question to which you +have alluded. So I confine myself to reminding you that the +government which restored the Holy Father to his throne can +only give him counsel inspired by sincere and respectful +devotedness to his interests. But he is anxious, and not without +cause, as to the time, which cannot be far distant, when +our troops must evacuate Rome. For Europe cannot allow +the occupation, which has already lasted ten years, to be prolonged +for an indefinite period. But when our army shall be +withdrawn, what will be left behind? These are questions of +the importance of which none are ignorant. But, believe me, +in order to solve them, we must, considering the age in which +we live, avoid appealing to ardent passions, calmly seek truth, +and pray Divine Providence to enlighten both peoples and +kings, in order that they may wisely use their rights and fully +discharge their duties.”</span> From these last words the Emperor +appeared to have forgot that when there are duties to be fulfilled +prayer alone will not suffice. His speech at the opening +of the legislative session, 7th March, 1860, showed that either +irresistible illusion or a foregone conclusion of complicity +guided his Italian policy. He accused the Catholics of becoming +excited without grounds, and of ingratitude towards him. +The logic of events, so plain to all besides, was a dead letter to +the imperial mind, blinded as it was by the habit of dark +manœuvres. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I cannot pass unnoticed,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“the excitement of a +portion of the Catholic world. It has accepted, without reflection, +erroneous impressions, allowed itself to become passionately +alarmed. The past which ought to have been a guarantee +for the future has been so ignored, and services rendered +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page199">[pg 199]</span><a name="Pg199" id="Pg199" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +so forgotten, that profound conviction, absolute confidence in +the public good sense, was necessary for me, in order to preserve, +amid the agitation which was industriously occasioned, +that serenity of mind which alone maintains us in the way of +truth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">A European Congress +proposed for +settling the affairs of +Italy.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, a Congress for settling the difficulties of Italy +was announced. This Congress was to be +composed of all the great European Powers—of +France, whose government had no +good will; of Austria, which had not the +power to cause the treaty of Zurich to be put in execution; of +schismatical Russia; of Protestant Prussia, and of Protestant +England, which favored revolution so long as it kept at a distance +from its own doors. Pius IX. beheld in it many causes +of disquietude. Nevertheless, he accepted the congress. The +public were discussing, and not without impatience, the names +of the presumed negotiators, when there appeared on the 22d +of December, 1859, a new pamphlet which, like the former, +was anonymous, and was ascribed as it also had been, to an +author who was in too high a position to append his signature. +Its title was, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Pope and the Congress</span></span>.”</span> It abounded in +high sounding words, and was full of contradictions from +beginning to end. It demonstrated, indeed, that the temporal +power of the Pope was an essential guarantee of his spiritual +independence, but that this power could only be exercised +within territorial limits of very small extent, which could not +enable him to sustain himself, whilst, nevertheless, his dignity +and the general interest forbade him to seek foreign intervention. +The pamphlet concluded by insisting that the Pope +ought to begin by giving up all claim to Romagna, and so prepare +for ceding, a little later, the rest of his states, when he +would be satisfied to hold the Vatican with a garden around it, +and receive a magnificent salary provided by all the Catholic +Powers. Hundreds of pamphlets and articles in the Catholic +journals appeared in reply to this anonymous writing. They +proved that the proposed arrangement would subject the Head +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page200">[pg 200]</span><a name="Pg200" id="Pg200" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the Church to the caprice of the Powers, and then enquired +what security he would have against those who were his securities, +especially at a time like the present, when the ancient +law of nations, which was founded on respect for the weak and +sworn faith, is suppressed by the revolution, and the reason of +the strongest is the only one attended to; when the most solemn +treaties are violated with impunity by those who have signed +them, and as soon as they have signed them. The bishops +raised their voice anew. They stated with sorrow that the +pamphlet decided in favor of the revolution. But the boldest +condemnation proceeded from Rome itself. The Popes, it is +well known, hesitate not to use the proper terms when there is +question of stigmatizing iniquity. No matter though they be +at the mercy of those whom they brand, they define each error +and each act of injustice with the same precision as in writing +a theological thesis. Pius IX., who was mildness itself, more +than once startles the delicate ear by the liberty of his language, +so different from the minced and often ambiguous style +of diplomacy. On the 30th of December, the official journal of +Rome published the following note: <span class="tei tei-q">“There appeared lately +at Paris an anonymous pamphlet, entitled, <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Pope and the +Congress</span></span>.’</span> This pamphlet is nothing else than homage paid +to the revolution—an insidious thesis addressed to those weak +minds who have no sure <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">criterium</span></span> by which they can detect +the poison which it holds concealed, and a subject of sorrow to +all good Catholics. The arguments contained in this writing +are only a reproduction of the errors and outrages so often +hurled against the Holy See, and so often victoriously refuted. +If it was the object of the author, perchance, to intimidate him +whom he threatens with such great disasters, he can rest +assured that he who has right on his side, who seeks no other +support than the solid and immovable foundations of justice, +and who is sustained especially by the protection of the King +of kings, has certainly nothing to fear from the snares of +men.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page201">[pg 201]</span><a name="Pg201" id="Pg201" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On 1st January, 1860, Pius IX., in his reply to the complimentary +address of General Goyon, who commanded the +French military at Rome, characterized the pamphlet as <span class="tei tei-q">“a +signal monument of hypocrisy, and an unworthy tissue of contradictions.”</span> +The Holy Father further observed, before expressing +his good wishes for the Emperor, the Empress, the +Prince Imperial, and all France, that the principles enunciated +in the pamphlet were condemned by several papers which his +Imperial Majesty had some time before been so good as to send +to him. A few days later the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Moniteur</span></span> published a letter of +the Emperor to the Pope, dated 31st December, 1859, in which +the former renews his hypocritical expressions of devotedness, +but admits, at the same time, that <span class="tei tei-q">“notwithstanding the presence +of his troops at Rome, and his dutiful affection to the +Holy See, he could not avoid a certain partnership in the effects +of the national movement provoked in Italy by the war against +Austria.”</span> In this same letter Napoleon III. reminds the +Pontiff, that at the conclusion of the war he had recommended, +as the best means of maintaining tranquillity, the secularization +of his government, and he still believes that, <span class="tei tei-q">“if, at that +time, his Holiness had consented to an administrative separation +of the Romagna, and the nomination of a lay governor, +the provinces would have come, once more, under his authority.”</span> +What, then, could the people have meant when they +petitioned, on occasion of the Pope's progress, to have a +cardinal for governor, as formerly, and not lay prefects, as was +then the case, under the regime inaugurated by Pius IX.? +The Pope having neglected his advice, Napoleon, of course, +was powerless to stay the tide of revolution. <span class="tei tei-q">“My efforts +were only successful in preventing the insurrection from spreading, +and the resignation of Garibaldi preserved the marches of +Ancona from certain invasion.”</span> No doubt it did. But, as will +soon be seen, this modern crusader was let loose in order that +he might follow his calling more vigorously, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">i.e.</span></span>, rob and slay +on a more extensive scale. The Emperor now approaches the +subjects of the Congress. In his letter he recognizes the indisputable +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page202">[pg 202]</span><a name="Pg202" id="Pg202" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +right of the Holy See to the legations. But he does +not think it probable that the Powers would think it proper to +have recourse to force, in order to restore them. If the restoration +were effected by means of foreign troops, it would be +necessary, for a long time, to hold military occupation of these +provinces; and this would only feed the enmities and hatred +of the Italian people. This state of uncertainty cannot always +last. What then is to be done? The Imperial revolutionist +concludes, expressing the most sincere regret, and the pain +which such a solution gives him, that the way most in harmony +with the interests of the Holy See is that it should sacrifice +the revolted provinces. For the last fifty years they have only +caused embarrassment to the government of the Holy Father. +If he asked of the Powers to guarantee to him, in exchange for +them, the possession of what remained, order, he had no doubt, +would be immediately restored. This letter left no room to +doubt that the policy of the pamphlet, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Pope and the +Congress</span></span>,”</span> was that of Napoleon III. As soon as this was +known the Congress became impossible. The Pope could not +agree to deliberations based upon the principle of his dispossession. +Austria could not be a party to combinations which +removed the bases of the treaty of Zurich. This opinion was +expressed by Count de Rechberg, first Minister of Austria, in +a note of 17th February, 1860, and by Lord John Russell, in +a despatch to Lord Cowley, the British Ambassador at Paris. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The pamphlets are important,”</span> said the latter statesman; +<span class="tei tei-q">“the result of the one entitled, <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Pope and the +Congress</span></span>,’</span> is +to prevent a Congress, and to cause the Pope to be deprived of +one-half of his dominions.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was not without significance that M. Thouvenel was +French Minister of Foreign Affairs from the 4th of January. +Piedmont understood this fact. It caused its troops to cross +the Romagnese frontier, whilst M. de Cavour, triumphant, +affirmed, in the Piedmontese Senate, that the letter of Napoleon +III., declaring that the temporal sovereignty was not sacred, +was a fact as important in the Italian question as the battle +of Solferino. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page203">[pg 203]</span><a name="Pg203" id="Pg203" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Pope's reply to Napoleon's letter of 31st December is +of some length. Elegant in expression, forcible in reasoning, +it can only be briefly reviewed. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am under the necessity of +declaring to your majesty that I cannot cede the legations +without violating the oaths by which I am bound, without +causing misfortune and disturbance in the other provinces, +without doing wrong and giving scandal to all Catholics, without +weakening the rights of the sovereigns of Italy, unjustly +despoiled of their dominions, but also the sovereigns of the +whole Christian world, who could not see with indifference +great principles trampled under foot.”</span> The Emperor had +insisted that the cession of the legations by the Pope was necessary, +in order to put an end to the disturbances, which, according +to him, although he knew that such disturbances proceeded +wholly from foreigners, had, for the last fifty years, caused +embarrassment to the Pontifical government. <span class="tei tei-q">“Who,”</span> said +the Pope, <span class="tei tei-q">“could count the revolutions that have occurred in +France during the last seventy years? And yet, who would +dare maintain that the great French nation is under the necessity, +in order to secure the peace of Europe, to narrow the +limits of the Empire? Your argument proves too much. So +I must discard it. Your majesty is not ignorant by what +parties, with what money, and with what support, were committed +the spoliations of Bologna, Ravenna, and other cities.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Imperial letter was communicated to all the newspapers. +The reply of the Pope was carefully withheld from +them. It only became known in France, some time later, +through a German translation in the Austrian <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Gazette</span></span>. Pius +IX. was anxious, meantime, that the public should hear both +sides of the question. He therefore brought to the knowledge +of the Catholic world the principal points of his answer to +Napoleon in the Encyclical, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">nullis certe verbis</span></span>, of date 19th +January, in which he declared that he was prepared to suffer +the last extremities rather than betray the cause of the church +and of justice. He also invited all the bishops to join with +him in praying <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">that God would arise and vindicate his cause</span></span>. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page204">[pg 204]</span><a name="Pg204" id="Pg204" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The government having information that there was a copy of +this document in the hands of the distinguished Catholic +journalist, M. Louis Veuillot, the Minister of the Interior, M. +Billaut, sent for this courageous writer, and gave him to understand +that if he published the Encyclical it would be the death-warrant +of his journal. But M. Veuillot was not to be intimidated. +Next morning, 29th January, there appeared in his +paper, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">l'Univers</span></span>, the Latin text of the Pontifical document, +together with a French translation. The same day, without +trial or sentence, was signed a decree suppressing <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">l'Univers</span></span>. +Yet was not this paper destined wholly to perish. Ten years +later it reappeared, when the tyranny of Napoleon III. was +crushed for ever at Sedan. Several other Catholic journals shared the +fate of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">l'Univers</span></span>, such as the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Bretagne</span></span>, +of Saint Brieue, and the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Gazette</span></span>, of Lyons. The government of the +Emperor thus showed by what spirit its counsels were guided. +All the Catholic journals of France were already under the +ban of two warnings, so that they had only a precarious +existence, a third warning, according to the legislation of the +time constituting their death-warrant. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +So early as 3rd December, 1859, whilst yet a Congress was +believed to be possible, Pius IX. had written with his own +hand to Victor Emmanuel, in order to remind him of his +duties, and induce him to defend at the meeting of the Powers +the rights of the Holy See. The latter had answered, 6th +February, 1860, <span class="tei tei-q">“that he certainly would not have failed in +this duty if the Congress had met.”</span> For, <span class="tei tei-q">“devoted son as he +was of the church, and the descendant of a most pious family, +it never was his intention to neglect his duties as a Catholic +Prince.”</span> He protested, therefore, that he had done nothing +to provoke the insurrection, and that when the war was ended +he had renounced all interference in the legations. But he +added, <span class="tei tei-q">“it is an acknowledged fact, and which I have personally +verified, that in those provinces which, lately, were so +unmanageable and dissatisfied with the court of Rome, the +ministers of worship are actually respected and protected, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page205">[pg 205]</span><a name="Pg205" id="Pg205" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the temples of God more frequented than ever.”</span> Victor +Emmanuel surely now thought that the Pope would never +think of disturbing this happiness and self-satisfaction. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +interests of religion required it not.”</span> He even hoped that the +Holy Father, not satisfied with refraining from a renewal of +his claim on Romagna, would also hand over to him the +marches and Umbria, in order that they might enjoy the same +prosperity. And so he discoursed anew to Pius IX., about his +<span class="tei tei-q">“frank and loyal concurrence, his sincere and devoted heart,”</span> +and ended by craving the Holy Father's apostolic blessing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The King of Piedmont must have been sadly blinded by +revolutionary teachings not to see—if, indeed, he did not see—that +such professions of loyalty and devotedness were positively +derisive. Pius IX. so viewed them, and gave the intriguing +monarch to understand that he did so. The moderation of +his language is but slightly indicative of the sorrow and indignation +which he must have experienced. <span class="tei tei-q">“The idea which +your majesty has thought fit to lay before me is highly +imprudent, unworthy, most assuredly, of a king who is a +Catholic and a member of the house of Savoy. You may read +my reply in an Encyclical which will soon appear. I am +deeply affected, not on my own account, but by the deplorable +state of your majesty's soul. You are already under the ban +of censures, which, alas! will be aggravated when the sacrilegious +act which you and your accomplices are meditating +shall have been consummated. May the Lord enlighten you +and give you grace to understand and to bewail the scandals +which have occurred, and the fearful evils with which unfortunate +Italy has been visited through your co-operation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Diplomatic doctrine +of non-intervention.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +About this time diplomatists discovered the convenient +political doctrine of non-intervention. It +was, like most diplomatic devices, a fallacy. +But it served its purpose. The Catholic +Powers, however friendly to the Holy See, were unable to +intervene. The greatest of them all, Austria, was put <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">hors de +combat</span></span> at Solferino. Prussia had intervened, as far as its +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page206">[pg 206]</span><a name="Pg206" id="Pg206" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +policy required, when it forbade further hostilities after the +great battle which made France the mistress of the destinies +of Italy. England, which, as a Protestant Power, had no great +friendship for the Holy See, found it suitable to preach non-intervention, +as an excuse for not being able or for not daring +to aid her ancient and faithful ally, the Pope, in opposition to +her new friend, the Emperor of the French. England, at least, +was consistent, for, while she proclaimed and practised non-intervention +in favor of the French Emperor's subversive +intervention in Italy, she adhered most devoutly to the doctrine +when there was question, a little later, of aiding France against +the crushing power of Prussia. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Tuscany, Parma, +Modena and the Legations +finally annexed +to Piedmont. +Price of the spoil.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst the European Powers lay dormant under the spell +of the new doctrine of non-intervention, the +King of Piedmont vigorously pursued his +career of spoliation. Having accepted a +sham plebiscitum, he annexed, by a formal +decree of 18th March, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the +Duchies of Parma and Modena, and that portion of the Papal +States known as the Legations, to his ancient kingdom of +Sardinia and Piedmont. This was done with the full consent +of his Imperial patron, Napoleon III. For, +at this time, Victor Emmanuel ceded to +France, as compensation for Central Italy, Nice and Savoy. +This boded ill for France. Some French writers consider that +this transaction would have been less disgraceful if these +provinces had been exchanged for Lombardy, which had been +won from Austria with French blood and treasure. But, as +evil destiny, which was hastening to its accomplishment, would +have it, they were given as payment for the spoils of the widow +and orphan of Parma and the aged man of the Vatican. Thus +for once was non-intervention dearly purchased. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The usurping monarch having now accomplished a long-cherished +purpose, ought, one would suppose, to have obeyed +the dictates of prudence, and held his peace. But no. He +must write to the Pope, in order to justify his nefarious proceeding. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page207">[pg 207]</span><a name="Pg207" id="Pg207" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Piedmontese bayonets and four millions of Piedmontese +gold had won for him the plebiscitum of which he was +so proud. Nevertheless, he declared, addressing the Holy +Father, that, <span class="tei tei-q">“as a Catholic Prince, he believed he was not +wanting to the unchangeable principles of the religion which +it was his glory to profess with unalterable devotedness and +fidelity.”</span> Notwithstanding, <span class="tei tei-q">“for the sake of peace, he offered +to acknowledge the Pope as his Suzerain, would always +diminish his charges and contribute towards his independence +and security.”</span> He ended his letter by most humbly soliciting, +once more, the apostolic benediction. There is more plain +speaking in the reply of Pius IX. than could have been to the +liking of the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Re galantuomo</span></span>. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I could say that the pretended +universal suffrage was imposed, not voluntary. I could say +that the Pontifical troops were hindered by other troops, and +you know well what troops, from restoring the legitimate government +in the provinces.”</span> The Holy Father then bewails the +increasing immorality occasioned by the usurping government +and the insults constantly offered to the ministers of religion. +Even if he were not bound by solemn oaths to preserve intact +the patrimony of the church, he would, nevertheless, be obliged +to repel everything that tended in this direction, lest his conscience +should be stained by even an indirect sanctioning of, +and participating in, such disorders, and justifying, by concurrence, +unjust and violent spoliation. The Pope concludes by +saying, emphatically, that he cannot extend a friendly welcome +to the projects of his majesty, but that, on the contrary, he +protests against the usurpation, and leaves on the conscience +of his majesty and all who co-operate with him in such iniquity +the fatal consequences which flow therefrom. Finally, he +hopes that the king, in reperusing his own letter, will find +grounds for repentance. The Pope, far from being actuated +by feelings of resentment, prays God to give his majesty the +grace he stands so much in need of in such difficult circumstances. +The letter is dated at the Vatican, 2nd April, 1860. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page208">[pg 208]</span><a name="Pg208" id="Pg208" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is related that Victor Emmanuel bedewed with tears +this letter, which so gently and tenderly rebuked him. It must +have reached him at one of those moments of remorse which, +more than once, interrupted his scandalous career. It hindered +him not, however, from fulfilling the promise which he had +given to the revolution, when, at the beginning of the war of +1859, placing his hand on his sword and looking towards +Rome, he said: <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Andremo al fondo</span></span>”</span> +(<span class="tei tei-q">“we shall go on to the end”</span>). +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 26th of March of the same year, Pius IX. issued a +Bull, excommunicating all who took part in wrenching from +him so great a portion of the patrimony of the church. Some +parties received the intimation of this sentence with such noisy +demonstrations of delight as to cause their sincerity to be +doubted. Others, and of the number was King Victor +Emmanuel, were struck with indescribable fear. Napoleon +III. insisted that the organic article of the Concordat, forbidding +the publication in France of Bulls, Briefs, &c., should +be enforced. But he could not, any more than his uncle, forbid +the excommunication to take effect. The first Napoleon +was at the height of his greatness when struck with excommunication. +He received the sentence with jeers. Would it +make the arms fall from the hands of his soldiers? How +literally this question was answered, let the snows of Russia +tell. There are other ministers of the wrath of heaven besides +the frosts of a Northern winter. Napoleon III. was in the +zenith of his power when he heard the sentence which he vainly +tried to stifle. His great political wisdom, and the wonderful +success of all he undertook had hitherto astonished the world. +There was now a manifest change. But it need not here be +said with what unspeakable humiliation his star went down. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The revolutionary party could not have more effectually +shown their dread of the Papal sentence, than by their endeavors +to suppress it. They went so far as to publish in its place +a forged document, as odious as it was extravagant, appended +there to the signature of Pius IX., and exposed it to the jeers +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page209">[pg 209]</span><a name="Pg209" id="Pg209" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the ignorant multitude. The bishops did their best in order +to make known the truth; with what difficulty it will be +easily understood, when it is remembered that an Imperial +decree forbade the newspapers to publish a word in their interest. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Results of Revolutionary +Government.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Had there been question only of forming a united Italy, and +of introducing such reforms as the time +demanded into the States of the Church, +and those of the Italian grand dukes, such +a cause would have had no better friends and supporters than +the Pope and the native princes. But the revolutionary party +aimed at more than this, and they hastened to show their +hand as soon as they obtained any power. As has been seen, +the Holy Father himself complained bitterly of the increase of +irreligion and immorality under their ill-omened auspices in +Romagna. It was not their policy to reconstitute, but to subvert. +No existing institution, however excellent, was sacred in +their eyes. Thus speak the archbishops and bishops of the +Marches in a remonstrance addressed to the Piedmontese Governor +on 21st November, 1860: <span class="tei tei-q">“We scarcely believe our own +eyes, or the testimony of our own ears, when we see and hear +the excesses, the abominations, the disorders witnessed in the +chief cities of our respective dioceses, to the shame and horror +of the beholders, to the great detriment of religion, of decency +and public morality, since the ordinances against which we +protest deprive us of all power to protect religion and morality, +or to repress the prevailing crimes and licentiousness. The +public sale, at nominal prices, of mutilated translations of the +Bible, of pamphlets of every description, saturated with poisonous +errors or infamous obscenities, is permitted in the cities +which, a few months ago, had never heard the names of these +scandalous productions; the impunity with which the most +horrible blasphemies are uttered in public, and the worse utterance +of expressions and sentiments that breathe a hellish +wickedness; the exposition, the public sale and the diffusion +of statuettes, pictures and engravings, which brutally outrage +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page210">[pg 210]</span><a name="Pg210" id="Pg210" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +piety, purity, the commonest decency; the representation in +our theatres of pieces and scenes in which are turned into +ridicule the Church—Christ's immaculate spouse—the Vicar +of Christ, the ministers of religion, and everything held dear +to piety and faith; in fine, the fearful licentiousness of public +manners, the odious devices resorted to for perverting the innocent +and the young, the evident wish and aim to make immorality, +obscenity, uncleanness triumph among all classes; such +are, your Excellency, the rapid and faint outlines of the +scandalous state of things created in the Marches by the legislation +and discipline so precipitately introduced by the Piedmontese +government. We appeal to your Excellency. Could +we remain silent and indifferent spectators of this immense +calamity without violating our most sacred duty?”</span> If anything +under the government of subversion has saved Italy +from utter ruin, it is nothing less than the zeal and devotedness +of its pastors. In the remonstrance referred to, they +declare that notwithstanding all the contradictions, the trials, +the obstacles they have had to encounter, <span class="tei tei-q">“not one spark of +charity, of zeal, of pastoral and fatherly solicitude has been +quenched in our souls. We solemnly affirm it, with our +anointed hands on our hearts, and with the help of God's +grace, these sentiments shall never depart from us through +fault of ours.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Garibaldi reappears.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This mode of reforming, so dear to the revolutionists, is +further illustrated by the proceedings of +Garibaldi in Sicily and at Naples. It will +be remembered that this hero of the revolution was eclipsed +for a time by the splendors of Solferino. Immediately after +that battle he retired into private life, and the motley troop +which he commanded disappeared. Whilst, however, there +remained any revolutionary work to be done, such a man could +not be idle. The kingdom of the Two Sicilies was, as yet, +unshaken. This was too much for Count de Cavour, and so +he encouraged the ever-willing Garibaldi to fit out an armament +against that kingdom. The hero sailed for Sicily, and there, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page211">[pg 211]</span><a name="Pg211" id="Pg211" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +assured of <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">non-intervention</span></em> by the presence of the flags of +France, England and Sardinia, he made an easy conquest of +the defenceless island. As soon as he got possession of +Palermo, and had assumed the title and powers of dictator, he +commenced, like a true revolutionist, the work of subversion. +Garibaldi, no doubt, was a man of the age, and the great diplomatic +discovery which the age had fallen upon was never +wanting to him. It served him at Naples as it had done in +Sicily; and so, a mere diplomatic idea—<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">non-intervention</span></em>—drove +the king to Gaeta, and established the power of the +revolutionist. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Revolutionary reforms +in Sicily, +Naples, Lombardy, +Modena, the Pontifical +States, &c.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As soon as Garibaldi was master in Sicily, the work of +revolutionary reform commenced. It was +always the first aim of the revolutionists to +strike at civilization and civilizing influences. +Churches were desecrated, the ministers of +religion insulted, religious orders suppressed. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Society of Jesus alone,”</span> said the venerable superior, Father +Beckx, in his solemn protestation of 24th October, 1860, to the +King of Sardinia, <span class="tei tei-q">“was robbed of three residences and colleges +in Lombardy; of six in the Duchy of Modena; of eleven in the +Pontifical States; nineteen in the kingdom of Naples; and +fifteen in Sicily.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Everywhere,”</span> adds Father Beckx, <span class="tei tei-q">“the +Society has been literally stripped of all its property, movable +and immovable. Its members, to the number of 1,500, were +driven forth from their houses and the cities. They were led +by an armed force, like so many malefactors, from province to +province, cast into the public prisons, ill-treated and outraged +in the most horrible manner. They were even prevented from +finding a refuge in pious families, while in several places no +consideration was had for the extreme old age of many among +them, nor for the infirmity and weakness of others.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“All these acts were perpetrated against men who were not +accused of one illegal or criminal act, without any judicial +process, without allowing any justification to be recorded. In +one word, all this was consummated in the most despotic and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page212">[pg 212]</span><a name="Pg212" id="Pg212" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +savage manner. If such acts had been accomplished in a +popular riot, by men blinded by passion, we might perhaps +bear them in silence. But, as all such acts have been done in +the name of the Sardinian laws; as the provisional governments +established in Modena and the Pontifical States, as +well as the dictator of Sicily himself, have claimed to be +supported by the Sardinian government; and as your majesty's +name is still invoked to sanction these iniquitous measures, +I can no longer remain a silent spectator of such enormous +injustice, but in my quality of supreme head of the order, I +feel myself strictly bound to ask for justice and satisfaction, +and to protest before God and man, lest the resignation inspired +by religious meekness and forbearance should appear to be a +weakness which might be construed into an acknowledgment of +guilt, or a relinquishment of our rights. I protest solemnly, +and in the best form I can think of, against the suppression of +our houses and colleges, against the proscriptions, banishments +and imprisonments, against the acts of violence and +outrage committed against the brethren bound to me by +religious ties. I protest before all Catholics, in the name of +the rights of the church sacrilegiously violated. I protest, in +the name of the benefactors and founders of our houses and +colleges, whose will and expressed intentions in founding these +good works, for the interest alike of the living and the dead, +are thus nullified. I protest, in the name of the sacred +rights of property, contemned and trampled under foot by +brutal force. I protest, in the name of citizenship and the +inviolability of individual persons, of whose rights no man +may be deprived without being accused in form, arraigned +and judged. I protest, in the name of humanity, whose rights +have been so shamefully outraged in the persons of so many +aged men, sick, infirm and helpless, driven from their peaceful +seclusion, left without any assistance, cast on the highways +without any means of subsistence.”</span> Such was the revolution +which Victor Emmanuel and Napoleon III. were driven by fear, +or even worse motives, to patronize and foster. It had, in the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page213">[pg 213]</span><a name="Pg213" id="Pg213" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +days of its power, made France a desolation. It was now +sweeping like devouring flames over Italy, and fast approaching +the city of the Popes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Revival of Peter's +pence.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., although not unaware of the fearful calamities +with which he was threatened, was far from +allowing his mind to be shaken. He trusted +in that Providence which watches over the +church. <span class="tei tei-q">“We are as yet,”</span> said he on 16th February, 1860, +to the lenten preachers of the time, <span class="tei tei-q">“at the beginning of the +evils which must soon overtake us. At the same time, we are +consoled by the cheering prospect that, as calamity succeeds +calamity, the spirit of faith and of sacrifice will be proportionately +developed.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was nothing now to be hoped for from the powers +which nominally ruled the world, but which were, in reality, +under the control of the revolution. Deprived of so great a +portion of his states, and the revenue which accrued to him +therefrom, the Holy Father resolved to sustain his failing +finances by relying on the spontaneous offerings of the faithful +throughout the world. His appeal was not made in vain. +The piety and zeal of the early ages appeared to have revived. +The word of the common Father was received with reverence in +the remotest lands. Offerings of <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Peter's pence</span></span>,”</span> as in days +of apostolic fervor, were poured into the Papal treasury. In +Europe, especially, the movement was so general as to show +that the people everywhere were resolved to act independently +of their governments, which had so shamefully become subservient +to the will of the revolution. It was scarcely necessary +that the bishops should speak a word of encouragement. +In France, indeed, under a jealous and revolutionary government, +there could be no associations for the collection of Peter's +pence. But the government could not, so far, place itself in +opposition to the religion of the country as to forbid collections +in the churches; nor could it reach such subscriptions as were +offered in private dwellings. In Belgium, although the party +of unbelief, of Freemasonry and revolution, held the reins of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page214">[pg 214]</span><a name="Pg214" id="Pg214" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +power, the constitution protected all citizens alike, and so the +new work which the circumstances of the church required was +accomplished by association, pretty much in the same way as +the work of the propagation of the faith. By the end of three +months, there were in Flanders no fewer than four hundred +thousand associates for the collection of Peter's pence. In +Italy, a Catholic journal, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Armonia</span></span>, collected considerable sums +of money, and caskets filled with jewels and other precious +objects. Poland, in her sorrow, was magnificently generous. +And Ireland, renewing her strength after centuries of misgovernment, +persecution and poverty, emulated the richest countries, +America, Germany, Holland and England. One of the +collections at Dublin amounted to £10,000. All these rich +donations, together with thousands of addresses which bore +millions of signatures, were humbly laid at the feet of the Holy +Father. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Pope forms an +army.—Lamoriciere +commands.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now that it is well known that France was not less hostile +than Sardinia and the revolution, to the +cause of the Pope, it appears more a loss of +labor than a wise precaution, that the Holy +Father should have assembled an army for maintaining order +in his states, and repelling any attack on the part of the revolutionary +faction. This was all that he contemplated. Deceived +by the professions of his French ally, he was far from suspecting +that the small force which he was collecting for the maintenance +of order would be no sooner organized than it would +be attacked by the military power of Piedmont, supported by +the Emperor of the French. On the contrary, Pius IX. had +every reason to believe that the formation of a Pontifical army, +destined for the duties which devolved on the French soldiers, +then at Rome, would be acceptable to Napoleon III. The latter +had, more than once, said to his Holiness: <span class="tei tei-q">“Place yourself +in a position to be independent of my army of occupation.”</span> +This recommendation is repeated in a despatch of Messrs. +Thouvenel and Gramont, so late as the 14th of April, 1860. +As soon as it was known that the Pope desired to have an army +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page215">[pg 215]</span><a name="Pg215" id="Pg215" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for maintaining internal peace, and finally, in order to replace +the foreign troops which occupied Rome, the youth of many +countries freely offered their services. France, Belgium, Ireland, +Spain, Holland, and even distant Canada sent numerous +volunteers. The noble youth of France, whose education, for +the most part, was eminently Christian, were only too happy +to tear themselves from the luxurious life of Paris. Their joy +was equal to their ardor, when they found that they could bear +arms without serving a Bonaparte. Gontants and Larochefoucauld +Doudeauvilles, Noes and Pimodans, Tournous and Bourbon +Chalus, came to range themselves, as private soldiers, +when necessary, under the banner of the Pope. Nor were +they attracted by any hope of gain. A goodly number, on the +contrary, sustained by their ample means the government to +which they offered their lives. The revolution signified its +displeasure by branding these devoted youths with the ignominious +title of <span class="tei tei-q">“Mercenaries of the Pope.”</span> This ungracious +word proceeded from the palace of Jerome Napoleon, on whom +merciless history bestows a more opprobrious epithet. As a +matter of course, it was repeated in all the revolutionary +journals. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The command of the new force was offered to the brave +and experienced General Lamoriciere. At first he hesitated, +the cause of the Pope, as regarded his temporal power, was +already so much compromised. Finally, on the representation +of the Reverend Count de Merode, he gave his consent. It was +pure sacrifice. No success could add to his military renown. +And success was impossible. The general distributed his soldiers, +from 20,000 to 25,000 in number, in small bodies, throughout +the towns of that portion of the Papal States which still +remained. This was a judicious arrangement, as far as +internal peace and order were concerned. Neither Lamoriciere +nor the Pope had any idea, so firmly did they rely on the hollow +professions of France, that a foreign army would have to +be met. The general spoke words of encouragement to his +willing soldiers. <span class="tei tei-q">“The revolution,”</span> said he, in an order of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page216">[pg 216]</span><a name="Pg216" id="Pg216" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +day, <span class="tei tei-q">“like Islamism of old, threatens Europe. To-day, as in +ancient times, the cause of the Papacy is the cause of civilization +and of the liberty of mankind.”</span> The infidel press was +excited to fury, and showed, by the violence of its writing, that +the comparison of the revolution to Islamism was but too +well founded. Were not both alike ferocious? Did not both +spread terror and desolation in their track? Weigh them +together—Islamism has the advantage. In addition to all its +other barbarities, the revolution violated the temples of God +and the abodes of prayer. The followers of the prophet were +commanded to respect every place where God was worshipped, +and every house where dwelt the ministers of His worship. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The organization of Lamoriciere's army was now so complete +that a friendly convention was entered into with the +Cabinet of the Tuilleries, and that the evacuation of Rome by +the French garrison should commence on the 11th of May. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This was not at all to the liking of the revolutionists. M. +de Cavour, who had complained so loudly at the Congress of +Paris that the Pope had not an army sufficiently strong to +render unnecessary the protection of France and Austria, protested +against the formation of such an army as soon as he +saw that it was seriously contemplated. He denounced it to +all Europe as a gathering of adventurers from every country, +and feigned the greatest disquietude for the new frontiers of +Piedmont. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 4th September, 1860, Napoleon III. was at Chambery, +receiving the homage and congratulations of his Savoyard +subjects. A public banquet was held in his honor, and whilst +the guests were yet at table, two Piedmontese envoys, Messrs. +Farini and Cialdini, sought a private interview with the Emperor. +Napoleon left the festive board and remained closeted +with the envoys the remainder of the evening. The result of +this conference was the immediate invasion of the Papal States +by Sardinian troops, under the command of General Cialdini. +This officer reports that he was fully authorized by Napoleon. +It is even related that the Emperor, strongly encouraging him +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page217">[pg 217]</span><a name="Pg217" id="Pg217" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +used the words of our blessed Lord to Judas: <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Quod facis, fac +citius</span></span>.”</span> Napoleon, indeed, denied having uttered these words. +It matters not. All his acts, at the time, expressed their +meaning. Whilst conferring with the envoys at Chambery, +there lay on a table a map of Central Italy, on which he traced +in pencil and effaced several lines. The map having been left +on the table, was afterwards found to contain one line in crayon, +which was not effaced. It showed exactly the route which +Cialdini followed in marching to the destruction of the Papal +army. Between the conference of Chambery and the arrival +of Cialdini on the Pontifical territory, there elapsed precisely +the time necessary for the journey by post-carriage and railway. +Seventy thousand men were waiting for him on the +frontier, ready to march as soon as he brought them the +required authorization. General Fanti, who also had an army +corps concentrated on the borders of the Marches, had already +intimated to General Lamoriciere, that if the Papal troops had +recourse to force, <span class="tei tei-q">“in order to suppress any insurrection in the +Papal State,”</span> he would, at once, occupy the Marches and +Umbria, <span class="tei tei-q">“in order to secure to the inhabitants full liberty to +express their wishes.”</span> The Sardinian generals evidently +wished to raise an insurrection, but as no insurrection occurred, +they managed to do without one. In the meantime, it was +thought expedient to perform a piece of mock diplomacy. +Count Delia Minerva was despatched from Turin to Rome, +charged with an <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">ultimatum</span></em> to the Pope. Without diplomatic +negotiations or shadow of pretext, purely by virtue of the right +of the strongest and most audacious, the Holy Father was suddenly +summoned to dismiss his volunteers as foreigners, and +was allowed four-and-twenty hours to give his answer. But +the party did not wait so long. The <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">ultimatum</span></em>, of a piece with +their other proceedings, was a mockery. On 10th September, +before the reply of the Pope could have been known, even +before Delia Minerva had reached Rome, Generals Cialdini and +Fanti, without any previous declaration of war, passed the +Pontifical frontier. It was the barbarians once more at the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page218">[pg 218]</span><a name="Pg218" id="Pg218" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +gates of Rome. The orders of the day, which the Piedmontese +commanders addressed to their troops, were inexpressibly +savage. Pitiless history fails not to record them. <span class="tei tei-q">“Soldiers,”</span> +said Cialdini, <span class="tei tei-q">“I lead you against a band of adventurers, whom +the thirst for gold and pillage has brought to our country. +Fight, disperse without mercy, these wretched cut-throats. +Let them feel, by the weight of our arm, the power and the +anger of a people who strive to be independent soldiers. +Perugia seeks vengeance. And, although late, it shall have +it.”</span> The language of King Victor Emmanuel, although somewhat +more politely diplomatic, was not less false and savage. +His proclamation is a master-piece of Count de Cavour's +hypocritical style. <span class="tei tei-q">“Soldiers, you are entering the Marches +and Umbria, in order to restore civil order in the desolated +cities and to secure to the inhabitants the liberty to express +their wishes. You have not to meet powerful armies, but only +to deliver the unfortunate Italian provinces from companies of +foreign adventurers. You are not going to avenge the injuries +done to Italy or to me, but to hinder the popular hatred from +wreaking vengeance on the oppressor. You will teach by your +example pardon of offences and Christian toleration to those +who compare Italian patriotism to Islamism. At peace with +all the Great Powers, and without provocation, I mean to banish +from Central Italy a constant cause of trouble and discord. +I wish to respect the seat of the Chief of the Church, &c.”</span> +Whatever this king may have wished to do, he was compelled to +obey the will of the revolution, and to justify by his acts the +comparison of the party which he patronized with Islamism,—a +comparison disparaging only to the followers of the prophet. +The ferocious sentiments to which Cialdini gave utterance were +not mere bravado. When Colonel Zappi, of the Pontifical +service, dared to hold out with 800 men at Pesaro, and check +for two-and-twenty hours the whole Piedmontese army before +this village, Cialdini, instead of admiring such bravery, refused +to cease firing, when Zappi, crushed by numbers, was at last +obliged to capitulate. For two hours longer he took pleasure +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page219">[pg 219]</span><a name="Pg219" id="Pg219" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in discharging grape shot at the little town which had ceased +to reply otherwise than by exhibiting a white flag and sending +messengers of peace. Nor did this vandalic soldier show any +consideration for the wishes of the people whom he professed +to have come to protect. This contempt for the popular will +was sufficiently well shown the following month, in his despatch +to the Garibaldian Commander of Molise: <span class="tei tei-q">“Publish that I +cause to be shot all peasants taken with arms in their hands. +I have this day commenced such executions.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Duplicity of the +French Government.—The +Emperor of +Austria restrained +by his Council.—Lamoriciere's +force cut +to pieces by the Piedmontese +at Castelfidaro.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lamoriciere was far from expecting to be attacked by the +armies of Piedmont. The most he could contemplate was an +attack by the Garibaldians, and the probability of some partial +insurrections in the interior. He distributed his troops accordingly +in the towns and along the Neapolitan frontier. The +insolent message of General Fanti contributed to confirm him +in this idea. He had only 1,500 men with him when the message +reached him. He held himself in readiness, but without +concentrating his force, which appeared to him dangerous and +premature. He learned, unexpectedly, that the frontier on the +side of Piedmont was violated at every point of attack at the +same time; that an army corps, commanded by General de +Sonnaz, was marching on Perugia; another, led by Brignone, +on Spoleto; another, under the Garibaldian Mazi, on Orvieto; +finally, that Cialdini was advancing on Sinigaglia, thence on +Torrede Jesi, Castelfidardo and Loretto, and that his object +was Ancona, the only city except Rome which was capable of +making any resistance. Lamoriciere, unable to face so many +enemies at once, saw, with pain, that his +scattered garrisons were lost. He was far, +however, from being discouraged. Recalling, +hastily, all that were within reach, and +unfortunately they were not the most considerable, +he changed all the arrangements +which he had made for another kind of contest; +he gave up all idea of opposing Brignone, De Sonnaz and +Fanti, who, nevertheless, were in a position to cut off his +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page220">[pg 220]</span><a name="Pg220" id="Pg220" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +retreat towards Rome, and rushed boldly to the point of greatest +danger between these generals and Cialdini, with the design +of piercing the lines of the latter and reaching Ancona before +him. There he thought he would be able to hold out a week +or two, more than sufficient time for France and the other +civilized nations to come to his assistance. He, a French general, +relied on France, so completely were Frenchmen deceived. +He also trusted, and with better grounds, to Austria. This +confidence emboldened him to reply defiantly to the insolent +message of General Fanti: <span class="tei tei-q">“We are only a handful of men. +But a Frenchman counts not his enemies, and France will +support us.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Before the invasion took place, the Ambassador of France, +the Duke of Gramont, whose word was corroborated by the +presence of a French army at Rome and in the neighborhood, +had, several times, reassured Cardinal Antonelli, who was much +disquieted, affirming that the concentration of Piedmontese +troops was intended to check the banditti, and protect the +Pontifical frontier, but would not attack it. Lamoriciere testifies +to this fact in the report of his operations. When there +was no longer any doubt as regarded the violation of Papal +territory, the Ambassador, Gramont, communicated to Cardinal +Antonelli, and telegraphed, in clear and distinct language, +to the Vice-Consul of France, at Ancona, the following despatch: +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Emperor has written from Marseilles to the King of +Sardinia, that if the Piedmontese troops advance on the Pontifical +territory he will be compelled to oppose them. Orders are +already given for the embarkation of troops at Toulon; and +these re-inforcements will forthwith arrive. The government +of the Emperor will not tolerate the criminal attack of the +Sardinians. As Vice-Consul of France, you will govern yourself +accordingly.”</span> M. de Courcy, the Vice-Consul, to whom +the despatch was addressed, took it immediately to M. de +Quatrebarbes, the civil governor of Ancona. His great age +would not admit of his carrying it in person to Cialdini, but +he lost no time in sending it by an employee of the Consulate, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page221">[pg 221]</span><a name="Pg221" id="Pg221" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +making no doubt that a despatch which bore the signature of +France would prevent bloodshed. He was mistaken. Cialdini +read the paper, and coolly put it in his pocket, saying: <span class="tei tei-q">“I +know more about these matters than you. I have just had an +interview with the Emperor.”</span> When the clerk asked for a +receipt, he signed one, remarking that <span class="tei tei-q">“it would make a good +addition to other diplomatic papers.”</span> He then continued to +advance. The general was no less explicit, a few days later, at +Loretto, when conversing with Count Bourbon Busset and other +prisoners taken at Castelfidardo. <span class="tei tei-q">“You astonish me, gentlemen,”</span> +said he; <span class="tei tei-q">“how could you for a moment entertain the +idea that we would have occupied the Pontifical State without +the full consent of the government of your country!”</span> As one +of the bystanders, in reply to Cialdini, alluded to the fact which +was announced, of the disembarkation of a new French division +at Civita Vecchia, <span class="tei tei-q">“And to what purpose?”</span> answered one +of the higher officers of Cialdini's staff. <span class="tei tei-q">“France has no need +to re-inforce her army of occupation. See these wires, gentlemen +(pointing to the telegraph), if they chose to speak they +would suffice to stop us at once.”</span> It would have been impossible +to express more plainly the omnipotence at that moment +of the conqueror of Solferino, and the fearful stigma which he +was preparing for his memory. Not only did he disorganize +the defence, the responsibility, &c., of which he was understood +to have assumed, not only did he deceive the Court of +Rome, and inspire it with a false security, as if it had been his +purpose more surely to throw Lamoriciere into the snares of +Cialdini; but, at the same time, he paralyzed the good intention +of the Powers that were sincerely devoted to the Holy +See. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria, had dreaded, a month +before it occurred, an invasion of the Pontifical State. His +army divisions of the Mincio were on a war footing. It was +only necessary that they should pass the river and march +against Piedmont. An order to this effect was signed. But +before despatching the order, and taking on himself such great +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page222">[pg 222]</span><a name="Pg222" id="Pg222" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +responsibility, the youthful Emperor, who had been none the +better for giving way to his chivalrous impulses in 1859, +resolved to call a meeting of his ministers and chief generals. +Addressing this grave assembly, he stated distinctly the new +situation in which Austria was placed by the violation of recent +treaties, and the obligation under which he lay of opposing +such proceedings by arms. His duty as a Catholic was concerned +as well as his honor and interest as a sovereign. It +appeared, besides, that God had blinded the revolution, and +the invasion was so odious that Piedmont would not find a +single ally. <span class="tei tei-q">“I have signed,”</span> he added, <span class="tei tei-q">“an order to pass +to-morrow into Lombardy. Together with this, I have addressed +a manifesto to Europe, in which I declare that I will +respect and cause to be respected the treaty of Zurich. Lombardy +does not now belong to me. I have ceded it, and I do +not recall my word; but I require that the clauses which are +burdensome to Austria shall not alone be executed. I claim, +at the same time, the incontestible rights of my cousins of +Florence, Parma and Modena, so unworthily robbed by one of +those who signed and guaranteed the treaty. Finally, I +require that the neutrality of the Pope and the integrity of his +territory be respected; for the Pope is my ally, as a sovereign, +and as the Chief of the Church, my Father. The fleet of +Trieste will, at the same time, cruise before Ancona.”</span> This +noble address was followed by profound silence. The attitude +of several of the bystanders was expressive of doubt when the +Emperor affirmed that the brutality of the Piedmontese aggression +would alone suffice to prevent any one from making common +cause with it. The Count de Thun at length rose. He +acknowledged the manifestly just grievances of Austria, and +admired the manly resolution of the Emperor. He then set +forth the dangers of every kind which this resolution would +cause to arise. The army had not yet repaired its losses; the +wounds of Magenta and Solferino were still bleeding. The +French would, once more, pass the Alps, and the revolution, +far from being stifled, would be more threatening than ever. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page223">[pg 223]</span><a name="Pg223" id="Pg223" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“If my crown must be broken,”</span> interposed the Emperor, <span class="tei tei-q">“I prefer +losing it at the gates of the Vatican, in defence of justice and +religion, than under the walls of Vienna or Presburgh by the +hands of the revolutionists.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Sire,”</span> replied Count de Thun, +<span class="tei tei-q">“whether at Presburgh or the Vatican, you will always find us +by your side, ready to conquer or perish honorably with you. +But allow me to repeat that there is not question only of commencing +a struggle against the two-fold revolution of the King +of Sardinia. If France once more comes to his support, who +will be our auxiliaries? What alliances have we, so necessary +in case of reverse? Our cruel experience of last year only +shows too plainly that we have none; and that Prussia has +an understanding with France. And if the war continues any +time, if the revolution throws into the arms of Russia Hungary, +and our Sclav provinces, and gives to Prussia our German +countries, what will become of the great Catholic Empire of +Germany? Will not your majesty have hastened, without +intending it, the satisfaction of that cupidity which is everywhere +aiming at our ruin, and the triumph either of Protestantism +or the Greek schism?”</span> Francis Joseph replied by +describing the not less serious dangers which the triumph of +the Italian revolution would occasion to the tranquillity and +integrity of the Empire. He could not but foresee how precarious +Austrian rule would become at Venice, and how impossible +it would be to preserve, for any length of time, the last +remains of the Pontifical State, once the King of Piedmont was +master of the rest of the peninsula. The struggle, by being +delayed, could not be avoided. We should only have to undertake +it later against a usurper consolidated by time, and with +less manifest evidence of right on our side. But the embarrassments +of the moment engaged the thoughts of his ministers +more than those of the future. All the ministers dissenting +from his opinion, the Emperor made up his mind, after two +hours' discussion, to recall the order which he had signed. +The Austrian fleet continued at anchor in the harbor of Trieste, +and the army of the Mincio remained inactive, although, as +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page224">[pg 224]</span><a name="Pg224" id="Pg224" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +may be supposed, indignant, in its quadrilateral, until Italian +unity became a reality, and coalesced with Prussia in order to +expel it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There must now be recorded another proof of the Emperor +Napoleon's double dealing. On 13th September, M. Thouvenel +wrote to Baron de Talleyrand, the Ambassador of France at +Turin: <span class="tei tei-q">“The Emperor has decided that you must leave Turin +immediately, in order to show his firm determination to decline +all partnership in acts which his counsels, that were given in +the interests of Italy, have not been able to prevent.”</span> Vain +pretence! inexorable history accepts not such apologies. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With the exception of the Piedmontese, and perhaps also +the Austrian ministers, there were none in Europe having +knowledge of this document, and the despatch of M. de Gramont +to the Consul of Ancona, who did not believe that a rupture +was imminent, if it had not already taken place, between the +Emperor Napoleon and King Victor Emmanuel. General +Lamoriciere was too upright and loyal-minded not to fall into +the snare. He wrote promptly to Mgr. de Merode, asking him +to send provisions to Ancona, where he purposed establishing +his quarters, not having had time to prepare for battle in the +open country. He had no disquietude as regarded Umbria. +He left it to be defended by France. He hoped also that General +de Goyon would not confine himself to guarding the walls +of Rome, and that he would, at least, prevent invasion from +the direction of Naples, and by way of the valley of Orvieto. +He was confident that France would finally intervene. And it +would be highly advantageous if, in the meantime, French +troops garrisoned Viterbo, Velletri and Orvieto. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The declarations of Napoleon were like the despatches of +Messrs. Thouvenel and Gramont, nothing better than empty +words—<span class="tei tei-q">“diplomatic papers,”</span> as Cialdini contemptuously +called them. His only object was to lull public opinion, and +let the Piedmontese have the advantage of a +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">fait accompli</span></span>. Of +this there was no room to doubt, when, a little later, he took +officially under his protection the fruit of that criminal aggression +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page225">[pg 225]</span><a name="Pg225" id="Pg225" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +against which he had so loudly protested. Either from +weakness or treachery he was an accomplice, and played a +preconcerted game. At first he may have been sincere in +threatening, in the hope of intimidating the revolution. But +when there was question of acting, and he knew that it defied +him, he recoiled. French historians remark, with pain, that +this was a sad alternative, as regards the memory of a man +who had the honor to govern France—the nation, more than all +others, renowned for chivalry. It was also a rebuke to that +nation which was so weak as to submit, for twenty years, to +his rule. His friends are brought to the extremity of demonstrating +that he was a coward, if they wish to hinder mankind +from believing that he was a traitor. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, Lamoriciere, by forced marches, on the 16th +September, reached Loretto, from which the enemy withdrew +at his approach. His inconsiderable force counted scarcely +3,000 combatants, viz.: 2,000 infantry, 800 troopers, and 200 +artillerymen. But he had given rendezvous at the spot to the +general, Marquis of Pimodan, who brought to him from Terai +2,000 infantry, and arrived a little before night, on the 17th. +Thus did it fall to his lot, with 5,000 men at most, and some +old artillery which had not been sufficiently exercised, to face +Cialdini, who had, at the moment, 45,000 men, and was provided +with rifled cannon. An engagement on the 18th was +inevitable. The Piedmontese were echeloned along the hills +which fill the declivity from Castelfidardo towards the plain, +and extend to within 500 metres of the small river Musone. +Their artillery swept the declivities in all directions. They +occupied, in strength, two farms which were situated, the one +600 metres behind the other, towards the principal hill. By +delaying longer, Lamoriciere would only have exposed himself +to be surrounded and compelled to lay down his arms. +At four o'clock in the morning, the soldiers of the Pope, with +the two generals at their head, prepared for death, by devoutly +participating in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist. At +eight, Pimodan rushed upon the two farms already mentioned. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page226">[pg 226]</span><a name="Pg226" id="Pg226" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +His watchword was to carry them and hold them as long as +possible, as they commanded the pass of Musone, where the +bulk of the army, with the baggage, must defile, and there was +no other way than this pass by which the route of Ancona +could be gained. The first farm, although warmly defended, +was carried, and a hundred prisoners were taken. Six six-pounders +were immediately brought up, in order to protect the position +against a fresh attack of the enemy. Captain Richter, who +commanded them, under the orders of Colonel Blumenstihl, +was pierced in the thigh by a ball; he would not, however, +leave the field, but remained in the midst of the fire. Two +howitzers, commanded by Lieutenant Dandier, with the aid of +a hundred Irishmen, who had arrived the night before from +Spoleto, were placed in the open space in front of the farm, +exposed to the grape shot of the Piedmontese, to which they +replied as if they had been in force. Unfortunately, all +parties did not do their duty so well. Pimodan was obliged to +dismiss, on the battle-field, the commander of the First Battalion +of <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Chasseurs</span></span>. <span class="tei tei-q">“The moment had come,”</span> says +Lamoriciere in his report, <span class="tei tei-q">“to attack the second farm. General +Pimodan formed a small column, under the orders of Commandant +Becdelievre, composed of the Battalion of Belgian +Fusiliers, of a detachment of Carabiniers, and of the First +Battalion of <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Chasseurs</span></span>. +This column boldly advanced, notwithstanding +a most active fusilade from the farm and the +wood. There were 500 metres to march over thus exposed. +But when about a hundred and fifty feet from the summit of +the hill it was received by the fire of two ranks of a strong line +of battle, which put so great a number of the men +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">hors de combat</span></span> +that it was obliged to fall back. The enemy pursued. +But when he had nearly reached our troops, the column faced +round, waited for him at fifteen paces distance, received him +with a well-directed fire, and rushed on him with the bayonet. +Astonished at so much daring and coolness, the enemy, although +superior in number, fell back in his turn, and thus allowed our +soldiers to regain the position which they had left. The fire +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page227">[pg 227]</span><a name="Pg227" id="Pg227" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of our artillery, which was well supplied and well directed, +protected these movements. The enemy had lost more men; +but, relatively, our losses were more felt than his. Pimodan +had been wounded in the face; but, nevertheless, he retained +his command. I observed that his two battalions and a half +were not sufficiently strong to carry the second position; so +I sent for the two reserve battalions, and ordered the cavalry +to pass the river, and follow on our right flank the march of +our columns. During this time the enemy had endeavored to +overwhelm us on both sides. Major Becdelievre brought +together what remained of his battalion, rushed upon the +fusileers and forced them back into the wood whence they had +come.”</span> These were splendid feats of arms. But the excessive +inferiority of Lamoriciere's artillery and numbers made victory +impossible. The revolution had its emissaries enrolled as soldiers +in the Pontifical army. One of these, by a traitorous +blow from behind, slew the brave Pimodan in the height of the +battle. These traitors also caused a panic at the decisive +moment by spreading false alarms. The youthful soldiers of +the reserve, who had never seen fire, became demoralized, and +fled in confusion, without hearing the sound of a single ball. +Others followed. The artillery, now no longer supported, and, +fearing to be taken, sought safety in flight. But instead of +gaining the road to Ancona, it fell back on Loretto, where it +could not fail to fall into the hands of the enemy. Lamoriciere, +always calm in such terrible discomfiture, made unheard-of +exertions, as did also his aids-de-camp, Messrs. de Maistre, +de Lorgeril, de Robiano, de France and Montmarin, in endeavoring +to guide the precipitate retreat. His orders either +were not conveyed or were not executed. Then, as was his +custom in Africa, he hurried alone on horseback to within a +hundred feet of the lines, in order to ascertain the situation, +rejoined his staff, labored to stay the flight, and when all was +lost, he executed, with five-and-forty horse and a hundred +infantry, a movement which with the army was impossible. +He took the route of Ancona, which a Piedmontese squadron +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page228">[pg 228]</span><a name="Pg228" id="Pg228" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was preparing to bombard, and reached that place by five +o'clock in the evening. The brave Franco-Belgians sacrificed +themselves in order to save the rest of the army. They held +out in the farm which they had occupied as long as their +ammunition lasted. The neighboring fields and hedges were +covered with dead and wounded Piedmontese; but they themselves +were all either killed or taken. Among the slain and +wounded were many of the best nobility of Europe—Paul de +Percevaux, Edme de Montagnac, Arthur de Chalus, Hyacinth +de Lanascol, Alfege du Baudier, Joseph Guerin, Georges de +Haliand, Felix de Montravel, Alfred de la Barre de Nanteuil, +Thierry du Fougeray, Leopold de Lippe, Gaston du Plessis de +Grenedan, Raoul Dumanoir, Lanfranc de Beccary, Alphonse +Menard, Guelton, Rogatien Picon, Anseline de Puisage, George +Myonnet. Such are a few of those noble youths who fell victims +to their zeal and bravery when engaged with General +Lamoriciere in his hopeless attempt to stem the overwhelming +tide of revolution which, at the time, successfully defied all the +Powers of Europe to move an arm in opposition to it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lamoriciere succeeded in reaching Ancona, but only to +prolong, for a few days more, a desperate contest. The available +force in the place amounted only to 4,200 effective men, +a number quite insufficient to man all the posts of such extensive +fortifications. The general did not yet despair of aid from +the French at Rome, and he flattered himself with the idea +that if he only held out a few days, Austria and the other +Catholic States would be shamed into activity. They, however, +knew too well the intentions of France, and France had +won the battle of Solferino. The brave Lamoriciere was +assailed in his last retreat, both by sea and land. The bombardment +lasted ten days, and was heard at Venice, the +islands of Dalmatia, and even at Trieste. But not a friendly +sail appeared in support of the besieged. The prolonged +struggle did not even attract such vessels of neutral Powers as +are commonly sent for the protection of their consuls and +others of their respective nations, as well as to offer their good +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page229">[pg 229]</span><a name="Pg229" id="Pg229" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +services to women, children and other non-combatants. Such +disgraceful conduct was condemned alike by the Protestant +and Catholic press of Europe. The London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Times</span></span> reproached +M. de Cavour with not having understood that <span class="tei tei-q">“candid and +honorable conduct is not incompatible with patriotism.”</span> The +same paper quoted, in this connection, the words of Manin, +which are a condemnation of the whole conduct of the Piedmontese +under Victor Emmanuel: <span class="tei tei-q">“Means which the moral +sense repels, even when they are materially profitable, deal a +mortal blow to a cause. No victory can be put in comparison +with the absence of self-respect.”</span> Ancona was yet undergoing +bombardment, when the three sovereigns of the North, who +alone could have undertaken efficaciously the defence of the +violated law of nations, met at Warsaw; and Napoleon III. +presented to them a memorandum by which he engaged to +abandon Piedmont in the event of her attacking Venice. But +<span class="tei tei-q">“he presupposed that the German Powers would also confine +themselves to an attitude of abstention, and would avoid furnishing +a pretext for an Italian attack of Austria.”</span> At length, +the Piedmontese fleet, under Admiral Persano, succeeded in +demolishing the more important portion of the fortifications of +Ancona. A white flag was now displayed on the citadel and +all the lesser forts; and Major Mauri was sent on board the +admiral's ship to negotiate a capitulation. The firing ceased +on both sides. But now occurred a circumstance which stigmatizes +to all time the character of the Piedmontese generals, +Fanti and Cialdini. M. de Quatrebarbes relates, <span class="tei tei-q">“that whilst +the conditions of capitulation were under discussion, the land +army, furious at having been repelled, and at having done +nothing that could contribute towards the taking of the city, +recommenced firing along the whole line. The bombardment +and cannonade continued from nine o'clock in the evening of +the 28th until nine in the morning of the 29th, and that, +although negotiators had been sent, and bells had been rung, +announcing the cessation of hostilities, in defiance even of a +very pressing letter of the admiral, who would not participate +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page230">[pg 230]</span><a name="Pg230" id="Pg230" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in such an infamous proceeding. He also recalled on board +his ships the marine who served a land battery. All this +time not a single cannon was fired from the city. Thus the +Piedmontese army bombarded incessantly for twelve hours a +defenceless town, in violation of the law of nations, and all +sentiments of honor and humanity. Admiral Persano himself +reported at Turin the refusal of the land army to cease firing. +Such a fact must excite the indignation of all right-thinking +people.”</span> The revolution was highly offended when compared +to Islamism. Are the regular troops of Islam accused of such +barbarities? The Bashi-Bazouks could not have done worse. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When the capitulation was signed at two o'clock in the +afternoon of the 29th, the small Pontifical army had ceased to +exist, and the Piedmontese, now free to follow out their plans, +could go to join the bands of Garibaldi, under the walls of +Gaeta, and, together with him, complete <span class="tei tei-q">“the extirpation of the +Papal cancer,”</span> or, as one of their school, Pinelli, said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Crush +the sacerdotal vampire.”</span> But although right had been +trampled down, it knew how to do battle and to die. <span class="tei tei-q">“For +the first time,”</span> observed a Protestant journal, the new Gazette +of Prussia, <span class="tei tei-q">“a general of the party of legality has dared to lead +his troops against the enemy. For the first time the revolution +has been met in the field of battle. The effort has not +been successful. We know it. And as we repeatedly said +beforehand, we had no hope that it would. But the defeat of +Lamoriciere raises the mind by contrast. For a long time we +had been accustomed to the triumphs of cowardice, treachery +and corruption, of all which the victories of Garibaldi presented +such a disgusting spectacle. We are assured that the +Pontifical troops did their duty unto death. This is enough. +It is easily understood how the adversaries of the revolution +had become humble. For years they could only record the +victories of their enemies. But if, at Castelfidardo, a few +individuals were defeated, the principle of legality was at last +asserted. Now, if men contend in battle for a principle its +final triumph is assured.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page231">[pg 231]</span><a name="Pg231" id="Pg231" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was to be expected that Pius the Ninth would avenge the +memory of the brave men who had been branded by the name +of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Mercenaries</span></span>, the greater number of whom served without +pay. No wonder if he did justice on the pretended moral order +which Piedmont said it had come to restore in the States of +the Church. Not only did he honor their noble efforts, he +also founded at his own cost, and for their benefit, the chaplaincy +of Castelfidardo in the sanctuary of the Scala Santa. +He ordered the funeral obsequies of General Pimodan to be +celebrated with becoming magnificence, and composed himself +an inscription for his tomb in the French Church of St. Louis. +He wished to confer on Lamoriciere the title of Roman Count. +But the defeated hero declined the honor, saying that he desired +always to be called Leon de la Moriciere. Pius IX. then +addressed him a few words, which recall the piety of early +times: <span class="tei tei-q">“I send you what, at least, you cannot refuse, the +order of Christ, for whom you have combated, and who will, I +trust, be your reward as well as mine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In France the government showed its revolutionary leaning +by forbidding a subscription which was undertaken for the purpose +of presenting a sword of honor to Lamoriciere. It did +even worse than this. It meanly persecuted the vanquished +soldiers of the Holy See, as well as those who had hastened to +fill their places. This was pure revenge. And now that the +success of Piedmont was no longer doubtful, it could serve no +other purpose than to establish the fact of the Emperor's complicity. +Such of the soldiers of the Pope as were natives of +France were deprived of their rights of citizenship. Thus were +noble youths, the flower of France, on their return from +Castelfidardo and Ancona, deprived of the electoral franchise, +and stripped of their right to serve on juries and in the army. +Some even were interdicted from inheriting property on the +pretext that, as strangers, their signatures required to be +legalized. These men were, nevertheless, the actual defenders +of a sovereign whom the government pretended to defend +officially. The revolutionary papers audaciously said that the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page232">[pg 232]</span><a name="Pg232" id="Pg232" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +same law was not applicable to such French subjects as joined +the bands of Garibaldi, on the ground that these bands were +neither a government nor a military corporation. This odd +interpretation completely met the views of ministerial jurisprudence; +and so was presented the extraordinary spectacle of +a country outlawing such of her children as served the same +cause as her army, and in nowise molesting those who supported +the opposite side. All political allusions in the pulpit +were now repressed with increased severity. The bishops, +however, could not be intimidated. Besides, as they could not +be displaced, they were not so easily reached. Mgr. Pie, the +eminent Bishop of Poitiers, ascended the pulpit the Sunday +after the battle. <span class="tei tei-q">“My brethren,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“you all expected +of me that I would speak to-day in my cathedral. It is according +to the customs of the church to know how to honor her +defenders, and to mourn for them when dead. And because, +having taken upon myself a responsibility which I decline not, +and having encouraged and blessed the departure of several of +those youthful volunteers, I would be ashamed of myself if now, +restrained by the fears arising from a pusillanimous prudence, +I did not offer them the homage of my admiration together +with that of my prayers. Your sympathies are already with +my words. If they gave offence to any hearers, I would, +indeed, be afflicted. But, by the grace of God, the country +which we inhabit is called France, which warrants, or rather +commands, that I should be candid.”</span> In the absence of that +fame which victory confers, the vanquished were consoled by +that immortality which eloquence bestows on those whom it +celebrates. So long as the great art of oratory shall be appreciated +in the countries of Fenelon and Bossuet, the funeral +orations on Lamoriciere, by Bishops Pie and Dupanloup, +together with the fine pages on the heroes of Castelfidardo, by +Bishop Gerbet of Perpignan, Mgr. Plantier of Nismes, and other +writers, will not cease to be read. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“They died in order to defend us,”</span> said, as if prophetically, +Archbishop Manning, who succeeded Cardinal Wiseman in the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page233">[pg 233]</span><a name="Pg233" id="Pg233" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +new See of Westminster, already so illustrious; <span class="tei tei-q">“the cause for +which they fell is our cause. They are blind, indeed, who cannot +see that what has been begun by the head will soon be +undertaken against all the members; that the attacks will +extend rapidly from the centre to the extremities; that revolutionary +tyranny and the despotism of civil power will strive to +establish everywhere, in detail, the domination which they are +endeavoring to exercise over the will and the person of the +Holy Father. We are at the commencement of a new era of +penal laws against the liberty of the church. It is for us, +therefore, that they have given their life. They died whilst +the profane world loaded them with its curses, as died the +martyrs in the Flavian amphitheatre, whilst the cry resounded, +<span class="tei tei-q">‘The Christians to the lions!’</span> (<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Christianas +ad leones</span></span>), and in +presence of thousands of spectators of the Imperial and Patrician +families of Rome, and for the gratification of the multitude +which thirsted for blood, and such blood as was most +noble and innocent. Thus died He who is greater than the +martyrs, assailed by the insults of the Pharisees and the jeers +of the ignorant masses. It is, therefore, glorious to die for a +cause which the world will not and cannot understand. If +they had died to defend commercial establishments against +the indigenous inhabitants of some distant country, or to repel +the attacks of a neighbor, or to maintain the integrity of the +Ottoman Empire, the world would have understood and +honored them, as it did in regard to the combatants of Alma +and Inkerman. But, to fall in battle for the independence of +the Sovereign Pontificate, to sacrifice themselves for the liberty +of Christian consciences, and that of the generations to come—this +the world understands not, and for this we proclaim +them great and glorious among departed heroes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Four months later, Mgr. Pie was obliged to refute a new +pamphlet, entitled, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">France, Rome and Italy</span></span>,”</span> and so endeavor +to prevent new iniquities. He feared not to formulate the following +terrible rebuke, which was denounced as seditious, +but which history has already confirmed as a sentence: +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page234">[pg 234]</span><a name="Pg234" id="Pg234" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Pilate had it in his power to save Christ, and without +Pilate He could not be put to death. The death-warrant could +only come from him; <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">nobis +non licet interficere</span></span>, said the Jews. +Wash thy hands, O Pilate! declare thyself guiltless of the +death of Christ. Our only answer every day will be, and the +latest posterity will repeat the same: I believe in Jesus Christ, +the only Son of the Father, who was conceived of the Holy +Ghost, who was born of the Virgin Mary, who suffered death +and passion under Pontius Pilate; <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Quipassus est sub +Pontio Pilato</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was no secret when these words were spoken, as it +was to Lamoriciere and his brave army, that the government +of the French Emperor encouraged and patronized the iniquitous +aggressions of Piedmont, whilst it pretended, in the face of +Europe, to support the Holy See. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Further expression +of opinion.—The +Great Powers.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It was not Garibaldi and his volunteers,”</span> said the Revue +des deux Mondes, <span class="tei tei-q">“that General Lamoriciere +had to fight; the odds in that case +would not have been so unequal. But he +had the regular army of Piedmont before him—an army six +times more numerous than his own. Nor was it the attack +merely of a revolutionary party which was now directed against +the temporal power of the Papacy. It was a government +incomparably more powerful than the Pope's, which decreed +arbitrarily itself alone, and in the face of the other nations of +the world, the suppression of this power, and which accomplished +that suppression by the irresistible force of its arms, and +under the eyes of our garrison in Rome.”</span> Whilst Austria, not +from any want of sympathy with the Holy See, but from the +dread her cautious ministry, who had penetrated the designs +of France, entertained of a new French invasion, looked tamely +on from the heights of her quadrilateral, the French Emperor +secretly expressed his approval of the Piedmontese attack on +the Papal States, and at the same time publicly withdrew +his ambassador at Turin, as a protest in the face of mankind +against this unprovoked and unjustifiable attack. England, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page235">[pg 235]</span><a name="Pg235" id="Pg235" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +which could not be supposed to have much sympathy +with the Holy See, notwithstanding the declarations of her +best statesmen in support of the temporal sovereignty, openly +pronounced in favor of the Piedmontese aggression on the +Pope, who, in trying times, had been her most faithful ally. +But the days of the elder Bonaparte were forgotten, and too +much could not be done to conciliate the new ally whom the +English had found in the second Bonaparte. So their representative, +Sir John Hudson, remained at Turin, and was the +confidential adviser there of Count de Cavour, while Sir Henry +Elliot continued to reside at Naples after that city had become +the headquarters of Garibaldi. The great Northern Powers, +Russia and Prussia, acted a more honorable part. Even before +the fall of Ancona was known, they both withdrew their ambassadors +from Turin. Von Schleinitz, the Prussian Prime Minister, +protested energetically against the unwarrantable aggression +of Piedmont. M. de Cavour, who understood the +tendencies of the time, replied to Von Schleinitz, as if uttering +a prophecy: <span class="tei tei-q">“I regret that the Court of Berlin should judge so +severely the conduct of the king and his government. I am +conscious of acting in the interests of my sovereign and my +country. I might reply successfully to what M. Von Schleinitz +says. But, be that as it may, I console myself with the thought +that, on the present occasion, I am setting an example which +Prussia, within a short time probably, will be happy to follow.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cannonade had scarcely ceased to be heard at Ancona, +when the Holy Father raised his voice in a consistorial allocution +of 28th September, which, although addressed to the cardinals, +is intended for the whole civilized world. The allocution +briefly enumerates the several acts of aggression successively +committed by the Piedmontese. It then alludes to Cavour's +audacious letter, which was intended as a justification beforehand +of the violation of territory, and the fearful bloodshed +which followed. It expresses the false accusations, the repeated +calumnies and insults which were put forward as a pretext for +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page236">[pg 236]</span><a name="Pg236" id="Pg236" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the invasion. It also rebukes <span class="tei tei-q">“the singular malignity with +which the Piedmontese government dared to call the Pontifical +soldiers <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">mercenaries</span></span>, when so many of them, both Italians and +foreigners, were of noble lineage, bearing illustrious names, +and had resolved to serve in our troops without pay, and for +the sole love of our holy religion.”</span> The fact is established, to +the disgrace of Piedmont, that the Papal government <span class="tei tei-q">“could +have had no intimation of the enemy's purpose. The general-in-chief +commanding our forces could not have entertained the +thought of having to contend with the soldiers of Piedmont.”</span> +The meed of praise is awarded to the fallen warriors, together +with the expression of unfeigned sorrow for their loss: <span class="tei tei-q">“Whilst +we must bestow merited praise on the general, his officers and +his men, we can scarcely restrain our tears as we remember +all those brave soldiers, those noble young men especially, who +had been impelled by faith and their own generous hearts to +fly to the defence of the temporal power of the Roman Church, +and who have met with their death in this cruel and unjust +invasion. We are deeply moved by the grief of their families; +and would to God it were in our power, by any word of ours, to +dry up the source of their tears!”</span> If anything could be worse +than the savage and murderous attack of Piedmont, it was the +hypocritical pretence under which it was undertaken. The +invaders came as <span class="tei tei-q">“the restorers of moral order and as the +preachers of tolerance and charity.”</span> The allocution concludes +by denouncing this hypocrisy, together with the diplomatic +principle of non-intervention, of which France and Piedmont +set such brilliant examples. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">A Plebiscitum.—Umbria +and the +Marches of Ancona +annexed to Sardinia.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The King of Sardinia having violently seized Umbria and +the Marches of Ancona, must also have a +mock plebiscitum, in order, no doubt, to +make it appear that these provinces were +spontaneously annexed to his kingdom. The +fall of Gaeta and the conquest of Naples by Garibaldi encouraged +the ambitious monarch in these unjustifiable annexations, and +although generally condemned by the European press, he most +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page237">[pg 237]</span><a name="Pg237" id="Pg237" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +audaciously issued a proclamation in reply to the Papal allocution. +All these nefarious acts, together with the outrages +everywhere perpetrated against all who remained loyal to the +Holy See and faithful to the sacred laws of the church, induced +the Holy Father to publish the now celebrated allocution of +March 18th, 1861. This allocution is perhaps the greatest +doctrinal utterance of the Pontificate of Pius IX. But it must +be considered in connection with the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">syllabus</span></span>, which will now +shortly be noticed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Emperor Napoleon had, indeed, suspended public +diplomatic relations with the court of Turin. This was intended +merely as a blind, for he continued to negotiate secretly, through +Prince Jerome Napoleon, concerning Rome, and what yet +remained to the Pope of his states. He appeared to bind +Piedmont to respect the sovereignty and independence of the +Holy See, and had no objections that the Pope should raise an +army designed only for defensive purposes. On such conditions +the Emperor would acknowledge the new kingdom of +Italy. In all this there was a want of sincerity. Count Cavour, +Prince Napoleon and the Emperor, were perfectly agreed that +the Holy Father was, in due course of time, to be given up to +his enemies. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The pamphlet La +France, Rome et +l'Italie.—Cardinal +Antonelli's reply.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In order to prepare the world for this consummation of +Franco-Sardinian policy, there appeared a +new pamphlet, entitled <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">La France, Rome +et l'Italie</span></span>. It was signed by M. de la +Gueronniere, and published on the 7th day +of March. It was suggested, if not actually written, by the +Emperor himself. The allocution already alluded to, dealt by +anticipation with the chief points of this publication. It was, +however, directly replied to in a letter of the eminent Cardinal +Antonelli, to the Papal Minister at Paris. The cardinal +begins by stating that the chief object of the pamphlet +was <span class="tei tei-q">“to throw on the Holy Father and his government the +responsibility of the condition to which Italy and the Pontifical +States in particular were reduced.”</span> He then proceeds lucidly, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page238">[pg 238]</span><a name="Pg238" id="Pg238" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +logically, and not without eloquence, to attack all the positions +assumed by the writer, and exposes the treachery, baseness +and duplicity of the principal adversaries of the Holy See in +its long struggle with revolutionary Piedmont, supported as it +was by the Emperor Napoleon III. It will be recollected that +it had been proposed, indeed it was one of the articles of the +treaty of Zurich, that there should be a confederation of the +States of Italy. The writer of the pamphlet audaciously +accused the Pope of having rejected the plan of an Italian confederacy, +just as if he and not the Emperor and his ally, the +King of Piedmont, had violated the treaty which succeeded the +battle of Solferino. <span class="tei tei-q">“The official proposition of such a confederacy,”</span> +the cardinal states, <span class="tei tei-q">“and of its presidency came +only after the preliminaries of Villafranca and the treaty of +Zurich; and the Holy Father showed himself disposed to +accept it as soon as its basis should be defined. The author, +nevertheless, says that it was then too late. He does not, in +saying so, seem to perceive that he seriously insults his own +sovereign, as if he and the other Powers had proposed as the +basis of a solemn treaty and the great means of conciliation, a +thing which was at that moment neither possible nor opportune. +Be that as it may, it was only then that the proposition +was made by the person authorized to make it; and it is unjust +to pretend that his Holiness had taken any action thereon +before it was laid before him. Since, therefore, the plan fell +through independently of his refusal, how can he, without a +positive act of calumny, be accused of obstinacy on this +point?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cardinal's letter is of great length. In one place he +recapitulates the heads of accusation contained in the pamphlet. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Putting aside,”</span> says he, <span class="tei tei-q">“the unfounded assertions, the matters +foreign to the case, which helped to fill up the pamphlet, +the obstinacy which it imputes to the Holy Father amounts to +his having declined an abdication which his conscience condemned, +to his having deferred some reforms that were promised +till the revolted provinces had returned to their allegiance; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page239">[pg 239]</span><a name="Pg239" id="Pg239" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to his having proposed to recruit an army for himself instead +of accepting the troops offered to him; to his having preferred +the voluntary offerings of the faithful to subsidies furnished by +governments which are not all nor always equally disposed to +be friendly. And these acts of firmness, of noble disinterestedness, +which must appear most praiseworthy to the unprejudiced +mind, which have appeared and do still appear worthy of the +admiration of Protestants, seem, on the other hand, to the +Catholic author of the pamphlet, to be so blameworthy that +he could not find more bitter words of censure were he to write +against those who are alone responsible for the sad disorders +of the present time. But this is precisely what is of a nature +to surprise us. The Imperial government of France had given +advice to his Holiness; it had also given advice to the Piedmontese +government. Now, if the Holy Father must be +accused of not having followed such advice, the Piedmontese +government does not seem to have been more docile. His +Holiness did not deem it expedient to do some things desired +by the French government. But Piedmont did a great many +things which the French government had publicly declared it +was opposed to. The Imperial government forbade the violation +of the neutrality of the Papal States; and to this the +Piedmontese government responded by occupying the Romagna. +The Imperial government disapproved annexation; and the +Piedmontese government only answered by accomplishing +annexation. The Imperial government forbade, in threatening +language, the invasion of the Marches and Umbria; and the +Piedmontese government responded by pouring grape shot into +the small Pontifical army, by bombarding Ancona from sea +and land, and by refusing to observe any of the laws of war +acknowledged by all civilized nations. The author of the +pamphlet allows his pen the most cruel license against the +Holy See, but has not one single word of blame for the Piedmontese +government. Who can explain such an attitude? The +explanation is a very natural one, and is given on the last page +of the pamphlet, where the author tells us that the Emperor +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page240">[pg 240]</span><a name="Pg240" id="Pg240" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the French <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">cannot sacrifice Italy to the Court of Rome, nor +give up the Papacy to the revolution</span></em>; which means that the +Court of Rome must be sacrificed to the exigencies of the peninsula, +that the temporal dominion of the Holy See must be +done away with, because it is in the way of the unification of +Italy, and that this suppression is to prevent the Papacy or the +spiritual power from falling beneath the blows of the revolution.”</span> +It cannot fail to be remarked that in all the French +Emperor's manifestos appears the pretext of protecting the +Papacy from the revolution, whilst, but for his interference, it +needed not such protection. Pius IX. was quite able to contend +successfully against whatever revolutionary element there +was in the Pontifical States. With the aid of his allies, he +could also have repelled the attacks of Piedmont, if unsupported +by the French. But against a Power so great that it +could command the non-intervention of all other Powers, he +was powerless. It may have afforded a momentary pleasure +to the Carbonaro Prince, Napoleon III., to annihilate, for the +sake of his way of promoting Italian unification, the time-honored +sovereignty of the Pope. It afforded him no lasting +benefit. Germany caught the idea, and becoming unified, +hurled her legions against the common European enemy, who, +in his day of sorest need, found not an ally, not so much as +one powerful friend even in that Italy for which he had done +and sacrificed so much. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">First Italian Parliament. +Victor Emmanuel +proclaimed +King of Italy.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It now only remained for young Italy, revolutionized as it +was, to assume and wear its blushing honors. +Piedmont having seized Umbria and the +Marches of Ancona, and having also, through +her agent Garibaldi, taken possession of +Sicily and Naples, was mistress not only of the greater portion +of the Pontifical States, but also of almost all Italy at the +same time. It became such greatness to have a parliament. +Accordingly, the first Italian parliament assembled at Turin in +February, 1861; and on the 14th of March, Victor Emmanuel +was proclaimed King of Italy. It was not, however, till the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page241">[pg 241]</span><a name="Pg241" id="Pg241" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +24th of June that the French Emperor found it convenient to +recognize this extended sovereignty. In doing so, no doubt, +he was consistent with himself, although quite at variance +with the professions of him who had so lately withdrawn his +ambassador from the Court of Turin. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Death of Count de +Cavour.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Count de Cavour lived not to enjoy this recognition. He +died on the 6th of June. This minister was +a politician to the end; and he had no wish +ever to be anything else. He was anxious, +however, at the close, to have the merit of reconciliation with +the church which he had so cruelly persecuted, both in the +ancient State of Sardinia and in the newly-annexed territories +of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Kingdom of Italy.”</span> Finding that his latter end was +approaching, he desired the presence of Friar Giacomo, Rector +of the Madonna degli Angeli. This Friar, with whom, as is +related, the Count had had a previous understanding, faithfully +came. M. de Cavour remained alone with him for half an +hour; and when the priest was gone he called Farini, and said +to him: <span class="tei tei-q">“My niece has had Fra Giacomo to come to me; I +must prepare for the dread passage to eternity; I have made +my confession and received absolution. I wish all to know, +and the good people of Turin particularly, that I die like a +good Christian. I am at peace with myself. I have never +wronged any one.”</span> It is a trite saying that the ruling passion +of a man's life asserts its power at the hour of death; and the +last recorded words of Count de Cavour would seem to show +that to the end he was more bent on politics than prayer. As +Friar Giacomo was reciting solemnly by his bedside the +prayers for the departing soul, <span class="tei tei-q">“Frate! Frate!”</span> he exclaimed, +whilst he pressed the Friar's hand, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">libera chiesa in libera +stato</span></span>!”</span> (a free church in a free state). Admirable, no doubt. +But how was the great idea to be realized, since the church +could only be free when her ministers were dictated to, +imprisoned, banished, and otherwise tormented? And what +freedom for the state, unless it were free to tyrannize over and +persecute the church? Judging Cavour and his party by their +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page242">[pg 242]</span><a name="Pg242" id="Pg242" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +acts rather than their fine speeches, such was their idea of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">a +free church in a free state</span></span>. If it be true that, as men live so +they die, it is not true that Count de Cavour died like a good +Christian. None will be inclined to dispute with him the comfort +which he claimed of being at peace with himself. But +they who are aware of the violence, the spoliation, the rapine, +bloodshed, and unspeakable suffering, in all which he was, at +least, an accomplice, if not the direct cause, throughout the +States of the Italian Grand Dukes, the Pontifical territories +and the kingdom of Naples, will not easily acknowledge that +he spoke truth when he said that <span class="tei tei-q">“he had never wronged anyone.”</span> +But let us now be silent. There is <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">One</span></em>, and only <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">One</span></em>, +who judgeth. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Lebanon Massacres.—Generosity +of Pius IX.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Considering the assistance so recently afforded to Turkey +by the Christian Powers, her Christian subjects +were surely entitled to her protection, +But gratitude, it would appear, is not one of +the virtues of Islamism. In June, 1860, the Pachas disarmed +and delivered up to their deadly enemies the Christian Maronites +of Lebanon and Damascus. Over a hundred villages +inhabited by these people were completely destroyed. Neither +the aged nor the young that fell into the hands of the enemy +were spared; and, worse than all, seven thousand young women +were carried captive into the desert. In these melancholy +circumstances, Napoleon III. acted honorably and independently. +He sent an armed expedition to chastise the guilty, +and that in defiance of all opposition on the part of his allies, +the English, who, from national jealousy, resisted a French +protectorate in the East, and so assumed the disgraceful <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">role</span></span> +of patronizing hordes of assassins. Incomprehensible conduct! +since, a few years later, the same people were so moved by +Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria that no British government +could have dared to raise an arm in defence of the crumbling +Empire of the Sultan. Pius IX. was deeply moved by the +sufferings of his fellow-Christians. In a letter of 29th July, to +the Patriarch of Antioch and the Bishops of his Patriarchate, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page243">[pg 243]</span><a name="Pg243" id="Pg243" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +he expressed his sorrow and indignation at the fearful crimes +that were committed. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is particularly afflicting,”</span> said he, +as he condemned certain speeches that were delivered in the +British Parliament in favor of the guilty parties, <span class="tei tei-q">“that more +sympathy is accorded, and even more assistance extended, in +our age to the fomenters of troubles and revolutions than to +their victims.”</span> He commended France, that had remembered +in the circumstances her Catholic traditions, and intimated +that he would encourage with all his power the liberal offerings +of the Christians of the West in support of their brethren +of Syria. He himself, although he was deprived of his accustomed +revenue, together with the greater portion of his states, +contrived to bestow considerable assistance. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Conversion of the +Bulgarians.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A little later in the same year, the Holy Father met with +unlooked-for consolation in the conversion of +the Bulgarian nation. On the 20th December, +bishops, priests, and a great many lay +persons of that country, abjured the Photian schism, and +addressed to Rome a solemn act of union in the name of the +majority of their fellow-countrymen. Pius IX. replied on the +29th of January, 1861. He was pleased himself to consecrate +in the Sistine chapel their new archbishop, Sokolski. The +latter, as he renewed the profession of faith, which had been +already formulated in writing at Constantinople, said to the +Holy Father: <span class="tei tei-q">“It is your work that, although dead, we are +come to life, and that, being lost, we are found again.”</span> Pius +IX. referred all the glory to God. <span class="tei tei-q">“Such works,”</span> he said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“are wholly divine. To Thee praise, benediction, everlasting +thanks! O, Jesus Christ! source of mercy and of all consolation!”</span> +The Bulgarians were unfortunately situated. Jealousies +of race prevailed among them, and did much to shake +religious principle. Add to this that the schismatical Patriarch +of Constantinople agreed to grant ecclesiastical autonomy, as +it might be called, to Bulgaria. This was a deadly blow to the +noble impulse which led them towards the centre of Christian +unity. At first they were three millions of Catholics. The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page244">[pg 244]</span><a name="Pg244" id="Pg244" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +number speedily diminished to some tens of thousands. Archbishop +Sokolski suddenly disappeared. It is not known whether +he abandoned his post or was carried away by force. The +latter supposition is, as yet, the more probable. He is thought +to have been recognized, several times, in a Russian monastery, +whither he is supposed to have been taken by surprise, and +obliged to remain against his will. Pius IX., understanding +how necessary it was that the new flock should have a resident +pastor, appointed a provisional successor to Sokolski, with +the title of Administrator of the United Bulgarians, and +labored assiduously to found for him churches and schools. +Three schismatical Greek bishops, who had sought protection +at Rome from the violent proceedings of their patriarch, did +not persevere any more than the majority of the Bulgarians. +A fourth, however, Melethios, Archbishop of Drama, happily +remained steadfast, together with the Protestant bishop of +Malta, another Protestant bishop, who was an American of the +United States, and several prelates of the Greek schism, +Armenians, Chaldeans or Copts. All these, about this time, +placed themselves under the crook of the Supreme Pastor. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The annexation to +Piedmont of Umbria +and the Marches publicly +sanctioned by +Napoleon III.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Shortly before the death of Count de Cavour, the Emperor +Napoleon was pleased to define the new +limits of the papal domain. In doing so, +he left the recently alienated provinces to +Piedmont, and and confined the Pontiff to a +comparatively small territory around the +city of Rome. He could not have sanctioned more decidedly +or more publicly the unjustifiable spoliation of the Sardinian +king. Such a proceeding cannot but appear inconsistent to +such as are aware only of his apparent quarrel with this monarch, +and the withdrawal of his ambassador from Turin. To +those, on the contrary, who have knowledge of, and consider +his secret conference with, the Piedmontese Envoys at Chambery, +and the violent attack on the Papal States, which, notwithstanding +the public and official protest of the French government +through their consul at Ancona, immediately followed, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page245">[pg 245]</span><a name="Pg245" id="Pg245" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it will appear that Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the +French, was only acting up to his policy and character. Soon +after this new distribution of territory, the <span class="tei tei-q">“Kingdom of Italy”</span> +was officially recognized by the government of the French +Emperor; and this recognition paved the way for that of the +other Powers, by most of whom, after some time, it was reluctantly +given. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Piedmont seeks to +reign at Rome.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Cavour was dead. But Sardinian ambition died not with +him. Baron Ricasoli, who succeeded him +as Prime Minister, encouraged by the support +of France, which was no longer disguised, +actually wrote, in the name of his king, both to the +Pope and Cardinal Antonelli, urging them to give up the sovereignty +of Rome. This was done, not, of course, from any +ambitious motive, but with a view to carrying out their great +designs, such as the regeneration of society, and, above all, +their conception of a <span class="tei tei-q">“free church in a free state.”</span> The minister +concludes magniloquently: <span class="tei tei-q">“It is in your power, Holy +Father, to renew, once more, the face of the earth. You can +raise the Apostolic See to a height unknown for ages. If you +wish to be greater than earthly sovereigns, cast away from you +the wretched kingship which brings you down to their level. +Italy will bestow upon you a firm seat, entire liberty, and new +greatness. She reveres in you the Pontiff; but she will not +stop in her progress for the Prince. She intends to remain +Catholic; but she purposes to be a free and independent nation. +If you will only hearken to the prayers of that daughter whom +you love so dearly, you will gain over souls more power than +you can lose as a prince, and from the Vatican, as you lift your +hand to bless Rome and the world, you will behold the nations, +restored to their rights, bow down before you, their defender +and protector.”</span> The new minister, less wary than his predecessor, +immediately set about realizing his grand idea. With +what success will soon be seen. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page246">[pg 246]</span><a name="Pg246" id="Pg246" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Piedmontese +Government fills its +coffers by plundering +the church.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Piedmontese conquests had not been made without +cost. Enormous sums had been spent in +corrupting the Neapolitan people. Large +amounts were still scattered throughout the +annexed provinces, in order to maintain +their loyalty to the new power; and the press was liberally +subsidized, both in Italy and abroad. For such heavy expenditure +money must be had. <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Rem! quomodocunque modo rem!</span></span> +An expedient which occurs so readily to revolutions was had +recourse to. The properties of the convents and the treasures +of the churches were seized. Members of religious communities +were expelled from their monasteries and reduced to +mendicity. The laws of the church were trampled under foot, +together with the rights of citizens. The Jesuits were banished +and cruelly maltreated like so many felons. Religious corporations +were suppressed, the faithful clergy were thrown into +prison, and many dioceses and parishes deprived of their +pastors. Pius IX. deplored these calamities in his Allocution +of 30th November, 1861. In that of 18th March of the same +year, he had replied to those who conjured him to be reconciled +with modern civilization: <span class="tei tei-q">“The Holy See,”</span> the Pontiff +insisted, <span class="tei tei-q">“is always consistent. It has never ceased to promote +and sustain civilization. History bears witness to this fact. +It shows most eloquently that, in every age, the Popes carried +civilization into barbarous nations, and even to the remotest +lands. But is that true civilization which enslaves the church, +makes no account of treaties, and recognizes not the rights of +weaker parties? It is quite certain that the church can never +come to an understanding with such civilization. What is +there in common, says the apostle, between Christ and Belial? +As to making friendship with the usurpers of our provinces, +before they have shown repentance, let no such thing be hoped +for. To make such a proposition to us, is to ask this see, +which has always been the rampart of justice and truth, to +sanction the principle that a stolen object can be possessed in +peace by the thief, and that injustice which succeeds is justified +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page247">[pg 247]</span><a name="Pg247" id="Pg247" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +by success. We loudly declare, therefore, before God and +men, that there is no reason why we should be reconciled with +any one. Our only duty, in this connection, is to forgive our +enemies, and to pray for them, in order that they may be converted. +This we do in all sincerity. But when we are asked +to do what is unjust, we cannot give our consent: <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Præstare +non possumus</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A little later, January, 1862, Cardinal Antonelli replied in +the name of Pius IX. to the Marquis de Lavallette, the French +Ambassador at Rome, showing that it was by no means true +to say that the Pope was at variance with Italy. <span class="tei tei-q">“An Italian +himself, and the chief Italian, he suffers when Italy suffers, +and he beholds with pain the severe trials to which the Italian +church is subjected. As to arranging with those who have +robbed us, we never will do any such thing. All transaction +on this ground is impossible. By whatever reservations it +might be accompanied, with whatever ingenuity of language it +might be disguised, we could not accept, without appearing to +consecrate the wrong. The Sovereign Pontiff, before his +exaltation, as well as the cardinals before their nomination, +bind themselves by oath to cede no portion of the territory of +the church. The Holy Father, therefore, will not make any +concession of this kind. Neither a Conclave, nor a new Pontiff, +nor his successors in any age, would be entitled to make such +concession.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The revolutionists, however, could help themselves. It +would not be difficult to imagine the people of Italy, a few +generations hence, if, indeed, the kingdom of Italy be destined +to last so long, looking back to their founders with that same +kind of pride which animated the great Romans when they +thought of Romulus and Remus, and the band of brigands who +helped them to found the city. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page248">[pg 248]</span><a name="Pg248" id="Pg248" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Emperor Napoleon +induced to +modify his Italian +policy.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +About this time the French parliamentary chambers began +to enjoy, to a certain extent, liberty of speech. +They could now discuss an address to the +sovereign, and give full publicity to their +debates. Inquiry could now be made to +some purpose, whether the Italian policy of Napoleon III. was +sanctioned by France, whether that aberration were national +which impelled to the violation of all right and law, in order to +unify Italy, and pave the way, at the same time, for the unification +of Germany. The revolutionary left of the French parliament, +as a matter of course, favored the Emperor's revolutionary +foreign policy. But the liberty of debate showed that +there was a powerful minority opposed to them, and this +minority enjoyed the sanction of the greatest statesmen of the +age. In the Senate, notwithstanding the absence of every +member of the Legitimist party, as well as that of Messrs. de +Montalembert and de Fallou, whom a coalition of the despotism +of the day with radicalism had caused to lose their seats, +a tolerable number of the most devoted partisans of the empire +showed a boldness of language, together with well-defined +statesmanlike views, to which the Imperial <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">regime</span></span> was not +accustomed. Several of the ablest orators concurred in presenting +an amendment to the address to the throne in favor of +the Pope's temporal sovereignty. It was, of course, opposed +by the government, but was supported, nevertheless, by sixty +votes to seventy-nine. In the legislative assembly, notwithstanding +all the ability displayed by the representatives of the +government, the Emperor's Italian policy could obtain the +support of only 161 votes, whilst it was condemned by the +powerful minority of ninety-one. The radical leaders of the +majority now thought the time opportune for demanding the +recall of the French troops from Rome. The government +went dead against it, and invited the deputies to join with it +in condemning the inordinate and persistent ambition of the +revolution. This the assembly did by a solid vote of the whole +house to five. Of this precious quintet, Jules Favre and +Emile Olivier, the leaders of the government, were two. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page249">[pg 249]</span><a name="Pg249" id="Pg249" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Such national demonstrations in favor of the sovereignty +which he had done his best to crush were very irritating to +the Emperor Napoleon; and although he endeavored to appear +wholly absorbed by his life of Cæsar, he could not avoid showing +by his acts how profoundly he was disturbed by being +thwarted. Everywhere throughout France the Catholics were +made to suffer. The clergy were persecuted as far as the laws +of the country would allow, and the Imperial anger went so far +as to wreak its vengeance on the poor by suppressing that +benevolent and non-political institution, the Association of St. +Vincent de Paul. Needless to say that, at the same time, the +Catholic press was held in fetters. There was no relaxation +in its favor till the year 1867, when the law extending the +liberty of the press became available to Catholic as well as all +other writers. The Emperor even sacrificed the best supporters +of the Imperial system on account of their dislike to his +anti-Roman policy. Not only from such men did warnings +come, but also from eminent statesmen of former <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">regimes</span></span>, +such as Messrs. Sauzet, de Broglie, Vitet, and even M. Guizot, +who was a Protestant, together with Messrs. Thiers, Cousin +and Dufaure, who were only nominal Catholics. <span class="tei tei-q">“Madame,”</span> +said M. Thiers, one day, to the Empress, with more truth than +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">politesse</span></span>, +<span class="tei tei-q">“history lays down the law that <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">quiconque mange +du Pape en creve</span></span>.”</span><a id="noteref_6" name="noteref_6" href="#note_6"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">6</span></span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +So many and such decided manifestations of public opinion +were not without their effects. No less a personage than +Garibaldi, relying, as he thought he could do, on Piedmontese +support, now undertook to realize to the full the revolutionary +programme—the Kingdom of Italy, with Rome for its capital. +The King of Piedmont, whilst he publicly disowned the filibuster, +as he had affected to disown him in Sicily, held an army +in reserve for his support. He expected himself to be officially +condemned, whilst in reality, as usual, privately sustained. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page250">[pg 250]</span><a name="Pg250" id="Pg250" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Garibaldi defeated +at Aspromonte.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the meantime, however, the policy of his Imperial +patron was considerably modified; and orders were despatched +to his Sardinian Majesty, which he could neither take as a +blind nor dare to disregard. So the Piedmontese army, which +was intended to aid the filibusters in the sack of Rome, was +obliged to fight them. It came up with the +bands of Garibaldi, at a place called Aspromonte, +on the 29th of August, 1862. The +irregular force was defeated, its leader wounded in the heel +and taken prisoner. Garibaldi being so renowned a warrior—Achilles +was nothing to him—was immediately released. +Napoleon had spoken sincerely at last. If he had always done +so there would have been less disorder, less violation of all +right and less bloodshed, in bringing together the provinces +and states of Italy. If it had been his policy to concur with +the Pope and the party of true reform, instead of patronizing a +filibustering prince, he might have lived to see a less objectionable +and more lasting unification of Italy than that which he +so powerfully aided in achieving. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The intriguing Cabinet of Turin took great credit to itself +for having so vigorously acted, although against its will, in +preventing Garibaldi from seizing Rome. As a reward for this +signal service, it boldly proposed to go there itself. But the +time had not yet come. The fall of Rome was destined to +occur simultaneously with another event, in which the Emperor +Napoleon was directly and personally interested. To do him +justice, he was from this time anxious that matters should be +settled advantageously to the Holy See, but without prejudice +to the revolution. The idea was chimerical. But that is no +reason for supposing that it was not sincerely entertained. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page251">[pg 251]</span><a name="Pg251" id="Pg251" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Canonization of the +Martyrs of Japan.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The venerable Pontiff derived some comfort from the +resolve of the French nation, in which all +parties, as has been seen, concurred, and +the determination of its Imperial head to +check the career of revolution, and leave Rome to its legitimate +sovereign. But meanwhile more abundant consolations in the +spiritual order were showered upon him. In the course of the +great struggle in which there was now, at length, a pause, +he was practically abandoned, even by the most friendly +nations. It now fell to his lot to fulfil a high duty incident to +the Pontifical office, and the nations, through their numerous +representatives, flocked around him. No earthly prince was +ever so sustained by the sympathies of mankind. The time +had now arrived, all research and investigation having come +to a close, when those heroes of the Christian faith who, in the +year 1597, had suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Japanese, +should be solemnly canonized. They were twenty-six in number. +One of these was an American, and suffered at Nagasaki +in the year just mentioned. Another process of canonization +had also been concluded—that of the blessed Michael de +Sanctis, a Trinitarian, and member of the order for the +Redemption of Captives. Pius IX. had invited the bishops to +attend the important ceremony. The Sardinian government, +which took credit to itself for having established a <span class="tei tei-q">“free church +in a free state,”</span> forbade the Italian bishops to visit Rome on +this occasion. No fewer than ninety bishops protested against +this mockery of liberty, and declared that nothing but the +strong hand of power could have prevented them from repairing +to the holy city. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Notwithstanding the forced absence of so many bishops, +there were at Rome three hundred and twenty-three cardinals, +patriarchs, archbishops and bishops, more than four thousand +priests, and one hundred thousand strangers of various +nations and classes. Humble curates of the Alpine regions, +who were too poor to undertake the journey, subscribed in +order to send a few of their number in the name of the rest. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page252">[pg 252]</span><a name="Pg252" id="Pg252" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Numerous ships which were, for the time, as floating convents, +sailed from the ports of France, Spain and Italy, invoking +Mary the Star of the Sea—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Ave Maris Stella</span></span>—whilst +masses of people responded from the shore; the hearts of all were with +them. There was high festival at Rome from Ascension Day +to Whitsuntide. All thoughts of politics were dismissed; the +grand religious celebration absorbing all attention. As often +as Pius IX. appeared in public, he was honored with an ovation. +On one occasion, in particular, there was a great demonstration +by the clergy and the artillerymen of the French +army, on the day before Pentecost Sunday. The Bishop of +Tulle, Mgr. Berteaud, Mgr. Dupanloup of Orleans, and +other bishops, addressed immense crowds, and produced religious +emotion in which unbelievers could not help participating. +It is not recorded that Pius IX. had preached in public +since the beginning of his Pontificate. He now, on the 6th of +June, delivered the word of God in the Sistine Chapel, speaking +first in Latin and afterwards in French. His audience consisted +of four thousand priests, as many as could be assembled +within the spacious edifice. All were deeply moved, and only +refrained through reverence from giving vent to their feelings. +As soon as the Holy Father had announced the apostolic benediction, +one of the priests happily intoned the liturgical prayer: +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Oremus pro +Pontifice nostro Pio</span></span>.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Let us pray for our +Pontiff Pius.”</span> All present, as if with one voice, responded: +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him +blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.”</span> +One may have some idea how the Catholic mind was +impressed, from the words of M. Louis Veuillot: <span class="tei tei-q">“We traversed +our beloved Rome with filial affection. And if the thought +occurred to us that there existed a design to rob us of it, our +feeling was one of anger rather than of fear. We passed from +sanctuary to sanctuary, inquiring as to the places where Pius +IX. would appear, in order to pay profoundest reverence to the +Holy Pontiff. <span class="tei tei-q">‘No, no,’</span> exclaimed a bishop, as he came from +the presence of the Holy Father, <span class="tei tei-q">‘it is not true, it is not possible! +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page253">[pg 253]</span><a name="Pg253" id="Pg253" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Do not believe that there are Victor Emmanuels, +Garibaldis, Ratazzis! Such a man cannot have enemies!’</span> ”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, 1862, it was known that +the Basilica of St. Peter would be open at five o'clock in the +morning. All night the neighboring streets were crowded, and +when the gates were thrown open that greatest of earth's +temples was filled in a few minutes. The Pontifical troops +were on guard inside. The foreign ambassadors, the royal +family of Naples, and other distinguished persons filled the +tribunes; and the French infantry was massed on St. Peter's +place. The church was appropriately decorated with paintings +representing scenes in the lives of the martyrs and illustrious +confessors. The thousands of lights which shone around +added splendor to the scene. At seven o'clock the great procession +began to move. First came a troop of orphans, then +appeared the students of the ecclesiastical seminaries. These +were followed by religious communities and the secular clergy. +Bishops came next, and archbishops, patriarchs and cardinals. +Then appeared the Supreme Pastor, preceded by the banners +of the saints that were to be canonized. All besides was now +forgot, as the Holy Father was borne slowly along, seated on +the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">sedia gestatoria</span></span>, +which was carried by twelve attendants in +scarlet cloaks. The Tiara added dignity to the noble figure of +the Pontiff. In his left hand, which was veiled with white +silk, embroidered with gold, he held a lighted wax taper, while +his right was left free to bless the people as he passed along. +The correspondent of the London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Times</span></span>, who was a Protestant, +says: <span class="tei tei-q">“Looking over the sea of heads placed between me and +the procession, I observed that all knelt before Pius IX., the +meek and the good, for it is only justice so to speak of him. +The chanters of the Vatican chanted in angelic tones: <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Tu es +Petrus</span></span>, and these tones, softened rather than weakened by distance, +pervaded the whole edifice like spirits. At intervals, +another group chanted: <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Ave Maris Stella</span></span>, and thus the +Pope was borne, through the thousands of Christians who had come +from every country on which the sun shines, to the high altar +behind the tomb of the apostles.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page254">[pg 254]</span><a name="Pg254" id="Pg254" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the midst of so much pomp and glory, Pius IX. was +humble and collected, referring all to Him of whom he was +only the representative on earth. At the same time, his soul +overflowed with happiness when he saw that there was still +so much faith in Israel. The Sovereign Pontiff now took his +seat upon the Papal throne, and having received the obedience +of the cardinals and bishops, he was approached by the consistorial +advocate, who thrice petitioned him to permit the +names of the glorious martyrs and confessors to be inscribed +on the diptychs of the saints, which the church recognizes and +holds sacred. After the request had been made the third time, +the Holy Father read in a clear and audible voice the decree +of canonization. He then intoned the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Te Deum</span></span>, which was +chanted by the immense congregation. The ceremonies concluded +with a solemn High Mass, which was celebrated by the +Pope himself, surrounded by the cardinals and bishops. The +people spent the remainder of the day in pious rejoicing. +They were gay and expansive, but calm and brotherly; thus +exhibiting, without being conscious of it, a spectacle unknown +to the inhabitants of other capitals. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Pope's consistorial +allocution to +the assembled bishops. +He denounces +the errors of the time.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The demonstrations which took place at Rome on the following +day were not less important, and +perhaps had greater significance, although +not accompanied by so much pomp and +ceremony. There was held in the Palace +of the Vatican a semi-public consistory, at +which all the bishops who were at Rome attended. The venerable +Pontiff denounced, in his allocution to the attentive +audience, those errors which are too ancient to have even the +merit of originality, but which are the more dangerous that, at +the present time more than ever, they are loudly preached +and widely disseminated. He alluded in particular to that +German criticism, which views our sacred books as nothing +better than a system of mythology, and to that too well-known +romance of a French writer, M. Renan, entitled: <span class="tei tei-q">“The +Life of Jesus.”</span> He condemned materialism, pantheism, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page255">[pg 255]</span><a name="Pg255" id="Pg255" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +naturalism, and all those more or less degrading systems +which deny human liberty, proclaim a morality independent +of the laws of God; which derive from material force and +superior numbers all law and authority: and which in philosophy +make reason their God, the state in politics, and passion +in the daily conduct of life. The Holy Father then thanked +the bishops who were present, regretting the absence of those +of Portugal and Italy, the latter of whom were restrained by +the Piedmontese government, and exhorted them all to continue +to combat error, and to turn away the eyes and hands of +the faithful from bad books and bad journals, and to promote, +without ever wearying, the instruction of the clergy and the +good education of youth. He concluded, in a voice which was +impeded by his tears, and with his eyes raised to heaven, by +joining with all present in beseeching the Father of mercies, +through the merits of Jesus Christ, His only Son, to extend a +helping hand to Christian and civil society, and to restore +peace to the church. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Cardinal Mattei, dean of the Sacred College, replied in the +name of all the bishops. Three points chiefly, among others, +were affirmed in his declaration. First of all, the supreme +doctrinal authority and infallibility of the Roman Pontiff. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You are in our regard the master of sound doctrine. You +are the centre of unity. You are the foundation of the church +itself, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. When +you speak, we hear Peter. When you decree, we obey Jesus +Christ. We admire you in the midst of so many trials and +tempests, with a serene brow and unshaken mind, invincibly +fulfilling your sacred ministry.”</span> Next, the temporal sovereignty +of the Holy See. <span class="tei tei-q">“We acknowledge that your +temporal sovereignty is necessary, and that it was established +in fulfilment of a manifest design of Divine Providence. +We hesitate not to declare that this temporal +sovereignty is required for the good of the church and +the free government of souls. It was necessary that the +Supreme Pontiff should be neither the subject nor even the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page256">[pg 256]</span><a name="Pg256" id="Pg256" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +guest of any prince. There was required in the centre of +Europe a sacred bond, placed between the three continents of +the ancient world, an august seat, whence arises in turns, for +peoples and for princes, a great and powerful voice, the voice +of justice and of truth, impartial and without preference, free +from all arbitrary influence, and which can neither be repressed +by fear nor circumvented by artifice. How could it have been +that at this very moment the prelates of the church, arriving +from all points of the universe, should have come here in order +to represent all peoples, and confer in security on the gravest +interests, if they had found any prince whomsoever ruling in +this land who had suspicions of their princes, or who was suspected +by them on account of his hostility? In such case their +duties as citizens might have conflicted with their duties as +bishops.”</span> Finally, the intimate union of the Catholic world +with the Pope. <span class="tei tei-q">“We condemn the errors which you have condemned. +We reprove the sacrilegious acts, the violations of +ecclesiastical immunity, and the other crimes committed against +the chair of Peter. We give utterance to this protest, which +we claim shall be inserted in the annals of the church, in all +sincerity, in the name of our brethren who are absent, in the +name of those who, detained at home by force, lament and are +silent, in the name of those whom the state of their health or +important affairs have prevented from joining us in this place. +To our number we add the clergy and the faithful people who +give you proof of their love and veneration by their assiduous +prayers, as well as by the offering of Peter's pence. Would to +God that all kings and powerful men in the world understood +that the cause of the Pontiff is the cause of all states. Would +to God that they came to an understanding in order to place +in security the sacred cause of the Christian world and of social +order.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. made reply: <span class="tei tei-q">“United as we are, venerable brethren, +we cannot doubt that the God of peace and charity is with +us. And if God be with us, who shall be against us? Praise, +honor, glory to God! To you, peace, salvation and joy! +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page257">[pg 257]</span><a name="Pg257" id="Pg257" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Peace to your minds; salvation to the faithful committed to +your care; joy to you and to them, in order that you may all +rejoice, chaunting a new canticle in the House of God for evermore!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The address which Cardinal Mattei read bore the signatures +of all the bishops who were in Rome. The bishops of Italy +hastened to express their concurrence, with one exception, +Ariano, who had participated in the revolutionary movement, +and who came to an unhappy death within the year. There +came, in due course, numerous adhesions from all parts of the +world, together with countless addresses from the clergy of the +second order. The laity, on their part, received the bishops +on their return home with triumphal honors. They came +around them and escorted them to the pulpits of their cathedrals, +in order to hear from their lips all that had taken place +at Rome. The Bishop of Moulins, Mgr. de Droux Breze, +admirably expressed in a few words the impressions of the +venerable pilgrims: <span class="tei tei-q">“Rome is a city of wonders; but the +wonder of Rome is Pius IX.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The moral result of all these manifestations was incalculable. +At a time when universal suffrage had come into vogue, +it was impossible not to see in all this, from a merely wordly +point of view, indirect, indeed, but strikingly universal suffrage. +The vote of the whole Catholic world was shown, united with +that of the Romans, in affirming the rights of the Catholic +world over Rome, whilst appeared, at the same time, the determination +of the Romans to retain their cherished autonomy, +and to remain the capital of the Catholic world. The parliament +of Turin was greatly agitated. There was indescribable +confusion, so that discussion was impossible. They voted, in +opposition to the Episcopal and Pontifical allocutions, an +address to Victor Emmanuel, the character of which may be +gathered from the following few words: <span class="tei tei-q">“Sire, bishops, almost +all strangers in Italy, have proclaimed the strange doctrine +that Rome is the slave of the Catholic world. We reply to +them by declaring that we are resolved, to maintain inviolable +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page258">[pg 258]</span><a name="Pg258" id="Pg258" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the right of the nation and that of the Italian metropolis, +which is, at present, retained by force under a detested yoke.”</span> +It was of a piece with many other assertions of the revolutionary +party that the Romans detested the rule of the Holy Father. +It was particularly audacious to make such an assertion in face +of the enthusiastic demonstrations which had just been made +in the city of the Popes. They had forbidden the presence of +the Italian bishops at Rome, and nevertheless they dared to +complain that almost all the bishops who gathered around the +Sovereign Pontiff were strangers in Italy. But what did this +avail them? Did not the Italian bishops decidedly express +complete concurrence with their brethren? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is still more surprising that the Emperor Napoleon took +no warning from the words of the Turin parliament, and went +so far as to conclude an agreement with them for the preservation +to the Pope of the Holy City. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Church in Poland +persecuted. Pius +IX. raises his voice +in its behalf.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is difficult to understand how a people numerically so +weak as the inhabitants of that portion of +the once great kingdom of Poland, which +fell to the Russian Empire at the time of +the unfortunate partition, could have undertaken +a rebellion against so great a Power as Russia. But +provocation, patriotism, the sense of nationality, together with +the ardent love of liberty, set the laws of prudence at defiance. +That provocation must have been of no ordinary kind which +could excite, in Russian Poland, a third rebellion, which had +no better prospect of success than the two former, which +resulted so disastrously for the unhappy Poles. And, indeed, +what could be worse or more calculated to cause insurrection +than the cruelties, crimes and sacrilegious acts which the +Russian government was guilty of throughout Poland in the +years 1861 and 1862? The churches of that ill-fated country +were seized and profaned, divine service interdicted, and the +bishops arraigned before courts-martial and cast into prison. +Such atrocities, instead of crushing, only increased the patriotism +of the people. Russian policy, baffled as was to be expected, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page259">[pg 259]</span><a name="Pg259" id="Pg259" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in its design of establishing tranquillity by such barbarous +proceedings, had recourse to a rigid conscription intended +to have the effect of forcing all the patriotic youth of the country +into the ranks of the Russian army. This violent recruiting +was first attempted at Warsaw, at dead of night, on the +15th of January, 1863. When the news of this violence +spread throughout the country, all the young men capable +of bearing arms fled to the steppes and forests, and, in eight +days, all Poland was in rebellion for the third time, in order to +break the yoke of the foreigner. A word from the great Powers, +or any one of them, would have restored peace. But they all +alike refused to speak this word. The British, after having +encouraged the Poles to resistance in public speeches, were +on the point of intervening in their behalf, when a hint from +M. de Bismark suddenly cooled their zeal, and determined +Lord John Russell to recall by telegraph threatening despatches +which were already on their way to St. Petersburgh. +It need scarcely be said that Prussia, which was an accomplice +of Russia in the iniquitous partition, made common cause +with Russia in the work of repression. Austria was at the +time paralyzed, as Italy was threatening Venice. Italy simply +expressed to Prince Gortschakoff, the Russian Chancellor, <span class="tei tei-q">“its +confidence that the Emperor Alexander would persevere in the +reforms so unfortunately interrupted by the rebellion.”</span> Innocent +Italians! They, of course, were not guilty of causing +rebellion, which was now, in their estimation, so deplorable in +Sicily, Naples, the Grand Duchies, &c. Napoleon remained, +as was his wont, undecided. He would neither assist the +Poles nor give them to understand that he would not assist +them. A word from him would have shortened, by eighteen +months, a hopeless struggle of two years, which ended by +exhausting them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was one, however, who protested. Pius IX. denounced +the oppressor as fearlessly as if he had been the least of the +princes of the earth. He wrote to him, at first, in a tone of +mild remonstrance, on the 22d of April, 1863. But finding +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page260">[pg 260]</span><a name="Pg260" id="Pg260" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that his representations were not heeded, he renewed them +more pressingly. He did not confine himself to merely official +acts. He sent Cardinal Reisach on a confidential mission to +Vienna, and addressed a warm and feeling letter to the Emperor +Francis Joseph, in order to induce him to take action +energetically in common with France. He invited the whole +Christian world to join with him in praying for the suffering +nation which he nobly declared to be <span class="tei tei-q">“the soldier of civilization +and of faith.”</span> Such as were at Rome, at the time of these +prayers, will never forget how enthusiastically the Roman +people responded to the call of Pius IX. In praying for the +defenders of a distant country, they seemed to pray, at the +same time, for their own, which was now, more than ever, +threatened. But the time of mercy had not yet come, and +persecution was redoubled. Ecclesiastics were deported or put +to death, simply for not having refused the aid of religion to +the dying on the field of battle. Families and whole populations +were doomed to choose between exile and apostacy. All +the bishops, without exception, were driven from their dioceses, +and some of them perished on the way to Siberia. Pius IX. +could no longer contain his grief and indignation. On the 27th +of April, 1864, in replying to the postulators in the cause of +blessed Francis of the five wounds, he said: <span class="tei tei-q">“The blood of +the helpless and the innocent cries for vengeance to the throne +of the Almighty against those by whom it is shed. Unhappy +Poland! It was my desire not to speak before the approaching +consistory. But I fear lest, by being silent any longer, +I should draw down upon myself the punishment denounced +by the prophets against those who tolerate iniquity. No, I +would not that I were forced to cry out, one day, in presence +of the Sovereign Judge: <span class="tei tei-q">‘Woe to me because I have held my +peace!’</span> (<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Va mihi quia tacui.</span></span>) I feel inspired at this moment +to condemn a sovereign whose vast Empire reaches to the +Pole. This potentate, who falsely calls himself the Catholic of +the East, but who is only a schismatic cast forth from the +bosom of the true church, persecutes and slays his Catholic +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page261">[pg 261]</span><a name="Pg261" id="Pg261" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +subjects, and by his ferocious cruelty has driven them to +insurrection. Under the pretext of suppressing this insurrection, +he extirpates the Catholic religion. He deports whole +populations to inhospitable climes, where they are deprived +of all religious assistance, and replaces them by schismatical +adventurers. He tears the pastors from their flocks, and +drives them into exile, or condemns them to forced labors +and other degrading punishments. Happy they who have +been able to escape, and who now wander in strange lands! +This potentate, all heterodox and schismatical as he is, arrogates +to himself a power which the Vicar of Christ possesses +not. He pretends to deprive a bishop whom we have rightfully +instituted. Can he be ignorant that a Catholic bishop is +always the same, whether in his see or in the catacombs, and +that his character is ineffaceable? Let it not be said that in +raising our voice against such misdeeds we encourage the +European revolution. We can distinguish between the socialist +revolution and the legitimate rights of a nation struggling for +independence and its religion. In stigmatizing the persecutors +of the Catholic religion, we fulfil a duty laid on us by our conscience. +It behooves us to pray, with renewed earnestness, +for that unfortunate country. In consequence, we impart our +apostolic benediction to all who shall, this day, pray for Poland. +Let us all pray for Poland!”</span> It was as if the breath of God's +anger were on the lips of the Holy Pontiff. Pius IX., remarks +M. de St. Albin, swayed by his deep emotion, had risen from +his throne, his voice was like thunder, and his arm appeared +to threaten as if possessed of omnipotence. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The revolutionists +admire the courage +of Pius IX.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Such apostolic courage commanded the admiration of the +enemies of the Papacy. The deputy, Brofferio, +said in the parliament of Turin, whilst +his colleagues, revolutionists like himself, +applauded: <span class="tei tei-q">“An old man, exhausted, sickly, without resources, +without an army, on the brink of the grave, curses a potentate +who slaughters a people; I feel moved in my inmost soul; I +imagine myself borne back to the days of Gregory VII.; I +reverence and applaud.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page262">[pg 262]</span><a name="Pg262" id="Pg262" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Russian Envoy +insults the Pope.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +M. Meyendorf, the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">charge d'affaires</span></span> of Russia, having +been admitted to a private audience on occasion +of the Christmas festivities of 1866, Pius +IX. naturally directed the conversation to +the painful state of ecclesiastical affairs in Poland. The Russian +minister denied everything, even the most notorious facts, +and ended by casting all the blame on the Catholics, who, he +affirmed, had openly transacted with the Polish insurrection, +whilst the Protestants generally sided with the government. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Nor was this astonishing,”</span> he added, <span class="tei tei-q">“considering that +Catholicism and revolution are the same thing.”</span> Pius IX. +could not tolerate this false assertion, which was so absurd that +it could have no other object than to insult him and the whole +body of the faithful of whom he was the Chief. <span class="tei tei-q">“Depart,”</span> +said he to the minister, as he dismissed him, <span class="tei tei-q">“I cannot but +believe that your Emperor is ignorant of the greater part of the +injustice under which Poland suffers. I, therefore, honor and +esteem your Emperor; but I cannot say as much of his representative +who comes to insult me in my own house.”</span> Pius IX. +vainly hoped that the Envoy would be disowned, and diplomatic +relations between Rome and St. Petersburgh continued. +When Alexander II. suppressed, by his own authority, in 1867, +the Catholic diocese of Kaminieck, Pius IX. was obliged to have +recourse to the newspaper press, in order to make known to the +Catholics of that unfortunate country that he appointed the Bishop +of Zitomir provisional administrator. <span class="tei tei-q">“I have no other means of +communicating with them,”</span> said he <span class="tei tei-q">“I act like the captain of a +vessel who encloses in a bottle his last words to his family, and +confides them to the storm, hoping that the waves will deposit +them on some shore where they will be gathered up.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. insists on +protecting the ex-King +of Naples, and +takes Napoleon severely +to task.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. showed himself as generous to princes as to +peoples, acting always as the champion of +justice in the cause of the former, as well as +in supporting the undoubted rights of the +latter. Francis II., of Naples, dethroned by +his ambitious cousin, King Victor Emmanuel, +was, as the Bonapartes had once been, an exile at Rome, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page263">[pg 263]</span><a name="Pg263" id="Pg263" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +enjoyed the same princely hospitality which his predecessor, in +1848, had extended to the Holy Father in the Kingdom of +Naples. Victor Emmanuel remonstrated against this kindness +to a fallen enemy. But in vain! He was powerless. His +ally and patron, however, the French Emperor, was not so +easily resisted. This potentate gave it to be understood, +although not in express terms, that the stay of the French +troops at Rome was dependent on the departure of the exiled +monarch. The Pope, alluding to the family of Napoleon I., +whom Pius VII. had kindly received at Rome, replied, satirically, +that the Roman Pontiffs had traditions of hospitality, as +regarded their persecutors, and much more in favor of their +benefactors. Napoleon was ashamed to persist; and Francis +II. remained at Rome as long as Pius IX. was master there. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">An Emperor and +Empress visit the +Pope.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was quite natural that Napoleon III. should entertain +the idea that he was born to found empires. +He had succeeded in establishing one on the +ruins of a republic in the Old World. He +now sought to build up Imperial power side by side with a +republic in the New. Mexico was designed to be the seat of +this empire; and, as that country greatly needed government +of some kind, the time was deemed opportune for carrying into +effect Napoleon's idea. The Imperial dignity was offered to +the Archduke Maximilian of Austria; and this prince, relying +on the support of France, consented to ascend the throne of +the Montezumas. Before crossing the seas, Prince Maximilian +came, together with his wife, the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, +to Rome, in order to beg the prayers, the wise counsel and the +apostolic benediction of the venerable Pontiff. So desired the +new Emperor to inaugurate a reign which, it was hoped, would +be great and prosperous. The Holy Father, at the solemn +moment of communion, spoke to the Prince of Him by whom +kings reign and the framers of laws decree just things. In the +name of this King of kings, he recommended to him the Catholic +nation of Mexico, reminding him, at the same time, that +he was, under God, the constituted protector of the rights of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page264">[pg 264]</span><a name="Pg264" id="Pg264" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the people as well as those of the church. The Emperor and +his youthful spouse were moved to tears; and Maximilian, on +leaving Rome, declared that he departed under the protection +of God, and with the benediction of the Holy Pontiff. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am +confident, therefore,”</span> he added, <span class="tei tei-q">“that I shall be able to fulfil +my great mission to Mexico.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Unfortunately for him, however, liberalism, or, rather, ill-disguised +socialism, was enthroned, for the moment, in what +was destined to be, for a little while longer, the chief seat of +European Power. It is not difficult to imagine whence counsel +proceeded, and the inexperienced Emperor came to believe +that Mexico might be governed as France was, whilst its ruler +thwarted the will of the great majority of her people. He may +not, indeed, have been free to reject the advice which swayed +him. Be this as it may, he most unwisely cast himself into +the arms of the party to whom monarchy and religion were +alike hateful. He now framed a Concordat which, whilst it +could not be acceptable to his new friends, was far from being +such as the Pope could ratify. The revolutionary party had +gained the new Emperor. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">A Papal Nuncio sent +to remind Maximilian +of his promises +made at Rome.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Holy Father, ever anxious to promote the well-being +of the church, sent a nuncio to Maximilian, +in order to remind him of his promises, and +induce him to abolish the laws that had +been enacted for the purpose of oppressing +the church, and completely to reorganize ecclesiastical affairs +with the full concurrence of the Holy See. The letter borne +by the nuncio required that the Catholic religion should continue +to be the stay and glory of the Mexican nation; that the +bishops should be entirely free in the exercise of their pastoral +ministry; that the religious orders should be restored and +organized according to the instructions and faculties imparted +by the Sovereign Pontiff; that the patrimony of the church +and the rights connected therewith should be guaranteed and +protected; that none be allowed to disseminate false and subversive +doctrines; that public as well as private education be +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page265">[pg 265]</span><a name="Pg265" id="Pg265" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +directed and superintended by ecclesiastical authority; and, +finally, that those fetters be broken which had hitherto for +some time held the church dependent on the arbitrary will of +the civil power. <span class="tei tei-q">“If,”</span> continued the Holy Father, <span class="tei tei-q">“the +religious edifice be re-established, as we doubt not it will, on +such foundations, your Majesty will satisfy one of the greatest +wants and realize the most ardent aspirations of the religious +people of Mexico; you will dispel our disquietude and that of +the illustrious Mexican Episcopate; you will pave the way for +the education of a learned and zealous clergy, as well as the +moral reformation of the people. You will thus, also, consolidate +your throne, and promote the prosperity and glory of +your Imperial family.”</span> In all this the Emperor would have +been sustained by the great majority of the Mexican people. +And there was nothing impossible required of him. It is not +shown anywhere that the restoration of church properties, +which had been long alienated and had often changed proprietors, +would have been exacted, any more than in England, +when religion was restored under the reign of Mary. The +policy indicated by Pius IX. would have won for Maximilian a +host of friends and supporters. The line of conduct which he +pursued was most unacceptable to the Catholic nation of +Mexico, whilst it was not in the least calculated to satisfy the +revolutionary party. Refusing to concede everything that the +church required, he wished to retain for himself the ancient +regal privileges of the Crown of Spain—the investiture of +bishops, the regulating of ecclesiastical tariffs, the limitation +of the number of monastic orders and religious associations, +&c. So far the revolution was pleased. It was loud in its +applause. With what sincerity events failed not to show. +Pius IX. insisted on the Emperor's solemn pledges so recently +given at Rome. Maximilian was deaf to the counsels, the +complaints, the earnest prayers of the Holy Father. So it +remained only for the Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Meglia, to +take his departure from Vera Cruz (1st June, 1865). Meanwhile, +Maximilian's chief support, the French Emperor, dreading +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page266">[pg 266]</span><a name="Pg266" id="Pg266" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the formidable hostility of the United States of America, +which could not tolerate an empire on the borders of their +great republic, was obliged to withdraw from Mexico the army +which, from the first, was necessary to sustain the new empire. +Napoleon, one would say, was pledged to Maximilian, having +induced him to assume the Imperial Crown, and having also +promised all necessary support. He could not, however, command +success; and chivalry, even if it had still existed, would +have availed but little, when power alone could win. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Maximilian was now all alone, face to face with anarchy +and the Mexican nation which he had slighted. Faction ruled +in his place. The revolutionary party which he had favored +proved untrue; and falling into the hands of his enemies, he +was solemnly murdered by the ruling brigand of the day. The +officers of Napoleon's army sincerely believed that no better +fate could be anticipated; for they earnestly advised him to +accompany them on their return to Europe. This he could +have done without dishonor. The idea of a Mexican empire +was Napoleon's, and he alone was answerable for its success. +On the part of Maximilian it was more than chivalry to remain +in Mexico when his guard was gone. But the idea of the +youthful Prince in regard to honor appears to have been, like +his policy, unsound. The policy may not have been, most +probably was not, his. But the sentiment of honor was all his +own. And although, in an age of chivalry even, it would have +appeared exaggerated, it redounds to his credit. It is not +surprising that a man animated by such noble sentiments +should have died as became a hero and a Christian. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">A further step towards +the abolition +of the Papal +sovereignty.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The potentate, on whom, as far as worldly power was concerned, +depended the Pope's temporal sovereignty, +was throwing himself every day +more and more into the hands of the enemies +of the church. His ministers, more audacious +than himself, carried their blind hatred of <span class="tei tei-q">“Clericalism”</span> +to such an extent as to sacrifice many of the best supporters of +the empire. This was singularly apparent at the general +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page267">[pg 267]</span><a name="Pg267" id="Pg267" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +election of 1863. M. de Persigny hesitated not to employ all +the influence of the government against such Imperialists as +had voted for or shown themselves favorable to the Pope's +temporal power. He succeeded in causing such friends of +Napoleon as De Caverville, Cochin and Lemercier to be replaced +by the most bitter enemies of the Imperial <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">regime</span></span>. He also +managed to exclude from parliament Messrs. de Montalembert, +de Falloux and Keller. But Messrs. Plichou, Berryer and +Thiers, notwithstanding his hostile efforts, were elected. This +last-named statesman was himself a host, and his eloquent +speeches in support of the temporal sovereignty made all the +more impression that they were known to be dictated by far-seeing +policy, rather than any leaning towards religion. They +deeply impressed the parliament and the country; but availed +not with Napoleon III., whom an unprincipled ministry were +leading blindfolded to destruction. Meanwhile, the question +of Rome entered on a new phase. The Cabinets of Turin and +Paris concluded an agreement in regard to the Roman State +on 15th September, 1864. The text of this notorious agreement +was known to Europe, whilst its meaning remained a +mystery. The ministry of Napoleon III. made it appear in +France as a guarantee for the safety of the Pope. The Piedmontese +government flattered the revolutionary element of +Italy, by representing that it did not in the least change their +programme, the keynote of which was <span class="tei tei-q">“Rome the Capital.”</span> +They were right. This proved to be the true solution of the +mystery. The first article provided that the King of Piedmont +should not attack, and he bound himself by oath not to attack, +the remaining territory of the Holy Father, to prevent by force, +if necessary, all aggression from any other quarter, and to pay +the debts of the former States of the Church. By the second +clause France became bound to withdraw her troops in two +years. A protocol was added, by which Victor Emmanuel +engaged to transfer his capital from Turin to Florence in six +months. It was more than disrespectful to the Pope; it was +of evil omen, of sinister import, that the sovereign whose state +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page268">[pg 268]</span><a name="Pg268" id="Pg268" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was concerned was not a party to the treaty—was not even +consulted. The minds of all Catholics were greatly disquieted, +and their anxiety was only increased by the Italian interpretation +of the agreement. Pius IX., who understood well by +what men and by what principles the Cabinet of the Tuileries +was governed, made a remark which indicated more his fears +for the great French nation than for the fragment which +remained to him of his territory. He would have nothing to +do with the pecuniary compensation that was offered to him. +He could only say that <span class="tei tei-q">“he pitied France.”</span> The crime of that +country was that her government made any agreement at all +with the monarch who had so unscrupulously violated the treaty +of Zurich, and who was, besides, the chief hero of Gaeta, +Naples, Castelfidardo and Ancona. One of the most eloquent +of Bishop Dupanloup's publications, the one which, perhaps, +has been the most generally read, exposes the hollowness of +this arrangement, which is known in history as the September +agreement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Syllabus.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The 8th of December, 1864, the tenth anniversary of the +proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate +Conception, was marked by the publication +of the Encyclical, <span class="tei tei-q">“quanta cura,”</span> and, together with it, +the <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus.”</span> This great doctrinal act was a crushing reply +to the erroneous assertions of the time, as well as to the vain +ideas of those politicians who boasted that, through their +efforts, the spiritual office no less than the temporal sovereignty +of the Pope was drawing to a close. The Encyclical letter is +addressed to all bishops in communion with the Holy See, and +through them to all the faithful throughout the world. It contains +the teachings of Pius IX., and the Popes, his predecessors, +in opposition to the errors of the present age—the mistaken +ideas of natural religion; religious indifference which, +falsely assuming the name of liberty of conscience and of +worship, establishes the reign of physical force in the place of +law and justice; communism and socialism; the subjection of +the church to the state; and the independence of Christians in +regard to the Holy See. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page269">[pg 269]</span><a name="Pg269" id="Pg269" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus”</span> consists of eighty propositions, which are +a summary of the false teachings of the enemies of the Catholic +church, as found in the periodical press, as well as in their +writings of a more permanent character. The first seven +propositions briefly express the errors on pantheism, naturalism, +and absolute rationalism. All who have any Christian +belief, to whatever denomination they may adhere, must surely +acknowledge the justice of denouncing philosophers of the +school of Strauss, who insist that Christ is a myth, and His +religion a system of mythology. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From the eighth to the fourteenth proposition inclusively, +are pointed out and condemned the errors of modern rationalism. +From the fourteenth to the eighteenth, indifferentism +and latitudinarianism are exposed. Throughout the rest of +the catalogue, secret societies and communism are condemned; +erroneous views, as regards church and state, natural and +Christian ethics, and Christian marriage are expressed and +denounced. Finally, are pointed out the errors that have been +uttered in regard to the temporal power of the Pope, together +with such as have reference to modern liberalism. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +These important documents, the Encyclical, <span class="tei tei-q">“quanta cura,”</span> +and the <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus,”</span> are not so much the work of Pius IX. as of +all the Popes of a century back, from the Council of Pistoia, +Febronianism and Josephism. Whilst the <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus”</span> was +yet in embryo, it was, with the exception of a few propositions +which were not yet formulated, confidentially communicated +to the bishops on occasion of the canonization of the Japanese +martyrs. Each bishop was at that time invited to select two +theologians in order to examine the propositions, and give +their opinion in six months. The church, therefore, was not +taken by surprise, when the <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus”</span> appeared, however much +its publication may have struck with astonishment and alarm +the party of revolution and unbelief. Catholics, at least, could +not fail to be swayed by such a masterly exposition of Catholic +theology on so many subjects, all intimately connected with +human conduct in private life as well as in affairs of public +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page270">[pg 270]</span><a name="Pg270" id="Pg270" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +import. And there were Catholics everywhere—among the +rulers of the world and its leading statesmen, no less than in +all classes and grades of society. Such now could have no +excuse for favoring opinions which were so distinctly condemned +by that authority which they all recognized as the highest +upon earth. Nevertheless, whatever impression the clear teaching +of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus,”</span> in regard to the church and her rights, +civil society, and both natural and Christian morality, was +destined, in time, to produce, but little disposition was shown +to be guided by it at the outset. There was all but a universal +clamor that the church had pronounced a divorce between +modern society and the spiritual order. Nor could it be otherwise, +so long as the former held principles which were essentially +incompatible with the latter. Neither could reconciliation +be easily or speedily brought about. The principles which +religion condemned were in the ascendant. The existing civil +law of all European nations was founded on them. There was +no government that had not adopted them and shown itself +inclined to be entirely guided by them. The formal condemnation +of the cherished ideas of the age was as a thunderbolt +hurled against the social elements of the day. But why disturb +their peace? They had no peace. They were already +discordant. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Non esi pax impiis</span></span>.”</span> Peace could not be born +of unbelief. It could come only through the truth, even as +health conquers disease by the most trying curative process. +Napoleon III. was the first who openly resisted the <span class="tei tei-q">“encroachments”</span> +of Rome, just as if they had constituted the only +danger to his throne. By a decree dated 1st January, 1865, +he forbade the publication of the Encyclical and the Syllabus, +whilst he caused to be tried and condemned, as guilty of abuse, +the Archbishop of Besançon and the Bishop of Moulins, because +they had read the Encyclical in their pulpits. The other prelates +of France so far submitted as to avoid printing the +obnoxious documents, lest their printers should be uselessly +compromised. Several bishops declared that the Encyclical +was already sufficiently published in their dioceses by the voice +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page271">[pg 271]</span><a name="Pg271" id="Pg271" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the press. They thus expressed the idea of the whole episcopate. +Pius IX. highly commended their zeal. <span class="tei tei-q">“We must +go back,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“to the early ages of Christianity, in order +to find an episcopal body that could show such courage.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To persons accustomed to theological studies, it is sufficiently +apparent why each proposition of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus”</span> stands +condemned. To others, cause is shown in the consistorial allocutions, +Encyclical and other letters apostolical of the Holy +Father, in relation to each proposition. Some things must be +interpreted by the conduct of the Pope himself. For instance, +what is said in regard to the liberty of public worship and of +the press must be read in the light of that reasonable tolerance +which the Popes were accustomed to exercise when they ruled +at Rome as sovereign Princes. There is no liberty without +some restraint. The press, in this respect, is in the same +position as individuals. According to the laws of all civilized +lands, when it abuses its liberty and commits crime, it is +visited with severe punishment. The greater liberty which the +press enjoys, and must enjoy, in the present circumstances of +the world, by no means clashes with the condemnation of +proposition 79 of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Syllabus.”</span> The press can no more be free +to publish anything whatsoever, however offensive it may be, +than persons are free to perform such acts as necessarily subject +them, even in states where there is the greatest attainable +degree of liberty, to condemnation and punishment. If every +organized community possesses, as it certainly does possess, +the right so to stigmatize an offending citizen, and that without +any violation of liberty, it is equally entitled to judge and +punish an offending press. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Successful efforts of +Napoleon III. to +humble Austria.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Not satisfied with the blow which so greatly weakened +Austria in the Italian campaign, Napoleon +III. plotted with Prussia for a further humbling +of the great Catholic Power. To this +end he held dark consultations with Count Bismark, at Biarritz, +as he had formerly done with Count de Cavour at Plombieres. +The former, however, proved to be more than a match +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page272">[pg 272]</span><a name="Pg272" id="Pg272" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for him. Hence the great victory of Sadowa which paved the +way for Sedan. Prussia, without a rival in Germany, could +freely pursue her ambitious schemes. Napoleon, apparently +suspecting nothing, left the Rhine frontier comparatively +unprotected; and Prussia, victorious in the struggle with +Austria, refused to France all compensation for her complicity +and encouragement. This hindered not Napoleon from taking +part in the treaty of Prague, as president, and sanctioning by +his signature the expulsion of Austria from Germany, and the +confiscation of Hanover, Nassau, the two Hesses and other +small independent sovereignties, in the interest of Prussia. +This Power, besides, assumed the military direction of Southern +Germany, and so was, literally, doubled in extent and +population. Thus was swept away in the course of seven +years, through the agency of Napoleon III., the barrier of +small states which the wisdom of ages had placed along the +continental frontier of France, from the Mediterranean to the +ocean, and which moderated the shocks of the greater Powers. +France, accordingly, by her own act, was confined between +unified Italy on the one hand, and on the other, the formidable +German Empire. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In exchange for combinations which proved so disastrous, +Venice was ceded to Napoleon, and immediately made over by +him to Italy. Defeated both by sea and land in his struggle +with Austria, Victor Emmanuel, nevertheless, accepted the +present, as if it had come to him by conquest, and Italy was +free to the Adriatic, and the celebrated Milan programme of +1859 completely carried out. This result, whilst it flattered +the vanity of Napoleon III., crowned the wishes of the secret +societies. Protestants, Jews, Freemasons, and people of all +shades of unbelief, deputies of the French left, and the revolutionary +journals, all zealous in the service of Prussia, enthusiastically +applauded. The French Emperor's ministers, even, +M. Rouher, in the Legislative Chamber, and M. de Lavalette, +in a diplomatic circular, were not ashamed to congratulate +themselves publicly on the stipulations of the treaty of Prague. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page273">[pg 273]</span><a name="Pg273" id="Pg273" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +In their mania for Italian unity, these wise statesmen became +blind to the interests of their own country—condign punishment, +surely, of their disloyal and unprincipled policy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. devoted to +the duties of his +spiritual office.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst the political world was extraordinarily agitated, and +a great potentate was endeavoring to destroy +the last remnant of Papal sovereignty, and +was himself at the same time, hastening +blindly but surely to ignominy and ruin, the Pontiff against +whom he warred calmly and successfully continued to accomplish +the sublime work of his spiritual mission. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Canonization, 1859. +John Baptist de +Rossi.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nothing tends more to the instruction and edification of +the Catholic people than the canonization +of saints and martyrs. But for the care +which the church bestows in bringing to light the acts and +sufferings of those heroes of the Christian faith, many of them, +remaining unknown, would be lost as examples to the rest of +mankind. It is also due to the saints themselves that the +church should honor them, although, indeed, earthly celebrity +and true fame which lasts throughout all time is as nothing +compared to the glory which they enjoy. +John Baptist de Rossi (de Rubæs) was a +canon of the Collegiate Basilica of Saint Mary, +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">in cosmedin</span></span>. The venerable John Baptist de Rossi was +in every respect a worthy minister of God. He labored last +century at Rome, in the vineyard of the Lord, with so much, +patience, longanimity and meekness, and was so filled with +the Holy Ghost and sincere charity, that he spent his whole +life in evangelizing the poor, to the great gain of souls. He +instructed others unto righteousness, and God willed that he +should shine for evermore as a star in the firmament. And +not only was he crowned with light in heaven, in order that, +transformed to the Divine image, he should appear in God's +presence environed with heavenly splendor; but God, through +His unspeakable bounty, appointed that His servant, enriched +by an abundant harvest of merits, illustrated by triumphal +honors, and glorified by miracles, should also enjoy upon +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page274">[pg 274]</span><a name="Pg274" id="Pg274" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +earth a name glorious in the estimation of mankind, and should +thus be a new ornament to the church militant. The process +of canonization was commenced in the time of Gregory XVI., +and completed by Pius IX., when in March, 1859, the name of +John Baptist de Rossi was inscribed on the sacred diptychs. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">John Sarcander.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +John Sarcander was born at Skoczovia, in Upper Silesia, +in the year 1577. He obeyed the call of +God and joined the ranks of the priesthood. +When ordained priest, he showed himself in every way a pattern +of excellence—by his good works, his science, the integrity +and gravity of his character. He was appointed, accordingly, +to the charge and guidance of souls. He fulfilled so well all +the duties of a good pastor that the four parishes to which he +was successively called by episcopal authority received him as +an angel sent to them from heaven, and bore witness by their +tears to their regret when they were deprived of his presence. +Meanwhile, the ministers of the sect of Pikardites were driven +from the parish of Holleschow, where the scourge of heresy, +like the wild boar of the forests, had spread devastation during +eight years. John Sarcander was selected in order to repair +the incalculable evil that had been done to that unfortunate +vineyard. He shrunk not from the struggle which it behooved +him to maintain in the cause of the true faith. He was in +every sense an example to his flock. He exhorted, beseeched, +reprimanded with patience and wisdom, neglecting nothing +that was calculated to strengthen whatever was weak and heal +what was sick, to reunite those who were separated, to raise +up the fallen and seek such as were astray. Such exemplary +conduct only excited the extreme hatred of the heretical party, +and he was obliged to leave Holleschow and retire to Poland. +But moved by the dangers to which were exposed the people +whom he loved so dearly in Christ, he returned to his +parish, after having venerated the Holy Virgin at her shrine +of Crenstochow, in fulfilment of a vow which he had made. +Soon after his return the heretics cast him into prison as a +traitor to his country, but, in reality, on account of his zeal in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page275">[pg 275]</span><a name="Pg275" id="Pg275" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +preaching the Catholic faith. He was subjected to vigorous +interrogatories, and in order to induce him to reveal what the +supreme head of the administration in Moravia had confided +to him in confession, he was made to undergo the most exquisite +torture. Preferring a glorious death to a miserable life, he +combated to his last breath for the work of Christ, and gave +up his soul to God, leaving to all the people the remembrance +of his death as an example of fortitude and courage. Fearfully +tortured on the rack for three hours, burned slowly in almost +every part of his body, by torches and bundles of feathers +steeped in rosin, oil, pitch and sulphur, he was carried back +almost lifeless to his prison. There he lingered a whole month, +suffering more than the pain of death, whilst his mind and +heart were so fixed on God that he ceased not to sing His +praises as long as life remained. He fell asleep in the Lord, +the sixteenth of the calends of April, 1620. It was not appointed +that such heroic suffering should be doomed to +oblivion. Public report, the witness of contemporary writers, +the monuments of the time, and the splendor of miracles +caused them to be so celebrated that, notwithstanding the +wars, losses and other impediments which had prevented the +Archbishops of Olmutz from considering this grand and beautiful +cause, and reporting it to the Holy See sooner than the +18th century, the sanctity and martyrdom of the venerable +John Sarcander were not only known to the populations of +Moravia and the neighboring countries, but were also remembered +with the most profound veneration. From 1754 till the +time of Pius IX., this celebrated cause was before the church, +and subjected to the usual searching investigation. Finally, +in February, 1859, it was concluded, and the blessed John +Sarcander recognized, as a saint and martyr, by the universal +church. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page276">[pg 276]</span><a name="Pg276" id="Pg276" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Benedict Joseph +Labre.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This same year, 1859, was canonized the venerable servant +of God, Benedict Joseph Labre, of the diocese +of Boulogne. Voluntary poverty was +the lot in life of this saint of modern times. +Worldly wisdom condemns as folly, the choice of this devoted +Christian who preferred to all earthly advantages the most abject +poverty. God is, indeed, wonderful in His saints; and as He +often chooses what is folly in the estimation of the world, in +order to confound what it holds to be wise, so He appointed +that the humble Labre who, for the love of Christ, led a life +of poverty, and taught mankind the excellence of self-denial +in an unbelieving and selfish age, should be exalted, even +upon earth, and ranked among the princes of God's people. +In June, 1842, Gregory XVI. declared, by a solemn decree, +that Benedict Joseph Labre had practised, in a heroic degree, +all the Christian virtues. The necessary investigations and +formalities were continued, and in September, 1859, Pius IX. +ordained that apostolic letters should be issued, ordering the +celebration of the solemn rite of his beatification in the +Patriarchal Basilica of the Vatican. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Mixed schools—Ireland.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The year 1859 was also marked by the solicitude of Pius +IX. for the Church of Ireland. In a letter +to the archbishops and bishops of that country, +he commends their zeal in promoting +Catholic education, and concurs with them in pointing out the +dangers of mixed schools. In the same letter the Holy Father +earnestly entreats the venerable pastors of the Irish Church to +pray that the designs of the wicked may not succeed, that +it would please God to bring to naught the machinations of +those misguided men who, by their false teachings, endeavor +to corrupt the people everywhere, and to overthrow, if that +were possible, the Catholic religion. At the same time, it was +appointed that the feast of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of +Ireland, should be celebrated according to a higher rite. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page277">[pg 277]</span><a name="Pg277" id="Pg277" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Troubles of the +Church in Mexico.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The anti-President Juarez had succeeded in establishing +himself at Vera Cruz, whilst Miramon was +recognized by Mexico, after General Zuloago, +as the successor of Santa Anna. Juarez +was a revolutionist and persecutor of the church; Miramon, a +conservative and friend of religion. As proof of the tyranny of +the former, may be cited a decree which he published in July +of this year (1859). This decree, which aimed at nothing less +than the destruction of religion, and was, at the same time, a +cruel outrage on the Catholic nation of Mexico, accounts for the +earnestness and determination with which Pius IX., a little +later, as has already been shown, insisted that the Emperor +Maximilian should adopt a policy friendly to the church, and +in harmony with the wishes of the great majority of the +Mexican people. Such policy, if only followed in time, would +have so strengthened the hands of Maximilian that, in all +probability, he would have been able to hold his ground when +most unchivalrously abandoned by his faint-hearted ally. No +doubt the anti-president claimed that he was a reformer of the +church. And surely, indeed, he was, if it was reform to suppress +all religious societies whatsoever, to rob the clergy of their +property, and that so completely as to reduce them to mendicancy. +But let the decree speak for itself: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Art. 1. All property administered under divers titles, by the +regular or secular clergy, whether real or personal, whatever +its name or object, is henceforth the property of the nation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Art. 3. There shall be complete independence between +affairs of state and such as are purely ecclesiastical. The government +will confine itself to protecting the public worship of +the Catholic religion the same as any other religion. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Art. 4. The ministers of religion can accept such offerings +as may be made on account of the administration of the sacraments +and the other duties of their office. They may also, by +an agreement with those who employ them, stipulate for +remuneration for their services. But in no case can these +offerings or this remuneration be converted into permanent +property. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page278">[pg 278]</span><a name="Pg278" id="Pg278" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Art. 5. All religious orders, whatever their name or their +object, are suppressed throughout the whole republic, as well +as confraternities or associations connected with a religious +community or any church whatsoever. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The 6th article, whilst it prohibits the erection of new convents +and new confraternities, forbids also the use of the +religious habit. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE EIGHTEENTH CENTENARY OF THE MARTYRDOM OF SS. PETER +AND PAUL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A new joy awaited the Holy Father. The year 1867 will +be ever memorable in sacred annals, as the year of the great +centennial celebration of the glorious martrydom of SS. Peter +and Paul. <span class="tei tei-q">“Peter went to Rome,”</span> St. Jerome writes, <span class="tei tei-q">“in the +second year of the Emperor Claudius, and occupied there the +priestly chair for twenty-five years.”</span> On the same venerable +authority it is known that Peter suffered two years after the +death of the great Roman philosopher, Seneca, who was executed +by order of Nero in the sixty-fifth year of the Christian +era. In the same work (<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">de viris illustribus</span></span>), St. Jerome says +that SS. Peter and Paul were put to death in the fourteenth +year of Nero's reign, which corresponds with the sixty-seventh +year of our era, when reckoned from the first of January, and +not from the 13th October, the date of Nero's accession. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The French troops had scarcely been withdrawn from +Rome in fulfilment of the September agreement, when Pius +IX. invited all the clergy and people of the Catholic world to +visit the city in order to participate in the celebration of the +centenary, and witness the canonization of several holy persons +long since deceased. Their names were Josaphat, the +martyr Archbishop of Solotsk; Pedro de Arbues, an Augustinian +friar; the martyrs of Gorcum; Paul of the Cross, founder +of the Passionists; Leonardo di Porto Maurizio; Maria Francesca, +a Neapolitan of the third order of St. Peter of Alcantara, +and Germaine Cousin, of the diocese of Toulouse. Shortly +before, in the preceding December, the Holy Father enjoyed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page279">[pg 279]</span><a name="Pg279" id="Pg279" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the great happiness of celebrating, with even more than ordinary +solemnity, the beatification of the Franciscan Monk, Benedict +of Urbino, who died in odor of sanctity, at Fossombrone, +in 1625, within a few miles of Sinigaglia, the birthplace of the +Pope, leaving the whole country bordering on the Adriatic and +the province of Umbria in a manner embalmed by a life of +sanctity and extraordinary self-denial. Pius IX., from early +youth, was familiar with the history of this saint, whose noble +birth and distinguished abilities opened to him the way to +worldly fame and prosperity, but who, nevertheless, chose the +cross, becoming a Capuchin, and having no other ambition in +the seclusion of the cloister than to be a worthy disciple of his +crucified Saviour. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was by no means to indulge his own pious feelings, or to +gratify the clergy and Catholic people, that the venerable +Pontiff invited so many from Italy and all parts of the Christian +world to take part with him in celebrating these canonizations, +and, at the same time, the eighteen hundredth anniversary +of the martyrdom of the blessed Apostles, the founders +of the Church. His object was to edify, to place in contrast +with, and in opposition to, the worldly and unbelieving spirit +of the time the teachings and the solemn offices of religion, +together with the power of holiness, so admirably shown forth +in the lives and glory of the saints. The revolution aimed at +nothing less than the destruction of everything spiritual. It +was good for it to be taught that true spirituality is beyond its +reach. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It would hardly be fair to contrast as purely worldly the +grand exposition at Paris, the World's Fair, with the religious +celebrations at Rome. The rich and varied display of the +objects of art and industry, in the beautiful capital of France, +was the result of an advanced Christian civilization. It was +recognized as such by the greatest statesmen, the ablest men +of science, and the wisest rulers of the age. No doubt it +savored more of the world and of things worldly than the festivals +at Rome. But the holy city bore it no grudge. It was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page280">[pg 280]</span><a name="Pg280" id="Pg280" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +other powers and other arts than those which furnished out so +grandly the Parisian exposition against which Rome waged +perpetual war. A Roman, let it not be forgotten, and not the +least pious among the Romans, the illustrious scientist, Father +Secchi, whose recent decease the world laments, took the highest +honors at the great industrial and artistic fair. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Paris, indeed, was in contrast with Rome, but more by its +materialist philosophy than by its magnificent exhibition of +material improvements. This philosophy availed itself of the +exposition in order to show to what extent it prevailed; and +Paris extolled mere worldly power, luxury, comfort and voluptuousness, +whilst Rome had no praise but for humility, poverty, +self-denial, chastity. Paris applauded Alexander II., who massacred +the Poles; Rome, on the other hand, did honor to a +Polish bishop, Joseph Kunicievicz, who was cruelly murdered +by Russian fanaticism. Paris celebrated the apotheosis of free-thinking +and religious indifference; Rome, on the contrary, +heaped honors on an Inquisitor, Peter d'Arbues, who suffered +martyrdom. Paris was loud in her acclamations to the potentates +and conquerors of the day, whilst Rome exalted an humble +shepherdess, Germaine Cousin, and some poor and obscure +monks who were hanged by heretics three hundred years ago, +in a small town of Holland. Yet was not Paris distinguished +only by material glories, nor was Rome altogether free from +the taint of modern worldliness. There were those in the latter +city who, in the midst of an atmosphere of pious thought, +plotted deeds of diabolic wickedness, whilst Paris, which honored +the arts, was not without sympathy at Rome, and her +prelates, the bishops of France, were far from being the least +among those five hundred high dignitaries, twenty thousand +priests of God's Church, and more than one hundred and fifty +thousand Christian people from all quarters of the known +world, who took part in celebrating the glorious centenary and +the no less glorious victory of more than two hundred martyrs. +The display of art, industry and modern improvements of +very kind presented, indeed, in the midst of the beautiful +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page281">[pg 281]</span><a name="Pg281" id="Pg281" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +French capital, a magnificent and cheering sight. It was +nothing, however, to the moral spectacle afforded by the presence +of ten or twelve mighty sovereigns around the now Imperial +author of the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">coup d'etat</span></span>. It was supremely worldly. +Who would then have said that William of Prussia, and +Napoleon III., the Czar of Russia, and the successor of the +caliphs, who, at the exhibition <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">fetes</span></span>, joined hands in +apparent friendship, were so soon to be engaged in deadly strife? and +that that capital, where so many great potentates came to +honor Napoleon, should, in a year or two, know him no more, +and even struggle with all the energy of desperation to obliterate +every vestige of the improvements with which he had so +enriched and beautified the city? This was the world; for +the world is insincere. This was the world; for the figure +thereof passeth quickly away. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In Rome it was not so. There art and religion walked +hand in hand. Religion fostered art. Art was dutiful, and +repaid the boon. It became the handmaid of religion. Everywhere +within the walls of her temples were seen the products +of art's filial labor, in sculpture, painting, poetry and music, +her inexhaustible treasury of thought and history ever presenting +new sources of artistic power to the hand of genius. Those +temples themselves being, indeed, the finest monuments of +architecture, bear glorious witness to the excellent union of art +and religion. Worldliness, on the other hand, when at the +height of its passion against religion, seeks to destroy all the +creations of art and genius. It aims at nothing less than to +reduce mankind to the condition of the savage, and is not +ashamed to acknowledge that such is its aim. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Let us hear the testimony of the Roman artists. This +body, on the one hand, rejoiced in the coming celebration of +the centenary; on the other, they were filled with sad forebodings +as to the approaching downfall of the Papal sovereignty +by the threats of Garibaldi and the predictions of Mazzini. +They resolved, therefore, whilst yet the Pope, who, like +his predecessors, had shown them much kindness, and munificently +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page282">[pg 282]</span><a name="Pg282" id="Pg282" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +rewarded their labors, reigned at Rome, to present to +him a dutiful and affectionate address, which should remain, +in time to come, as a testimony of their gratitude to that beneficent +sovereignty which they had but too much reason to fear +would soon come to an end. This address is so important +and tells so much truth, that it is deserving of a place in all +histories. It is as follows: <span class="tei tei-q">“Most Holy Father, religion, +policy and mere human wisdom have protested in favor of the +temporal power of the Papacy. The arts come, in their turn, +to lay their homage at the feet of your Holiness, and to proclaim +to the world that this power is to them indispensable. +Their voice must be heard and listened to. For when the tide +of generations recedes, the arts remain as the irrefutable witnesses +of the power and splendor of the civilization amid which +these generations lived. The sovereigns who encourage and +develop them acquire immortal renown; those who neglect or +oppress them meet only with the contempt of posterity. What +royal dynasty has in this respect deserved so well of civilization +and humanity as that of the Sovereign Pontiffs? They have +been the watchful guardians of the master-pieces bequeathed to +us by antiquity. They have given these a home in their own +palaces to show that religion adopts and ennobles all that is +truly beautiful. It is the Sovereign Pontiffs who, by opening +new avenues for modern art, have brought it to the point of +perfection, embodied in the master-pieces of Raphael and +Michael Angelo. They alone support in Rome that unique +assemblage of all that is beautiful in every order, that splendid +intellectual galaxy in whose light the artists of every land are +formed. Holy Father, the little spot of earth which the revolution +has not yet taken from you is the only place in which the +arts find the inspiration that is for them the breath of life, and +the quiet without which that life cannot expand. The soul of +the true artist is filled with unspeakable apprehension by the +possibility of seeing these master-pieces destroyed or scattered +abroad, these treasures plundered, all this wealth annihilated; +and especially by the danger of seeing the ungraceful and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page283">[pg 283]</span><a name="Pg283" id="Pg283" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +meagre forms of modern utilitarianism usurp the place held by +the manners, the habits, the face of all things in this privileged +land of beauty, all consecrated by the admiration of ages. +Alas! Holy Father, what is happening in the rest of Italy +affords but too firm a ground for such apprehensions. The +genius of destruction is abroad there, and proceeds to sweep +away pitilessly what was the glory of ancient Italy. The +spoliation and suppression of the religious orders are one of +the most deadly blows ever aimed at the existence of the fine +arts. Saddened by those forebodings, fearful of what the +future may bring forth, the artists resident in Rome come to +the feet of your Holiness to give utterance to their deep conviction +that the splendor, the greatness, the very existence of +the fine arts in Europe are inseparably connected with the +maintenance of the beneficent power of the Sovereign Pontiffs. +Were it not that the rival passions which divide Europe are +of themselves fatally blind to consequences, the reign of your +Holiness would suffice to render this truth evident to all. For +while elsewhere national wealth is wasted in frivolous undertakings, +or in preparing instruments of destruction, the modest +revenues inherited by your Holiness are ever employed in continuing +gloriously the noble labor of your predecessors. On +the one hand, you have drawn from obscurity the beginnings +of Christian art, thereby affording it new and precious data; +on the other, you have adorned Rome and the Vatican with +works which furnish a new and brilliant page to the grand +history of art embodied in the Vatican itself. While elsewhere +reigned trouble and agitation, here artists were able, beneath +the blessed sway of your Holiness, to enjoy a kindly welcome, +an unrestrained liberty, and the peaceful contemplation of +those venerable structures and sites preserved so happily by +the Pontifical government from the sad alterations blindly +wrought in other cities by the troublous life of modern communities. +May the Almighty One hear our prayer, and persuade +both sovereigns and nations that their honor and glory will be +measured, in coming ages, on the degree of protection they +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page284">[pg 284]</span><a name="Pg284" id="Pg284" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +shall have afforded to the temporal power of the Papacy, which +has ever been the unwearied promoter of the development of +all the noblest faculties in man, and which alone can continue +to be the custodian of the works of art originated by itself, +and by it so faithfully treasured for the benefit of all peoples!”</span> +This eloquent address will ever remain carefully guarded by +history, a noble monument of gratitude, and not only this, but +also as a testimony, all the more valuable as it is the spontaneous +utterance of men of the most cultivated intellect, in +favor of that sovereignty the destruction of which was sought, +and has been accomplished, by a party in whose ranks could +be counted only rude soldiers, bands of filibusters and politicians, +if such they could be called, whose counsels were inspired, +not by the wisdom which distinguishes statesmen, but by blind +passion, and the most unworthy of all passions, the passion of +hatred—hatred of everything connected with the Christian +faith. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The great centennial celebration proceeded. Who would +have dared to say, whilst Nero reigned at Rome, and Christians +were as pariahs, tolerated only in order to afford the +spectacle of their tortures to a heathen multitude, that eighteen +hundred years from Nero's time, Christianity would flourish +and celebrate in that city, which was the scene of its greatest +trials, as well as all over the world, its victory and the glorious +martyrdom of its apostolic founders! The month of June, +1867, will ever be memorable in the annals of the church. +Never had so many bishops assembled in the holy city. Nor +were there ever there, at one time, so many priests and pilgrims +of all ranks and classes. The duties of the time were commenced +early in the month. On the 11th and 12th of June, +consistories were held in presence of the bishops, in order to +make preparation for the canonization of two hundred and five +Japanese Christians—priests, catechists, laymen, women and +children—put to death in hatred of the Christian faith, from +1617 to 1632. On the 26th of February, 1867, the decree of +canonization had already been solemnly read in presence of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page285">[pg 285]</span><a name="Pg285" id="Pg285" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Pius IX., who, on the occasion, went in state to the Roman +College. On the 22nd February of the same year, the Holy +Father signed decrees bearing on the beatification of several +holy persons, among whom was Clement Maria Hofbauer, a +Redemptorist. In an age of unbelief, it was only to be expected +that the enquiry should be made why the Pope made so many +saints? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In February, 1867, his Holiness replied, on occasion of a +visit to the Convent of the Capuchin Friars: <span class="tei tei-q">“I have been +shown,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“a pamphlet, entitled <span class="tei tei-q">‘Why so many Saints?’</span> +Had we ever so much need of intercessors in heaven and patterns +in this world?”</span> A little later he also said, alluding to +the festivals at Paris: <span class="tei tei-q">“Man has not been placed on the earth +solely in order to amass wealth; still less in order to lead a +life of pleasure. The world is ignorant of this. It forgets +mind, and devotes itself to matter. Neither you nor I are this +world of which I speak. You are come here in the good disposition +to seek the edification of your souls. I hope, therefore, +that you will bear away with you a salutary impression. +Never forget, my children, that you have a soul, a soul created +in the image of God, and which God will judge. Bestow on it +more thought and care than on industrial speculations, railways, +and all those lesser objects which constitute the good +things of this world. I forbid you not to interest yourselves in +such transient matters. Do so reasonably and moderately. +But let me once more beg of you to remember that you have a +soul.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +None of the ten or twelve potentates who visited Paris came +to Rome. But their absence was amply made up for by the +immense concourse of clergy and people from every quarter of +the civilized world. The reverence shown to Pius IX. by so +many prelates was truly admirable. A Chinese bishop, Mgr. +Languillat, Vicar-apostolic of Nankin, coming for the first time +into the presence of the Supreme Pastor, fell prostrate on the +threshold, and with his arms extended towards the Pontiff, +began to exclaim: <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Tu es Petrus!</span></span>”</span> (<span class="tei tei-q">“Thou art Peter!”</span>) +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page286">[pg 286]</span><a name="Pg286" id="Pg286" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Come to me, my brother,”</span> said the Holy Father. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Tu es +Petrus!</span></span>”</span> replied the Chinese bishop, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Tu es Petrus!</span></span>”</span> +Needless to say that when he approached the venerable Pontiff +affectionately embraced him, whilst both gave vent to their +feelings in tears. The laity of all ranks and classes were no +less devoted. A very moving scene which was witnessed this +same year (1867) is beautifully described by the Protestant correspondent +of the London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Morning Post</span></span>: <span class="tei tei-q">“It is truly delightful +to meet Pius IX. in the country on foot, walking faster than +one would suppose his age could allow, his majestic person +arrayed in a white soutane, and protected by a large broad-brimmed +purple hat. The other day, when I was at Aricia, he +was proceeding towards Genzano, followed by his guards and +his carriage. The ex-Queen of Naples and the Infanta, lately +Regent, were walking in the opposite direction, followed by +their equipages and domestics. At a turn of the road, exactly +below the Villa Chigi, the two groups met. In a moment their +Royal Majesties were on their knees. His Holiness quickened +his pace in order to raise them up. The peasants of the neighborhood, +who were returning from their vineyards and +orchards, together with their wives and daughters, were struck +with admiration. They also advanced and knelt on each side +of the central group formed by the illustrious personages, calling out with all +their might: <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Santo Padre, la benedizione</span></span>.’</span> +<span class="tei tei-q">‘Holy Father, your benediction!’</span> It was a splendid tableau.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On occasion of the centennial, substantial proofs of devotedness +abounded. The numerous pilgrims not only gave the +homage of their faith, but also brought magnificent offerings, +as Peter's pence, and presented addresses with millions of signatures. +One day fifteen hundred Italians were received at an +audience of the Holy Father, and made the offering of a monumental +album, together with one hundred purses filled with +gold, as the homage of one hundred Italian cities. Cardinal +Manning laid at the feet of Pius IX. £30,000—a generous testimony +of English piety. The Cardinal Archbishop of Mechlin +brought to the centenary celebration £16,000, the Archbishop +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page287">[pg 287]</span><a name="Pg287" id="Pg287" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of Posen £20,000, and the Mexican archbishop £12,000, whilst +Cuba offered 100,000 douros. <span class="tei tei-q">“We are reversing the order of +nature,”</span> smilingly observed the Holy Father; <span class="tei tei-q">“here are the +children supporting the Father.”</span> Nor was it too much for the +wants of such a Father. He received with one hand and generously +dispensed with the other. He took charge himself to +lodge and entertain eighty-five of the poorer bishops from Italy, +the East, and remote missions. None of these were allowed to +depart without receiving abundant aid for their diocesan good +works. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Festival followed festival at Rome, from the 20th June till +the 7th of July. On the former day was celebrated the grand +solemnity of Corpus Christi. The Pope himself bore the holy +sacrament, kneeling and surrounded by the greater half of the +whole Christian episcopate. It was remarked that he was as +calm and collected in the midst of such a great and imposing +multitude as if he had been in his private oratory. The vast +assemblage was also rapt in silent contemplation. Not a sound +was heard save the murmur of the fountains. An eye-witness +has observed that if one closed his eyes he could imagine himself +in a desert. Next day was celebrated the 21st anniversary +of the coronation of Pius IX. He had already said, in reply +to an address read by Cardinal Patrizi, when all the visitors +to Rome were assembled on occasion of the commemoration +of his election—10th June—<span class="tei tei-q">“Modern society is ardent in the +pursuit of two things, progress, and unity. It fails to reach +either, because its motive principles are selfishness and pride. +Pride is the worst enemy of progress, and selfishness by destroying +charity, the bond of souls, thereby rendering union impossible. +Now God Himself has established the Sovereign Pontiff +in order to direct and enlighten society, to point out evil and +indicate the proper remedy. This induced me, some years +ago, to publish the <span class="tei tei-q">‘Syllabus.’</span> I now confirm that solemn +act in your presence. It is to be, henceforth, the rule of your +teaching. We have to contend, unceasingly, with the enemies +who beset us. Placed on the mountain-top like Moses, I lift +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page288">[pg 288]</span><a name="Pg288" id="Pg288" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +up my hands to God in prayer for the triumph of the church. +I ask of you, my brother bishops, to support my arms, for they +grow weary. Take courage! The church must triumph. I +leave this hope in your hearts, not as a hope merely, but as a +prophecy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 23rd was consecrated the Church of St. Mary of the +Angels, an admirable architectural monument, built originally +according to the plans of Michael Angelo, and rebuilt by Pius +IX. The 24th, on leaving the Basilica of St. John Lateran, +the Pope was the object of a more splendid ovation than any, +perhaps, that he had as yet received. Kneeling on the vast +place, and completely filling it, the multitude which had not +been able to enter the Basilica waited for the Pontifical benediction. +After the Holy Father had raised his hand and pronounced +the words of blessing, the whole people rose, and, by a +simultaneous movement and with one voice, replied: <span class="tei tei-q">“Live +Pius IX.! Live the Pope-King!”</span> Arms and handkerchiefs +waved amidst a rain of beautiful flowers. The Pope's carriage +was detained a considerable time, and he himself, accustomed +as he was to the demonstrations of a devoted people, was +moved to tears. His hood was almost taken to pieces, thread +by thread, by French ecclesiastics who were close behind his +Holiness, and who deposited the fragments, as precious relics, +in their breviaries. The crowd thronged around the Holy +Father and continued their acclamations as far as the Vatican, +a distance of three miles. Every new day gave proof of a like +enthusiasm. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. was anxious to address words of encouragement to +the twenty thousand priests of the church who had come to +Rome. The greatness of their number was a serious hindrance +to this laudable purpose. The spacious consistorial hall was +by far too small to contain so many. On the 25th of June, +however, they came to the hall, crowding its approaches, the +passages, the great staircase and the outer court. The Holy +Father, desiring to show his respect and affection for so many +pilgrims of the sacred order of the priesthood, came to the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page289">[pg 289]</span><a name="Pg289" id="Pg289" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +assembly in more than usual state. The throne was raised a +few steps, in order to afford an opportunity of seeing and hearing +the Supreme Pastor. The Pontiff was preceded by the +noble guard and the household prelates. As he entered the +hall, loud and joyous acclamations burst from the assembled +priesthood, for whom it was impossible to restrain their feelings +of love and veneration. The Holy Father himself was +deeply moved, and, gathering enthusiasm from the unusual +scene around him, spoke so as to be heard even in the remotest +corridors, whilst those at a still greater distance were visibly +moved by the thrilling tones of his sonorous voice. There are +no readers who will not be interested in the words which fell +from the lips of the Sovereign Pontiff on this unique and solemn +occasion. He began by thanking the assembled clergy for +their attendance in such imposing numbers. They were the +tribe in Israel, he continued, whose special inheritance was the +Lord. They stood between him and his people evermore, +offering with prayer and supplication the spotless victim of the +new law. Let them look well to the ministry entrusted to +them, shining in the presence of all men by the dignity of their +bearing, the innocence of their life, by integrity and charity, +and the golden ornaments of every virtue. <span class="tei tei-q">“You,”</span> he said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“who are the interpreters of the word of God, you must preach +it unweariedly to the wise and the unwise. Preach to them +Christ and Him crucified, not in loftiness of speech, but in the +knowledge of the spirit, never ceasing to call into the right +road all who stray, and confirm them in sound doctrine. Dispensers +of the divine mysteries and of the manifold grace of +God, deal it out to the faithful people, to the sick especially, +in order that no help may fail them in their last struggle with +the evil one. Do not refuse to the little ones of the flock the +milk which they need. Let it be your dearest care to teach +them, to train them, to form them. Be the faithful and +devoted helpmates of your respective bishops; obeying them +in all things, zealous to heal in your parishes whatever is ailing, +to bind up what is broken, to raise up what is fallen, to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page290">[pg 290]</span><a name="Pg290" id="Pg290" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +seek what is lost, in order that in all things God may be honored +through our Lord Jesus Christ. Lift up your souls and +contemplate the immeasurable height of glory prepared by him +for all true and faithful laborers.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 26th a great public consistory was held. The five +hundred bishops then at Rome were invited to attend. So +great a number had never before assembled in Italy or any +part of Western Christendom. Nor indeed was there ever, or +could there ever have been, so great an occasion for their +assembling. There was question of celebrating the eighteen +hundredth anniversary of the glorious martyrdom of Rome's +first great bishop, so many prelates had come together, also +in order to venerate Peter in the person of his venerable successor, +who had now so long and so gloriously borne witness to +the Truth—the Truth in its plenitude, as first committed to +Peter and his fellow-apostles. The world was no longer +heathen, and no Nero reigned, but the spirit of unbelief was +abroad, and its champions were even then seeking to drive the +Sovereign Pontiff from the holy city, and were waging war with +as determined wickedness as that of the early persecutors +against whom the apostles had so successfully contended. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The number of pilgrims from all parts of the Christian +world, who had come to Rome on occasion of the centennial +celebration, is said by some writers to have been not less than +half a million. The presence of so great a number of devoted +Christian people on such an occasion was the noblest protest +that could be imagined against the vain boasts and prophecies +of the enemies of the Church which Peter founded. That +church was not yet forsaken, or destined soon to perish, which, +in the nineteenth century of her uninterrupted existence, could +speak through so many witnesses—the representatives of every +civilized nation of the world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The great consistorial hall in the Vatican Palace being too +small to contain so great a crowd of dignified listeners, the +assembly was held in the more spacious room which is situated +above the vestibule of St. Peter's Church. At the opening of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page291">[pg 291]</span><a name="Pg291" id="Pg291" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the consistory the cardinal's hat was conferred on the Archbishop +of Seville, Luis de la Lastray Cuesta. A formal petition +for the beatification of Marie Rivier, the foundress of the +presentation Nuns of France, was then presented. After this +ceremony, the Holy Father, as was expected, delivered an allocution +to the bishops. He was full of admiration for their zeal +in coming in such numbers on his invitation, and he could not +do less than express to them his gratitude. Their presence +was a striking proof of the unity of the Catholic Church. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, everything here proclaims that admirable unity by +which, as through a mysterious channel, all the gifts and graces +of the Holy Spirit flow into the mystic body of Christ, calling +forth in every one of its members those acts of faith and +charity which excite the wonder of all mankind. What has +brought you here? Are you not come to decree the honors of +sanctity to those heroes of the church, the greater number of +whom bore away the palm of victory in their glorious witness +for Christ? Of these some died in defending the primacy of +this apostolic see, which is the centre of truth and unity; +others gave their lives in defence of the unity and integrity of +the faith; others again shed their blood in the endeavor to +bring back schismatics to the one fold. Is it not providential +that such heroism should be commemorated and honored at +the very moment when the Catholic faith and the authority of +the Holy See are the objects of such furious and implacable +conspiracies? We are also here to celebrate with solemn rites +the memory of that auspicious day, eighteen hundred years ago, +when Peter and Paul consecrated by their heroic witnessing +and their precious blood this impregnable stronghold of Catholic +unity. What can be more reasonable than that our joyous +commemoration of this triumphant death of the prince of the +apostles should be graced by your presence? For he belongs +to the entire Catholic world. It is also most important that +the enemies of religion should conclude from what they witness +here how mighty is the energy, how unfailing the life, of that +Catholic Church which they so bitterly hate; how little wisdom +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page292">[pg 292]</span><a name="Pg292" id="Pg292" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +they display in matching their strength and their temporary +triumphs over her against that incomparable union of living +forces which the creative power of Christ has bound around +this central rock. More than ever is it needful in our age, +that all men should see and understand that the only strong +and lasting tie between men's souls depends on the reign over +all of the same Spirit of God. Besides, what can make a more +abiding impression on Catholic nations; what can draw them +more powerfully and bind them more closely in obedience to +this apostolic chair and to us, than to see how much their +pastors cherish the rights and duties of Catholic unity, than to +behold them journeying from the farthest lands, notwithstanding +every inconvenience and impediment, in order to visit +Rome and the apostolic chair, as well as to revere in our +humble person the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ? +We have been always convinced, from the moment we beheld +you approaching Peter in the person of his successor, or even +entering this city, which is impregnated with his blood, that +from thence to each one of you should go forth a special virtue. +Yes, from this tomb, where Peter's ashes repose amid the veneration +of the Christian world, a hidden power, a salutary +energy, emanates which instils into the souls of the Chief +Pastors the desire of great undertakings and of vast designs, +inspiring that fearlessness and magnanimity which enable +them to put down the impudent boldness of their assailants. +There cannot be offered to the eyes of men and angels a more +magnificent spectacle than what one beholds in such a concourse +of pilgrims as this. You who come from the ends of +the earth to this home of your Father remind us not only of +that pilgrimage which leads us all to the eternal home, you +also call to mind the journey of the chosen people from Ægypt +to the promised land, the twelve tribes marching together, +each under its chief, bearing its own name, having its own +appropriate place in the camp. Every family there was +obedient to its parents, every company of warriors hearkened +to the voice of its captain, and the entire multitude to the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page293">[pg 293]</span><a name="Pg293" id="Pg293" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +divinely-appointed leader. All these tribes, nevertheless, were +but one people, adoring the same God, worshipping at the +same altar, obeying the same laws, having one Pontiff, Aaron, +and one leader, Moses—one people, enjoying common rights in +the perils and labors of warfare as well as in the results of +victory, dwelling in the same tents, and fed by the same miraculous +bread, whilst all yearned for the same end of their +pilgrimage. Nothing is to us the subject of such ardent longing +as to see both ourselves and the whole church deriving +from this precious union the most salutary blessings. It has +long been a serious matter of thought for us, and which, indeed, +we communicated to several of the episcopal body, to hold an +Œcumenical Council, in which, with the Divine assistance, our +united counsels and solicitude should devise such efficient +remedies as are necessary for the evils that afflict the +church.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. had for a long time entertained the idea of holding +an Œcumenical Council. And no doubt his mind found relief +when he communicated his purpose to the assembled bishops. +Two years later, as is well known, the proposed council was +convened at the Vatican, and from this circumstance is known +in history as the Vatican Council. Bishops, priests and laity +heard the intimation with delight. Their fervor and enthusiasm +increased as the day of the grand centennial celebration +approached. The vigil, 28th June, was enlivened by illuminations. +By early dawn on the 29th, the feast of SS. Peter and +Paul, people poured into Rome from the surrounding territory. +They were welcome visitors. The Romans, far from being +jealous of so great a concourse of strangers, hailed them as +brothers, engaged, as they also were, in the great object of +doing honor to the memory of Rome's apostles. The first +grand public ceremony of the day was the solemn canonization, +of which no description need be given in this place, as everything +was conducted in the same way as in 1852 and 1863. +The Holy Father himself then celebrated High Mass, and, what +is still more noteworthy, delivered the sermon of the day. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page294">[pg 294]</span><a name="Pg294" id="Pg294" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Until the time of Pius IX., no Pope had preached in public +since the epoch of the Crusades and the Pontificate of Gregory +VII. The Holy Father set an example to all who preach on +great and solemn public occasions. His sermon was short, +but replete with instruction, and marked by that earnestness +which commands attention and moves the soul. The music, +as was fitting at so great a celebration, was given by three +choirs, in all four hundred voices, which completely filled the +immense Basilica, conveying, by the exquisite music which they +gave forth, an idea of that more than earthly harmony which +ever ascends to the throne of heaven from the angelic choirs. +There was also a solemn service in the afternoon, which was +alike highly interesting and calculated to inspire devotion. +The general illumination which took place at night rivalled +the splendor of the bright Italian day. On June 30th was +celebrated the special feast of St. Paul in the fine church dedicated +to this great apostle, and with scarcely less magnificence +than that of St. Peter had been honored. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The bishops now desired, before leaving Rome, to present +an address to the Holy Father, as well in reply to his allocution +of 26th June as to express their gratitude for the great +kindness which he had shown them. The 1st July was the +day chosen for the presentation of this address. It is a model +of elegant Latinity, and completely refutes the modern assertion +that churchmen are unacquainted with the Latin of the classics. +The reply of the assembled bishops to the fatherly allocution +of Pius IX. affords, moreover, an admirable proof of the +sympathy of the united episcopate with the Supreme Bishop. +It shows the excellent union of the bishops with one another, +and their no less perfect union with their Head. What more +could there have been in the brightest days of the church's +history? +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page295">[pg 295]</span><a name="Pg295" id="Pg295" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Revolutionary aggression.—Treachery +of the Italian Government.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The French garrison had departed before the commencement +of the memorable celebrations that +have been just described. Although the +population of Rome was literally doubled by +the presence of pious strangers, not the +slightest breach of order was ever observed. The exercise of +filial duty required not to be watched over by any outside +power. It was now seven months since Napoleon III. had +withdrawn his troops. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 6th December, 1866, Pius IX. had taken leave of +them in the following words: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Your flag, which left France eighteen years ago with commission +to defend the rights of the Holy See, was at that time +attended by the prayers and acclamations of all Christendom. +To-day it returns to France. I desire, my dear children, that +it may be welcomed by the same acclamations. But I doubt +it. It is only too manifest, indeed, that because it will appear +to have ceased to protect me my enemies will not on that +account cease to attack me. Quite the contrary. We must +not delude ourselves. The revolution will come here. It has +declared and still declares that it will. An Italian personage +in high position lately said that Italy is made but not completed. +Italy would be undone if there were here one spot of +earth where order, justice and tranquillity prevail! Formerly, +six years ago, I conversed with a representative of France. +He asked me if there were anything I wished to transmit to +the Emperor. I replied: St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, +which is now a French city, beholding the barbarians at the +gates of the town, prayed the Lord that he might die before +they entered, because his mind was horror-struck by the thought +of the evils which they would cause. I added: Say this to the +Emperor: he will understand it. The ambassador made +answer: Most Holy Father, have confidence; the barbarians +will not enter. The ambassador was no prophet. Depart, my +children, depart with my blessing and my love. If you see the +Emperor, tell him that I pray for him every day. It is said +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page296">[pg 296]</span><a name="Pg296" id="Pg296" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that his health is not very good; I pray that he may have +health. It is said that his mind is not at ease. I pray for +his soul. The French nation is Christian; its Chief ought +also to be Christian. Let there be prayer with confidence and +perseverance, and this great and powerful nation may obtain +what it desires. Depart, my children; I impart to you my +benediction, and with it my wish that it may attend you +throughout the journey of life. Think not that you leave me +here alone and deprived of all resource. God remains with +me; in Him I place my trust!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., in a more private communication, said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, +God sustains His vicar and aids his weakness. He may permit +him to be driven away, but only in order to show, once +more, that he can bring him back. I have been exiled; I +returned from exile. If banished anew, I will again return. +And if I die—well! if I die, Peter will rise again!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Thus did Pius IX. clearly foresee the danger but was not +on that account less confident. Nor did his confidence lessen +his foresight. What, indeed, he said publicly, <span class="tei tei-q">“The revolution +will come here,”</span> everyone capable of reasoning said in +secret. The September convention left the small Pontifical +sovereignty surrounded on all sides by its enemies, just as the +government of Napoleon III. would have been if isolated in +Paris and the two neighboring departments, all the rest of the +French territory being in the power of a republic, or a Bourbon +Monarchy. In vain did M. Rouher endeavor to demonstrate +to the Chambers that a stable equilibrium was established, and +which was of such a character as to remain by itself for an +indefinite period. Nobody was convinced by his reasoning. +But the Imperial majorities, recruited as they were by the +system of official candidatures, asked not of the complaisant +minister reasons which he had not to give. They sought only +pretexts which should allow them to vote, with a show of +decency, according to the wishes of the master. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Holy Father was destined to enjoy a period of success +before his prophecy came to be fulfilled. Immediately after +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page297">[pg 297]</span><a name="Pg297" id="Pg297" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the disastrous but glorious events of 1860, the courageous +Belgian, Mgr. de Merode, as Minister of War, and afterwards +General Kanzler, in this same capacity, greatly renewed the +small Pontifical army. As their labors deserved, they were +attended with success. Lamoriciere died towards the end of +1865; but on the new alarm of danger, many of his veterans +of Castelfidardo and Ancona, returned to Rome in 1866. The +flower of the French, Dutch, Belgian, English, Swiss and +Roman youth made it a point of honor to swell the ranks of +the Papal Zouaves. The high tone, the illustrious names of +several of these new crusaders, and the admirable discipline +which prevailed among them all, soon won for them the respect +even of the few revolutionists who were at Rome. These brave +and self-sacrificing youths, many of whom served at their own +cost, were addressed as <span class="tei tei-q">“Signor Soldato”</span> (Signor Soldier) by +the passers-by, whilst the venal scribes of the outside revolutionary +press did their best to stigmatize them as <span class="tei tei-q">“the mercenaries +of the Pope.”</span> Whilst some of these warriors devoted +their life, others bestowed their gold. It is honorable to the +Catholic people that, in the circumstances, they added the good +work of supporting the Pontifical army to their collections of +Peter's pence. In order to furnish the sum of 500 francs (£20 +sterling) yearly, which was required for each soldier, artisans +and even domestic servants freely subscribed. In 1867, the +Catholics of the diocese of Cambrai, sent two hundred Zouaves; +those of Rodez and Arras, one hundred for each diocese; whilst +Cologne, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse did almost as much. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, having its eyes somewhat opened by the light +from Sadowa, the French government appeared to have +abandoned, as regarded the protection of the Holy See, its +secret maxim of 1860: <span class="tei tei-q">“Neither do anything nor allow anything +to be done.”</span> In withdrawing from Rome, it had authorized +the creation, under a chief whom it was pleased itself to +designate, a body of volunteers, selected chiefly from the French +army, whose duty it should be to guard the Pope. This corps +was called the Legion of Antibes, from the name of the city +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page298">[pg 298]</span><a name="Pg298" id="Pg298" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +where it was formed. Pius IX., besides, could rely on the +fidelity of the Roman army, properly so called. Thus was he +more than sufficiently provided against any possible internal +disturbance. It was not to be expected that he should be prepared +to meet a formidable foreign invasion of his state. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The notorious Garibaldi had already made preparations +for invading the Roman territory. Whilst he neglected not to +strengthen the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">International</span></span> at the Geneva Congress of +Demagogues, the indefatigable brigand availed himself of the +crowding of pilgrims to Rome in order to deceive the Pontifical +police, and to introduce into the city bands of cutthroats, +munitions of war, and arms of every kind, not excepting Orsini +bombs. After the departure of the bishops, he opened publicly, +in Italy, subscription lists, and enrolled soldiers. The Piedmontese +government stores were at his service as they were +in 1860, in order to aid him in clothing and arming his volunteers. +These were joined by numerous functionaries and +officers of the regular army, who took no pains to conceal their +Piedmontese arms and uniforms. Municipalities, at public +deliberative meetings, voted subsidies to the Garibaldians, and +railway managers provided them with special trains. Whilst +so many things that clearly showed the complicity of Piedmont +were done, Victor Emmanuel sent protestation after protestation +to Paris. He did not, by any means, intend, he said, to +disembarrass himself of the obligations which were imposed on +him by the first article of the convention of the 15th September, +1865. It might be relied upon, besides, that he would +check the agitators and repress by force, even, if necessary, all +violation of the Pontifical frontier. Nor did the wily monarch +confine himself to words. He acted as he could act so well. +Garibaldi was sent to his island, Caprera; but only in order to +escape from it at the opportune moment, through the seven +vessels by which he was guarded. An order for his arrest was +then issued. Active search was made for him at Genoa, at +Turin, everywhere except at Florence, where he harangued the +people in the most public places, even under the windows of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page299">[pg 299]</span><a name="Pg299" id="Pg299" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the King's palace. Later, when it was undertaken to arrest +him at Florence, it so happened that he had started by a +special train for the Roman frontier, together with a complete +staff. +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Garibaldi invades +the Papal states.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The telegraph was put in requisition in order to turn +back the train. But, possibly through the +fault of a disobedient employee, the telegraph +failed to accomplish its purpose. The Italian +government neglected not to hold an investigation in regard to +this matter, and swore that the guilty party, if found out, +would be punished. What more could be desired? Was not +France satisfied with much less than this in 1860? Whilst +diplomacy was thus playing its <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">role</span></span>, Garibaldi and his myrmidons +were penetrating on all sides at once the Pontifical territory. +Twenty-seven gensd'armes, who guarded the small town +of Aquapendente, were surprised by two hundred and fifty +Garibaldians, who, on being re-inforced by another band, +marched thence on Ischia, Valentano and Canino, pillaging the +public chests, sacking the convents and churches, prudently +retiring as often as they met Pontifical forces in any considerable +numbers. Eighty-five Zouaves, or soldiers of the line, +having rashly pursued them at Bagnorea, and attacked them +with the bayonet, were repulsed with loss. It could not well +have been otherwise, considering the great disparity of numbers. +Garibaldi shouted victory, in his usual emphatic style: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hail to the victors of Aquapendente and Bagnorea! The +foreign mercenaries have fled before the valiant champions of +Italian liberty. Those braggarts who thirsted for blood have +experienced the noble generosity of their brave conquerors. +As to you, priests, who know so well how to burn, torture and +imprison; you who drink, with hyena-like delight, in the cup +of your deceit, the blood of the liberators; we pardon you, and, +together with you, that butcher soldiery, the pestilent scum of +a faithless faction.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The conquerors, however, were driven from their easy conquests +before they received this proclamation which spoke of +mercy in terms that expressed it so poorly. Events which +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page300">[pg 300]</span><a name="Pg300" id="Pg300" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +were a cruel satire on Garibaldi's words, and which he had not +foreseen, caused his bands to fall into the power of the Pontifical +troops, so that it was they who sued for pardon and obtained +it. It can even be said that on this occasion the generosity +of the soldiers of the Pope was excessive, for the +vanquished enemy had been guilty of many other crimes +besides that of rising in arms against the legitimate government. +They had pillaged the Cathedral of Bagnorea, broken +the tabernacle, stolen the sacred vessels, defiled the image of +the Madonna, pierced the crucifix with their bayonets, decapitated +the statues of the saints, and enacting an infernal parody, +shot an inoffensive man, in order that human blood might be +shed on the altar of sacrifice. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At Subiaco, the governor, who was a priest, fell, together +with the town, into the hands of the banditti. They were +preparing to sack the place and put the governor to death, +when a Pontifical troop appeared. The struggle was short. +The Garibaldian chief was slain, and the rest fled. They who +guarded the prisoner threw themselves at his knees, imploring +mercy. <span class="tei tei-q">“Have pity on us, my Lord; do not give us up to the +Zouaves; they would kill us.”</span> The governor made them go +into his oratory and closed the door. Meanwhile the commandant +of the Zouaves arrived, gave him the details of the +battle, and spoke of the prisoners he had taken. <span class="tei tei-q">“Everybody +makes prisoners,”</span> said the governor, smiling. <span class="tei tei-q">“I have some +also, although not, like you, a man of the sword.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Where +are they?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Ah! they are mine and not yours. Promise +that you will respect my absolute right of conqueror; if not, I +will not show them.”</span> The commandant made the desired +promise, and the governor opened the door of his oratory and +made the Garibaldians come out. These prisoners were greatly +amazed. Having asked and obtained the governor's priestly +blessing, they freely recrossed the Italian frontier. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The action at Monte-Libretti, which took place on the 14th +October, was of a more serious character. Eighty Zouaves +contended from half-past five in the evening till eight o'clock +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page301">[pg 301]</span><a name="Pg301" id="Pg301" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +against twelve hundred Garibaldians. Arthur Guillemin, their +captain, and Urbain de Quelen, their second lieutenant, fell +gloriously. When night came, the Zouaves being unable to +fight any longer, and not venturing to establish themselves in +the first houses which they had taken, whilst all the rest of +the town still swarmed with the enemy, retired in good order, +bearing away their dead, and also twelve prisoners. They +returned next morning, in order to renew the attack, but found +the place evacuated. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The violation of the Pontifical territory was now too flagrant +to be denied any longer, and the more so, as the Cabinet of the +Tuileries was not ignorant of anything that was taking place. +It was, by a fortunate accident, represented at Rome by a +diplomatist of a different school from that of Thouvenel and +Lavalette. The ambassador, M. de Sartiges, was absent on +leave, and was replaced by his first secretary, M. Arman. The +latter understood his duty, and, at the risk of being importunate, +ceased not to make known, every day, to France, the +events which were so rapidly occurring. Thus did a comparatively +humble secretary save the honor of his country. +Compelled by the terms of the September convention to stay +the invasion, the Government of Florence stationed a corps of +forty thousand men, under the command of Cialdini, around +the Pontifical frontier, and intimated to the Tuileries that it +was for its protection. It soon became evident that it was in +order to fall upon it, in the wake of Garibaldi, as they had +fallen upon the Kingdom of Naples in 1860. Meanwhile, the +invaders passed without any difficulty between the different +posts, and when beaten and pursued by the Pontifical troops, +they retired and reformed behind the ranks of the Piedmontese. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Murder of the Zouave +music band.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hence the small body of Pontifical soldiers was easily overwhelmed, +and the Garibaldian hordes, although +beaten, were always advancing. +Rome was filled with consternation. The +cutthroats of the revolution spoke of applying gunpowder to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page302">[pg 302]</span><a name="Pg302" id="Pg302" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +public edifices. And indeed they set about fulfilling their +threat by blowing up the Serratori barracks, which they had +undermined, and which buried, one evening, in their ruins, the +music band of the Zouaves, whilst they were engaged at a +rehearsal. Fortunately the bandsmen were the only victims. +The rest of the corps which remained to guard the city was at +the moment patrolling at a distance from the barracks. The +Garibaldians expected the explosion. They rushed into the +streets and endeavored to avail themselves of the terror and +confusion which generally prevailed in order to seize the military +posts. They managed to assassinate, in the dark, a few +soldiers and some gensd'armes; but they succeeded not even in +ringing the alarm-bell at the Capitol, which was intended to be +their signal. Their principal leader, a Milanese, whose name +was Cairoli, was killed with arms in his hands, together with +some twenty of his followers, in a vineyard near the city; and +so failed the enterprise. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The French Cabinet ceased, at length, to persist in the +face of the clearest evidence and against the unanimous voice +of the national conscience. A small body of soldiers had been +sent to the French port of Toulon. It received orders to +embark for Civita Vecchia. Catholics were relieved from their +anxiety. Meanwhile came new assurances from Florence. +A counter-order was given, and the embarkation suspended. +Victor Emmanuel and his minister, Ratazzi, thought they +understood the secret meaning of this counter-order. They +remembered the past, and the troops of Cialdini boldly crossed +the Pontifical frontier. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">French army ordered +to Rome.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +French historians relate that, on receiving this news, all +who had any concern for the honor of +France believed that it had come to an end, +and made up their minds, in sullen silence, +to swallow the new disgrace. They who were indifferent, +even, became indignant. People who met on the boulevards of +Paris asked one another to what extremes those Italian mountebanks +(farceurs) would bring them. The enemies of the Pope, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page303">[pg 303]</span><a name="Pg303" id="Pg303" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +who were equally hostile to the Emperor, rejoiced, but secretly. +The deputies either protested together with the Catholics, or +dared not show themselves; the ministers were silent. +Finally, the army took its departure from Toulon. It was time +that it should; and this appeared to be well understood. +There was great irresolution in coming to a decision. It was +no less promptly carried into effect. The French army disembarked +at Civita Vecchia on the 29th October, under the +command of General de Failly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Three days earlier, 26th October, the small town of Monte +Rotondo, five leagues from Rome, was attacked by Garibaldi in +person, attended by a band of five thousand four hundred +fighting men. Its garrison consisted of five hundred men of +the legion of Antibes. These few brave soldiers held their +ground for two days and repelled five attacks. They were +compelled at last to yield, having exhausted all their munitions +of war. They retired, but left Garibaldi so much weakened +and disorganized by his inglorious victory that he was unable +for several days to advance. Thus, for the moment, did the +legion of Antibes save Rome. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Character of Garibaldians—No +sympathy +with them.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Monte Rotondo, it is almost superfluous to relate, experienced +the fate of Bagnorea. Nothing comparable +in point of atrocity had occurred since the +invasion of Italy by the barbarians. In +justice to Garibaldi, it must be said that he +rebuked publicly by an order of the day, dated 28th October, +the <span class="tei tei-q">“shameful excess”</span> of his fellow-adventurers, and proceeded +to expurgate their ranks. But he could not hinder them from +being what they were, a mob of miscreants that the secret +societies of the whole world had discharged on the Pontifical +State. He was not less astonished to meet with so poor a welcome +on the part of the people whom it was supposed he came +to deliver. His chief lieutenant, Bertani, bears witness to this +state of things, in the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Riforma</span></span> of 18th November, 1867: <span class="tei tei-q">“It +must be admitted,”</span> said this writer, <span class="tei tei-q">“that the people of the +Roman States have no idea of an Italy one and free. We +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page304">[pg 304]</span><a name="Pg304" id="Pg304" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +have not been greeted or encouraged by a single cry of rejoicing; +nor have we obtained either any spontaneous assistance, or +even a word of consolation, from these brutified people.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +General Kanzler, the pro-Minister of War, well understood +that it was impossible to defend for any length of time the +frontier against bands that were constantly recruited. Accordingly, +he ordered all the isolated garrisons to concentrate at +Rome. It was more important than anything else to preserve +the Papal city from being surprised by the invaders. Garibaldi, +when re-inforced, marched in advance of Monte Rotondo. +Cialdini followed him at some distance, but without daring as +yet openly to join the banditti. The French, however, were +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">en route</span></span>. Kanzler took his departure from Rome on 3rd +November, at two o'clock in the morning, followed by 3,000 +Pontifical troops and 2,000 French soldiers. <span class="tei tei-q">“Come,”</span> said he, +to M. Emilius Keller, Dr. O'Zannam, and some others who had +just arrived from Paris, in order to organize the ambulance +service of the Pontifical army, <span class="tei tei-q">“come, and you will see a fine +battle.”</span> The small army met the enemy at one o'clock in the +afternoon, at a short distance from the town of Mentana, the +ancient Nomentum from which the Nomentan way (<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">via Nomentana</span></span>) +took its name. Garibaldi's command was from 10,000 +to 12,000 strong. He placed his men in ambuscade, partly on +small hills that were covered with wood, and partly scattered +them, as fusileers, along the hedges. His left wing was commanded +by Pianciani, who, some time later, was Mayor of +Rome. Kanzler's force commenced firing. But what could it +avail against an enemy that was invisible and in superior +numbers? A veteran of Castelfidardo, Lieutenant-Colonel de +Charette, the same who was destined afterwards to immortalize +himself at Patay and at Mans, understood that nothing was to +be gained by a fusillade. <span class="tei tei-q">“Forward,”</span> he cried, <span class="tei tei-q">“my Zouaves! +charge with the bayonet; and, remember, the French army +is looking on.”</span> The Zouaves reply: <span class="tei tei-q">“Live Pius IX!”</span> and +spring forward with their leader. The Garibaldians are dislodged +from the first hill—from the other hills, and would have +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page305">[pg 305]</span><a name="Pg305" id="Pg305" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been utterly routed but for the formidable intrenchments presented +by the Santucci vineyard, which was laid out in +gardens rising in storeys, one above the other, and intersected +by walls. Garibaldi was posted on the summit, in a villa, +whence he directed his fire without being exposed to personal +danger. His position was, indeed, strong. Charette's troop +was observed to waver. <span class="tei tei-q">“Forward, Zouaves!”</span> cried their +leader, <span class="tei tei-q">“or I shall die without you!”</span> As he spoke, his horse +was struck by a ball and fell dead. Meanwhile, the Zouaves +scaled the walls and the ravines, without heeding those who +fell. Garibaldi was disconcerted by this living tornado. He +fell back from his villa to the houses, and thence to the Castle +of Mentana. The Zouaves followed in the face of a murderous +fire, discharged from the walls of the castle; but they always +advanced, and finally, repelled, by a bayonet charge, a renewed +and general attack of the enemy. Such efforts, however, +could not have been sustained for any length of time +unaided, and bravery must, in the end, have given way to +numbers. General de Courten, who directed this attack, sent +to ask assistance from General Polhes, who commanded the +army of France. The French soldiers had been, hitherto, +inactive, although by no means unheeding spectators of the +combat. <span class="tei tei-q">“Bravo! Zouaves, bravo!”</span> cried they, eagerly +desiring to share in the fight. At a sign from their chief, they +sprang forward in their turn. At their head was Colonel +Saussier, of the 20th regiment of the line, who was afterwards +general and member of the National Assembly at Versailles. +The sudden and hitherto unknown fire of the chassepots carried +death and terror within the precincts of the castle. Meanwhile, +a detachment of Zouaves managed to place themselves +between Mentana and Monte Rotondo, and so intercepted the +reinforcements which were hastening from the latter place to +join the Garibaldians. At sight of this achievement, the bands, +already much demoralized, were thrown into confusion. Night +came, and, favoring their flight, changed it to a rout. Garibaldi +himself, who had so often shouted, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Rome or death</span></span>”</span>—stole +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page306">[pg 306]</span><a name="Pg306" id="Pg306" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +away, under cover of the darkness, like the meanest of the +fugitives. His sons did in like manner. It was expected that +they would renew the battle next day, as Monte Rotondo, which +they still held, presented a convenient position for rallying. +They did nothing of the kind. On the very night which followed +the engagement Garibaldi and his sons recrossed the +Italian frontier. <span class="tei tei-q">“He always runs away”</span> +(<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">si salva sempre</span></span>), +said his followers, in the bitterness of their disappointment, +when so shamefully betrayed and abandoned. The French +soldiers, on the other hand, always inclined to raillery and +punning, baptized the action of the preceding day, calling it +the battle of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Montre ton dos</span></span>. The Garibaldians, who held the +castle, as well as the rest of the banditti who could not get +away in time, surrendered, unconditionally, to General Polhes. +There was but little bloodshed on the side of the victors, thanks +to the rapidity with which the victory was won. The losses +of the French troops were not more than two killed, two officers +and thirty-six privates wounded. Of the Pontifical force +there were twenty killed and one hundred and twenty-three +wounded. Several of these died of their wounds. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">The Maistre—Muller.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Among those noble victims who claim the gratitude of the +Catholic world, were names already dear to +the church—such as Bernard de Quatre-barbe, +a nephew of the defender of Ancona; Rodolph de Maistre, +grandson of the immortal author of <span class="tei tei-q">“The Pope;”</span> and John de +Muller, son of the celebrated German controversialist. As if +nothing that is glorious should be wanting to the field of Mentana, +it had also its martyrs of charity. The Sisters of St. +Vincent de Paul went and came among the wounded and the +dying, giving their aid alike to all, no matter what their uniform. +There was need of water. A Pontifical Zouave, Julius +Watts Russell, ran to find some for a Garibaldian who was at +the point of death. As he was gently raising the head of the +moribund, in order that he might drink, he was himself struck +with a ball and fell dead on the body of him whom he had +endeavored to succour. On his person was found a small note, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page307">[pg 307]</span><a name="Pg307" id="Pg307" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in which he thus exhorted himself: <span class="tei tei-q">“My soul, O, my soul! +love God and pursue thy way.”</span> What Christian would not be +envious of a like death—a death which nobly crowned such a +life as these few words necessarily suppose? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Garibaldian fanaticism.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The vanquished had been fanaticised by the secret societies +as well as by Garibaldi himself, that infuriated +enthusiast, who could not write four +lines nor utter four words without enshrining +therein the treasons of the black race, that prurient sore of +Italy; or the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">venom</span></em> of the Vatican, that nest of vipers; or the +lies of Pius IX., that pest, that monster, twice accursed, as +priest and as king. So when these people were made prisoners, +they expected nothing better than the hardest treatment and +the most terrible vengeance. How surprised must they not +then have been to find that their wounded were attended to on +the field of battle, and the same care and attention extended to +them as to the wounded of the Pontifical force, whilst those +who were sound met with no other punishment than to be well +guarded at first, and afterwards released by degrees, as it +became certain that Garibaldi would be in no hurry to renew +his game. Finally, a complete amnesty was granted. This +extreme clemency of a legitimate government towards an +invading banditti presented a noble and happy contrast with +the implacable revenge of the usurping King of Piedmont. +Victor Emmanuel, in fact, had no hesitation in putting to +death the Spanish general Borges and his Neapolitan comrades, +who were arrested whilst bearing arms in an endeavor +to deliver the kingdom of Naples, and restore its former king, +Francis II. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Two murderers executed.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Two men only were excepted from the Pontifical amnesty. +These were the authors of that atrocious +act, the blowing up of the Sorristori barracks. +Their crime, indeed, could not be +considered as anything connected with the war, but simply as +cowardly assassination. Those two wretches, Monti and Tognetti, +underwent a regular trial, which lasted more than a year, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page308">[pg 308]</span><a name="Pg308" id="Pg308" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and at which all the forms required by law were strictly +observed. They were convicted, and ended by acknowledging +everything. They suffered capital punishment, and, at their +execution, begged pardon of God and men. The day after this +execution—coming generations will scarcely believe so strange +a fact—the Chamber of Deputies at Florence solemnly protested +against it, as did also Victor Emmanuel. The secret societies +opened a subscription list for the widows of the executed +criminals. Victor Emmanuel took part in it. And thus did +a king honor parties who commit murder by gunpowder plots. +True, this king was the same prince who, in pursuance of a +decree issued by Garibaldi, at Naples, in 1861, pensioned the +widow of the regicide, Agesilas Milano. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-marginnote tei-marginnote-margin"><div class="tei tei-marginnotetext"><span style="font-size: 80%">Pius IX. visits the +wounded rebels.</span></div></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. entertained quite a different idea of the duties of +royalty. He was persuaded that an example +should be made of the foul crime of Monti +and Tognetti, and so could not be moved. +<span class="tei tei-q">“A king,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“owes justice to all alike, certainly not +excepting honest people: and hence assassins must not be +allowed to count on impunity.”</span> He went kindly to visit the +wounded Garibaldians, <span class="tei tei-q">“those unfortunate people, a great +many of whom were only misled, and who, nevertheless, were +his children.”</span> Two hundred of them had been conveyed to a +lower room in the Castle of St. Angelo. He visited them quite +alone, and thus addressed them: <span class="tei tei-q">“Here I am, my friends; +you see before you him whom your general calls the Vampire +of Italy; you all took up arms against me, and you see that I +am only a poor old man! You are in need of shoes, clothes +and linen. Well, the Pope on whom you made war will cause +you to be supplied with all these things. He will then send +you back to your families; only before your departure, you +will, from love to me, make a spiritual retreat.”</span> The unfortunate +rebels could not believe their eyes or their ears. Some +turned away from him in sullen wrath, like demons who will +not give up hating. Others, in greater numbers, seized hold +of the paternal hand which was raised over them to bless them, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page309">[pg 309]</span><a name="Pg309" id="Pg309" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and bathed it with their tears. The good Pope, marvelled at +the designs of God, who brings good out of evil. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">O felix +culpa</span></span>”</span> (<span class="tei tei-q">“O happy fault!”</span>), said he, alluding to the prayers of +Holy Saturday, <span class="tei tei-q">“if these children had not borne arms against +me, they would not, perhaps, have died so piously.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was some time before the details of Mentana were known +in France. The government, it would appear, feared to acknowledge +that the French soldiers took part in the engagement. +When, however, the general's report put an end to all +doubt on the subject, there were no bounds to the rage of the +revolutionary party. The revolution, hitherto, had used Louis +Napoleon as a facile and valuable instrument. It could not +pardon him Mentana. But France was not all revolutionary. +The mass of the nation, honest and loyal, shared not the ideas +of the secret societies. Far from regretting what had taken +place, the French people dreaded lest there should not have +been enough done. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Cialdini, indeed, had been able to withdraw his troops, not +with honor but without molestation, within the Italian frontier, +whilst no account was required of his violation of the September +convention. The ministers continued to discuss Italian +unity as freely as they had been in the habit of doing for eight +years, and the officious demagogue papers which were devoted +to Prince Napoleon began to demand the speedy return of the +French troops from Rome, and that by virtue of the famous +convention which, according to these politicians, was binding +on France, but not on Italy. The legislative body was moved. +Not only the deputies who were declared Catholics, and who +always divided against the government on the Roman question, +but a great number of those also who had never until that +time shown any indocility at the moment of voting, resolved +to force the government to make a clear and public declaration +of its intentions. The debate was opened by M. Thiers in an +eloquent speech at the sitting of 4th December. He proved, +and the proof was not difficult, that no reliance could be placed +on the word of Victor Emmanual or Italian promises. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page310">[pg 310]</span><a name="Pg310" id="Pg310" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +House of Savoy,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“goes to a falcon hunt with Garibaldi. +If the latter fails he is taken to Caprera. If he succeeds, +and takes a kingdom, they say to him, you are the revolution: +your prey does not belong to you; it is ours, who are +order and legality.”</span> Jules Favre, a barrister, shamelessly +spoke in a contrary sense, and endeavored to justify Italy. +His sophistry met with no response. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The minister, M. Rouher, could not retreat. He made a +long speech, in which he defended the policy of Napoleon III. +against the two former speakers, and involved himself once +more in the inconceivable idea of neither sacrificing Italian +unity to the Pope's temporal sovereignty nor that sovereignty +to Italian unity. (On the one hand, M. Jules Favre objected +that Italy, and chiefly amongst others, Menabrea, the actual +head of the Florence Cabinet, whose wisdom and moderation +had just been praised by the French minister, ceased not to +declare that the possession of Rome was indispensable.) On +the other hand, there were loud murmurs which protested +against the iniquitous equality which was sought to be established +between the victim and his executioner. M. Rouher +perceived that the majority which the Imperial government +had commanded for sixteen years, was on the point of slipping +from him; so, turning to Jules Favre, he declared <span class="tei tei-q">“that he +was not agreed with him on any point—that he absolutely +rejected his policy.”</span> Then, addressing the Conservatives, he +affirmed that they would defend Rome so long as the desired +reconciliation did not take place—that France would never, +never abandon Rome. He concluded by conjuring the deputies +to cling to the government which gave the battle of Mentana +as a pledge of its sincerity. This declaration was greeted with +prolonged applause, and it could no longer be doubted that the +vote would be almost unanimous. The deputies, however, +determined that the head of their church should not be imperfectly +protected, required of the minister a distinct explanation +of what he meant by defending Rome. They were resolved +that the government should not have the power to give up to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page311">[pg 311]</span><a name="Pg311" id="Pg311" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Italy the territory around the city which the Pope still possessed, +and leave to him only the walls of Rome. This position +was maintained by the veteran orator of French parliaments, +M. Berryer. A great number of deputies came to his +support, so necessary was it understood to be to guard against +all subterfuge in transacting with Napoleon III. M. Rouher +was constrained to reascend the tribune. He did so, he said, +more fully to express his idea, and declared, whilst the Chamber +loudly applauded, that the Emperor guaranteed not only the +city of Rome, but also the territory actually possessed by the +Holy See, in all its integrity. Such was the memorable sitting +of 4th December, 1867, at which the will of France was forced +on its despotic ruler. But both for him and the country, +French writers assure us, it was too late. If the representatives +of the nation, they say, had shown from the beginning +the same decision; if the empire had always spoken as on the +4th December, 1867; if, above all, it had acted conformably to +its words, it would either not have fallen or fallen with honor. +But never would we have seen either Italian unity or German +unity, and the black flag of Prussia would not wave to-day +over Metz, Malhouse and Strasbourg. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Piedmont having withdrawn its threatening force on the +approach of the French troops, the Holy See had nothing to +dread, for some time at least, from foreign invasion. It remained +only to provide against the attacks of banditti such as had +been just defeated at Mentana. In this important matter the +Holy Father was not left to his own resources. The whole +Christian world was in sympathy with him, and anxious for +his safety. Volunteers from all Catholic countries hastened to +Rome. Even remote Canada, so early as 1868, had sent her +three hundred. And these mercenaries, as the enemy called +them, served at their own expense. The Bishops of Hungary +furnished three squadrons of Hussars, who were all mounted, +equipped, and in every way supplied by Hungarian subscriptions. +The bishops and nobility of Galicia sent lancers. +France, Belgium and Catholic Germany, emulated one another +in their efforts to maintain the Pontifical force. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page312">[pg 312]</span><a name="Pg312" id="Pg312" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was nothing warlike in thus providing against possible +danger. So long as France held Piedmont bound to +treaty stipulations, any army in the service of the Pope could +only be employed as a police force in maintaining internal +peace, or in repelling such attempts as had recently been made +by the irregular bands of Garibaldi against the Pontifical +States. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, the arts of peace were not neglected. The Holy +Father, as might be supposed, when freed from the fear of +invasion and expulsion from his state, applied with renewed +zeal to the duties of his sublime office. Nor to these alone did +he confine the exercise of his well-directed charity. The agricultural +school for children remains a lasting and solid proof +of his enlightened benevolence. This establishment is called, +in honor of its august founder, the Pio Vigneard (Pia Vigna). +It is provided with all the most improved implements, and is +confided to the care of the Belgian Brothers of Mercy. It is +wholly maintained by the private funds of Pius IX. It may be +seen on an eminence to the left of the railway as you approach +the city of Rome. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLY FATHER'S ORDINATION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The anniversary of the elevation of Pius IX. to the Christian +priesthood happily occurred during this interval of peace. +There was but one feeling throughout the whole Christian +world. The warmest expressions of love and devotedness proceeded +from every land. All the sovereigns of Europe conveyed +by autograph letters their dutiful congratulations, whilst +the joy of the people everywhere knew no bounds. At Rome +the feast of the golden wedding of Pius IX. lasted three days. +Everywhere else, as it fell on the Sunday of the Good Shepherd, +it was celebrated in the churches, and often in public +places or on the mountains by illuminations or bonfires. +Under the name of handsel to Pius IX., the Catholic press +opened subscription lists. Notwithstanding the regular payment +of Peter's pence, the public generosity was not exhausted. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page313">[pg 313]</span><a name="Pg313" id="Pg313" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One journal might be quoted, which alone collected more than +one hundred thousand francs. The Archbishop of Cologne, +Monsigneur Melchers, observed, in a pastoral instruction which +he issued on the occasion, that never before had a Pope been +in such intimate and universal relation with the heart of +humanity. And indeed it was more consoling to the Supreme +Pastor than all other demonstrations to reflect that so many +millions on millions of faithful united with him in prayer at +the Mass of the 11th of April, all on the occasion participating +in the Holy Communion. He felt that the whole universe +prayed with him and for him. <span class="tei tei-q">“O God!”</span> he exclaimed, in +presence of some pilgrims who had come to congratulate him +in person, <span class="tei tei-q">“O God! have mercy on me! This is too much +happiness! I dread when, ere long, I shall appear before Thy +judgment-seat, lest Thou say to me: Thou hast had thy reward +on earth! Not to me, but to Thee, O Lord! belongeth the +love of Christians.”</span> He fully appreciated the numerous offerings +and congratulations of the Catholic world. His servants +conceived the happy idea of placing in symmetrical order +throughout the apartments of the Vatican the rich and numerous +gifts which were presented to him on the occasion of his +jubilee. Beholding them, he exclaimed: <span class="tei tei-q">“I also have my universal +exposition! It is the fruit not of my industry but of the +love of my children.”</span> Then, as he turned over the leaves of +the gigantic manuscripts which were covered with addresses of +devotedness, he added: <span class="tei tei-q">“This is the true expression of the +universal Catholic suffrage.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This auspicious time of peace and rejoicing was not without +its sorrows. Among these were the fearful massacres of +Christians in China. Nor were these the worst, for they carried +with them their consolation. If the Church was cruelly +persecuted in China, she won new glory in adding martyrs to +the Triumphant army in heaven. The many scandals that +occurred throughout Christendom were more truly afflicting. +Above all, were truly trying to the paternal heart of the Holy +Father those which happened among the Catholic people, who +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page314">[pg 314]</span><a name="Pg314" id="Pg314" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +protected him in the possession of what remained of his dilapidated +patrimony. A court and a political system which were +destined soon to disappear were laboring to put an end to +Christian education. The prince, cousin of the Emperor, +Napoleon III., and the Senator and Academician, Sainte Beuve, +held heathenish orgies in the Lenten season, even on Good +Friday. To crown the list of evil, apostacy was not wanting. +It was of little consequence that one who fell away, although a +vehement declaimer, was a shallow theologian; his loss was, +nevertheless, to be deplored. The progress of a low sect in +Belgium called Solidaires, the success of a new revolution in +Spain, under favor of which the members of religious communities, +both of men and of women, were driven from their +homes in the name of liberty, together with the opening of +revolutionary clubs in Paris, caused Pius IX. to dread catastrophes +in the near future. Severe domestic affliction came +this year (1869) to aggravate the sorrows of Pius IX. His +brother, Count Gabriel Mastai, met with an accident which, +at his advanced age, ninety, proved to be serious. The Holy +Father, immediately traversing Rome, ascended on his knees +the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">scala sancta</span></span>. +A few days later the death of the patient was +intimated to him. He shut himself up several hours in his +private apartment, in order that none might witness the tears +which grief made him shed. Finally, he repaired to the +Vatican Basilica, where he prayed for a long time, both before +the Holy Sacrament and at the tomb of the apostles. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +AN EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Those states which formed the monetary division of Western +Europe—France, Belgium, Switzerland and the Holy See, +agreed at this time to refound their silver coinage. A model +was chosen, which Greece, Portugal, Roumania and some other +countries adopted in their turn, and it was understood that +the new coinage for each state should be in proportion to its +population. Hence it behooved the Pontifical State to issue +forty millions of livres or thereby, for a population numbering +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page315">[pg 315]</span><a name="Pg315" id="Pg315" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from three to four millions of souls, including Romagna and +Umbria, which the Pope still claimed. The Florence government +remonstrated against the issue of forty million livres, on +the ground that the Pontiff could not now actually count more +than from 600,000 to 700,000 subjects. Napoleon III., always +inclined to gratify the revolution, summoned Pius IX. to suspend +the issue of his exaggerated coinage, three-fourths of +which, it was insisted, should be cast anew with the effigy of +Victor Emmanuel. This interference of Napoleon was considered +inopportune and unacceptable, the operation of coining +being almost completed. Cardinal Antonelli maintained the +right of the Holy See. The French and Italian governments +agreed to exclude from their circulation, and consequently +from that of the whole monetary union, all silver coins which +bore the meek and noble likeness of Pius IX. This they did +without offering to the public any explanation. The revolutionary +party, however, were too honest not to supply this +want. They at once gave circulation to the rumor that the +coinage of the Pope was of inferior quality. He was pointed +out as a money-counterfeiter by the thousand organs of the +infidel press. The people, grossly deceived, repelled with indignation, +as if it were that of a robber, the likeness of the representative +of justice on earth. The Catholics, meanwhile, +observed with pain that while this storm of calumny was +raging, one of their own number, once a champion of the +temporal power, held in the French government the portfolio +of finance. The Pontifical treasury subjected itself to considerable +sacrifices, in order to diminish the losses and silence the +recriminations of those who were compelled to stop its money, +which could no longer be circulated. Chemists, in the interest +of truth, analyzed the depreciated metal, and declared that it +was exactly of the same value as the coinage of Napoleon III. +But neither the officious nor the official press took the pains to +publish this fact, and the calumny remained. The time was +even then at hand, as French writers observe with pain, when +France, in her downfallen and exhausted condition, would +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page316">[pg 316]</span><a name="Pg316" id="Pg316" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +have been glad to possess this Pontifical money and dispense +with worthless paper. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE VATICAN COUNCIL—PURPOSE OF THE POPE IN CONVENING A +GENERAL COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This time of sorrow, mourning and difficulty was succeeded +by a period of unwonted activity. It was deemed expedient to +convoke an Œcumenical Council. This important measure +was thought of on occasion of the centenary celebration of the +martyrdom of SS. Peter and Paul. After two years of serious +and mature deliberation and consultation, Pius IX. issued +apostolical letters, convening a council of the whole church at +the Vatican Basilica. The 8th of December, 1869, was appointed +as the day for its first assembling. The objects in view +cannot be better described than in the words of the venerable +Pontiff. After a few preliminary paragraphs in his Bull of +Indiction, the Holy Father thus proceeds: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Roman Pontiffs, in the discharge of the office divinely +confided to them in the person of Peter of feeding the entire +flock of Christ, have unweariedly taken on themselves the most +arduous labors, and used every possible means in order to have +the various nations and races all over the earth brought to the +light of the Gospel, and by truth and holiness to eternal life. +All men know the zeal and unceasing vigilance with which +these same Roman Pontiffs have kept inviolate the deposit of +faith, discipline among the clergy, purity and science in the +education given to the members of the church, the holiness +and dignity of Christian marriage: how they studied day by +day to promote the Christian education of the youth of both +sexes, to foster among all classes the love of religion, the practice +of piety and purity of morals as well as everything that +might conduce to the tranquillity, the good order and the +prosperity of civil society. Whenever great troubles arose, or +serious calamities threatened either the church or social order, +the Roman Pontiffs judged it opportune to convoke general +councils, in order that with the advice and assistance of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page317">[pg 317]</span><a name="Pg317" id="Pg317" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bishops of the Catholic world, whom the Holy Ghost hath +established to rule the Church of God, they might, in their +united wisdom and forethought, so dispose everything as to +define the doctrines of faith, to secure the destruction of the +most prevalent errors, defend, illustrate and develop Catholic +teaching, restore and promote ecclesiastical discipline and the +reformation of morals.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No one at the present time can be ignorant how terrible +is the storm by which the church is assailed, and what an +accumulation of evils afflicts civil society. The Catholic +Church, her most salutary doctrines, her most revered power, +the supreme authority of this Holy See, are all assailed and +trampled on by the bitter enemies of God and man. All that +is most sacred is held up to contempt; ecclesiastical property +is made the prey of the spoiler; the most venerable ministers +of the sacraments, men most eminent for their Catholic +character, are harassed by unheard of annoyances. The +religious orders are suppressed, impious books of every kind +and pestilential publications are disseminated, wicked and +pernicious societies are everywhere and under every form multiplied. +The education of youth is, in almost all countries, +withdrawn from the clergy, and, what is far worse, intrusted in +many places to teachers of error and evil.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“In consequence of all these facts, to our great grief and +that of all good men, and to the irreparable ruin of souls, +impiety, corruption of morals, unbridled licentiousness, the +contagion of depraved opinions, and of every species of pestilential +vice and crime, the violation of all laws, human and +divine, prevail everywhere to such an extent, that not only +religion but human society itself is thrown into the most +deplorable disorder and confusion.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Wherefore, following in the footsteps of our illustrious +predecessors, we have deemed it opportune to call together a +General Council, as we had long desired to do.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“This Œcumenical Council will have to examine most diligently, +and to determine what it is most seasonable to do, in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page318">[pg 318]</span><a name="Pg318" id="Pg318" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +these calamitous times, for the greatest glory of God, the integrity +of faith, the splendor of Divine worship, the eternal salvation +of men, the discipline of the regular and secular clergy, +and their sound and solid education, the observance of ecclesiastical +laws, the reformation of morals, the Christian education +of youth, the common peace and universal concord. With the +Divine assistance, our labors must also be directed towards +remedying the peculiar evils which afflict church and state; +towards bringing back into the right road those who have +strayed away from truth and righteousness; towards repressing +vice and error, in order that our holy religion and her saving +doctrines may acquire renewed vigor all over the earth, +that its empire may be restored and increased, and that thereby +piety, modesty, honor, justice, charity and all Christian virtues +may wax strong and nourish for the glory and happiness of +our common humanity.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It has been alleged and persistently maintained by the enemies +of the Holy See, that Pius IX. sought only to promote +his own importance by convening a General Council. Of this +calumny the foregoing words, which so plainly and distinctly +set forth the purposes of the council, afford an abundant refutation. +No man holding a great public office can fulfil faithfully +the duties of that office without exalting his own character +in the estimation of mankind. Ought he then, because such +things exalt him, to leave them undone? This would, indeed, +be mistaken humility. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Councils, although not an essential element in the government +of the church, are had recourse to in times of difficulty, +in order to settle doctrinal disputes, promote morality and +establish or restore discipline. With the exception of the +Apostolic Council of Jerusalem, no council was held for the +first three hundred years of the church's existence. The +church, nevertheless, as regarded her spiritual state, was +highly prosperous and extended rapidly. Councils came as +exigencies arose, and when there was no insuperable impediment +to their assembling. They were in their time a source +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page319">[pg 319]</span><a name="Pg319" id="Pg319" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of great and lasting good, whilst their record remains shedding +light on the centuries as they pass. There had already been +eighteen Œcumenical Councils, that of Trent, held three hundred +years ago, having been the last. Causes like to those +which occasioned the earlier councils, although in a different +state of the world and human society, appeared to call for such +action on the part of the church as should powerfully influence +the passing age, and cause the light of Divine revelation to +penetrate the dark places of the nineteenth century. It was +resolved, accordingly, to convoke the Œcumenical Council of +the age. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +BISHOPS, ETC., BIDDEN TO THE COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was the duty of the Commission of Direction to decide +as to who had a right to be called to, and to sit in, the council. +This commission consisted of five cardinals who were presidents, +eight bishops and a secretary, the Archbishop of Sardis. +There was no difference of opinion. A question, however, arose +as to the right of vicars-apostolic to be invited to the council. +They were bishops, indeed, but without ordinary jurisdiction. +Hence the doubt as to their right to be called. Neither their +admissibility, if invited, nor of their decisive vote when admitted +was at all questioned. The precedents and practice of the +Holy See were in favor of their being called. It was also +dreaded lest their exclusion should give rise to questions as to +the œcumenicity of the council. All bishops, undoubtedly, +were entitled to be invited. It was decided, therefore, that +bishops, vicars-apostolic, should be bidden to the council. +The Bulls by which former councils had been convoked called +together archbishops, bishops, etc. The law, therefore, making +no distinction between bishops in ordinary and such as were +vicars-apostolic, neither could the commission. <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Ubi lex +non distinguit nec nos distingnere debemus</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was a far more serious matter to invite <span class="tei tei-q">“the bishops of +the Oriental rite who are not in communion with the Apostolic +See.”</span> An earnest and affectionate letter of invitation was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page320">[pg 320]</span><a name="Pg320" id="Pg320" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +addressed to them. It was presented to the Patriarch of the +<span class="tei tei-q">“Orthodox”</span> Greek Church, who did not consider it worth +while to open it. On the same day, it is related, four millions +of Bulgarians notified to this patriarch their withdrawal from +his jurisdiction. Many bishops of the Greek patriarchate +were deeply moved by the most kind and pressing appeal of +the Holy Father. He had beseeched and conjured them in the +most earnest manner <span class="tei tei-q">“to come to the general assembly of the +bishops of the West and of the whole world, as their fathers +had come to the second Council of Lyons and that of Florence, +in order that, renewing the charity which existed of old, and +restoring the peace which prevailed in the early ages, the fruits +of which time has snatched from us, we may behold at last the +pure and bright dawn of that union which we so ardently +desire.”</span> The separated bishops to whom these touching words +were addressed, appear to have been profoundly moved. A +goodly number, even, actuated by the paternal intentions of the +Holy Father, were strongly inclined to meet his advances; but +so powerful was the example of the Greek Patriarch of Constantinople, +that none of them dared to take the lead. The +non-united Patriarch of Armenia replied that he would attend +the council. But he failed to do so. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A very considerate letter was also addressed to Protestants +and all non-Catholics. Needless to say it was not responded +to. At the Council of Trent the same attention was shown, +but with an equally unsuccessful result. Julius II. had published +the condition on which alone non-Catholics generally +could be invited, viz.: that they should recognize the Divine +authority of the Church. It was not surely to be expected that, +on occasion of the meeting of a General Council, the Catholic +Church should abandon, in favor of a comparatively small +number of dissenters, her fundamental claim to Divine commission, +which was acknowledged throughout all Christendom. +The bishops of the Anglican Church were astonished and irritated +on finding that they were invited only as other Protestants, +and not convoked along with the Fathers of the Council. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page321">[pg 321]</span><a name="Pg321" id="Pg321" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Rome thus plainly intimated to them that they have yet to +prove their consecration and right to episcopal dignity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Rev. Dr. Cumming of London, a minister of the Scotch +Presbyterian Church, asked, through Archbishop Manning, to +be allowed to lay before the council such arguments as could +be adduced in support of Protestant opinions. Pius IX. caused +the following reply to be sent to the learned minister: <span class="tei tei-q">“The +decisions of former councils could not be shaken by bringing +them anew into question, and by discussing what had been +already examined, judged and condemned.”</span> Two months +later, 30th October, 1869, having been informed that his words +might have been misunderstood, and that certain Protestants +imagined that all access to the Holy See was henceforth closed +against them, the Holy Father, in a new Bull which he very +considerately issued, declared that: <span class="tei tei-q">“Far from repelling any +one, we, on the contrary, make advances towards all. To +those who, led astray by their education, believe in the truth +of their opinions, we, by no means, refuse the examination and +discussion of their arguments. This cannot be done within +the council; but there are not wanting learned theologians +whom we shall designate to them, and to whom they can open +their minds. May there be many who, in all sincerity, shall +avail themselves of this facility! We earnestly pray that the +God of mercy may bring about this happy result.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +FATHERS WHO ATTENDED THE COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A statement of the number of Fathers who attended the +council, at any particular time during its celebration, can +hardly convey an accurate idea of the numbers who took part +in its proceedings. Some were always arriving and others +departing. Some fell sick, and a few died. The number in +attendance, however, was always considerable. An official +list, published by the Apostolic Chamber, shows the number +and quality of such as were entitled to be present, and who +could have attended except on account of hindrances arising +from sickness, age or impediments thrown in their way by the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page322">[pg 322]</span><a name="Pg322" id="Pg322" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +governments under which they lived. These included 55 +cardinals, 11 patriarchs, 7 primates, 159 archbishops, 755 +bishops, 6 abbots, 22 mitred abbots-general, 29 generals and +vicars-general of orders; in all, 1,044. A later official list of +1st May states the total number at 1,050, new primatial, +archiepiscopal and episcopal churches having been erected in +the meantime. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 8th December there were at Rome: 49 cardinals, 9 +patriarchs, 4 primates, 123 archbishops, 481 bishops, 6 abbots, +22 abbots-general, 29 vicars and vicars-general of orders; in +all, 723 Fathers. On 20th December there were 743. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The following Bishops of England were in attendance at +the council: The Most Rev. Archbishop Manning, of Westminster; +the Most Rev. Dr. Errington, Archbishop of Trebizonde; +the Right Rev. Dr. Grant, of Southwark; the Right +Rev. Dr. Cornthwaite, of Beverly; the Right Rev. Dr. Uullathorne, +of Birmingham; the Right Rev. Dr. Clifford, of Clifton; +the Right Rev. Dr. Chadwick, of Hexham; the Right Rev. Dr. +Amherst, of Northampton; the Right Rev. Dr. Roskell, of Nottingham; +the Right Rev. Dr. Vaughan, of Plymouth; the Right +Rev. Dr. Turner, of Salford; the Right Rev. Dr. Brown, of +Shrewsbury. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was a somewhat longer list of Irish bishops, viz.: +His Eminence Paul, Cardinal-Archbishop of Dublin; the Most +Rev. Dr. McGettigan, Primate of all Ireland, Archbishop of +Armagh; the Most Rev. Dr. Leahy, Archbishop of Cashel; the +Most Rev. Dr. McHale, Archbishop of Tuam; the Right Rev. +Dr. Derry, of Clonfert; O'Keane, Fermoy; Kelly, Derry; +Moriarty, Kerry; Leahy, Dromore; Gillooly, Elphin; McEvilly, +Galway; Furlong, Ferns; O'Hea, Ross; Dorrian, Down and +Connor; Butler, Limerick; Conaty, Kilmore; Nulty, Meath; +Donnelly, Clogher; Power, Killaloe; McCabe, Ardagh. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The hierarchy had not yet been restored in Scotland; so +that country could send only three bishops to the Œcumenical +Council. These were the Right Rev. John Strain, Vicar-Apostolic, +Edinburgh (afterwards, in the restored hierarchy, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page323">[pg 323]</span><a name="Pg323" id="Pg323" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Most Rev. Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh); the +Most Rev. Dr. Eyre, Archbishop, Glasgow; the Right Rev. Dr. +McDonald (in the restored hierarchy, Bishop of Aberdeen), +Vicar-Apostolic, Preshome. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All the other civilized nations, with scarcely an exception,<a id="noteref_7" name="noteref_7" href="#note_7"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">7</span></span></a> +sent their bishops to the general assembly of the Church. +France supplied the greatest number, eighty-one. The kingdom +of the Two Sicilies came next, being represented by sixty-eight +bishops. Next came the States of the Church, sending +sixty-two bishops. From Great Britain and Ireland, with the +colonies, including Canada, went fifty-five bishops to the great +council. Austria and Hungary were nobly represented by +forty-three bishops. Spain and the United States of America +sent each forty prelates, and the States of South America, thirty; +whilst of the Oriental rites there were forty-two bishops. +Piedmont, Tuscany, Lombardy and Venetia, together with +Modena and Parma, Prussia, Bavaria, Mexico, Belgium, Holland, +Portugal, Switzerland, the Isles of Greece, and even the +Turkish empire, cheerfully willed that the Catholic prelates of +their lands should bear their part in the grand Œcumenical +Council which was now about to assemble. All these, with +the cardinals, abbots, mitred abbots and generals of religious +orders, who were also members of the great assembly, made +up the goodly number which has already been adverted to.<a id="noteref_8" name="noteref_8" href="#note_8"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">8</span></span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +SUBJECTS WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO DISCUSS IN THE COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The subjects for discussion were expressed in <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schemata</span></span>, +or draft decrees, which were drawn up by a <span class="tei tei-q">“congregation,”</span> or, as +we should say, a committee of one hundred and two ecclesiastics, +who were cardinals and others learned in theology and +canon law, selected from many nations on account of their +superior wisdom and experience. By these alone the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schemata</span></span> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page324">[pg 324]</span><a name="Pg324" id="Pg324" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +were prepared. They bore not so much as the shadow of the +supreme authority. So the council was perfectly at liberty to +accept or reject, to change or to modify them, as it should +deem fit and proper. Of this we are assured by the words of +the Pope, who, in his <span class="tei tei-q">“Constitution,”</span> at the commencement of +the council, informed the bishops that he had not given any +sanction to the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schemata</span></span>, +and that consequently in regard to +them there was complete freedom. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schemata</span></span>, six in number, were very comprehensive. +It is deeply to be regretted that the council was not allowed +time to discuss them all. They concerned: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +1. Catholic doctrine in opposition to the manifold errors +flowing from rationalism. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +2. The Church of Christ. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +3. The office of bishops. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +4. The vacancy of sees. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +5. The life and manners of the clergy. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +6. The Little Catechism. +</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> on the Church of Christ necessarily involved +the question of infallibility. As this question, more than any +other subject, appears to have disturbed the equanimity of +the outside world, it may not be inappropriate to consider +the preliminary labors, as regarded it, of the great theological +commission. The <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> on the Church of Christ extended +to fifteen chapters. Having treated, at length, on the body +of the church, the commission or committee of 102 theologians +could not fail to treat also of the Church's Head. On +this point they prepared two chapters. The one spoke of the +primacy of the Roman Pontiff, the other of his temporal power. +In treating of the primacy, its endowments also necessarily +came under discussion. Among these claimed the first place +the Divine assistance in matters of faith which was promised +to Peter, and in Peter to his successors. This is nothing less +than infallibility. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 14th and 21st of January, the commission discussed +the nature of the primacy. On the 11th of February, it took +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page325">[pg 325]</span><a name="Pg325" id="Pg325" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +up the question of infallibility. It was enquired: 1st, whether +the infallibility of the Roman Pontiff can be defined as an +article of faith; 2nd, whether it ought to be so defined? The +first question was answered unanimously in the affirmative. +To the second, all, with one exception, replied, expressing +concurrence in the judgment that the subject ought not to be +proposed to the council unless it were demanded by the bishops. +The wording of the judgment is as follows: <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Sententia +commissionis est, nonnisi ad postulationem episcoporum rei hujus propositionem +ab apostolica sede faciendam esse.</span></span> (<span class="tei tei-q">“The judgment +of the commission is that this subject ought not to be proposed +by the Apostolic See, except at the petition of the +bishops.”</span>) One member of the commission considered the discussion +of the subject inopportune. On account of his dissent, +the chapter bearing on infallibility was never completed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Thus for a second time was the question of infallibility +deliberately set aside. As for Pius IX. himself, he had no +desire any more than he had need to propose that there +should be a dogmatical definition. Even as his predecessors +in all preceding ages, he was conscious that his primacy was +complete. He had acted on this conviction, exercising his sublime +privilege with universal consent, in the face of all Christendom. +In 1854, 1862 and 1867, the bishops had abundantly +testified in his favor. If an authoritative declaration was +called for, it could only be on account of the few who disputed +and doubted, and the still smaller number who denied that the +Head of the Church on earth can neither err in faith and +morals, nor lead into error the church of which he is divinely +constituted the Supreme Teacher. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +OPENING OF THE COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 7th of December, 1869—Vigil of the Immaculate +Conception—Pius IX., attended by an imposing suite, repaired +to the Church of the Twelve Apostles, in order to inaugurate +solemnly a period of nine days' prayer in honor of the Blessed +and Immaculate Mary. The following day, at an early hour, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page326">[pg 326]</span><a name="Pg326" id="Pg326" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the cannon of the Castle of St. Angelo announced to the holy +city the great event that had been so long looked forward to. +As early as six o'clock a.m. the three naves of St. Peter's were +filled with a crowd of the faithful, and all the approaches to +the Basilica were thronged with people. At nine o'clock was +seen the magnificent procession of mitred abbots, bishops and +archbishops, primates, patriarchs and cardinals, that preceded +the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">sedia gestatoria</span></span> which bore the Pope. The sacred +cortege required about an hour to traverse the hall (atrium) and the +chief nave of St. Peter's, and reach the left<a id="noteref_9" name="noteref_9" href="#note_9"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">9</span></span></a> arm of the cross +which forms the immense Basilica, and which had been set apart +and prepared as a vast chamber for the celebration of the +council by that skilful architect, Virginius Vespignani. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +1,044 Fathers were invited to be present as members of the +council. 803 attended at the opening. Of these there were +six archbishops who were also princes, forty-nine cardinals, +eleven patriarchs, six hundred and eighty archbishops and +bishops, twenty-eight abbots, and twenty-nine generals of +religious orders. The entire number surpassed by one hundred +and thirty-five the united numbers of all the Fathers +of Nice, Constantinople and Ephesus. The day had gone by +when the European sovereigns could be bidden to an Œcumenical +Council. Several of their representatives, however, +attended at the opening. The highest of the Roman nobility +were also present. The Colonna and Orsini families enjoyed +the honor of being princes attendant at the Papal throne on +occasion of all the public ceremonials of the council. Others +of the Roman nobility, sovereigns and princes, at the time in +the city, were present. Among these were the ex-King of +Naples, the Empress of Austria, the ex-Duke and Duchess of +Tuscany, the ex-Duke and Duchess of Parma, together with +the Doria and Borghese families. Several foreign princes, +General Kanzler, commander-in-chief of the Papal forces, and +General Dumont, who commanded the French battalions in +garrison at Rome, likewise attended. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page327">[pg 327]</span><a name="Pg327" id="Pg327" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The hymn, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Veni Creator</span></span>, was sung, and immediately thereafter +the first session of the Vatican Council was formally +opened with the celebration of High Mass. At the conclusion +of mass, the secretary of the council placed upon the altar the +Book of the Gospels, which always remained open throughout +the session. The council then heard a sermon, and the Holy +Father intoned the Synodal prayers, which were followed by +the Litany of the Saints. Immediately after the chanting of +the Gospel, Pius IX. made an allocution to the following effect: +<span class="tei tei-q">“You are met, venerable brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, +to bear witness with us to the word of God; to declare with us +to all men the truth, which is the way that leads to God; and +to condemn with us, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, the +doctrines of false science. God is present in His holy place; +He is with our deliberations and our efforts; He has chosen +us to be His servants and fellow-workers in the great work of +His salvation. Therefore, knowing well our own weakness, +and filled with mistrust of ourselves, we lift up our eyes and +our prayers to Thee, O Holy Ghost, to Thee the source of true +light and wisdom.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Veni Creator</span></span> having been once more sung, the Bishop +of Fabriano read from the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Ambo</span></span> the decree ordaining the +opening of the council. It was in substance as follows: <span class="tei tei-q">“Is +it the pleasure of the Fathers that the Œcumenical Council +of the Vatican should be opened, and should be declared open +for the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, the custody and declaration +of the faith and of the Catholic religion; for the condemnation +of errors which are widely spreading, and the correction +of clergy and people?”</span> The council replied unanimously +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">placet</span></span>. The Pope then declared the council to be +opened, and fixed the second public session for the feast of the Epiphany, +January 6, 1870. The session closed with the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Te Deum</span></span> and +the Pontifical benediction. All the public sessions which were +afterwards held were opened pretty much in the same manner. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page328">[pg 328]</span><a name="Pg328" id="Pg328" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +DEATH OF TWO DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At this time the council and the Catholic world had to +bewail the death of two very eminent Fathers. Cardinal de +Reisach was a man of great and varied learning, of large and +refined culture of mind, and was fitted in a special way to +understand the diversities of thought which met in the Vatican +Council. His loss to the Holy See, great as it would have +been at any time, was more seriously felt at the meeting of the +council, in preparing for which he had borne a chief part. +Cardinal de Reisach was not only one of the foremost members +of the Sacred College in the public service of the church, but +in private life he was greatly and deservedly loved for his genial +and sympathetic character. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The late illustrious Bishop of Southwark, the Right Rev. +Thomas Grant, whose zeal induced him to proceed to Rome in +the height of a serious illness, was also torn away from the +cares of this life and the affection of many friends, when, a +little later, he was about to address a luminous discourse to the +assembled Fathers. Whilst he stood in the midst of them, +there occurred a crisis of his malady from which he never rallied. +He was visited on his deathbed, which was that of the +faithful servant, by Pius IX., who held him in the highest +esteem. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE SECOND SESSION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Preparatory to the second session of the council, various +commissions were constituted. That of postulates or propositions +was appointed by the Pope, and consisted of cardinals +who had experience, both as residents of Rome and formerly +as nuncios at foreign courts, together with archbishops and +bishops selected from each of the chief nations in the council. +Its members were twelve cardinals, two patriarchs—Antioch +and Jerusalem—ten archbishops, among whom was the Archbishop +of Westminster, and two bishops. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was resolved that the other commissions should be +elected by the universal suffrage of the council. The Commission +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page329">[pg 329]</span><a name="Pg329" id="Pg329" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of Faith was elected in the Third General Congregation, +on the 20th of December. It was composed of twenty-five +members, among whom were remarked the successor of Fenelon +in the archiepiscopal see of Cambrai, the Archbishop of Westminster +and the Archbishop of Cashel (Ireland), three American +bishops, Baltimore, San Francisco, Rio Grande. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Commission of Discipline consisted of twenty-four +members, who represented as many nations—the Bishop of +Birmingham, on the part of England. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Commission on Religious Orders was also chosen; the +Bishop of Clifton representing England. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No more being necessary at the earlier sittings of the council, +the nomination of all other commissions was postponed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +SECOND PUBLIC SESSION—PROFESSION OF FAITH BY ALL THE +MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The second public session was held on the feast of the +Epiphany, January 6th, 1870. It had been always customary +at general councils to make a profession of faith. This custom +was not departed from at the Vatican Council. As at Constantinople, +A. D. 381, and Chalcedon, A. D. 481, was recited +the Creed of Nicea, and at subsequent councils was solemnly +professed the faith as expressed by those which had preceded +them; so at the Council of the Vatican were repeated the +articles of Catholic belief, as handed down through Trent and +the more ancient councils. First of all, the Holy Father, +rising from his seat, read, in a distinct voice, the definitions of +the Council of Trent, known as the Creed of Pope Pius IV. +The same profession of faith was then read from the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Ambo</span></span> by +the Bishop of Fabriano. As soon as he had done so, the other +Fathers of the Council expressed their adhesion by kissing the +Gospel at the throne of the Chief Pastor. Seven hundred +bishops of the church, representing more than thirty nations +and about<a id="noteref_10" name="noteref_10" href="#note_10"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">10</span></span></a> three hundred millions of Christians, thus solemnly +professed, with one heart and mind, the same faith in the same +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page330">[pg 330]</span><a name="Pg330" id="Pg330" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +form of words. In this wonderful unanimity there is more +than nature and philosophy. Through all the changes of +nearly nineteen hundred years, this intellectual unity of faith, +although minutely defined at Nicea, Constantinople and Trent, +has endured unchanged. We cannot but behold in this +immutability of Divine faith something far beyond the power +of human wisdom. It is surely providential that, in the face of +so much unbelief, such witness should have been borne to the +unity and universality of the Catholic faith. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And now closed the second public session of the Vatican +Council. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THIRD SESSION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Preparatory to the opening of the third public session of +the council, the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> +<span class="tei tei-q">“on Catholic faith and on the errors +springing from rationalism”</span> was discussed by thirty-five +bishops in the general congregations, between the 18th of +December and the 10th of January. It contained eighteen +chapters, and was sent back to the Commission on Faith in order +to be completely remodeled. It was a grand theological document, +and was cast in the traditional form of conciliar decrees, +taking its shape, as they did, from the errors which it was +intended to condemn. It was somewhat archaic, perhaps, in +language, but worthy to rank with the decrees of the Councils +of Toledo or of Lateran. Having been referred to the Commission +on Faith, it was again distributed to the council in its +new form on the 14th of March, wholly recast, and was +received with general approbation. This new document is +quite of a distinct character, and not to be compared with the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> by which it was preceded. It contained, instead of +eighteen chapters, only an introduction and four chapters, in +which every sentence is full of condensed doctrine, the whole +having impressed upon it a singular beauty and splendor of +Divine truth. The commission was engaged in recasting this +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> until the end of February. Its subject-matter was +what may well be considered the first foundations of natural +and revealed religion, viz.: the existence and perfections of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page331">[pg 331]</span><a name="Pg331" id="Pg331" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +God, the creation of the world, the powers and office of human +reason, revelation, faith, the relation of reason to faith and of +faith to science. As a consequence of these truths came the +condemnation of atheism, materialism, pantheism, naturalism +and rationalism. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst the non-Catholic world believed that the Pope and +the Fathers of the Council were bestowing all their care on +one subject which happened to be more prominently before the +public, they were, on the contrary, laboring with the greatest +pains to elucidate every subject as it came up for consideration. +As has been seen, the most important <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> on Catholic +faith had been already very carefully discussed. On the +18th of March a second discussion took place in the general +congregation (or committee of the whole council) on a report +being made by the Primate of Hungary. Nine bishops then +discoursed on the text of the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span>, after which, no +Father desiring to speak more upon it, the general discussion ended. +Each chapter in particular now came to be discussed. In the +debate on the first chapter sixteen Fathers took part; on the +second, twenty; on the third, twenty-two; on the fourth, +twelve; in all, seventy-nine spoke. This discussion occupied +nine sittings, and only ended when no one desired to speak +any further. The amendments of the bishops were sent with +the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> to the commission. As soon as they were +printed and distributed they were examined by the commission, when +a full report was made in the general congregation on the +introduction, and the amendments were put to the vote. The +text of the introduction was then once more referred. Each of +the four chapters was treated in the same manner. To the +first there were forty-seven amendments, which, being printed +and distributed, the commission reported, and the amendments +were put to the vote. Still another revision, and the first +chapter was adopted, almost unanimously, on the 1st of April. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The second chapter had sixty-two amendments. Referring +to the commission, revising, reporting and voting followed, as +in the case of the first chapter, when the second was referred +back for final amendment. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page332">[pg 332]</span><a name="Pg332" id="Pg332" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The third chapter had one hundred and twenty-two amendments. +The same process was followed, in regard to these +amendments, as in the case of the first and second chapters. +The proceedings lasted two days. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The fourth chapter had fifty amendments, which were subjected +to the same process as those of the three first, and sent +back to the commission. On the same day, 8th April, the second +chapter as amended was passed, and on the 12th of April, +the third and fourth, the former unanimously, the latter almost +so. When the whole was put to the vote, no <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">non placet</span></span> was +given, whilst there were eighty-three <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">placets juxta +modum</span></span>. The amendments were all sent, as before, to the commission, and +printed in a quarto volume of fifty-one pages. The report was +made on the 10th of April, and on the same day the amended +text was unanimously accepted. All the time between the +14th of March and the 19th of April was consumed in passing +this first <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span>. Sixty-nine members of the council +spoke. Three hundred and sixty-four amendments were made, examined +and voted upon. Six reports were made by the commission +upon the text, which, after its first recasting, had been +six times amended. The decree was finally adopted unanimously +by the assembled Fathers, all who were present, six +hundred and sixty-seven, voting in the third public session, on +Low Sunday (Dominica in Abbis), 24th April. This solemn +vote of the council was confirmed by the Pope, who, on the +occasion, spoke as follows: <span class="tei tei-q">“The decrees and canons contained +in the Constitution just read were accepted by all the Fathers, +no one dissenting; and we, the Sacred Council approving, by +our apostolical authority, so define and confirm them.”</span> Continuing, +he addressed the Fathers of the Council: <span class="tei tei-q">“You see, +beloved brethren, how good and pleasant it is to walk in the +House of God in unity and peace. As our Lord gave to His +apostles, so I, His unworthy Vicar, in His name, give peace +to you. That peace, as you know, casts out fear; that peace +shuts the ear to unwise words. May that peace go with you +in all the days of your life; may that peace be with you in +death; may that peace be your everlasting joy in heaven.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page333">[pg 333]</span><a name="Pg333" id="Pg333" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +After much deliberation and painstaking, the third public +session of the council came to a close. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At less formal sittings was discussed the discipline relating +to bishops. On this subject thirty-seven Fathers discoursed in +the council. Seven sittings were employed in discussing discipline +as concerns the clergy, and thirty-seven Fathers spoke. +Forty-one Fathers took part in discussing the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> on the +Little Catechism. The discussion occupied six sittings. There +was no hurrying of matters in the council. None of the discussions +were closed until none of the Fathers desired further +to be heard. All the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schemata</span></span>, +it is almost needless to say, +having been discussed, were referred to their respective commissions, +in order to be revised in accordance with the speeches +and the written amendments of the bishops. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., meanwhile, was most anxious to aid and promote +the labors of the council. Notwithstanding the great increase +of ecclesiastical business occasioned by the presence in Rome +of so many prelates, the affairs of whose churches, as well as +their own more personal matters, required no small degree of +attention, he followed, with unabated interest, every stage of +its proceedings, and caused a minute account to be given to +him every day of what was done in the various committees. +These unwonted cares, and the unusual amount of labor and +fatigue which they entailed, never induced him to omit any of +those devotional offices with which he was accustomed to renew +and strengthen his soul. He would not hear of any hurrying +in the discussions on the first <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span>—that on +faith, but, on the contrary, gave due praise to the pains and labor bestowed +by the Fathers on every chapter, word and sentence. It was +their object to secure that complete accuracy and perfection of +expression which could not fail to prove eminently useful in all +time to come. As has been already remarked, the Fathers of +the <span class="tei tei-q">“Congregations”</span> and <span class="tei tei-q">“Commissions”</span> labored most assiduously +in preparing, for the acceptance of the council, +the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> +on faith and doctrine. In the course of the six weeks that it +was under review, seventy-nine discourses were delivered, three +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page334">[pg 334]</span><a name="Pg334" id="Pg334" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +hundred and sixty-four amendments proposed, examined and +voted upon, while six reports were made upon the text of the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span>, which had been six times amended. The +introduction, the four chapters and the eighteen canons, having finally +passed the council, were approved by the Holy Father, adopted +and promulgated as a Papal <span class="tei tei-q">“Constitution,”</span> which will be +known in history as the Constitution <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Dei Filius</span></span>. It is a +masterpiece of theological science, and may be compared to priceless +gems artistically arranged by skilful hands in the richest +settings. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It would be idle, indeed, to recount all the hard and absurd +things that have been said by the enemies of the council and +the Catholic religion. One of their accusations, if well founded, +would be truly crushing. Some scientists, who claim to be +very profound, deem it necessary to abjure the Catholic faith, +because the Vatican Council has placed an impassable gulf +between religion and science, faith and reason. The council +anticipated and met this accusation which is so vigorously and +persistently urged by the false science of the day. Let us +quote from its <span class="tei tei-q">“Constitution:”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Although faith is above reason, +there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and +reason, since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses +faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, +and cannot deny Himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth. +The false appearance of such a contradiction is mainly due, +either to the dogmas of faith not having been understood and +expounded according to the mind of the church, or to the inventions +of opinion having been taken for the verdicts of reason. +And not only can faith and reason never be opposed to one +another, but they are of mutual aid the one to the other. For +right reason demonstrates the foundations of faith, and, +enlightened by its light, cultivates the science of things divine; +while faith frees and guards reason from errors, and furnishes +it with manifold knowledge.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“So far, therefore, is the church from opposing the cultivation +of human arts and sciences, that it, in many ways, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page335">[pg 335]</span><a name="Pg335" id="Pg335" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +helps and promotes it. For the Church neither ignores nor +despises the benefits to human life which result from the arts +and sciences, but confesses that, as they came from God, the +Lord of all science, so, if they be rightly used, they lead to +God by the help of His grace. Nor does the Church forbid that +each of these sciences, in its sphere, should make use of its +own principle and its own method. But while recognizing this +just liberty, it stands watchfully on guard, lest the sciences, +setting themselves against the Divine teaching, or transgressing +their own limits, should invade and disturb the domain of +faith.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +FOURTH PUBLIC SESSION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was only one point in the discussions on the Church +of Christ in which the outside world appeared to take an +interest, and it is one which the council did not at first contemplate +taking into consideration. The Fathers appear to +have resolved to limit themselves, in treating of the Church, +and consequently of the Head of the Church on earth, to the +discussion of the primacy of the Supreme Pastor and of his +temporalities. The commission of one hundred and two cardinals, +and other learned theologians, had even set aside the +question of infallibility when it came before them, one of their +number pronouncing a decision on it as inopportune. A great +majority of the bishops, however, were strongly of opinion that +in view of the outcry which had been raised on this point, the +opportunity of an Œcumenical Council being held should not +be allowed to pass without defining the belief of the Church in +regard to the unerring nature of the decisions, in matters of +doctrine and morals, of the successor of St. Peter. At their +request, accordingly, it was ordered that the important subject +should be introduced in the eleventh chapter of the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> on +the Church, and prepared in the usual way for the consideration +of the council. It could not be laid before the Fathers +sooner than the 18th of July, when the fourth solemn session +was held. It is proper to remark here that the doctrine in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page336">[pg 336]</span><a name="Pg336" id="Pg336" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +question was never discussed, either in the congregations or +committees of the whole council, as to its Divine origin, or as +to the fact of its having been revealed; not one of the seven +hundred members of the council expressed any doubt as to this. +There was no discussion except as to the opportuneness of +defining to be of faith what all believed to be so. +The <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">schema</span></span> +having passed through all the preparatory stages, finally +assumed the form of a <span class="tei tei-q">“dogmatic constitution,”</span> which will be +known in history as the Constitution, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Pastor æternus</span></span>, from the +words with which it commences. This Constitution was brought +before the council at a solemn session, the fourth and last +which it held, the 18th July, 1870. The session was opened +with all the usual solemnities. The Pope himself presided in +person. The Mass of the Holy Ghost having been celebrated, +the Sacred Scriptures were placed upon the lectern on the high +altar, and, as was customary, the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Veni Creator</span></span> was sung. The +Bishop of Fabriano then read the Constitution, or decree <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">de +Romano Pontifice</span></span>, from the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Ambo</span></span> (pulpit), and the Fathers of +the Council were invited to vote. Each Father, accordingly, as +his name was called, took off his mitre, rose from his seat and +voted. Of the five hundred and thirty-five who were present, +five hundred and thirty-three voted <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">placet</span></span> +(aye), whilst there +were only two nays. The secretary of the council, together +with the scrutineers, advanced to the Pontifical throne and +declared the result. The Holy Father then confirmed the +decision in the usual form. He prayed, at the same time, that +they who had considered such a decision inopportune, at a +time of unusual agitation, might, in calmer days, unite with +the great majority of their brethren, and contend with them for +the truth. The insertion here of the allocution which he +delivered on the occasion cannot but prove acceptable to all +English readers: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Great is the authority with which the Supreme Pontiff is +invested. This authority, however, does not destroy. It builds +up. It does not oppress. But, on the contrary, sustains. +Very frequently it behooves it to defend the rights of our +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page337">[pg 337]</span><a name="Pg337" id="Pg337" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +brethren, the bishops. If some have not been of the same +mind with us, let them consider that they have formed their +judgment under the influence of agitation. Let them bear in +mind that the Lord is not in the storm (2 Kings, xix., 11). +Let them remember that, a few years ago, they held the opposite +opinion, and abounded in the same belief with us, and +in that of this most august assembly, for then they judged in +the untroubled air. Can two opposite consciences stand together +in the same judgment? By no means. Therefore, we +pray God that He who alone can work great things, may Himself +enlighten their minds and hearts, that all may come to +the bosom of their Father, the unworthy Vicar of Jesus Christ +on earth, who loves them and desires to be one with them, and, +united in the bond of charity, to fight with them the battle of +the Lord. Thus shall our enemies not dare to deride us, but +rather be awed, and at length lay down the arms of their warfare +in the presence of truth; so that all may say, with St. +Augustine: </span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">‘</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Thou hast called me unto Thy wonderful light, +and behold I see.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">’</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> ”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Te Deum</span></span> was now chanted, the Pope intoning the sublime +hymn, and with the Pontifical benediction, ended the fourth +solemn public session of the Vatican Council. With this council +also ended all discussion within the church on those questions +in regard to which it pronounced authoritatively. No +doubt the enemies of the Catholic faith would have been better +pleased if there had been absolute unanimity when the final +vote was taken on the widely-discussed question of infallibility. +Such a coincidence would have afforded them a pretext, although, +indeed, a groundless one, for asserting that there was either +collusion or compulsion, whilst in reality there was complete +liberty. The two Fathers who voted, nay, constituting a minority +of two, acted according to their right, and it was not questioned. +These Fathers were Monsignor Louis Riccio, Bishop +of Casazzio, in the kingdom of Naples, and the Right Rev, +Edward Fitzgerald, Bishop of Petricola (Little Rock, Arkansas), +in the United States of America. Immediately after the confirmation +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page338">[pg 338]</span><a name="Pg338" id="Pg338" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the <span class="tei tei-q">“Constitution,”</span> these two prelates, advancing +to the Papal chair, solemnly declared their adhesion to the act +of the council. The four dissentient cardinals—Rauscher, +Schwarzenberg, Mathieu and Hohenlohe—who had left the +council when the fourth session was held, also, in their turn, +expressed their assent to the decision of the assembled Fathers. +The opposing bishops did in like manner. All of them, not +excepting Strossmayer, Bishop of Sirmium, who was the most +eloquent orator of the minority in the council, and who +appeared to hesitate longer than the rest, ended by promulgating +all the decrees of the council in their respective dioceses. +This is more than could be said of Nicea, Chalcedon and Constantinople. +For the first time, no bishop persisted in resisting +the decisions of an Œcumenical Council. It was now +acknowledged by the whole episcopate that those measures +were timely, wise and salutary, which the Church, ever guided +by the Spirit of God, had deemed it proper to adopt, but which +so many, awed by the spirit of unbelief which was abroad, had +judged were inopportune. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It may have been merely a coincidence. But there can be +no doubt that grandeur was added to a scene, in itself sufficiently +imposing, when, as on Sinai of old, lightning flashed +and thunder pealed, as the Fathers of the Council solemnly +rose to give their final vote. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">placets</span></span> of the Fathers,”</span> +writes the correspondent of the London <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Times</span></span> (Aug. 5, 1870), +<span class="tei tei-q">“struggled through the storm while the thunder pealed above, +and the lightning flashed in at every window, and down through +the dome and every smaller cupola. <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Placet!</span></span>’</span> +shouted his Eminence or his Grace, and a loud clap of thunder followed in +response, and then the lightning darted about the Baldacchino +and every part of the church and council-hall, as if announcing +the response. So it continued for nearly one hour and a half, +during which time the roll was being called, and a more effective +scene I never witnessed. Had all the decorators and all +the getters-up of ceremonies in Rome been employed, nothing +approaching to the solemn grandeur of the storm could have +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page339">[pg 339]</span><a name="Pg339" id="Pg339" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been prepared, and never will those who saw it and felt it forget +the promulgation of the first dogma of the church.”</span> Less +friendly critics beheld, in this magnificent thunder-storm, a +distinct voice of Divine anger, condemning the important act +of the assembled Fathers. Had they forgotten Sinai and the +Ten Commandments? All of a sudden, as the last words were +uttered, the tempest ceased; and, at the moment when Pius +IX. intoned the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Te Deum</span></span>, a sun-ray lighted up his noble and +expressive countenance. The voices of the Sixtine choristers, +who continued chanting the hymn, could not be heard. They +were lost in the united concert of the venerable Fathers and the +vast assemblage. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +COMPARATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE VATICAN COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In whatever light we view the Council of the Vatican—the +œcumenical of the nineteenth century—it strikes us as being, +in ecclesiastical annals, the event of the age. It also marks, +in a remarkable manner, the character and progress of the +time. The Council of Trent was highly important in its day; +and still, after a lapse of three hundred years, its teachings +govern the Church. Whilst, as regards the wisdom of its +decisions, it cannot be excelled, it was surpassed in many +things by the Council of the Vatican. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Trent was attended by comparatively few bishops, who were +from Europe, the Eastern Church and the countries bordering +on the Mediterranean. The Vatican Council consisted of prelates +from at least thirty different nations, from the remotest +regions of the habitable globe, from the numerous churches in +India which owed their origin to the apostolic zeal of St. +Francis Xavier, from North and South America, China, Australia, +New Zealand and Oceanica. One-fifth of the churches +existed not as yet in the time of Trent which sent their bishops +to represent them at the Vatican Council. The countries in +which many of these churches flourish had no place, when the +Council of Trent was called, on the map of the world. From +those vast regions which now constitute the United States of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page340">[pg 340]</span><a name="Pg340" id="Pg340" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +America, there was not so much as one bishop at Trent. At +the Vatican Council there were no fewer than sixty. There +were never more than three bishops of Ireland present together +at Trent, and four only were members of that council. Twenty +Irish prelates attended the Vatican Council. England sent +only one bishop to Trent. He is mentioned as Godveus +Anglus, Episc. Asaphensis. The Catholics of England were +represented by thirteen English bishops at the Council of the +Vatican. Scotland had no representation at Trent. The +Catholics of that country were most worthily represented at the +Vatican by Bishop Strain, now Archbishop of St. Andrews and +Edinburgh; Archbishop Eyre, of Glasgow, and Bishop McDonald, +of Aberdeen. There was only a very small number of +English-speaking bishops at Trent. At the Vatican Council +they were particularly numerous, constituting, as nearly as +can be calculated, one-fifth of the assembled Catholic hierarchy. +At Trent there were not many bishops from countries +speaking different languages. Twenty-seven languages, and +various dialects besides, were represented by prelates at the +Vatican. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The greater facilities for travelling, which this favored age +enjoys, no doubt rendered it more easy to attend the Council +of the Vatican than it was to journey to Trent, even from the +nearest lands. Nevertheless, there was laborious journeying +to the Vatican. Prelates from the vast regions of Asia and +Africa, America and Australia, knew what they would have to +encounter, but they were not deterred. Some, on their way to +the Vatican, travelled for whole weeks mounted on camels +before they could reach the ports at which it behooved them to +embark. Bishop Launy, of Santa Fe, was forty-two days on +his land-journey, and travelled on horseback. Such of the +laity as visited Trent were comparatively few, and only from +places not very distant. One hundred thousand pilgrims, +many of them from the most remote regions, repaired to the +Vatican. The number of Fathers at any one time in council +at Trent was somewhat under three hundred. Seven hundred +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page341">[pg 341]</span><a name="Pg341" id="Pg341" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and eighty-three took part in the Council of the Vatican. The +Council of Trent, however, must not be underrated. It was a +most important council, and admirably calculated to meet the +wants of the time. It marked an era in the history of the +Church. It provided remedies for numerous evils, and safety +in the midst of danger. It became a power which time has +not diminished. For three hundred years it has guided the +destinies of Peter's barque, prelates and people wisely accepting +its discipline, and meekly obeying its rule. It added, no +doubt, to the importance of the Vatican Council that it was +held at Rome, in the very centre of Catholicity and of Catholic +unity, and near the tombs of the martyred apostles, the founders +of the Church. In this it contrasts with Trent, which, +although the Fathers assembled at an obscure village in the +Tyrol, was not less, on this account, an Œcumenical Council. +Papal legates presided at Trent, whilst the Holy Father himself +was present at all the solemn sessions of the Vatican +Council which have as yet been held. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +INFALLIBILITY. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was no intention at first, as has been shown, of laying +the question of infallibility before the council. It happened, +however, that a great clamor, in regard to this question, came +to prevail both within and without the Church. The enemies +of the doctrine railed so strongly against it, and they who did +not deny it declaimed so loudly against the opportuneness of +pronouncing any decision concerning it, that it was positively +forced upon the attention of the assembled Fathers. When, +therefore, they came to discuss the primacy and the temporalities +of the Sovereign Pontiff in connection with the Church +of Christ, they hesitated not to consider, at the same time, +his immunity from error when speaking, as Head of the Church +and successor of Saint Peter, <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">ex cathedra</span></span> on matters of +faith and morals. The learning of theologians and the ability of +orators were brought into requisition, and the fact came prominently +out that it had been according to the mind of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page342">[pg 342]</span><a name="Pg342" id="Pg342" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Church at all times, that the Pope, the successor of St. Peter, +is divinely assisted when pronouncing solemnly +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">ex cathedra</span></span> +on questions of faith and morals. When so pronouncing, the +decisions of the Supreme Pastor have always been accepted by +the Church, whether dispersed or assembled in council. It is +a received belief among Christians that to every legitimate +office is attached a grace of vocation. Is it not, therefore, in +accordance with reason and Christian faith, that such grace +should belong, and specially to the highest and most important +of all offices? Such grace or assistance was promised to St. +Peter, and through him to his successors, who are appointed +to bear witness throughout all time to the truths of Divine +revelation. For our blessed Lord declared, <span class="tei tei-q">“I am with you +all days.”</span> He could not better have secured the permanence +of his religion—the kingdom of God on earth, for the salvation +of men in every age of the world. When the Supreme Pastor +speaks in the exercise of his sublime office, the Church also +speaks. The teaching and testimony of the Head of the Church +and of the great body of the Church are identical. They must +always be in harmony, as was so admirably shown by the +decision of the council on infallibility and the confirmation +thereof by the Holy Father—<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">confirma +fratres tuous</span></span>—<span class="tei tei-q">“confirm +thy brethren.”</span> Let not the opponents of the Church and her +salutary doctrines be carried away by the idea that a subservient +council wished only to glorify their spiritual Chief by +ascribing to him imaginary personal gifts. They were incapable +of any such thing. They were an assembly of the most +venerable men in Christendom, who felt all the weight of their +responsibility to God and men in the exercise of their sacred +functions. Their decision has not altered the position of the +Supreme Pastor. Any writings or discourses which he may +produce in his merely personal or more private capacity are +received by the Christian world with that degree of consideration +to which they are entitled on account of the estimation in +which he is held by men as a theologian and a man of learning +and ability. It is only when pronouncing solemnly <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">ex +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page343">[pg 343]</span><a name="Pg343" id="Pg343" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-style: italic"> +cathedra</span></span>, as the successor of St. Peter and the Head of the +Church, on questions of faith and morals, that he is universally +believed to be divinely assisted so as to be above the danger of +erring, or of leading into error—in other words (and we cannot +help who may be offended), that he is infallible. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR—WITHDRAWAL OF THE FRENCH GARRISON +FROM ROME—ADJOURNMENT OF THE COUNCIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Events were now at hand which made it impossible for the +council to hold another session. The French Emperor had +greatly fallen, in the estimation of the people of France, from +the time of his shameful abandonment of the chivalrous Maximilian +and the popular design of establishing a Latin empire +on the continent of America. In order to make amends and +regain his <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">prestige</span></span>, he had revived the idea, so dear to the +French, of rectifying the Rhine frontier of France by resuming +possession of Luxembourg and some other adjacent provinces. +He formally intimated his design to Prussia. That Power, +however, aware of its rights and conscious of its military superiority, +declined all negotiation on the subject. From that +moment Prussia held herself in readiness to repel, with the +sword, if necessary, any insolence that, in the future, might +proceed from her aggressive neighbor, for whose tottering +throne war was a necessity. The candidature of Prince Leopold +of Hohenzollern for the throne of Spain now afforded a +pretext, which Napoleon III. was only too anxious to find, for +provoking by a fresh insult his powerful rival. It may be that +he dreaded the accession of strength which might eventually +accrue to Prussia if the crown of Spain were placed on the +head of a Prince of the house of Hohenzollern. Napoleon +remonstrated, and threatened war. The youthful German +prince generously renounced a candidature which it was not +hard to see would lead to a rupture between the two Powers, +and cause a destructive war. The King of Prussia, head of the +Hohenzollerns, sanctioned, if he did not command, this act of +moderation on the part of the prince, his relative. But moderation +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page344">[pg 344]</span><a name="Pg344" id="Pg344" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was of no avail. Napoleon, surrounded by a Jacobinical +ministry, insisted upon war. The very idea of proposing +a German for the throne of Spain appeared to him to be a +sufficient cause for issuing a declaration of hostilities. The +gauntlet thus thrown down, the Prussian monarch was too +chivalrous to decline the challenge. He relied on his great +military strength, and could afford to despise the comparatively +inferior preparations of the French Empire. With the vast +resources of France at his command, the Emperor, one would +suppose, might have managed, in the course of three years, to +increase and discipline his army, garrison his fortresses and +seek alliances. He might have taken more time if necessary. +He had no need to precipitate events, as he so recklessly did, +by declaring war when there was positively no preparation +made for it. We shall presently see whether he were not one +of those whom Providence deprives of reason when it has +resolved on their destruction. In the absence of more effective +preparations, the small garrison at Rome of five thousand +men was withdrawn in order to augment the army which all +France believed was destined to crush the formidable Teuton +and capture Berlin. If, however, this had been Napoleon's +only object in recalling the troops, he could have accomplished +it as easily by ordering four thousand five hundred of the +Roman garrison to join the invading army, leaving the remaining +five hundred to guard the city of the Popes. This smaller +number would surely have been as able as five thousand to +repel a Piedmontese force of sixty thousand men. But there +was question of more than mere physical power. So long as +it was evident that France protected the Papal city, whether +by a greater or smaller number of soldiers, the legions of Piedmont +never would have marched against it. Napoleon's minister, +M. de Gramont, revealed the pretext: <span class="tei tei-q">“It is certainly +not from strategetical necessity that we evacuate the Roman +States, but the political urgency is obvious. We must conciliate +the good-will of the Italian Cabinet.”</span> Much, indeed, it +availed them. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page345">[pg 345]</span><a name="Pg345" id="Pg345" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Viterbo was evacuated on the 4th of August. The last +remnant of French troops embarked at Civita Vecchia, partly +on the 4th and partly on the 6th, the very days on which the +French army experienced its first reverses at Weissemberg, +Wœrth and Spikeren. Instead of hesitating to perform a most +cowardly act, which, viewing it only politically, proclaimed his +weakness to all Europe, the Emperor Napoleon made all haste +to complete it. He expressed regret. Who will say that he +was sincere? Had he not perfected the master-work of his +reign—his grand transalpine scheme? The Piedmontese +minister, Visconti Venosta, gives a very distinct reply. Writing +to the Piedmontese representatives at foreign courts, this minister +says that as several governments had desired to know +their views in regard to the relation of passing events with the +Roman question, his government had no hesitation in making +the clearest explanations. The convention of 15th September, +1864, had not sufficed to avert the causes arising abroad which +hindered the settlement of the Roman difficulty. He then +accuses the Roman Court of having assumed a hostile attitude +in the centre of the peninsula, and that the consequences of +such a position might be serious for Piedmont on occasion of +the Franco-Prussian war and the complications to which it +might give rise. Visconti Venosta further states that the basis +of a new and definite solution of the Roman question had been +confidentially recognized in principle, and was subject only to +the condition of opportunity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is no pleasure, surely, to convict the late Emperor of a +deep-laid conspiracy to revolutionize the Roman State, and +rob the Holy Father of his time-honored patrimony. But +there is no escaping the conclusion that he had never ceased +to plot with the revolutionists. He was not yet vanquished +and fallen himself when he left the Sovereign Pontiff to his +enemies. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the chief calumnies of the time was directed by the +revolutionists against Pius IX. They accused the venerable +Pontiff of encouraging the Prussian monarch to wage war +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page346">[pg 346]</span><a name="Pg346" id="Pg346" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +against France. The falsehood of this accusation can only be +equalled by its absurdity. The Holy Father, on the contrary, +earnestly endeavored, although in vain, before the commencement +of hostilities, to avert the dire calamity of war. So early +as 22nd July, 1870, he interposed between the two rival sovereigns. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sire,”</span> he wrote to the King of Prussia, <span class="tei tei-q">“in the most +serious circumstances in which we are placed, it will appear +to you unusual to receive a letter from me. But as I hold the +office of Vicar of the God of peace in this world, I cannot do +less than offer you my mediation. It is my desire that all +preparations for war should disappear, and that the evils which +inevitably follow should be prevented. My mediation is that +of a sovereign who, in his capacity of king, cannot, on account +of the smallness of his territory, excite any jealousy, but who, +nevertheless, will inspire confidence by the moral and religious +influence which he personifies. May God hear my prayers! +and may He also accept those which I offer for your Majesty, +with whom I desire to be united in the common bond of +charity.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">Pius PP. IX.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I have written also to the Emperor of the French.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The King of Prussia replied from Berlin on the 30th July. +The kindly monarch expressed himself beautifully and with +the finest feeling: <span class="tei tei-q">“Most blessed Pontiff—I was not surprised +but deeply moved when I read the feeling words which you +wrote, in order to cause the voice of the God of peace to be +heard. How could I be deaf to such a powerful appeal? God +is my witness that neither I nor my people have desired this +war. In fulfilment of the sacred duties which God lays on +sovereigns and on nations, we have drawn the sword in order +to defend the independence and honor of our country, and we +are prepared to lay it down as soon as these blessings shall no +longer be in danger of being torn from us. If your Holiness +could offer me, on the part of him who has so unexpectedly +declared war, the assurance of sincerely pacific dispositions +and of guarantees against a renewal of such violation of the +peace and tranquillity of Europe, I certainly would be far from +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page347">[pg 347]</span><a name="Pg347" id="Pg347" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +refusing to accept them at the venerable hands of your Holiness, +united as I am with you by the bonds of Christian charity +and true friendship. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">William</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The letter of Pius IX. to the French Emperor has not been +published, and it is not known whether Napoleon deigned to +reply. One thing is certain. He did not either accept the +mediation or heed the remonstrances of the Holy Father. He +was equally deaf to the warnings of his old allies of Crimean +fame. The British government despatched to Paris a member +of the cabinet, who, in a prolonged interview with the demented +Emperor, argued earnestly on the part of Queen Victoria and +her ministry against his purposed violation of the peace of +Europe by undertaking an unprovoked, unjust and irrational +war. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The war broke out. It was waged disastrously to the +French. Pius IX. was deeply grieved. <span class="tei tei-q">“Poor France!”</span> he +exclaimed, as he heard of each new defeat of the nation that +he loved so well. He interposed once more. But with the like +ill success. Neither could the Germans be checked in their +victorious career, nor could the vanquished French be induced +to acknowledge their defeat and seek such terms of peace as +might possibly have been obtained. On 12th November, 1870, the +Holy Father wrote to Mgr. Guibert, Archbishop of Tours, in +whose palace was resident a delegation of the French government. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Neglect nothing,”</span> wrote the Pontiff, <span class="tei tei-q">“we conjure you, in +order to prevail on your illustrious guests to put an end to this +war. Nevertheless, we are not unaware that it does not depend +on them alone, and that we should vainly pursue the great +object of peace, if our pacific ministry did not also meet with +support on the part of the conqueror. So we have not hesitated +to write to this effect to his Majesty the King of Prussia. +We cannot, indeed, affirm anything as to the favorable result +of the step which we have taken. We have, nevertheless, +some ground for hope, as this monarch has in other circumstances +shown us much good-will.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page348">[pg 348]</span><a name="Pg348" id="Pg348" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Unfortunately, the bold men who had assumed supreme +authority in France, and had undertaken the difficult task of +saving the country, were incapable of accepting good advice, +especially when it came from a Pope. The King of Prussia +and his minister, on the other hand, were of the number of +those whom victory intoxicates, and whom the power to dare +everything deprives of all sense of moderation. Pius IX. did +not know them as yet. The representations of Mgr. Guibert +to Messrs. Cremieux, Glais Bisoin and Gambetta, were not +more successful than those of Mgr. Ledochowski, Archbishop +of Posen, who hastened to the presence of King William at +Versailles. The earnest endeavors of the archbishop met with +less consideration, to all appearance, at least, although it does +not appear that, on this occasion, William made any reply to +Pius IX. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Notwithstanding these untoward circumstances, the Holy +Pontiff never lost confidence in the nation of Charlemagne and +St. Louis. France, he said, although sadly exhausted and +bathed in blood, would yet show excellent fruits. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Piedmontese government, which had been for some +time established at Florence, now resolved to avail itself of the +disasters of France to seize the city of the Popes, and to constitute +it the capital of regenerated Italy. The minister, Visconti +Venosta, in a circular letter, renewed his calumnies, pretending +that a hostile power existed in the centre of Italy, and +hypocritically declared that it had become necessary that the +government of his master should assume the protection of the +Holy See. They would not wait, he said, moreover, till the +agitation at home should lead to the effusion of blood between +the Romans and foreign forces, but would proceed, as soon as +they could learn that the opportune time had come, to occupy +what remained to the Holy Father of the Roman States. The +information which the minister sought came with remarkable +rapidity. The day after the circular alluded to was written, +another minister, Signor Lanza, declared that the solemn +moment had arrived when the government of his king was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page349">[pg 349]</span><a name="Pg349" id="Pg349" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +called upon, in the interest of the Holy See and of Italy, to take +measures for the national safety. An envoy was despatched +to Rome, with a letter to the Pope, assuring him that the +king's government was firmly resolved to give the necessary +guarantees for the spiritual independence of the Holy See, and +that these guarantees would be hereafter the subject of negotiations +with the Powers that were interested in the Papacy. In +addition to this mockery of diplomacy, Victor Emmanuel himself +wrote to the Pope, expressing his filial devotedness, while +at the same time he was preparing, from an excess of affection, +to bombard his city and slay his defenders, to rob him from +an excessive zeal for justice, to imprison him in order to set +him free, and, finally, that he ought to allow all this to be done +without complaint, and even thank the good king who took so +much care of him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Florentine Envoy, Signor Ponza di San Martino, when +he came to Rome, made his first visit to Cardinal Antonelli, +who received him politely, and did not refuse to ask for him an +interview with the Pope. The cardinal, however, declined to +have any conversation with him on the object of his mission. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I know already,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“all that you could tell me. You +are also aware of the reply that I would give. Force, not +argument, speaks at present.”</span> Pius IX. was more afflicted +than surprised when he read King Victor Emmanuel's letter. +He was particularly pained by the tone of this document. +<span class="tei tei-q">“How the revolution has abased a Prince of the House of +Savoy! It is not satisfied with dethroning kings as often as it +can, and with committing their heads to the guillotine. It +must also dishonor them.”</span> The envoy insisted that the king +was sincere; that he was more convinced than any other, +that the independence of the Chief of the Church was a necessity; +and that he offered real and substantial guarantees to +this independence. <span class="tei tei-q">“And who will guarantee these guarantees”</span> +asked the Pope. <span class="tei tei-q">“Your king cannot promise anything. +He is no longer a king. He depends on his parliament, which, +in its turn, depends on the secret societies.”</span> The ambassador, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page350">[pg 350]</span><a name="Pg350" id="Pg350" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +more disconcerted than ever, remarked on the difficulties of +the time. He claimed, although timidly, that the king ought +to be judged according to his intentions, as at the time he was +constrained by the aspirations of four-and-twenty millions of +Italians. <span class="tei tei-q">“Your statement is untrue, sir,”</span> replied Pius IX. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You calumniate Italy! Of these four-and-twenty millions, +twenty-three millions are devoted to me, love and respect me, +and only require that the revolution leave them and me in +peace. The remaining million you have poisoned with false +doctrines and inspired with base passions. These unfortunate +people are the friends of your king and the instigators of his +ambitious designs. When they have no longer need of him +they will cast him aside. My answer will be communicated +to you to-morrow. I am too much moved with grief and indignation +to be able to write at present.”</span> Next day, accordingly, +11th September, the following reply to Victor Emmanuel was +conveyed to Signor Ponza: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Sire</span></span>,—Count Ponza di San Martino has handed me a letter +which it has pleased your Majesty to address to me. This +letter is not worthy of an affectionate son who glories in professing +the Catholic faith, and who prides himself on being +royally loyal. I dwell not on the details contained in the letter, +in order to avoid renewing the pain which a first reading +of it gave me. I bless God, who has permitted that your +Majesty should overwhelm with bitterness the last years of +my life. I cannot admit the demands made in your letter, nor +adopt the principles which it contains. I call upon God anew, +and commend to Him my cause, which is also wholly His own. +I beseech Him to bestow abundant graces on your Majesty, to +deliver you from all danger, and to grant you all the mercy +which you require.”</span> This answer was not waited for. Victor +Emmanuel made haste to become the declared enemy of Pius +IX. On 11th September, the Pontifical territory was invaded +by his orders at three different points—Aquapendente, in the +north: Orte and Correse, to the east; and on the south, +Ceprano. The invading army amounted to sixty thousand +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page351">[pg 351]</span><a name="Pg351" id="Pg351" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +men. After the withdrawal of the French garrison, there +remained only at Rome the few soldiers who constituted the +army of the Pope. A great portion of these were, to the lasting +honor of a remote British dependency, Canadians. They +all deserved well of the Holy Father, and had imperilled their +lives in his service. On occasion of the great difficulty which +had arisen, accordingly, he was pleased to address to them in +person special words of comfort and encouragement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was evident that, in the adverse circumstances of the +time, the Council of the Vatican could not long continue its +deliberations. Accordingly, the Holy Father authorized such +of the bishops as desired to retire to return to their dioceses +until the feast of St. Martin, 11th November following, at which +date it was intended to resume the labors of the council. It +was not, however, strictly speaking, suspended. Some general +congregations (committees) were still held, and the various +deputations continued their studies. During this time, the +bishops of the minority, one after another, expressed their +adhesion. The bishops, on returning to their dioceses, were +received with magnificent proofs of the people's fidelity. Some +parties pretending that the Constitution, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Pastor æternus</span></span>, was +not obligatory, because the council was not terminated, Cardinal +Antonelli addressed to the Papal Nuncio at Brussels a +letter under date of 11th August, which removed all doubt on +the subject. The rapid march of events, however, rendered +it necessary to interrupt the labors of the assembled Fathers. +On 20th October, accordingly, Pius IX. published the Bull, +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Postquam Dei Munere</span></span>, which suspended them for an indefinite +period. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE WOLF IN THE FOLD. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When all the Pontifical forces had returned from the outposts, +on the approach of the formidable Piedmontese invader, +and were concentrated at Rome, they numbered not more than +some ten thousand men. Such an army was quite inadequate +to cope with the superior power of the Florence government. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page352">[pg 352]</span><a name="Pg352" id="Pg352" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Pius IX., therefore, in order to prevent an unavailing conflict, +placed an order in the hands of his general-in-chief, to the +effect that as soon as sufficient resistance was made, in order +to show that violence was used against the Holy See, he should +surrender the city. This was a trial to the devoted Papal Zouaves, +who, during the few moments that fighting was allowed, +conducted themselves in the most gallant style, and kept the +enemy at bay. Their bravery deserved a better fate than that +which befell them and the Roman State. Two lieutenants, +Niel and Brondeis, fell, pierced with wounds, exclaiming with +their last breath, <span class="tei tei-q">“Long live Pius IX.!”</span> A brave Alsacian fell +by their side. A Canadian Zouave, Hormisdas Sauvet, was +also wounded, and declared that he was more fortunate than +so many of his fellow-countrymen who had been two years in +the Pontifical service without the slightest accident. Another +Zouave, whose name was Burel, when wounded in the mouth, +and his tongue was destroyed, made a sign that he wished to +write. Paper was brought to him, and he thus wrote his will: +<span class="tei tei-q">“I leave to the Holy Father all that I possess.”</span> He died the +following day. The paper, all covered with blood, was taken +to Pius IX., who, in his turn, bedewed it with tears, and desired +to keep it as a memorial. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Italian general Cadorna, an apostate priest, commenced +bombarding Rome at five points. At one of these, +between the gates Pia and Salara, they speedily effected a +breach in an old wall about two feet in thickness, and built of +bricks and tufa. It may be conceived with what feelings the brave +Papal soldiers beheld the storming column enter the city, +whilst they, in obedience to orders, remained inactive spectators. +They bore in silence and without moving an arm the +insults and even the violence of the fierce soldiery of Piedmont. +Finally, after a white flag had been displayed for some time +on the Pontifical side, almost in vain, General Kanzler had an +interview with Cadorna, at the Villa Albani. It can hardly be +said that a convention was resolved on. It would be more +true to write that the terms of the conqueror were imposed on +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page353">[pg 353]</span><a name="Pg353" id="Pg353" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the vanquished, and, as a matter of necessity, accepted. The +soldiers were better treated than in such circumstances could +well be expected. They were allowed to march out of Rome +with the honors of war, bearing with them their colors, arms +and baggage. When once out of the city, however, they were +all obliged to lay down their arms and their colors, with the +exception of the officers, who were permitted to retain their +swords, their horses and everything that belonged to them. +Such soldiers as were foreigners were to be sent to their +respective homes by the Italian government. The future position +of the Pope's native troops was to be taken into consideration. +By the articles of capitulation, it was settled that the +Pope should be allowed only the Vatican Palace and that part +of Rome which is called the Leonine city. Thus were carried +into effect the views of those revolutionists of Paris and Turin +who claimed to be moderate. Their programme was that +which Prince Napoleon had concocted in 1861. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is deeply to be regretted that when so little resistance +was required, so many of the Pope's brave defenders should +have fallen. Some were basely murdered in the streets on the +nights of the 20th and 21st September. Without counting +these, however, there were sixteen killed, of whom one was an +officer, and fifty-eight wounded. Among these last there were +two officers, two surgeons and a chaplain. The troops having +been so hastily dismissed to their foreign homes, to Civita +Vecchia, etc., it is possible that the list may be incomplete. +The losses of the Piedmontese were never made known. It is +certain, at any rate, that one hundred wounded were received +at the hospital <span class="tei tei-q">“de la Consolation”</span> alone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Whilst Pius IX. neglected not to warn, remonstrate and +use every fair and loyal art of diplomacy, he failed not, at the +same time, to have recourse to the spiritual weapon of prayer. +As the enemy approached his gates, he repaired to the Lateran +Basilica, and there most earnestly addressed his supplications +to the God of armies. Notwithstanding his great age, he +ascended, on his knees, all the time absorbed in prayer, the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page354">[pg 354]</span><a name="Pg354" id="Pg354" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +twenty-nine steps of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Scala Santa</span></span>, which, at the Palace of +Pontius Pilate, was consecrated by the footsteps of our suffering +Saviour. On reaching the chapel at the head of the holy stair, +he poured forth a prayer by which all who heard it were deeply +moved. He beseeched our blessed Lord, whose humble servant +and representative he was, to turn aside the wrath of +heaven, to prevent the profanation of the holy places, to save +his people. He conjured our most loving Saviour, by virtue of +His passion, by the pain especially which He suffered when +spontaneously ascending that same stair in order to undergo +the mockery of judgment by His erring creatures, to have mercy +on afflicted Rome, on His people, on His Church—His well-beloved +and stainless spouse, to save her temples from desecration +and her children from the sword. <span class="tei tei-q">“Pardon,”</span> he concluded, +<span class="tei tei-q">“pardon my people, who are also Thy people. If Thou +desirest a victim, O God! take Thy unworthy servant! Have +I not lived long enough? Mercy! O God! have mercy, I +beseech Thee! But whatever may happen, Thy holy will be +done!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As was always the case when Pius IX. appeared among his +people, he was received on this occasion with every demonstration +of welcome. As soon as the inhabitants of the locality +became aware of his presence, they thronged around his carriage +in order to do him honor, and, urged by the circumstances +of the time, with that freedom and familiarity of manner +peculiar to the Romans, they added to their acclamations and +cordial <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">vivats</span></span> words of encouragement and even advice. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Defend yourself. Holy Father! defend us! courage! courage!”</span> +A parting benediction, and he left his people of Rome to be +with them no more. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All the representatives of foreign States, with the exception +of Von Arnim, the Prussian Ambassador, remained with the +Holy Father, protesting by their presence against the flagrant +violation of a solemn treaty which the Florence government +was committing. It is not known that Von Arnim was instructed +by his government to act as he did. But none are +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page355">[pg 355]</span><a name="Pg355" id="Pg355" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ignorant that since that time it has dealt severely with him. +The diplomatist who rejoiced over the fall of Rome has himself +incurred disgrace, and undergoes the punishment of a +banished man. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., complimenting the ambassadors, called to mind +how they had afforded him much comfort on a similar occasion. +This was in 1848, and at the Quirinal Palace. He informed +them also that he had written to King Victor Emmanuel, but +did not know whether he had received his letter. At any rate, +he had little hope that it would have any result. His mention +of the notorious Bixio, who was with the Italian army, was not +without significance. This rabid red republican had threatened +that if ever he entered Rome he would throw the Pope and +cardinals into the Tiber. <span class="tei tei-q">“His ideas,”</span> the Holy Father observed, +<span class="tei tei-q">“were now probably modified. He was with a king. +May it please Heaven to effect a complete transformation and +convert this Bixio and so many others.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The students of the American College at Rome, the ambassadors +were then told, had offered to take up arms in the service +of Pius IX. The Holy Father would not allow them to +serve otherwise than by attending to the wounded. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I wish I could say that I count on you,”</span> said the Pope, +addressing the ambassadors, <span class="tei tei-q">“and that one of you will have +the honor, as formerly, to extricate the Church and her Chief +from difficulty. But the times are changed. The aged Pope, +in his misfortunes, cannot rely on any one in this world. But +the Church is immortal. Let this never be forgotten.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +General Kanzler now brought the intelligence that a breach +was made, and the assault on the point of commencing. The +Pope having conferred a few moments apart with Cardinal +Antonelli, resumed his discourse: <span class="tei tei-q">“I have just given the order +to capitulate. We might still defend ourselves. But to what +purpose? Abandoned by every one, I must yield sooner or +later; and I must not allow any useless shedding of blood. +You are my witnesses, gentlemen, that the foreigner enters +here only by violence, and that if my door is forced, it is by +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page356">[pg 356]</span><a name="Pg356" id="Pg356" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +breaking it open. This the world shall know, and history will +tell it, one day, to the honor of the Romans, my children. I +speak not of myself, gentlemen; I weep not for myself, but for +those unfortunate young men who have come to defend me as +their Father. You will take care, each of you, of those of your +country. There are some from all countries. I recommend +them all to you, in order that you may preserve them from +such maltreatment as others had to suffer ten years ago. I +absolve my soldiers from their oath of fidelity. I pray God to +give me strength and courage. Ah! it is not they who suffer +injustice that are most to be pitied.”</span> Having thus spoken, he +took leave of the ambassadors, with tears in his eyes. On the +same day, Cardinal Antonelli, by his order, intimated the sad +tidings to the governments of all civilized nations. Pius IX. +also protested by an allocution to the cardinals. It only +remains to chronicle the shameful violation of the treaty, which +bound the French nation to protect the Holy Father, by the +government temporarily established in France. <span class="tei tei-q">“The September +agreement,”</span> wrote a representative of the French +republic, under the date of 22nd September, 1870, <span class="tei tei-q">“virtually +ceases to exist by the proclamation of the French republic. I +congratulate the King of Italy, in the name of the French government +and in my own name, on the deliverance of Home and +the final consecration of Italian unity.”</span> Thus was disgrace +added to the misfortunes of a great country. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was some time before order could be restored at Rome. +From four thousand to five thousand vagrants and bandits, +chiefly Garibaldians, entered the city at the heels of the invading +force. The prisons were thrown open, and swelled the ranks +of these disorderly bands. During two whole days that these +lawless hordes were allowed to commit all kinds of excesses, +houses were fired, valuable property destroyed or carried off, +some eighty unoffending citizens put to death, and such of the +Roman soldiers as were recognized cut down or thrown into +the Tiber. Nor was the Italian general in any hurry to repress +such proceedings. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Lasciate +il popolo sfogarsir</span></span>,”</span> coolly said +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page357">[pg 357]</span><a name="Pg357" id="Pg357" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Cadorna to the parties who entreated him to put an end to +such horrors. This general and the men with whom he acted +were only robbers on a greater scale. Their commissioners +lost not a moment. When tranquillity was somewhat restored, +and complaints were made against housebreakers, it was found +that everything was already confiscated—libraries, archives, +colleges, museums, etc. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Victor Emmanuel had need of the mob which followed his +troops. Anxious to give a coloring of right to his brigandage, +he resolved, according to the fashion of his Imperial patron +and accomplice, to hold a <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">plebiscitum</span></span>. In the city of +Rome, with the help of his numerous assemblage of vagrants, he had +forty thousand votes, whilst against him there were +only forty-six. Something similar was done in the landward +part of the Roman State. Better, surely, no right +beyond what the sword could give, than such a transparent +semblance of right. No wonder that Victor Emmanuel's best +friends condemned such an impolitic and ridiculous proceeding. +None could be so simple as to believe that there were +only forty-six voters against him, when all the numerous +officials, both civil and military, protested against his aggression +by resigning their offices. It is bad enough when men +in authority play fantastic tricks. When the play is badly +played, the trickery becomes ridiculous. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It now remained to adhibit the seal of permanency to the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">fait accompli</span></span>. This was done by the following decree: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Art. 1st. Rome and the Roman Provinces constitute an +integral portion of the kingdom of Italy. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Art. 2nd. The Sovereign Pontiff retains the dignity, inviolability, +and all the prerogatives of a sovereign. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Art. 3rd. A special law will sanction the conditions calculated +to guarantee, even by territorial franchises, the independence +of the Sovereign Pontiff and the free exercise of the +spiritual authority of the Holy See. +</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Thus was sacrificed to Italian unity the city of the Popes. +Was the sacrifice essential? Florence might have well sufficed. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page358">[pg 358]</span><a name="Pg358" id="Pg358" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +It was of little avail that the brigands who followed the +Piedmontese army were compelled, by superior power, to +moderate their violence. Their robberies were, for the most +part, of a private nature, and committed on a small scale. +Those of their superiors—the Piedmontese usurpers—were +grander and more extensive. They astonished, if they did not +terrify, by their magnitude and the daring which achieved +them. There were palaces at Rome and soldiers' quarters +which had satisfied all the requirements of Papal grandeur. +These were nothing to the republican simplicity of the new +order of things. No doubt the parliament which had just +arrived from Florence required ample space. The costly +equipages and hunting studs of a constitutional king were +also to be provided for. Could not all this have been done, +especially in such a vast city, without expropriating convents, +desecrating churches, and even seizing for their purposes the +refuges of the sick? It was more than an idea that required +such spoliation. But what shall we say when we call to mind +that the mere desire to modernize everything threatened the +destruction of all those monuments which rendered Rome so +dear to travellers from every clime? It had been hitherto the +city of the Consuls, of the Emperors, of the Popes. It must +now become a commonplace town, with straight lines, rectangles +and parallelograms, like Philadelphia, New York, or +the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Haussmanized</span></span> Paris of Napoleon III. The Royal Palace +of the Popes, the Quirinal, was unscrupulously seized, in order +to make a city mansion for the King of Italy. It was too +magnificent, apparently, for this gentleman prince. He seldom +entered it. It may be that he dreaded offending the revolution, +to which he owed so much, by too great an affectation of +royal style. If the gratitude of such a heartless thing could be +relied on, he had no need to fear. Without the sword of Piedmont +the revolution never could have entered Rome. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, the Pope was engaged in most anxious deliberation. +At last, considering the disturbed state of Europe generally, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page359">[pg 359]</span><a name="Pg359" id="Pg359" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +he concluded that it was better for him to remain at +Rome. A Pontifical ship, which had not been included in the +articles of capitulation, awaited his orders in the waters of +Civita Vecchia. This vessel was named the <span class="tei tei-q">“Immaculate +Conception;”</span> and two years later, by order of his Holiness, +was laid up at Toulon, under the protection of the flag of +France. A French ship, the <span class="tei tei-q">“Orenoque,”</span> was then placed at +the disposal of Pius IX., in case he should wish, at any time, +to leave Rome: and later, the <span class="tei tei-q">“Kleber,”</span> which was stationed +in the waters of Bastia (Corsica). +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Holy Father had made up his mind so early as the +first days of September, 1870, to remain in the city. His presence, +he felt confident, would so far prevent the evils which he +feared. If he were gone, there would be less restraint on the +usurping power, when it might wish to confiscate more convents, +churches and church property generally. Almost all +the foreign ambassadors remained with him; and this circumstance +presented another cause why the new government +would be more moderate and circumspect in its attacks on +property. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A beautiful legend which the Holy Father recounted, at +an interview with Cardinal De Bonnechose, was well calculated +to reconcile the Catholic world to the stay of Pius IX. at Rome, +even although he was there as a prisoner of the victorious +king. And a prisoner he really was; for he could not have +removed to any other country except by a successful stratagem, +so closely guarded were all the approaches to the city by the +myrmidons of the conqueror. Taking the cardinal aside, he +informed him that he wished to present him with a memorial. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The object in itself is of little value. The intention with +which I give it is all its worth.”</span> It was a small plate of ivory, +framed in gold, surmounted by the arms of the Holy See, and +representing in the most exquisite manner a moving scene in +the life of St. Peter. <span class="tei tei-q">“You behold the subject of my frequent +meditations for many years. When the prince of the apostles, +fleeing from persecution, quitted Rome, he met, not far from +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page360">[pg 360]</span><a name="Pg360" id="Pg360" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the gate of Saint Sebastian, our Lord Himself, carrying His +cross and looking extraordinarily sad: <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Domine +quo radis?</span></span>’</span> +<span class="tei tei-q">‘Lord, where are you going?’</span> exclaimed Peter. <span class="tei tei-q">‘I am going +to Rome,’</span> replied our blessed Lord, <span class="tei tei-q">‘In order to be there crucified +anew to die in your place, as your courage has failed +you.’</span> ”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Peter understood,”</span> continued the Holy Father, <span class="tei tei-q">“and +remained at Rome. I also remain. For if, at this moment, I +left the eternal city, it would seem to me as if our Lord addressed +to me the same words of reproach. The representation +of this scene I am anxious to leave with you as a memorial. +It may, in reality, be nothing more than a pious legend. But +for me it in a decisive instruction.”</span> Pius IX. then delivered +the precious medallion to the cardinal. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +GUARANTEES WHICH GUARANTEED NOTHING—£120,000 WITH +WHICH NOTHING WAS PAID—PETER'S PENCE WHICH PAID +EVERYTHING. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In order to give a coloring to his usurpation in the eyes +of Christian Europe, and to set at rest any scruples which may +have remained in the minds of his adherents, Victor Emmanuel +caused a law to be enacted on the 13th March, 1871, which is +known as <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">the law of guarantees</span></span>. This law declared the person +of the Sovereign Pontiff sacred and inviolable, recognized his +title and dignity of sovereign, assured to him an annual endowment +of 3,225,000 francs (£120,000), together with the possession +of the Vatican and Lateran Palaces, as well as the Pontifical +Villa of Castel Gandolfo, and provided for the complete +liberty of all future Conclaves and Œcumenical Councils. It +requires two parties to every contract or agreement. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The law +of guarantees</span></span> had no such condition, the Holy Father not being +a party to it. He could not accept the honors which the new +government pretended to confer, nor the money which it offered. +It was not a government by any other law than that of the +sword—that of a war not only undertaken against the unoffending, +but also in violation of a solemn treaty. Neither was the +treasure which it proffered its rightful property. It held it, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page361">[pg 361]</span><a name="Pg361" id="Pg361" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +indeed; but only as the robber holds the purse of his victim, +whilst he mocks him by an offer of alms. It was also the +merest mockery to pretend to recognize the Pope as a sovereign, +whilst, in reality, he was detained as a prisoner, who +could not pass beyond the gate of his garden without coming +into the custody of the armed police or soldiery of the usurper, +By the provisions of this same law of guarantees, full liberty +was secured to the Sovereign Pontiff in the exercise of his +spiritual office. The persecutions to which the ministers of +the Church were frequently subjected, when they dared to obey +the orders of the Pope in fulfilling the duties of his and their +ministry, show to what extent the framers of the law were +sincere. It need only be added, without further comment, +that article eighteen confiscated, by anticipation, all ecclesiastical +properties, under the pretence that they were to be reorganized, +preserved and administered. No wonder that the +Pope stigmatized such a law as hypocritical and iniquitous. +In the supposition that he could have derived any benefit from +accepting it, he would still have been at the mercy of a fickle +king and parliament, to whom it was competent, at any +moment, to change the law which they had made. The safety +of the Holy Father, under Heaven, lay in this, that the newly +erected kingdom of Victor Emmanuel was most ambitious to +figure as a State among the States of Europe. To none of +these would it have been pleasing to see the venerable Pontiff +forcibly driven from the city of the Popes. It was necessary, +as far as possible, to blindfold them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I have, indeed, great need of money.”</span> said Pius IX., when +the sum appropriated by the law of guarantees was first presented +for his acceptance; <span class="tei tei-q">“my children, everywhere, impose +on themselves the most serious sacrifices in order to supply +my wants, at all times so great, but to which you are daily +adding. As it is a portion of the property that has been stolen +from me, I could only accept it as restitution money. I will +never sign a receipt which would appear to express my acquiescence +in the robbery.”</span> Every succeeding year the form, or +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page362">[pg 362]</span><a name="Pg362" id="Pg362" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +rather the farce, of offering the subsidy was renewed and as +often rejected. That the offer of so large a sum was hypocritical, +and intended only for show, is well proved by the circumstance +that the liberal Italian government deprived of their +incomes and drove from their places of residence many bishops, +whose wants were supplied in their great distress from the +resources of the Holy Father. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Love is stronger than hate; and so well-beloved was Pius +IX. throughout Catholic Christendom, that contributions of +money from every country where there were any Catholics +were poured into his treasury, in such abundance as more +than compensated for the loss of his Italian revenue. Not +only were these contributions, under the name of Peter's pence, +sufficient to maintain the venerable Pontiff during the remainder +of his days, without its being necessary to accept, as a +royal benefaction, any portion of the property that was stolen +from him, they also sufficed to enable him to continue their +salaries to his former employees, who had almost all remained +faithful, as well as to those still required for his service and for +transacting the business of the Church. In addition to this, he +retained on half or quarter pay a number of the soldiers of +his former army, and maintained his establishment of Vigna +Pia, together with the hospital of Tata Giovanni, from which +the new Roman municipality had meanly withdrawn the subsidy, +for no other reason than that in former times it had been +a favorite institution of Pius IX. This was not all. The Holy +Pontiff maintained, by means of popular schools, a necessary +warfare against both Protestant and Atheistic propagandism. +The former had been very active ever since the occupation of +Rome by the Piedmontese. The various Protestant societies +actually spent £100,000 yearly in the vain attempt to Protestantize +the Romans. By 1st January, 1875, they had erected +three churches and founded twelve missionary residences in the +interest of divers denominations—Anglicans, Methodists, American +Episcopalians, Vaudois, Baptists, Anabaptists, etc. +The Italians have little taste for Protestantism in any of its +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page363">[pg 363]</span><a name="Pg363" id="Pg363" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +forms. So there was no danger of discordant and jarring sects +coming to prevail. It cannot be denied, however, that the +movement increased the number of free-thinkers—a result no +less calculated to afflict tho Holy Father. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When to these expenses are added those of sustaining the +Sacred College, the prelature, the guards, the museums, and +bishops that were exiled for the faith, there is shown a monthly +expenditure of more than six hundred thousand francs, which +is equal to seven millions and a half yearly. These expenses +always increased as the elder bishops passed away. Pius IX. +appointed successors. But as none of these could, in conscience, +ask the royal <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">exequatur</span></span>, which, notwithstanding article +sixteen of the notorious guarantees, was still in force, Victor +Emmanuel had no hesitation in suppressing the revenues of +the bishops. Pius IX. sent to the bishops who were thus +deprived of their legitimate incomes five hundred francs +monthly, and to archbishops from seven hundred to one thousand +francs. He also labored to establish foundations for the +education of ecclesiastical students whom a revolutionary and +anti-Christian law made subject to military service, thus rendering +morally impossible the following out of clerical vocations +and the recruiting of the priesthood. From this and +such like proceedings, it can easily be seen that the revolutionary +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">regime</span></span>, and the Italian government was nothing less, +aimed at the extirpation of Christianity, and that civilization, the +only possible civilization which follows in its train. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Misfortune, meanwhile, was not neglected by the Holy +Pontiff. He sent vestments to the churches of Paris which +had been pillaged by the Commune. He provided, habitually, +in like manner, for the churches of poor and remote missions. +In July, 1875, he sent twenty thousand francs to the people +who had suffered by inundations in the southwest of France, +and five thousand francs to such as had similarly suffered at +Brescia, in Upper Italy. He bestowed, likewise, large sums for +the rebuilding of churches—for instance, eight hundred francs +for this pious purpose to the Bishop of Sarsina, and two thousand +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page364">[pg 364]</span><a name="Pg364" id="Pg364" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to the Bishop of Osimo. Charitable institutions were not +overlooked, and the Princess Rospigliosi Champigny de Cadore +received fifty thousand francs towards the support of the house +of St. Mary Magdalen, the object of which was the preservation +of young women in the city of Rome. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As regarded works of art or of public utility, the venerable +Pontiff was no less munificent. He completed the restoration +of the Church of Saint Ange in Peschiera, together with the +magnificent contiguous portico called Octavia, and rebuilt the +altar with the marbles found by Visconti in the emporium of +the Emperors. The tomb of his illustrious predecessor Gregory +VII., at Salerno, having become dilapidated, he undertook +to restore it at his own cost, and renewed the fine epitaph +which Pope Gregory himself had caused to be engraved on the +sepulchral stone; <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Dileri justitiam et odici iniquitatem, et ecce +in exilio mortor</span></span>. (I loved righteousness and hated iniquity, +and lo! I die in exile.) +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Quite a number of people were employed in the manufacture +of mosaics at the Vatican. On this the Romans justly +prided themselves. Pius IX. continued to employ these +artists, and, as in former times, presented their works to his +guests or to the churches of Italy. If he was not still a king, +he retained, at least, a truly royal prerogative—that of conferring +gifts in every way worthy of royalty. Nothing could +exceed the delicacy and graciousness with which he did so. +Of this the two Russian Grand Dukes, brothers of the reigning +Emperor, were witnesses, when he made a present to them of +a splendid table, in mosaic, which they were observed to admire +among the more humble furniture of his apartment. The +funds must have been, indeed, abundant which could meet so +many demands. Although despoiled of his revenues and +property, the Holy Father was a richer monarch than the +prince who robbed him. So liberally were Peter's pence +bestowed and so economically managed, that Pius IX. was able +to invest money for the benefit of his successor, although not +to such an extent as to render the collection of Peter's pence +in the future unnecessary. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page365">[pg 365]</span><a name="Pg365" id="Pg365" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It has long been customary, on occasion of the august ceremony +of the coronation of the Popes, to address to them, with +due solemnity, the words: <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Annos Petri tu non ridebis</span></span>. +(Thou wilt not see the years of Peter.) It is related that one of the +Popes thus replied to the ominous +address: <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Non est de fide</span></span>. +(That is no article of faith.) Pius IX., however, was the first +who showed that the words were not strictly prophetic. His +Pontificate was prolonged beyond the years of Peter at Rome. +Already, on the 10th of June, 1871, when he was enabled to +celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of his election to the +Pontifical chair, he had enjoyed more than the years of Peter. +The great apostle, it will be remembered, spent two years +after our Lord's ascension in preaching the Gospel at Jerusalem +and throughout Judea. After this, Antioch, at the time the +capital of the Eastern world, became the scene of his apostolic +labors. He was bishop there for seven years when he established +the central seat of Christendom at Rome, the metropolis +of the known world. The apostle remained there till his +martyrdom under Nero, A. D. 67. Thus, Peter was Pope +thirty-four years or so, whilst he was Bishop of Rome only +twenty-five years and some days. A festival at Rome could +not now be held with the wonted circumstance of outward +religious pomp. The remarkable anniversary was not, however, +less devoutly observed at the Basilicas of St. Peter and +St. John Lateran. These immense edifices were crowded with +people of all classes and of every age. Nor in this did the +Romans stand alone. Prayers and communions were offered +up in every diocese of the world, supplicating Heaven for a +continuation of the years which had been already so auspiciously +granted to the venerable Pontiff. More than a thousand +congratulatory messages were flashed along the telegraph +lines. All the sovereigns of Europe, with scarcely an exception, +paid their dutiful compliments to Pius IX.; the telegram +of Queen Victoria being the first that reached him. From the +New World as well as from the Old there came numerous deputations. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page366">[pg 366]</span><a name="Pg366" id="Pg366" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +One day, in replying to them, the Holy Father +delivered no fewer than twelve discourses in Latin, French, +Spanish and Italian. To many of the addresses was appended +a singularly great number of signatures. The Bishop of +Nevers presented one with two millions of names. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A few days later, 20th September, the Holy Father had to +lament the death of his brother, Count Gaetano Mastai. So +little, however, was his grief respected by Victor Emmanuel +and his government, that their cannon were heard booming +joyously in honor of the violent occupation of the city. All +Rome was indignant. Patrician and plebeian, all citizens +alike, hastened to the Vatican, protesting and presenting +addresses of condolence. The <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Riforma</span></span> (a Roman journal) +said, on the occasion: <span class="tei tei-q">“After two years' sojourn Italy was +still as much a stranger as on the first day, so that there was +no appearance of friendliness, but rather of a city that still +groaned under a military occupation, which it bore with the +greatest impatience.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +MORE SPOLIATION AND DESECRATION—NO RECONCILIATION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Robbery, wholesale and sacrilegious, was now the order of +the day at Rome. Throughout the city convents were closed +and sequestrated, libraries were confiscated, and often dilapidated +in transferring them from one place to another. Religious +men and religious women were driven from their homes +and brutally searched on their thresholds lest they should +carry away with them anything that belonged to them. These +religious people obtained, every month, as indemnification, +twenty-five centimes each daily, and the aged forty centimes; +but they were paid only when the treasury was in a condition +to pay them, and this was not the case every month. The +poor and the infirm, no longer sustained by Catholic charity, +encumbered the hospitals or were associated with the knights +of industry, who swarmed from the prisons of Italy. It was +in vain that the police were doubled. Robberies increased in +the same proportion. The people in such circumstances could +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page367">[pg 367]</span><a name="Pg367" id="Pg367" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +not but ask themselves what sacrifices were laid upon himself +by the usurping king, who was now the master of the domains +of six Italian princes who had never allowed their subjects to +go without bread. Before the end of the year 1873, the number +of religious houses that were taken, in whole or in part, +from their legitimate proprietors, was over one hundred. The +intervention of diplomacy saved for a time the Roman College, +which was essentially international and not Roman, as formerly +no clerks of the city of Rome could attend it, and as it +was endowed solely by foreign kings and benefactors. The +Italian government consented, not, indeed, to renounce, but +only to stay this new spoliation. It claimed all the more +credit for its pretended moderation, as it secretly caused the +newspapers in its interest to instigate it to listen to no terms. +By means of its gensd'armes and its police force, it was master +of the secret societies, and allowed them to raise a cry without +allowing them to act, whilst it chose its own time for the execution +of its wicked purposes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. was deeply grieved when beholding so many evil +deeds which he could not prevent. His sorrow found expression +in one of his allocutions, that of 1st January, 1873: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You are come,”</span> said he, to parties who had come to +compliment him on New Years day, <span class="tei tei-q">“from divers distant lands +in order to offer me your congratulations and wish me a happy +new year. The past year, alas! is far from having been a +happy one. Society is astray in evil courses. There are +people who think that peace prevails at Rome, and that matters +are not so bad there as is said. Some strangers, on +arriving in the city, even ask for cards of admission to religious +ceremonies. I am persuaded that this year also the same +request will be made as regards the celebrations of holy week. +So long as the present state of things continues, alas! there +can be no such celebrations. The Church is in mourning. +Rome has lost its character of capital of the Christian world—so +many horrible deeds are done, so many blasphemies uttered. +Let us beseech the Lord to put an end to such a painful state +of things.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page368">[pg 368]</span><a name="Pg368" id="Pg368" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Victor Emmanuel, notwithstanding his extraordinary proceedings, +appears to have thought that there might be a reconciliation +with the Pope. The Emperor of Brazil, a man of +science and a celebrated traveller, then at Rome, accepted the +office of mediator. One morning, in the year 1872, the Brazilian +monarch repaired to the Vatican. The hour of his visit +was inopportune, as its object also proved to be. It was seven +o'clock in the morning. The Holy Father had not yet finished +his Mass when the Emperor was announced. As soon as was +possible his Holiness proceeded to receive him. Whether +fearing some design, or from dislike only to meet a prince who +came from the hostile usurper's court, Pius IX., with an +unusual coldness of manner, addressed the Emperor: <span class="tei tei-q">“What +does your Majesty desire?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“I beg your Holiness will not +call me Majesty. Here, I am only the Count of Alcantara.”</span> +The Holy Father then, without showing the least emotion, +said to him: <span class="tei tei-q">“My dear Count, what do you desire?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“I am +come, your Holiness, in order to ask that you will allow me to +introduce to you the King of Italy.”</span> At these words the +Pontiff rose from his seat, and, looking indignantly at the +Emperor, said to him with much firmness: <span class="tei tei-q">“It is quite useless +to hold such language. Let the King of Piedmont abjure +his misdeeds and restore to me my States. I will then consent +to receive him. But not till then.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +CREATION OF CARDINALS—AUDIENCES AND ALLOCUTIONS—THE +POPE REALLY A PRISONER—THE PRINCE OF WALES—ENGLAND—IRELAND. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A creation of cardinals was necessary. There were twenty-nine +vacant hats. Towards the close of 1873 Pius IX. resolved +on twelve new creations. One of these became the occasion of +protesting anew against the Italian government. The Society +of Jesuits had always been a special object of its hatred. They +were the first whom it expelled from Rome, as has been the +case in more than one persecution. And now they were +robbed, notwithstanding the hopes that the European ambassadors +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page369">[pg 369]</span><a name="Pg369" id="Pg369" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +were led to entertain of the Roman College which was +their property. The Holy Father met this new brigandage by +raising a member of the society to the dignity of cardinal. +Tarquini, professor of canon law at the Sapienza (Roman College), +was the favored member. Thus did the despoiled Pontiff +condemn the ignorance and rebuke the robbery of the new +rulers of Rome. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am aware,”</span> said Pius IX. on this occasion, +<span class="tei tei-q">“that the Jesuits do not willingly accept ecclesiastical dignities. +I had not, therefore, thought, until now, of conferring +the purple on any of their members. But the unjust acts +from which your society is suffering at this moment have +determined me. It appeared to me to be necessary that I +should make known in this way what I think of the ignorant +calumnies of which you are the victims, and at the same time +give proof to yourself and your brethren of my esteem and +friendship.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If, ever since the violent seizure of Rome, it was customary +to speak of the Pope as <span class="tei tei-q">“the prisoner of the Vatican,”</span> his +enemies, on the other hand, ceased not to insist that he was +perfectly free, whilst he obstinately persisted in remaining +within the walls of his palace. It has been noticed already +that every approach to Rome and the Vatican was strictly +guarded by the soldiers of the usurping king. A circumstance +which occurred on the evening of the 20th June, 1874, further +showed how close the imprisonment was. It was the twenty-eighth +anniversary of the coronation of Pius IX. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Te Deum</span></span> +was celebrated in the Vatican Basilica, and, what rarely happens, +the spacious edifice was completely filled. More than +one hundred thousand people, as nearly as could be estimated, +or two-thirds of all the Romans who were able to leave their +houses, were massed as well within the church as on the places +St. Peter and Risticucci. When <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Te Deum</span></span> was over, all eyes +instinctively turned towards a window of the second story of +the palace. It was the window of the Pope's apartment. Suddenly +a white figure appeared at this window, and immediately +a cry arose from below. It was the voice of the Roman citizens; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page370">[pg 370]</span><a name="Pg370" id="Pg370" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a voice so grand that it might be said to express the +mind of a whole people, as they saluted their king, who was a +prisoner. It continued for some time, and, although the +window was at once closed, the prolonged acclamation of the +faithful Romans rose louder and louder, until the Piedmontese +troops came on the ground and swept away the crowd. The +people departed without making any resistance. The police, +nevertheless, arrested some twelve persons, of whom six were +ladies of the best society of Rome. These ladies were at once +set at liberty. But four young men of the number of those +arrested were detained and afterwards condemned, one of them +to two years, and the rest to several months' imprisonment, +for having cried, <span class="tei tei-q">“Long live the Pontiff-King.”</span> This crime +they pretended not to deny. Could it be doubted any longer +that the Pope was a prisoner? It was not only on moral +grounds that he could not leave the Vatican. There were also +bayonets and fire-arms between him and the nearest streets of +Rome. It was only in the beginning of the year 1875 that +Pius IX. could no longer refrain from visiting the Basilica of +St. Peter. He had not been within it for four years and a +half. Every necessary precaution was observed on occasion of +his visit. The gates of the temple were kept shut, and none +were present but members of the chapter and some other persons +required for the service of the Church. The Holy Father +entered by the stair which forms direct communication between +his palace and the holy place. As may well be understood, +he prayed for some time with his accustomed earnestness, +that it would please God to put an end to the evils by which +the Church was so sorely afflicted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. was indefatigable in giving audiences and receiving +deputations from every country where there were members of +the Catholic Church. On such occasions he never failed to +speak words of edification and encouragement. It was even +said that he spoke too much. They were not, however, of the +number of his friends who call him <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">il Papa verboso</span></span>. He +was endowed with a wonderful gift of speech, and he always used +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page371">[pg 371]</span><a name="Pg371" id="Pg371" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it effectively. His discourses were invariably to the purpose, +the subject of them being suggested by the most recent events, +by the nationality of his visitors, or by the expressed pious +intentions which brought them to his presence. He made +allusion very often to the Gospel of the preceding Sunday, or +to the festival of the day, and concluded by imparting his +benediction, which his hearers always received kneeling, and +seldom without tears. The addresses of Pius IX. delivered at +the Vatican have been preserved by the stenographic art, and +fill many volumes. His ideas sometimes found expression in +conversations with distinguished visitors. Such was the case +on occasion of the visit, in 1872, of the Prince of Wales, the +heir apparent of the British Crown. His Royal Highness +showed his good taste by declining the use of Victor Emmanuel's +equipages in coming to the Vatican. The Princess +also made manifest her respect for the well-known sentiments +of Pius IX. in regard to showy toilettes by appearing in a +plain dress. There was a striking contrast between the placid +old man, so near the close of his career, and the handsome +young couple, in the flower of their age. The Prince and the +Pope appeared delighted at meeting; and the eyes of the Princess, +who looked alternately at the animated figure of her husband +and the benevolent countenance of the venerable Pontiff, +were suffused with tears. The Pope began the conversation +by expressing his great admiration for the character, both public +and private, of the Queen of Great Britain; and smiling +expressively, and not without a slight degree of Italian irony, +he thanked the British ministers who, more than once, had +offered him, in the name of the Queen, an asylum on British +territory. <span class="tei tei-q">“You see, Prince, I have not left Rome quite as +soon as some of your statesmen supposed I would.”</span> The Holy +Father then alluded to the existing state of things, adding: +<span class="tei tei-q">“In my present condition I am assuredly more happy than +those who consider themselves more the masters of Rome than +myself. I have no fear for my dynasty. It is powerfully protected. +God Himself is its guardian. He also looks to my +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page372">[pg 372]</span><a name="Pg372" id="Pg372" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +succession and my family. You are not unaware that these +are no other than the Church. I can speak without offence to +the Prince of Wales of the instability of Royal Houses, that +which he represents being firmly anchored in the affections of +a wise people.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“I am delighted,”</span> replied the Prince, smiling +expressively, <span class="tei tei-q">“to find that your Holiness has so good an opinion +of our people.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, indeed, I respect the English +people,”</span> continued the Holy Father, <span class="tei tei-q">“because they are more +truly religious, both as regards feeling and conduct, than many +who call themselves Catholics. When, one day, they shall +return to the fold, with what joy will we not welcome that +flock which is astray, but not lost!”</span> The Prince and Princess, +being rather incredulous, received this benevolent aspiration +with a good-natured smile. <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh! my children,”</span> resumed the +Pontiff, <span class="tei tei-q">“the future has in store for mankind the most strange +surprises. Who could have imagined, two years ago, that we +should see a Prussian army in France? I hesitate not to say +that your ablest statesmen expected sooner to see the Pope at +Malta than Napoleon III. in England. As regards myself, +you will observe I am, indeed, robbed of my States, but God, +who, at any moment, withdraws the possessions of this world, +can also restore them a hundred-fold. Is the dynasty of the +Head of the Church, on this account, less secure? I may, for +a time, be driven from Rome. But when your children and +grandchildren shall come to visit the holy city, they will see, +as you see to-day—let the temporal power be more or less considerable—an +old man, clothed in white, pointing the way to +heaven for the good of hundreds of millions of human consciences. +To compensate for the absence of subjects immediately +around him, he will have devoted adherents at all +times and everywhere.”</span> The conversation turning on Ireland, +the Holy Father spoke in the warmest terms of the fidelity of +the Catholics of that country. <span class="tei tei-q">“You know, Prince, the +results of persecution. It does not make us any more Catholics. +Your Royal Mother follows a policy quite different from +that of her predecessors, in regard to Ireland, and you are, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page373">[pg 373]</span><a name="Pg373" id="Pg373" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +like her, aware that good Catholics are always good subjects.”</span> +That country, the Pope continued to observe, had need of +the vigilant and energetic superintendence of its devoted prelates, +whom he praised in the highest terms. <span class="tei tei-q">“For,”</span> said he, +<span class="tei tei-q">“the wolf—I do not mean Protestantism—but the wolf of +anarchy and infidelity is abroad, I fear, in the regions of the +West.”</span> He referred to the organization called <span class="tei tei-q">“the International,”</span> +and expressed his astonishment that <span class="tei tei-q">“any princes +should be still so blind as to take pleasure in making war on +the Church, at a period when the foundations of civil society +were threatened on every side.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The chief cause of the Holy Father's grief and poignant +sorrow, under his calamities, was the loss of souls. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ah!”</span> +said he, in a conversation with Mgr. Langenieux, Archbishop +of Rheims, <span class="tei tei-q">“I could bear my misfortunes courageously, and +God would give me strength to withstand the evils which afflict +the Church. But there is one thing I cannot forgive those +who persecute us. They eradicate the faith of my people—they +kill the souls of the children of unfortunate Italy.”</span> The +Pontiff, as he uttered these words, moved his hand towards his +breast, and as his fingers ruffled his white robe, he exclaimed, +in a tone that was truly heartrending: <span class="tei tei-q">“They tear away my +heart!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It was sublime,”</span> adds the archbishop, <span class="tei tei-q">“the great soul +of the Pope subdued us, and, at the same time, inspired us +with light and fortitude.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +RELATIONS OF PIUS IX. WITH FOREIGN STATES—SWITZERLAND—GERMANY. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The party in Europe who desired the suppression of the +Pope's temporal rule professed to be actuated by zeal for promoting +a more free and useful exercise of his spiritual authority. +It soon became manifest that this was the merest +sham. Switzerland, guided by that narrow kind of Protestantism +which has so often asserted its power, pretended to +see only in the Pope the Chief of the small Roman State; when +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page374">[pg 374]</span><a name="Pg374" id="Pg374" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +deprived of that State, he was no longer a prince or dignitary, +with whom diplomatic relations could be held. His legate at +Berne, accordingly, was informed that he must take his departure +from the territory of the Swiss Confederation. It is +well understood that this ungracious measure was secretly +advised and promoted by Germany. That Power speedily followed +the example, although not at first in a very direct or +open way. The German ministry appointed to the Embassy +of the Vatican Cardinal Hohenlohe, the only one of the cardinals +who proved unfaithful to Pius IX. in the hour of his great +distress. The Pope remonstrated against the appointment. +The inflexible Prussian minister, Bismarck, replied that he +would send no other, suspended and finally abolished diplomatic +relations between the new Empire and the Holy See. +It is by no means matter for surprise that a man of Prince +Bismarck's views and character should have so acted, or even +that he should have become the promoter of the greatest and +most unwarrantable persecution by which any nation has been +disgraced, or to which any portion of the Church has been +subjected in modern times. This minister, who may be truly +described as the political scourge of Germany, is as fanatical +in religion as he is coarse and sceptical in politics. He +abandoned his party, and became, or feigned to become, a +liberal in order to gratify his hatred of the Catholic Church. +He belongs to that branch of Protestantism which is called +<span class="tei tei-q">“orthodox”</span> (<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">lucus a non +lucendo</span></span>). On occasion of the debate, +14th April, 1874, on the law which withdrew the salaries of +the Catholic clergy, a Protestant conservative member of the +representative body, Count de Malrahn, declared that he would +vote for this law, because it would affect only the Catholics, +without interfering with the rights of the Evangelical denomination. +Bismarck, by his reply, not only showed an utter +absence of all political faith, but at the same time a degree of +political hypocrisy with which all true history will never cease +to stigmatize him. <span class="tei tei-q">“I must express the great joy which I +experience on hearing the declaration of the preceding speaker. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page375">[pg 375]</span><a name="Pg375" id="Pg375" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +If, at the commencement of the religious conflict, the conservatives +had taken this ground, and sustained the government +in the name of the Evangelical religion, I never would have +been under the necessity of separating from the Conservative +party.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From Chancellor Bismarck's own words, therefore, it may +be concluded that it was excessive sectarian fanaticism which +made him an infidel and hypocrite in politics, a traitor to his +party, and a savage persecutor of the Church. When there +was question in December, 1874, of obtaining an act for the +suppression of the Prussian legation to the Holy See, the deep-rooted +hatred of Prince Bismarck and his absolute want of +conscience became still more apparent. He audaciously accused +the Court of Rome of having been the ally of France, +and even of the revolution in the war against Prussia in 1870. +He pretended that if the Œcumenical Council was closed +abruptly, it was in order to leave complete liberty of action to +Napoleon III.; and, as facts were necessary in order to support +this extraordinary and false assertion, he ascribed to +Monsignor Meglia, at the time nuncio at Munich, the words, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Our only hope is in the revolution.”</span> As the chancellor +uttered this odious calumny, he suddenly took ill. He became +pale, stammered, and had recourse, four or five times, to a +glass of water, which was beside him, in order to recover his +spirits and find the words which he should use. The whole +parliament was struck with this incident. The Abbe Majunke, +editor of the Catholic journal <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Germania</span></span>, was, however, the +only one who spoke of it publicly. Such an offence against +the omnipotent chancellor could not, of course, be overlooked. +M. Majunke was summoned to the police office, and thence +consigned to prison, notwithstanding his inviolability as deputy, +and the protestations of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Reichstag</span></span> (parliament). What a +grand conception Chancellor Bismarck must have had of constitutional +government! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The great success of William I. in the Franco-Prussian war +appears to have so elated that monarch that he considered +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page376">[pg 376]</span><a name="Pg376" id="Pg376" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +there was nothing which he might not successfully undertake. +He had annexed to Prussia some of the lesser States of Germany, +and made a German Empire. The Church in Germany +enjoyed many privileges and immunities under his predecessors, +who, for the most part, were, like himself, Protestants. +Whether it was that he desired to show himself a better Protestant +than his ancestors, or that he could not emancipate +himself from the control of the minister who had so long +guided, with singular success, the destinies of the empire, as +well as his own career, or that he believed it to be a political +necessity to act according to the views and carry out the principles +of the German and European <span class="tei tei-q">“Liberals”</span>—the party of +revolution and unbelief—he resolved to oppose no impediment +to his chancellor and the liberal majority of parliament in their +endeavors to destroy the Catholic Church in Germany, unless +it chose to become as a mere department of the State, acting +and speaking in the name of the State, receiving its appointments +from the State, as well as the funds requisite for the +support of its ministers, accepting all its orders and instructions, +even in the most spiritual things, from the State; in fine, +looking to the State as the sole source of all its authority, +honor, power and influence. There was nothing like the German +Empire. It had conquered in gigantic wars with two +Powers that were considered the greatest in continental Europe. +It had attained a degree of power and greatness, scarcely if at +all inferior to that of the first Napoleon, and, like Napoleon, it +aimed at more. It sought, like him, to have the Church, no +less than the police courts, in every respect, in all circumstances +and on all occasions, completely at its orders. This +ill-judged ambition accounts for the long list of oppressive +laws which were enacted at Berlin for the enslavement of the +Catholic Church. They are known as the <span class="tei tei-q">“May Laws,”</span> all of +them having been passed, although not in the same year, in +the month of May. Dollinger, Hohenlohe and the rest of the +anti-Catholic Bavarian <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">coterie</span></span>, deluded the Emperor and +his minister with the idea of an independent German <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">alt</span></span>, +or Old +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page377">[pg 377]</span><a name="Pg377" id="Pg377" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Catholic Church. They sold their country to the new empire, +politically. But they could not sell its church. One of these +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholics</span></span>, Dr. Schulte, recommended persecution as the +surest means of eradicating the ancient church. <span class="tei tei-q">“Let his +twenty thousand florins be withdrawn from such a one, his +twelve thousand thalers from such another; let the salaries of +the bishops and chapters be suppressed, and the result will +soon be manifest. The humbler clergy will rejoice. Since +18th July, 1870, there has been neither belief in Christ nor +religious conviction among the bearers of mitres and tonsures.”</span> +Thus was the Prussian minister led to imagine that he had +only to transfer the benefices of the Catholic dignitaries to the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholics</span></span> in order to constitute an independent German +Church, which would unite the whole of Germany religiously, +as he had already united it politically. All Catholics, of +course, would be members of this new Church. The State +Protestantism of Prussia would, in due time, join this State +Church, and there would be, if not one Faith and one Baptism, +one Church and one State. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The calculations of Chancellor Bismarck were, however, at +fault. He soon discovered that the clergy were grossly calumniated, +and that the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholic</span></span> Church in which he trusted +never counted more than thirty priests; that this number +increased not, and that the hundreds of thousands of adherents +of whom the pseudo bishop, Reinkens, boasted, were only +some twenty thousand to thirty thousand, scattered over all +Germany. These had no principle of cohesion. They could +not agree as to any fundamental point of religious doctrine or +discipline. According to a census made in 1876, they numbered +only one hundred and thirty-six, in a population of +twenty-five thousand Catholics, at the city of Bonn, which M. +Reinkens had selected as the seat and centre of his episcopal +ministrations. Meanwhile, there was a considerable reaction +in prevaricating Bavaria. The Catholic minority was changed +into a majority, and the Prussian Catholic representation, +which was called the fraction of the centre, was strengthened +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page378">[pg 378]</span><a name="Pg378" id="Pg378" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +at the elections of 1874 by an increase from twenty-five to +forty votes. The chancellor, although enlightened, was not +corrected. Nothing could divert him from his evil purpose. +By a strange confusion of ideas, he called +<span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Kulturcampf</span></span> (struggle +for civilization) the open war which he waged against the +Church, the source of all civilization and of liberty of conscience. +The persecuting laws which, with the aid of the so-called +<span class="tei tei-q">“liberal”</span> party, or party of unbelief, he succeeded in +causing to be enacted were to the following effect. As was to +be expected of the blind political fanaticism of the party, the +Jesuits were the first objects of hostility, and the first victims +of persecution. The May laws required that these unoffending +individuals should be expelled without any form of trial, and +deprived of their rights of citizens. At the same time, certain +religious orders which, it was pretended, were affiliated with +the Jesuits, were subjected to the like treatment. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All ecclesiastical seminaries were suppressed, the solons of +legislation pretending that it was necessary to oblige the candidates +for the priesthood to imbue their minds in lay schools, +with the ideas and wants of modern society. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The new laws abolished articles fifteen, sixteen and eighteen +of the Prussian Constitution, which guaranteed the autonomy +of the different forms of worship; they bestowed on the +State the nomination to ecclesiastical functions, and went so +far as to forbid bishops the use of their right to declare apostates +excluded from the Catholic communion. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They suppressed the subsidies and allowances which the +State, until that time, paid to the diocesan establishments and +the clergy generally, notwithstanding that such subsidies were +not gratuitously bestowed by the government, but were nothing +else than, as in France and Belgium, the restitution, in part, of +the debt due by the State to the Church. It was provided, +however, that such members of the clergy as should make +their submission should at once have their salaries restored. +By a refinement of cruelty, all collections and subscriptions, +whether public or private, for the requirements of public worship +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page379">[pg 379]</span><a name="Pg379" id="Pg379" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and the support of the clergy were forbidden, and elective +lay commissions were charged with the management of all +ecclesiastical property. Finally, all religious orders, as well +of men as of women, were suppressed, with the exception, and +that provisionally only, of such as were devoted to the care +of the sick. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If Chancellor Bismarck really believed, at any time, that +the Catholic clergy were without faith and conscience, ready to +submit to any terms the State might impose, in order to save +their incomes and the institutions of the Church, he must have +been greatly surprised when he found them all, without exception, +prepared to welcome poverty, imprisonment and exile, +rather than abandon the inalienable rights of conscience. On +the 26th May, 1873, the Bishops of Prussia signed a collective +declaration, in which they stated, with regret, that it was +impossible for them to obey. <span class="tei tei-q">“The Church,”</span> said they, <span class="tei tei-q">“cannot +acknowledge the heathen state principle, according to +which the laws of the State are the source of all right, and the +Church possesses only such rights as it pleases the State to +grant. By so doing, it would deny its own Divine origin, and +would make Christianity wholly dependent on the arbitrary +will of men.”</span> In regard to temporal matters connected with +the Church they could afford to be less strict: and so they +authorized their people to take part in the election of the new +lay managers of the properties of the churches. This wise +policy was attended with the most happy results. The chancellor's +plans were everywhere completely marred. He had +reckoned that the Catholics would abstain from voting, and so +allow a <span class="tei tei-q">“liberal”</span> (infidel) minority, however small, to dispose +of the churches and presbyteries. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In reviewing the news of the day, we have been accustomed +to think of only one or two more eminent prelates suffering +under the lash of persecution. The truth is, that the whole +Church suffered. The persecution was as cruel as an age +which does not permit the shedding of blood would tolerate. +The bishops were crushed with fines on account of each act +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page380">[pg 380]</span><a name="Pg380" id="Pg380" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +which they performed of their spiritual office. Such fines +they refused to pay, lest they should acknowledge the justice of +their condemnation. Their movable property, accordingly, +was seized and sold at auction, and they themselves were +immured in the prisons, where they were mixed up with +felons condemned to the same labors, and designated, like +them, by numbers. It was all in vain. Nothing could shake +their constancy. At Berlin was erected a sort of ecclesiastical +tribunal, which arrogated to itself the power of deposing from +sees, and which actually pretended to depose the Archbishop +of Posen, the Bishop of Paderborn, the Prince-Bishop of Breslau, +and several other prelates. The fortresses of Germany +were filled with priests, whose only crime was that they <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">obeyed +God rather than men</span></span>. The public ways were crowded with +priests who had been deprived, afterwards <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">interned</span></span>, and finally +banished. Numerous religious people, both men and women, +were in the like sad position, thronging the road of exile. The +people, in tears, escorted these victims of heathenish rage. +They chanted, as they went, the psalm, +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Miserere</span></span>,”</span> and the +canticle, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Wir +sind ini waren Christenthum</span></span>”</span> (<span class="tei tei-q">“we are in true +Christianity”</span>), until they reached the railway depots. The +Prussian gensd'armes, who were often no more than two or +three in number, were astonished to find that they could so +easily conduct their prisoners, whom thousands and tens of +thousands of other men, the greater number of whom were +veteran soldiers, accompanied, as they passed, expressing their +regrets and good wishes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Persecution is impolitic no less than it is cruel and immoral. +The German people, to say the least, were shocked by +the tyranny of their government. Nothing could prevent them +from showing what they felt and thought, on occasion of the +release of the prisoners at the end of their two years' term +of imprisonment. They took every possible means of expressing +their satisfaction. Thus, at Munster, when Bishop Warendorf +returned, the inhabitants paid no attention to the prohibition +of the burgomaster, who, by order of the government, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page381">[pg 381]</span><a name="Pg381" id="Pg381" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +intimated that he would repress, by force, every external and +public demonstration. The whole city rushed to the gate, St. +Mauritius, by which the released prisoner was to enter. Count +Droste-Erhdroste proceeded to receive him in a magnificent +carriage, drawn by four horses, which was followed by four +more carriages in charge of his servants, who were in complete +gala dress. An immense crowd strewed flowers along +the route as the bishop advanced, and ceased not to hail him +with joyous acclamations until he reached his residence, where +the first families of the country were in attendance to receive +him. In the evening, the whole town, with the exception of +the public buildings, was illuminated. The citizens of Posen +were preparing a like triumphal reception for their archbishop, +Cardinal Ledochowski, on occasion of his release in February, +1876, from the fortress of Ostrowo, where he had been incarcerated +for two years, when he was carried off in the nighttime +and transported beyond the limits of his diocese, in which +he is forbidden ever again to set foot. Two suffragan bishops +were left behind. They also were imprisoned at Gnesten, one +for having administered the Sacrament of Confirmation without +special leave from the government, the other for having +consecrated the holy oils on Maunday Thursday, 1875. By +such acts, which evidently belonged to the spiritual order, they +were held to be guilty of sedition and a violation of the rights +of the State. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The whole Catholic world was deeply moved by this modern +and unprovoked persecution. All could not speak, indeed; +but all were in sympathy with the clergy and faithful people +of Germany. The bishops of France would have brought war +upon their country by uttering a word of disapproval. The +irascible chancellor actually sought to raise a quarrel with that +country on account of a slight and inoffensive allusion which +fell from the lips of two of the bishops. Could he not see that +he will be branded throughout the ages as a persecutor and a +short-sighted politician? Great Britain and America could +speak without fear or hindrance. And they were not slow to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page382">[pg 382]</span><a name="Pg382" id="Pg382" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +send their words of consolation and encouragement to their +suffering brethren of Germany. The Cardinal-Archbishop of +Westminster wrote in a strain which may be described as +apostolical, to the Archbishop of Cologne, the Primate of Germany, +greeting <span class="tei tei-q">“with the greatest affection both himself and +his brethren, the other bishops who are in prison for having +defended the authority and liberty of the Church.”</span> This letter +was reproduced by all the newspapers, and could not have +escaped the notice of the Prussian minister. Nevertheless, he +was silent. Although sensitive in the extreme, as regarded +France and Belgium, his knowledge of geography and naval +statistics, no doubt, enabled him to possess his soul in patience. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. could not but feel for his afflicted children of Germany. +He was moved, accordingly, to address a very earnest +remonstrance to the Emperor, William I. This was done so +early as August, 1873. He could not believe that such cruel +measures proceeded from a prince who had so often given proof +of his Christian sentiments. He had even been informed that +his Majesty did not approve of the conduct of his government, +and condemned the laws which were enacted against the Catholic +religion. <span class="tei tei-q">“But, if it be true that your Majesty does not +approve of these measures (and the letters which you formerly +addressed to me appear to me to prove sufficiently that you +do not think well of what is actually taking place),—if, I say, it +is not with your sanction that your government continues to +extend more and more those repressive measures against the +Christian religion which so grievously injure that religion, +must you not come to the conclusion that such measures can +have no other effect than to undermine your throne?”</span> He +may possibly have thought so, when, a little later, his life was +attempted by parties who are known to seek the destruction of +religion and civil government at the same time. Be this as it +may, his reply to Pius IX. was not in his usual kindly style. +It was scarcely polite, and appeared to be the work of the +savage chancellor rather than of the good-natured monarch. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page383">[pg 383]</span><a name="Pg383" id="Pg383" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The appeal of Pius IX. produced no result. The Emperor's +government added to the harshness of his refusal by advising +him to address a letter of congratulation to the new bishop of +the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholics</span></span>. This was done, as was expressed, <span class="tei tei-q">“on +account of his complete deference to the State and his acknowledgment +of its rights.”</span> In another letter, which was also +made public, William I. recalled to mind those ancient Emperors +of Germany who were the irreconcilable enemies of the +spiritual supremacy of the Popes, and intimated that he was +resuming the work of Frederick Barbarossa and Henry IV. +The association was unfortunate. The chancellor's commentary +was more so. <span class="tei tei-q">“We shall never,”</span> he boasted, <span class="tei tei-q">“go to +Canossa!”</span> These words, spoken before the assembled parliament, +were a defiance of Divine Providence. Was it forgotten +that there were other snows than those of Canossa, in which +Emperors could perish? The first Napoleon pursued, in regard +to the Church, the same policy that Germany was now pursuing. +He defied the religious power, and contemptuously +asked <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">whether the arms could be made to fall from the hands +of his soldiers</span></span>! They did so fall, nevertheless, when the +demented Emperor led his legions into the snows of Russia. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. could not behold without concern the deep distress +of his brethren in Germany. He addressed an Encyclical +letter, under date of 5th February, 1875, to the Bishops of +Prussia, lamenting the persecution which tried them so +severely, dwelling at great length on the evils of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">May +laws</span></span>, praising the constancy of the clergy, and exhorting them +to continued patience and perseverance. The whole doctrine +of the Encyclical may be said to be expressed in the following +words: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Let those who are your enemies know that you do no +injury to the royal authority, and that you have no prejudice +against it when you refuse to give to Cæsar what belongs to God; +for it is written, <span class="tei tei-q">‘<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">We must obey God rather than men</span></span>.’</span> ”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This eloquent letter, like everything else that was done in +order to mitigate the most trying persecution of modern times, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page384">[pg 384]</span><a name="Pg384" id="Pg384" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +remained without any other result than to afford some comfort +to the clergy of the afflicted Church of Germany. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., in order to show still further his appreciation of +the constancy under persecution of the German clergy, conferred +the dignity of Cardinal on Archbishop Ledochowski, +who courageously accepted the proffered honor. The persecuting +government prevented him from ever enjoying it in his +diocese, by condemning him to perpetual banishment. This +was, at least, an approach to the cruelty practised on Fisher, +the illustrious English Confessor, who was consigned to the +Tower of London because he would not sanction the divorce of +Henry VIII., and acknowledge the Royal Supremacy in questions +of religion. The Pope of the time sent him a cardinal's +hat. But the enraged king took care that he should never +wear it by cutting off his head. The time was past when +blood could be shed in hatred of the truth, even by so hard a +tyrant as the Prussian minister. In the nineteenth century, +however, as well as in the sixteenth, there would not be wanting +those who would resist unto blood for religion's sake. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was comparatively an easy matter to deprive and banish +the legitimate pastors, but not quite so easy to find priests so +unprincipled as to become their successors. The politic chancellor, +apparently, had not thought of this beforehand. In the +course of five years he could find only two ecclesiastics who +would consent to accept benefices at his hands. All those on +whom he might have counted for establishing a schism in the +Church had already joined, with all the encouragement which +the minister could bestow, the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholic</span></span> sect, which, as has +been shown, was destined to prove a failure. It is almost +superfluous to say that the parishioners studiously avoided all +communication in things spiritual with the nominees of the +State. Meanwhile, the faithful people were not left destitute. +Zealous young priests from the seminaries visited them privately +at their houses, and ministered to their religious wants. +Such as so acted were arrested and conducted to the frontier. +They returned by the next railway train. They were then cast +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page385">[pg 385]</span><a name="Pg385" id="Pg385" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +into prison. As soon as they were free they returned to the +post of duty. There was in Germany a revival of the Primitive +Church—of the zeal and self-sacrifice of the apostolic age. +All this was met by the closing of the seminaries, the severest +blow that had, as yet, been struck against the cause of +religion. The chancellor, nevertheless, was not successful. +The newspapers in his interest, which he designated as the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">reptile press</span></span>, laughed at his short-sightedness. He had counted +on accomplishing his purpose by some six months of persecution. +Generations would not suffice. The endurance of the +Church is unconquerable. It is as an anvil which wears out +many hammers. That which Chancellor Bismarck applied, +so vigorously, will prove to be no exception.<a id="noteref_11" name="noteref_11" href="#note_11"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">11</span></span></a> Southern Germany, +it is a pleasure to record, abhors the ridiculous +<span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Kulturkampf</span></span> +of Chancellor Bismarck. Louis II., of Bavaria, would +fain follow in his wake. But, as is shown by the large Catholic +majorities at the elections, he is not seconded, even passively, +as in Prussia, by the Bavarian people. The persecution, +attended by its essential results, is rendering all Germany +more Catholic than ever. When its work shall have been +accomplished, what will remain? The Church or the +<span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Kulturkampf</span></span>? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the meantime many innocent persons must suffer: many +time-honored institutions will have been swept away: in the +pursuit of an ideal civilization, and by means of cruelties +unworthy of an enlightened age, many monuments which +owed their origin to the superior civilizing power of Christianity +will have disappeared forever. In addition to all this, +feelings hostile to the Church, and prejudices hurtful as they +are groundless, are everywhere created. Pius IX. complained +of this unfortunate state of things, when he said (10th January, +1875): <span class="tei tei-q">“The revolution, not satisfied with persecuting +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page386">[pg 386]</span><a name="Pg386" id="Pg386" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Catholics in Prussia, excites, on both sides of the Alps, those +governments which profess to be Catholic, but which have +only too plainly led the way, in the shameful career of religious +oppression. It excites them to persist, more boldly than ever, +in the work of persecution, and these governments execute its +behests. God will arise, some day, and, addressing the Protestant +oppressor, he will say to him: Thou hast sinned—grievously +sinned; but the Catholic governments, on all hands, +have still more grievously sinned. +<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Majus peccatum habent.</span></span>”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ITALY—EDUCATION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the time of the Piedmontese invasion, there were in the +city of Rome, one hundred and sixty-eight colleges or public +schools. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The number of schools was twenty thousand, whilst the +whole population of the city was two hundred and twenty +thousand. The pupils are classed as follows, according to the +statistics of his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, in 1870: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Students, boarding in seminaries and colleges: 703<br /> +Students, day scholars, gratuitously taught in the schools: 5,555<br /> +Students, day scholars, who paid a small fee: 1,603<br /> +Total: 7,941 +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Girls, boarding in <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">refuges</span></span>: 2,986<br /> +Girls, day scholars, gratuitously taught: 6,523<br /> +Girls, day scholars, who paid a small fee: 2,871<br /> +Total: 11,380 +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +General total: 19,321 +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Thus, including the orphans of both sexes, at <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">St. Michael +de Termini</span></span> and other asylums, pupils are in the proportion of +one to ten inhabitants. This is not inferior to Paris, and surpasses +Berlin, so much spoken of as a seat of education. This +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page387">[pg 387]</span><a name="Pg387" id="Pg387" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Prussian (now German capital) reckoned, in 1875, only eighty-five +thousand scholars for a population of nine hundred and +seventy-four thousand souls, or ten scholars to one hundred +and fourteen citizens. The Godless schools, established by +the new rulers, have impeded, only to a certain extent, the +development given to education by the Government of Pius +IX. In the poorer quarters of the city some parties have been +either intimidated by the threats of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Department of Charity</span></span>, +or gained by the offer of bounties to themselves and a gratuitous +breakfast to their children. But, generally, the people of +Rome still resist, and several Christian schools have considerably +increased since 1870, the number of their pupils. This +is all the more remarkable, as the ruling faction showed a +strong determination to put an end entirely to Christian education. +By the end of 1873, the usurping government had +confiscated more than one hundred monasteries, convents, +and other establishments of public education. A Lyceum was +set up in place of the celebrated Roman College, from which +its proprietors, the Rev. Fathers of the Society of Jesuits, were +finally expelled in 1874. The better to show their <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">animus</span></span> on +the occasion, the new Rulers tore down a magnificent piece of +sculpture, in marble, which adorned the gate, and on which +was engraved the blessed name of the Saviour, replacing it by +the escutcheon in wood of Victor Emmanuel. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As if to give zest to robbery, the Godless tyrants proposed +that the professors of the Roman College should continue their +lessons, as functionaries of the Italian government, and after +having qualified by accepting diplomas from a lay university. +It would, indeed, have been comical to see such men as Secchi, +Franzelin, Tarquini, and many, besides, the first professors in +the world, seated on scholars' benches, to be examined by the +semi-barbarous officials, whether civil or military, of the Piedmontese +King. Pius IX., although pressed by many wants, +provided an asylum for science. He called together the Jesuit +Fathers who had been dispersed, in the halls of the American +and German Colleges. There, although somewhat pinched for +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page388">[pg 388]</span><a name="Pg388" id="Pg388" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +room, they continued their international courses, the most +extensive that ever were known. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The new Rulers, however, it is only proper to observe, +never dared to drive Father Secchi from his observatory. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There ought never to have been any difficulty in Italy as +regards education. The Italians were, and are still, of one +mind, and not divided, like us, into numerous denominations, +all of which have to be considered without prejudice to their +religious views. The usurping Italian government allotted +one million of francs (£40,000) per annum, for elementary +education at Rome. Not one half of the children for whom +this bounty is intended, avail themselves of it—a fact which +shows that the popular want has not been met. The outlay +only burdens the ratepayers without advancing the end for +which it is designed—elementary education. Private persons +supply the need according to the popular desire, by means of +regionary schools, supported entirely at their own expense, +and with a laudable degree of self-sacrifice. The same state +of things prevails, generally, throughout Italy, as is shown by +a circular of the minister of public instruction. The new government +aims at nothing less than the subversion of religious +principle. This the Italians resist, and will continue to resist. +The government schools for secular and irreligious education, +among the upper classes, are like those for elementary teaching, +very thinly attended, parents preferring to send their +children abroad, and, when this cannot be afforded, to such +ecclesiastical colleges and seminaries as are still in existence. +The State schools have already a monopoly in the conferring +of degrees and the consequent civil advantages. It is proposed +to go still further, and, actually, to close by force, all +the higher schools in which religion is recognized, even as the +school established by the Pope in the city of Rome, was recently +put down. It is thus that these emancipators of mankind +understand liberty! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As regards female education, especially, the people will +never, willingly, give up the schools that are conducted by +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page389">[pg 389]</span><a name="Pg389" id="Pg389" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sisters”</span> or <span class="tei tei-q">“Nuns.”</span> The education which such schools +afford is universally appreciated—among ourselves who are +divided, but more particularly among the Italians, who are all +Catholics. It is in vain <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">to kick against the goad</span></span>, and this the +Italian government will learn, some day, when it is cast forth +as a rotten institution by the people, whose dearest wishes it +ignores. It is of no use to suppose that Italy is advanced to a +state of irreligion, and so requires a system of Godless education. +The contrary is well known. State systems, based, not +on statistical facts, but, on idle suppositions, must needs come +to nought. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ITALY—RELIGION. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A free Church in a free State”</span>—the great idea of such +Italian liberals as had any conception of a church at all, was +surely to be realized when the fellow-countrymen of Count de +Cavour came to rule at Rome. What was the case? There +was neither a free church nor a free State? That State is not +free, wherein the people are not fairly represented. The new +Italian State could not claim any such representation. It was +held in such contempt that the great majority of the Italian +people, unwisely, indeed, we who are accustomed to constitutional +government would say, declined to take part in the elections. +Thus the entire control of the country was left in the +hands of two comparatively small factions—the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">moderate</span></em> and +the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">extreme</span></em> radicals. It is of little importance to the mass of +the Italian people which of these factions holds sway for the +moment. They both legislate and execute the laws in opposition +to the will of the nation, and in the sense and for the +benefit of the prevailing faction. They are both alike characterized +by hatred of the Christian faith and all religious institutions. +This feeling impels them to war against everything +connected with Christianity, and to substitute what the Germans +of the same school call <span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Kulturkampf</span></span>, +or, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">a struggle for culture</span></span>, on principles the +very opposite of those on which is founded the high civilization +of the nineteenth century. No doubt these apostles of +<span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Kulturkampf</span></span> have a much higher civilization +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page390">[pg 390]</span><a name="Pg390" id="Pg390" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in store for mankind. But it must be admitted that +they follow a strange way of bringing about the much-desired +consummation. Robbery and sacrilege they believe, or profess +to believe, will promote the great object of their ambition, +and so they practice, to their heart's content, robbery and sacrilege. +Have they forgotten that, according to their code, it is +a <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Jesuitical</span></span> teaching, that evil may be done in order to produce +good. These legislators and administrators of laws claim +to be superior to the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">effete</span></span> errors of the age. Why then should +they still cling to those of the despised <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Jesuits</span></span>? Because, no +doubt, it serves the purpose of the moment, and affords some +relief to, if it does not satisfy, an insatiable passion. On +approaching Rome they affected much reverence for the Holy +Father and the institutions of religion. They could do nothing +less, accordingly, than enact their now famous <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">law of guarantees</span></span>, +which assured complete protection to the Pope and the +institutions over which he presided. Let us enquire for a +moment how this law was enforced. It surpassed, in generosity +to the church, the legislation of the most chivalrous +monarchs. It gave up the royal rights of former kings in +regard to nominating and proposing to ecclesiastical offices. +It dispensed with the oath of bishops to the king, and formally +abolished (see articles fifteen and sixteen) the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">exequatur</span></span>, as it +is called, authorizing the publication and execution of all notable +acts of ecclesiastical authority. Such clear and apparently +solemn regulations appeared to be inviolable. Nevertheless, +whilst one hundred and fifty bishops were named by Pius IX., +from the commencement of the Piedmontese invasions till the +month of August, 1875, no fewer than one hundred and +thirty-seven of this number were not acknowledged by the civil +power, because they did not apply for and obtain the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">exequatur</span></span>. +The ministry was not satisfied with this. It pushed its tyranny +to such an extreme as to refuse in future, to grant the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">exequatur</span></span> and to expel from their residences all +bishops who should not possess it. Not only did the government withhold +the incomes of the bishops, and confiscate the revenues which +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page391">[pg 391]</span><a name="Pg391" id="Pg391" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the piety of the people had devoted for their support, it also +employed its gensd'armes and police agents in seizing the prelates +at their homes and casting them into the streets. The +new rulers went further still, and displayed their financial +genius in a way peculiar to themselves. They actually subjected +to the tax on moveable property, the alms which the +bishops received from the Sovereign Pontiff, who, like themselves, +was robbed of his proper income. Thus did the beggarly +government make money out of the small resources of +those who, when the exchequer failed to fulfil its duties, endeavored +themselves, as best they could, to make up for this +dereliction. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Military conscription is essentially tyrannical. It is particularly +so when used as an arm of offence against the church. +It was applied to ecclesiastical students, and even to such as were +in holy orders, expressly for the purpose of depriving the +church of recruits from the seminaries. None could now be +found to renew the ranks of the clergy, except such as were +invalids or of weak constitutions, or who, by miracle, persevered +in their vocation, after four years' service in military +barracks. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The public robbers, notwithstanding their professions and +guarantees, audaciously laid sacrilegious hands on the properties +of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. John Lateran, which +they themselves had expressly reserved for the use of the Holy +See. They hesitated not even to seize the funds of the celebrated +missionary college—Propaganda. These properties +they did not simply annex, as they did so many, besides, that +belonged to the Church. They created a liquidating junta or +commission, as they called it, which should change all immovable +ecclesiastical properties that were not already confiscated +into national rent. Such national rent, as is well known, +had only an ephemeral value. It was, at best, variable; and +Italy, which was partially bankrupt when it reduced the interest +due to its creditors, will, sooner or later, according to the +opinion of the ablest writers, land in complete bankruptcy. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page392">[pg 392]</span><a name="Pg392" id="Pg392" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +The rents substituted by force, instead of real property, will +then possess the value of the <span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">assignats</span></span> +of the first French revolution. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The endowments of Propaganda, appointed by Christian +generosity, at different epochs, were not designed for the use +of Rome or Italy, or any Catholic country whatever. Their +object was the support of remote missions. This was well +understood. The very name of the institution shows that it +was. In vain did Cardinal Franchi apply to the tribunals. +The properties of the great universal institution, as well as +those of the Chapters, were sold at public auction, and the confiscation, +although not immediate, was in course of being accomplished. +The state of things did not improve on the advent to +power of Messrs. Nicotera and Depretis, the former a radical +of the most extreme views, and the latter, very little, if at all, +better. These revolutionists having gained the object of their +ambition, might have been inclined to halt in their mad career; +but, their party driving them onward, they proceeded to still +more rigid and cruel measures. It is not too much to say that +such men are digging a grave for the House of Savoy and +Italian unity. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The measures aiming at the destruction of religion may be +summarized as follows: +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +1st. They have introduced civil registration of births, as +an equivalent and alternative to Christian baptism. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +2nd. They have permitted and encouraged civil interment +instead of Christian burial. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +3rd. They have abolished oaths in courts of law. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +4th. They have systematically encouraged the profanation +of the Sunday and the great festivals of Christmas, Easter, +etc., by ordering the prosecution of the government buildings +and other public works on Sundays; by ostentatiously holding +their sessions on those days: by ordering public lectures in +the universities and higher schools on Sundays as on week +days, etc. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page393">[pg 393]</span><a name="Pg393" id="Pg393" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +5th. They have established civil marriage as an equivalent +before the law for Christian marriage, and as necessary, in all +cases, besides the religious ceremony. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +6th. They have established a recognized system of public +immorality by indemnities, and deriving from this shameful +source a revenue which is applied to augment the secret service +funds. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is easily observed that in every detail of this enumeration, +religion and morals are directly attacked. The Pope, +who is the chief of religion and the great preacher of morality, +cannot give any countenance to such things. Far less can he +identify himself with such anti-Christian legislation. This is +the insuperable impediment to his reconciliation with the present +Rulers of <span class="tei tei-q">“United Italy.”</span> He can resist evil, and resist +unto blood, as so many of his sainted predecessors have done. +But when there is question of accepting it, his only word must +be, as it has always been, <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">non possumus</span></span>. What would men +say, if He, who is the Head of the Church, and the chief guardian +of the truth confided to Her keeping, could be brought by +the threats or caresses of ephemeral worldly Powers, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">to call +good evil, and evil good</span></span>! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ITALY—CRIME. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Religion, when persecuted in any country, fails not to wreak +vengeance on the persecuting power. In such countries, +virtue, generally, respect for law, order and authority, as well +as public security, rapidly diminish, and the State discovers, +although too late, that, in aiming at the Church, it has struck +against itself a deadly blow. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Since the inauguration of the much vaunted +<span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Kulturkampf</span></span>, +socialism has increased to such a degree in Germany as to +appal even Chancellor Bismarck, whilst Italy, at the same time +that it closed its convents and Catholic colleges, was obliged to +multiply not only its military barracks, but also its prisons. +In no part of Italian territory have these preventives of crime, +if, indeed, they may be so-called, proved sufficient. So rapid +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page394">[pg 394]</span><a name="Pg394" id="Pg394" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +has been the increase of crime, that, according to official +statistics, in the Province of Rome alone, seven thousand two +hundred and ninety-three cases were ascertained and brought +before the tribunals, in 1874. This is just double what appeared +in the criminal courts under the Pontifical government. +In the whole kingdom there were eighty-four thousand prisoners, +or criminals under restraint. This is thirty-five thousand +more than in France, the general population of which is greater +by one-third, and four times more than in Great Britain, the +population of which is about the same as that of united Italy. +This state of crime is not surprising when it is considered that +the rulers themselves have never ceased to set the example of +the most unscrupulous and merciless theft and robbery. The +new civil code, besides, appears to have had no other object in +view than to obliterate all idea of right, and to legitimatize all +robberies, past, present and future, in the unfortunate kingdom +of Italy. Article seven hundred and ten of this code declares, +plainly, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">that property is acquired by possession</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At Rome, barristers, judges, and even the most revolutionary +journalists are assassinated by private vengeance, in broad +day, in the street, or in their offices, and no one dare molest +the murderers. In Romagna it was found necessary to bring +to justice an association of assassins, who were, for the most +part, persons of good education and men of property. In +Sicily matters were still worse. There, a society of Brigands, +called <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Maffia</span></span>, holds the island in a state of perpetual terror. +Numerous Garibaldians who have been without employment +since 1870, and were long tolerated, on account of former complicity, +added to the ranks of this fraternity. The <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Maffia</span></span> rid +themselves of another society, the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Kamorra</span></span>, by the successive +assassination at Palermo alone, of twenty-three of its chiefs. +All these crimes remain unpunished, none daring to bear witness +against the guilty. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the departments of government there is not less moral +disorder. The finances are mismanaged and dilapidated. +Notwithstanding the enormous and oppressive increase of taxation, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page395">[pg 395]</span><a name="Pg395" id="Pg395" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +together with the forcible appropriation of ecclesiastical +property, deficits are the order of the day, and the nation has +been, more than once, and probably is still, on the verge of +bankruptcy. Truly, may the Italians, who are twenty-three +to one, exclaim, in their distress: <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Quo usque tandem abuteris +patientia nostra?</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“How long, O disastrous revolution! wilt +thou abuse our patience?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Nor are the better thinking Italians without blame. Why +did they not take part—why do they not still take part in the +elections, and return, as they well may, a majority to the +would-be constitutional parliament? Their numbers would, +undoubtedly, be imposing and influential. So much so, indeed, +that they must finally obtain admission, without burdening +their conscience with an obnoxious oath. What did not Daniel +O'Connell, Ireland's liberator, accomplish, by causing himself +alone to be elected for an Irish constituency, and by proceeding +to demand the seat to which he was elected in the British +parliament, without uttering an oath which shocked his conscience? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +RUSSIA AND THE EAST. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cruel and sanguinary persecution of Catholics in the +Russian Empire was a cause of intense sorrow to Pius IX. He +could do nothing towards alleviating the sufferings of those +unfortunate people. The Tsar, Alexander II., shows in his +treatment of his Ruthenian subjects of the united Greek +Church, that he is wholly unworthy of the reputation for +enlightenment and benevolence with which he has been credited. +The Empress, indeed, is blamed, together with her +fanatical favorite, Melle. Bludow, the Minister of Public Instruction, +Tolstoy, and Gromeka, Governor of Siedlce, for +having urged him to use the power of the empire in forcing +conversions to Russo-Greek <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">orthodoxy</span></span>. That the heads of a +semi-barbarous nation should so advise is not surprising. The +Tsar, who is an absolute monarch, cannot be excused. There +is every reason, besides, for holding him personally responsible. +When he was at Warsaw, a peasant woman, bearing a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page396">[pg 396]</span><a name="Pg396" id="Pg396" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +petition, succeeded in obtaining admission to his presence. +As soon as he learned that the petition begged toleration for +the united Greek Church, he replied by inserting in all the +newspapers a confirmation of the orders formerly given for the +extinction of that church. Count Alexandrowicz de Constantinovo +was repeatedly warned by the Russian authorities +that he had no right to attend the Latin churches, which, +being less persecuted, were a refuge for the united Greeks, +when, indeed, as was rarely the case, they were allowed to +enjoy it. The Count, hoping to be more liberally dealt with +by the enlightened Tsar, who was said to surpass in all that +was great and noble, his tolerant predecessor, Alexander I., +proceeded to St. Petersburgh. The Tsar made a reply to his +representation, which, in the case of an ordinary mortal, would +be taken for a proof of stupidity, or of impenetrable ignorance. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The Orthodox religion is pleasing to me. Why should it not +please you also?”</span> It remained only for the Count to sell his +properties and abandon his country. More humble members of +the obnoxious church could not so easily escape. The savage +treatment to which they were subjected can only be briefly +alluded to here. A persecution which has lasted more than a +hundred years, and is not yet at an end, is more a subject for +the general history of the church than for the life of Pius IX. +A few facts, therefore, must suffice. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the important diocese of Chelm, particularly, the most +ingenious devices were had recourse to, in order to delude the +Catholic people, and induce them to comply with the requirements +of the Russo-Greek Church. All these failing, force +was had recourse to, and it was used, assuredly, without stint +or measure. Seizure of property, imprisonment, the lash and +exile to Siberia, proved equally unavailing, as persecution, in +every form, must always be. Greater excesses were then had +recourse to. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They who dared to perform a pilgrimage, take part in a +religious procession, or enter a Catholic Church, were shot +down like the wild game of the forests, by the fanatical myrmidons +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page397">[pg 397]</span><a name="Pg397" id="Pg397" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the Tsar. In January, 1874, the people of Rudno +were forced to abandon their dwellings and take refuge in the +woods. At Chmalowski, several united Greeks, of whom three +were women, were flogged to death by Cossack troops. At +Pratulin, in the district of Janow, when a number of people +assembled in a cemetery, were guarding the door of the church +against apostate priests, a German colonel, who commanded +three companies of Cossacks, ordered his troops to fire. Nine +of the people fell dead on the spot. A great many more were +mortally wounded. Of these four died within the day. <span class="tei tei-q">“Thus +does the Tsar punish rebels,”</span> said the savage colonel to the +mayors of the neighboring villages, whom he had forced to +witness the execution. At Drylow, five men were slain on the +same day, and in the same cruel way as at Pratulin. So +recently as August, 1870, a body of peasants, returning from a +pilgrimage, were attacked by Russian soldiers. They defended +themselves bravely, as best they could, with no better weapons +than their walking canes. Six of the troops fell, and thirty, +one of whom was an officer, were wounded. Reinforcements +coming to the aid of the military, the peasants were defeated, +and a great number of them killed and wounded. Among the +latter were many women, and seven children. Two hundred +arrests were made, the next and following days. The prisoners +were at first immured in the Citadel of Warsaw. It is not +probable that they will ever be allowed to visit their kindred +or their native villages. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., being partially informed of such cruelties, which +it was utterly beyond his power to prevent, wrote to the United +Greek Archbishop of Lemberg, Sembratovicz, conjuring him +to send to the sorely persecuted people all the help in his power, +both spiritual and material. He declared, at the same time, +by the Bull, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">omnem sollicitudinem</span></span>”</span> dated 13th May, 1874, +that the Liturgies proper to the Eastern Churches, and particularly +that of the United Greeks, which was settled by the +Council of Tamose, in 1720, were always held in high esteem +by the Holy See, and ought to be carefully preserved. Hearing +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page398">[pg 398]</span><a name="Pg398" id="Pg398" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that a Bull which concerned them had arrived from Rome, +the Ruthenian peasants sent secretly to Lemberg, in order to +procure it. Their envoys entering Galicia without passports, +incurred the risk of being sent to Siberia. When the Bull was +once obtained, the people assembled in groups, in remote +places, and any one who could read, read it to the rest of the +company. It was held in honor as a relic. When the Russians +discovered that the Bull was known to the people, they +did their best to cause it to be misunderstood, both among the +clergy and the laity. They insisted, even, that the Pope had +discarded the Greek rite; that henceforth, they who adhered to +Rome, could not celebrate either the Mass of St. John Chrysostom +or that of St. Basil, and that the marriage of secular +priests, together with the Sclavonic language, would cease to +be tolerated. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It has been attempted to conceal from the civilized world +the more atrocious circumstances of the Russian persecution. +But the darkest deeds of the darkest despotism cannot be +always done in the dark. The press of continental Europe has +informed the public mind. If anything were wanting to satisfy +English readers, generally, it would be found in the despatch +of Mr. Marshall Jewell, Minister of the United States, at St. +Petersburgh, to Mr. Secretary Fish. This document is dated +at the United States Legation at St. Petersburgh, 23rd February, +1874. The minister begins by stating that he took great +pains to be correctly informed, regarding the state of matters, +before writing his report. This, he adds, was not done without +difficulty, as the affair was kept very quiet at St. Petersburgh. +Certain repressive measures for the conversion of the +Ruthenian Catholics having proved inadequate, <span class="tei tei-q">“new and +more stringent orders were given a few weeks later. In consequence +of these orders, several priests (thirty-four, I have +been told) who persisted in performing the former services, +were arrested. In some localities the peasants refused to go +to the churches when the Orthodox priests officiated, until they +were forced to go by the troops. In other localities they +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page399">[pg 399]</span><a name="Pg399" id="Pg399" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +assembled in crowds, shut the churches, and prevented the +priests from performing the offices. In one case, it is said, a +priest was stoned to death. Conflicts arose between the peasants +and the armed force. On such occasions many persons +were maltreated, and in the case of the village of Drelow—28th +February—thirty peasants were slain, and many more +wounded. It is said, even, that several soldiers were killed. +It is reported that the prisons at Lublin and Kielce are +crammed with prisoners. The peasants have also been flogged, +men receiving fifty, women twenty-five, and children ten +lashes each. Some women, more determined and outspoken +than the rest, were punished with a hundred lashes. Like +troubles, it is said, have occurred at Pratulin and other localities, +with loss of life.... Last summer, the peasants of +divers villages, in the Government of Lublin, were constantly +obliged to submit to examination, and to appear before the +courts. It was, in consequence, impossible for them to cultivate +their fields; and, hence, they have been reduced almost +to a state of famine. (Signed.) <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Marshall Jewell</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE EAST—CHURCH IN THE TURKISH EMPIRE. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is comparatively an easy undertaking to create trouble +and disturbance in the church. It is not so easy, however, to +establish a schism. The Prussian chancellor learned this fact +when he beheld the failure of his <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholic</span></span> scheme in Germany. +Having tried the same game in Turkey, his projects, +notwithstanding the aid and countenance of the Mussulman +Power, proved abortive. The government of the sublime Porte +had been very tolerant hitherto, as regarded its Catholic subjects. +In the early days of Pius IX. it had concurred with the +Holy See in establishing a Catholic bishop at Jerusalem; it +protected pilgrimages and processions; it favored colleges and +institutions for ecclesiastical education; and to such a degree +that, under its auspices and through its care, there are several +flourishing seminaries which renew the intellectual life of the +people who follow the Latin rite. A united Bulgarian church +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page400">[pg 400]</span><a name="Pg400" id="Pg400" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +has been founded and is daily gaining strength. The Maronites +are almost completely restored after the disaster of 1860. The +number of Greek Catholics or Melchites, has been almost +doubled, so great is the number of conversions. The same +may be said of the Chaldean or Armenian Catholics. These +last are probably the best informed and the most influential of +the Christian populations under the Sultan's rule. Prussian +intrigue, and a momentary renewal of Mussulman fanaticism, +have done much to check, if not wholly to destroy this happy +state of things. One Kupelian, aspiring to be patriarch of +Armenia, was put forward by rich and influential parties as +the administrator of their nation, and they succeeded in obtaining +from the Porte his investiture, as the only true Head of +the Armenian Catholics. The legitimate chief, Hassoum, +Patriarch of Cilicia, protested. In vain, however, as France +was no longer able to maintain his right. The last ambassador +of that country representing Napoleon III., had even supported +the pretensions and favored the machinations of the +Kupelianites. The Porte was induced to treat Hassoum as a +seditious person, and banished him from the country. The +exile found his way to Rome, where he was kindly received by +Pius IX. He did not return to Constantinople till 1876. +Meanwhile, persecution was cruelly carried on. Bishops were +expelled from their sees, rectors from their parishes, churches, +monasteries and hospitals were seized by force of arms. At +Damascus, Broussa, Sinope, Mardyn, Mossoul, all the principal +towns of the Ottoman Empire, Armenian Catholics were +forcibly driven from their churches, in order to make room for +mere handfuls of Kupelianists. The persecution extended as +far as Cairo. At Augora, twelve thousand Armenian Catholics +were dispossessed in favor of twelve dissenters, one of these +twelve being an apostate monk, the delegate of Kupelian. At +Adana, the church, the school, and the residence of the Catholic +Armenian bishop, with all the revenues attached thereto, +became the prey of two individuals, a priest and a lay person. +At Trebizonde, the bishop was expelled by Russian bayonettes, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page401">[pg 401]</span><a name="Pg401" id="Pg401" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and died of grief. The value of property taken from Catholics +is estimated at one hundred millions of livres. For what, it +may be asked, was the power of an empire exercised, and so +much robbery perpetrated? In favor, at least, one would say, +of some important sect? No such thing. It was all for the +would-be Kupelian schism, seven hundred strong. It is needless +here to say how soon the degenerate Sultan, Abdul Aziz, +and his prevaricating empire met their reward, whilst the legitimate +Armenian patriarch, Hassoum, so long the victim of +persecution, has been restored, is honored by the government +of his country and held in the highest esteem by the Chief +Pastor of the Christian fold. All this was foretold by Pius +IX., although, indeed, the Holy Pontiff pretended not to utter +a prophecy. In a letter intended for the consolation of the +banished Archbishop of Mardyn, in Mesopotamia, and the +Armenian Catholics, he says: <span class="tei tei-q">“It behooves us not to lose +courage, nor to believe that the triumph of iniquity will be of +long continuance. For, does not the Scripture say: <span class="tei tei-q">‘The +wicked man is caught in his own perversity; he is bound by +the chains of his crimes, and he who digs a pit for others will +fall into it himself: he who casts a stone into the path of his +neighbor, will strike against it and stumble; finally, he who +lays a snare for another will be caught therein himself.’</span> This +war, venerable, brother, is waged, not so much against men as +against God. It is because of hatred to his name that his +ministers and faithful people are persecuted. Persecution +constitutes their merit and their glory. God will at length +arise and vindicate his cause. Whilst I applaud your firmness, +I most earnestly exhort you never to let it fail you, but +to possess your soul in patience, to wait confidently, and, at +the same time, courageously, for you rely not on your own +strength, but on the power of God, whose cause you maintain. +Your constancy will confirm that of your brethren of the clergy +and of the flock confided to your care. It will lead to a moral +victory, assuredly more brilliant and more solid than the +ephemeral success of violence.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page402">[pg 402]</span><a name="Pg402" id="Pg402" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was not long till the news of the day bore that many +distinguished persons were returning to the one fold. A moral +victory for the Armenian Catholics was following fast in the +wake of successful force. The number of Kupelianists was +diminishing. The churches and church properties of Adana +and Diabekir, were abandoned by them in 1876, and the schism +was in course of being extinguished. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Chaldean patriarch, Audon, rashly undertook to establish +a schism. Towards the end of February, 1873, he was +reconciled to Pius IX., and relieved from the censures which he +had incurred. The Chaldean Catholics gave a great deal of +trouble. However anxiously Pius IX. labored for their salvation, +they are insignificant in point of numbers, scarcely as +many as would constitute a parish in any of our cities. Any +further historical notice of them may, therefore, be very properly +dispensed with. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +CHINA—INDIA—JAPAN—WONDERFUL CHANGE. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +China, where the light of Christianity has sought so long +to penetrate and dispel the dismal gloom of heathen darkness, +may now, at length, be said to enjoy the greatest possible +degree of religious liberty. The European Powers, Great +Britain and France, whilst securing the freedom of trade, and +generally that intercourse which is customary between civilized +nations, neglected not, at the same time, to establish such +relations as render safe and available the labors of Christian +missionaries. If, in Tonquin, there occurred a fearful massacre +of Christians, it was due to the indiscretion of a French +officer who exceeded his orders, and excited against his fellow-countrymen +and the Christian populations, generally, the +anger of the pagan Mandarins. The vengeance of these chiefs +was prompt, sweeping and cruel. In the localities inhabited +by Christians only some women and little children were spared. +Not a house was left. The French government probably, from +unwillingness to recognize, in any way, the action of its officer, +refrained from punishing these atrocities. A treaty, placing +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page403">[pg 403]</span><a name="Pg403" id="Pg403" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the whole country of Tonquin under the protection of France, +was concluded with the Emperor of Aunam, who is the Liege +Lord of Tonquin, and thus liberty to preach the Gospel secured +for the future. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In India and Western China, liberty of conscience has long +prevailed. Pius IX. was, in consequence, enabled to increase +the number of vicariates-apostolic in those countries, as well +as in China proper, in proportion to the growth of the faithful +people, however inconsiderable it was, as yet in the midst of +countless numbers of heathens and Mahometans. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Pontificate of Pius IX. would be for ever memorable, if +only on account of the new era which appears, at length, to +have dawned for the long benighted empire of Japan. That +empire was as a sealed book to all Christian nations. As is +well known, no traveller or merchant from any Christian land +could set foot on its territory without first performing the +revolting ceremony of trampling on the chief emblem of the +Christian faith. At one time, nevertheless, there were many +Christians in Japan, and, as will be seen, heathen prejudice +and persecution had not been able to extinguish the Divine +light. It may be conceived how searching and cruel the persecution +was when it is remembered that, in the early part of +the seventeenth century, there were two millions of Christians, +and, about the same time, almost as many martyrs. All missionaries +who, since 1630, landed on the inhospitable shores +of Japan, were immediately seized, tortured, and put to death. +It was generally believed that the Christian people were totally +exterminated. Pius IX., notwithstanding, as if actuated by +some secret inspiration, the very first year of his Pontificate, +created a vicariate-apostolic of Japan. Several endeavors to +enter into communication with the Japanese were made; but, +for a long time, to no purpose. The sealed-up empire, at +length, opened its ports to Great Britain and the United States +of America. Such was the power of trade. The other civilized +nations could no longer be excluded. Japan concluded a treaty +with France by virtue of which the subjects of the latter State +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page404">[pg 404]</span><a name="Pg404" id="Pg404" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +were secured in the free exercise of their religion among the +Japanese. Mgr. Petitjean, who was, at the time, the vicar-apostolic, +availed himself of such favorable relations to erect a +church at Yokohama, and establish his residence at Nagasaki. +All this was happily accomplished under the encouraging +auspices of Pius IX. One day, as the vicar-apostolic had concluded +the celebration of Mass, some inhabitants of a large village +named Ourakami, near the city, came to him with countenances, +expressive, at the same time, of joy and fear. Addressing +him, they said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Have you and your priests +renounced marriage, and do you honor in your prayers the +Mother of Christ?”</span> The missionary replying in the affirmative, +the Japanese fell on their knees and exclaimed: <span class="tei tei-q">“You +are, indeed, the disciples of Saint Francis Xavier, our first +apostle. You are the true brethren of our former Jesuit +Fathers. At last, after a lapse of two hundred years, we +behold, once more, the priests of the true faith!”</span> They gave +thanks to God, shedding abundance of tears, with which +mingled those of the good missionary; <span class="tei tei-q">“religion,”</span> they added, +<span class="tei tei-q">“is free only to strangers. The law has not ceased to punish +us Japanese Catholics with death. No matter; receive us, +nevertheless, and instruct us. The lapse of time and the want +of books have, perhaps, disfigured in our memories the teachings +of truth. There will happen to us whatever it shall please +God to appoint.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Four thousand families, comprising fourteen thousand individuals, +had secretly persevered, clinging to the Catholic faith +since the days of the Apostolic Xavier. Notwithstanding all +the prudence of the missionaries, the secret of their relations +with the natives became known to the local police, and more +than four thousand inhabitants of Ourakami were arrested, +bastinadoed, imprisoned or transported to the North. Their +punishment lasted four years. One-third of their number +died of want, but few of them gave way. The survivors of these +persecuted people were finally restored to their country, and +through the representations of the European consuls, religious +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page405">[pg 405]</span><a name="Pg405" id="Pg405" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +liberty was granted, at least, provisionally, to natives as well +as strangers. Thus did Pius IX., at length, enjoy the consolation +to behold, established in peace, the church which St. +Francis Xavier had planted in the Empire of Japan, and +which was so celebrated in the annals of Christian heroism. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +PERSECUTION IN BRAZIL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Gonsalvez de Oliveira, Bishop of Olinda, had found it necessary +to warn his diocesans against the machinations of certain +secret societies, which were alike hostile to the Church and to +the State. They had obtained so much influence with the latter +as to be able to attack, with impunity, the Sisters of +Charity, and the priests of the Lazarist congregation, as well +as all other zealous priests who sought to restore the discipline +of the church. Whilst, on the one hand, the bishop was sustained +by the congratulations and encouragement of the Holy +See, and by the deference to ecclesiastical authority of many +Catholics who had been accustomed to consider the secret +societies as most inoffensive associations, he was urged, on the +other hand, by the fury of the chiefs of those societies, who, +alone, know all that they aim at and hold secret. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Emperor, Don Pedro II., influenced by his free-thinking +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">entourage</span></span>, judged that the pastoral letter should be denounced +to the Council of State. The councillors declared that +it was an illegal document, not having received the Imperial +<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">placet</span></span> +<span class="tei tei-q">“required by the Constitution of the Empire.”</span> Now commenced +the most heartless, and, as is always the case, unavailing +persecution. By order of the ministry, the procurator-general +summoned the Bishop of Olinda before the Supreme +Court of Rio Janeiro. The intrepid prelate replied by a letter, +in which he declared that he could not, in conscience, appear +before the Supreme Court, because it was impossible to do so, +without acknowledging the competence of a civil court in matters +purely religious. On 3rd January, 1874, the bishop was +ordered to go to prison. He intimated that he would yield +only to force. The chief of police, accordingly, accompanied +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page406">[pg 406]</span><a name="Pg406" id="Pg406" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +by two army officers, repaired to the Episcopal palace, and +conducted Mgr. de Oliveira to the port where a ship of war was +in attendance, to transport him to the maritime arsenal of +Rio Janeiro, one of the most unwholesome stations in Brazil. +There the illustrious prisoner was visited by Mgr. Lacerda, +Bishop of Rio Janeiro, who took off his pectoral cross, which +was a family keep-sake, and placing it around the neck of +Mgr. Oliveira, said: <span class="tei tei-q">“My Lord, you have full jurisdiction +throughout this land to which you are brought as a captive. +My clergy, the chapter of my cathedral, all will be most happy +to obey your orders. Have the goodness to bless us all. The +blessing of those who suffer persecution in the cause of Christ +is a pledge of salvation.”</span> Bishop Lacerda, before retiring, +handed to the prisoner a large sum of money, in order that he +should want for nothing, and promised to renew his visit as +often as the gaolers would permit. Almost all the bishops of +Brazil sent congratulatory telegrams to the imprisoned bishop. +One of them went so far as to identify himself with the action +of the Bishop of Olinda, by doing in like manner. It was the +Bishop of Para, who was speedily transferred from his Episcopal +palace to prison. The administrator who filled his place, +having refused to remove the interdict which had been pronounced +against certain confraternities which admitted members +of the secret societies, was condemned on 25th April, 1875, +to six years of forced penal labor. Four years of the like +torture were decreed against the administrator of Olinda for a +similar offence. So much for the humanitarian Emperor of +Brazil and his enlightened advisers. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was not long till new elections raised to power, men who +had more respect for the Episcopal office, and the wretched +Brazilian persecution came to an end. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Bishop of Olinda was no sooner set at liberty than he +repaired to Rome, in order to give an account of his conduct to +Pius IX. The Holy Father gave him every proof of the warmest +affection. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page407">[pg 407]</span><a name="Pg407" id="Pg407" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The lesser States of South America, which, on being +emancipated from the yoke of Spain, had chosen the republican +form of government, became a source of intense anxiety to +the Holy Father. Venezuela, Chili, the Argentine Republic, +and, even Hayti, appear to have been seized with the spirit of +the time. They had become too great, one would say, to +accept humbly the teachings of religion. Even Chili, where +comparative moderation prevailed, made an attempt to subordinate +in all things, spiritual as well as temporal, the Church +to the State. The bishops, as in duty bound, protested; and, +being unanimously supported by the people, the attack of +Chilian free-thinkers, on public peace and liberty, was abandoned. +The trouble in Hayti arose more from a desire, on +the part of the negroes, to have native priests than any real +hostility to religion. The government ignorantly assumed the +right to appoint the chief administrators of the Church. The +people were painfully affected by this unwarrantable encroachment +on the spiritual power. It was hardly to be supposed +that Peru should be out of the fashion. Pius IX. appears, +however, to have settled the difficulties of the Peruvians, by +granting to their presidents the same right of patronage which +was formerly enjoyed by the Kings of Spain. The religious +troubles of Mexico were not so easily composed. The civil +authorities of that sadly unsettled republic, urged, it is +believed, by the secret societies, aimed at nothing less than +the total suppression of religion. On 24th November, 1874, +they decreed that no public functionary or body of officials, +whether civil or military, should attend any religious office +whatsoever. <span class="tei tei-q">“The Sunday or Sabbath day,”</span> they impiously +ruled, <span class="tei tei-q">“shall henceforth be tolerated only in as far as it affords +rest to public employees.”</span> Religious instruction, together with +all practices of religion, was prohibited in all the establishments +of the federation of the States and the municipalities. +No religious act could be done except in the churches, and +there, only, under the superintendence of the police. No +religious institution was authorized to acquire real estate or +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page408">[pg 408]</span><a name="Pg408" id="Pg408" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +any capital accruing from such property. Article nineteen of +this detestable legislation, and which was carried by one hundred +and thirteen to fifty-seven votes, interdicted the Sisters of +Charity from living in community and wearing publicly their +costume. Thus were expelled from Mexico four hundred sisters, +who performed their charitable offices in the hospitals, +schools and asylums of the country. Public opinion was +roused, but to no purpose. The good sisters were allowed to +embark for France, bearing with them the fate of thousands +of the unfortunate. They may, perhaps, be replaced by the +Prussian chancellor's deaconesses; of this sisterhood, the best +suited for the Mexican climate, would, no doubt, be that portion +which fled from Smyrna on the approach of an epidemic. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ECUADOR. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the midst of so many discontented, turbulent, persecuting, +semi-barbarous States, there was one where there was +neither discontent, nor turbulence, nor persecution. This +favored Republic of Ecuador was in close communion with +Pius IX., and its president discarding all the fine-spun views +and chimerical theories of the time, ruled, as became the chief +of a free State, according to the wishes and the generally +accepted principles of his people. A republic, so governed, +provided it remain uncorrupt, cannot fail to enjoy the highest +degree of prosperity compatible with its position and material +resources. Not only did Ecuador itself enjoy the fruits of its +truly free and rationally republican government, it was able +also to extend the blessings of its Christian and liberal civilization +to neighboring tribes. Moved by the example and the +representations of the good people of Ecuador, nine thousand +savages of the Province of Oriente were induced to adopt the +habits of Christian civilization. The government of the enlightened +president, Garcia Moreno, was so abundantly blessed +that, in twelve years, the trade of Ecuador was doubled, as +were also the number of its schools and the sum of its public +revenues. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page409">[pg 409]</span><a name="Pg409" id="Pg409" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +So bright an illustration of the good-working of sound +principles was not to be tolerated. The love of a grateful and +prosperous people could not protect their great and successful +fellow-citizens against the weapons of secret conspirators. +Political fanatics, who were strangers in Ecuador, and who, +according to their own declaration, bore no personal ill-will to +the president, struck the fatal blow. <span class="tei tei-q">“I die,”</span> said the illustrious +victim, as he expired, <span class="tei tei-q">“but God dieth not!”</span> The assassins +were they who hold that God has no business in this +world. <span class="tei tei-q">“<span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Dixit insipicus; non est Deus</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. lamented the death of Garcia Moreno, as he had +lamented some seven-and-twenty years before, the untimely +fate of his own minister, Count Rossi. He extolled the President +of Ecuador in several allocutions, as the champion of true +civilization and its martyr. He caused his obsequies to be +solemnized in one of the Basilicas of Rome, over which he still +held authority, and ordered that his bust should be placed in +one of the galleries of the Vatican. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the estimation of a certain class of politicians, Moreno +was behind the age. In reality he was far in advance of it. +The mania for Godless government, Godless education, Godless +manners, and generally a Godless state of society, is only +a passing phase on the face of the world. If, indeed, it be +anything more, woe to mankind! Despair only can harbor +the idea of its long continuance. The social and political +chaos which darkens the age, must, surely, a little sooner or +a little later, give way to that order which is heaven's first law. +Moreno beheld, through the storms that raged around his +infant State, the early dawn of this better day. This light led +him onwards. History will place him, not only among heroes +and sages, but also among the most renowned initiators of +great movements. His death is a glorious protest against the +Godless, reckless, revolutionary sects. His high career will +be as a monument throughout the centuries, constantly reminding +mankind that, in this age, which may well be called +the age of chaos and confusion—confusion in politics, confusion +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page410">[pg 410]</span><a name="Pg410" id="Pg410" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in the social State, confusion of ideas—there was, at +least, one favored spot, where truth, order and justice reigned, +and there was a contented and happy people. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +STATES OF EUROPE—SWITZERLAND. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Protestant and free-thinking majority in Switzerland +were jealous of the prosperity of the Catholic Church. They +must, therefore, if possible, divide, and by dividing, weaken, if +not destroy, the Catholic body. The most efficient means they +could think of was the establishment of an old or <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholic</span></span> +Church on the model of that of Germany. The idea was at +hand, and the elements were not far to seek. Among the +Swiss Catholic clergy there were none so weak as to betray +their church. In the coterminous country—France, where +there are fifty thousand parochial priests, some thirty were +found already in disgrace among their brethren, who were +ready to form the nucleus of the proposed schismatical church. +The pretext was the pretended novelties introduced by the +Œcumenical Council of the Vatican, which, they insisted, +changed the character of the ancient Catholic Church. The +schism once on foot, the majority in the State affected to treat +the real Catholics as dissenters, and the handful of schismatics +as the Catholic Church of Switzerland. Founding on this +idea, persecution was speedily inaugurated. First came the +secularization of several abbeys, which the revolution of the +sixteenth century had respected, in the northern cantons, and +the confiscation of the Church of Zurich, which was handed +over to the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">alt-Catholics</span></span>. Their next measure was the expulsion +of Mgr. Mermillod, Bishop of Hebron and Coadjutor of +Geneva. Mgr. Lachat, Bishop of Bale, was then deprived, +and, on a purely theological pretext, his public adhesion to +the Council of the Vatican. The sixty-nine parish priests of +Bernese Jura, having declared in writing that they remained +faithful to the Bishop of Bale, were, in their turn, suspended +from their offices and driven, at first, from their parishes, and +afterwards from the country. As there was not a sufficient +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page411">[pg 411]</span><a name="Pg411" id="Pg411" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +number of foreign priests to replace the dispossessed clergy, +the number of parishes was arbitrarily reduced from seventy-six +to twenty-eight. It was regulated that nominations should, +henceforth, be made by the government alone, and by a single +stroke of the pen were suppressed, both the Concordat concluded +with Rome, in 1828, and the act of re-union of 1815, by +which, when Bernese Jura, formerly French, was incorporated +with Switzerland, an engagement was made with France to +respect, in every way, the liberty of Catholic worship. France +was not in a position, at the time, to enforce the terms of the +treaty. They who dared to call it to mind, accordingly, were +sent to prison or heavily fined. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Almost all the Bernese clergy, when banished from their +churches and presbyteries, sought shelter and protection on +the hospitable soil of France. From that country they returned +often, under cover of night, to their forsaken parishes, +in order to administer the sacraments and perform other +religious offices for the consolation of their flocks, hastening +back to the land of liberty and safety before the approach of +day. The persecution was carried to such extremes that the +Catholics were not only deprived of their churches, but forbidden, +under severe penalties, to assemble for Divine worship, +even in barns or such-like places. <span class="tei tei-q">“As an official of the State +of Bearn,”</span> wrote a school inspector to a school mistress, <span class="tei tei-q">“you +are bound to strive, with all your might, that the purposes of +the said State, as regards attendance at public worship, be +carried out. If your conscience does not admit of your attending +the Church which is recognized and approved by the +government, I leave you at liberty to refrain from attending +any worship, but I forbid you to go to the barn, where the +deprived parish priest officiates, because I would not have you +set a bad example to your children.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No encouragement or word of consolation that Pius IX. +could bestow, was wanting to his persecuted children of Switzerland. +In addressing Bishop Lachat, whom he received with +every mark of friendship, when he came to represent the sad +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page412">[pg 412]</span><a name="Pg412" id="Pg412" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +condition to which he was reduced, the Holy Father said: +<span class="tei tei-q">“To you also it is now given to experience the greatest happiness +that can fall to the lot of an apostolic man. This happiness +is thus expressed in the New Testament: <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">Ibant gaudentes, +quoniam digni habiti sunt pro nomine Jesu contumeliam pati.</span></span> +They went away rejoicing, because they were thought worthy +to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Prussian chancellor, as devoid of humanity as he was +short-sighted in statesmanship, forbad the exiled clergy of +Switzerland to set foot in the annexed Province of Alsace. +The brutal conduct of the chancellor could, however, only +injure himself. It stigmatizes him as a persecutor throughout +the ages, as long as history shall be read, whilst the sufferers +to whom he refused shelter and bread, found abundant compensation +in the generous hospitality of the French nation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Mentita est iniquitas sibi.</span></span> The persecution brought +little benefit to either the Protestant or infidel party in the Bernese +Legislature, by whom it was inaugurated, whilst the moral +power of the Catholics was greatly increased. Travellers +relate that <span class="tei tei-q">“the Catholics of Jura treat with a degree of contempt, +as immense as is their faith, the apostate priests who +banished the true ministers of God. They assembled in barns +and all sorts of out-buildings, all remaining faithful to God, +the Holy Church and their parish priests. Faith which slept +in some souls is reawakened and endowed with new life. +Bernese Jura is more Catholic than ever.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Central Council of the Swiss Confederation, at length, +became ashamed of the inglorious name which the Canton of +Bearn was making for the common country—the country of +William Tell so highly famed for its love of liberty and its +noble hospitality. Perhaps, also, they were not unconcerned +to find that travellers from other lands protested, in their way, +against the barbarous persecution, and left their money in +more favored lands. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Bernese government was advised, either to proceed +legally and regularly against the parish priests, or to recall +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page413">[pg 413]</span><a name="Pg413" id="Pg413" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +them. There being nothing on which to found legal proceedings, +the exiles returned to their country at the end of 1875. +The persecution was not, however, at an end. Neither churches, +nor presbyteries, nor liberty, were restored. The faithful clergy, +rich in the fidelity of their devoted flocks, fulfilled the duties of +their ministry in the darkness of night, using every precaution +in order to escape the snares of the police, and to avoid fines +and imprisonment, which were now the punishment instead of +exile. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +GREAT BRITAIN AND THE BRITISH COLONIES. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Taking leave of the dark and dreary pages which bear the +melancholy record of persecution, we turn, with a feeling of +relief, to the more cheering picture presented by those countries +where the great principle of religious liberty has come, at +length, to be fully understood. It was a great day for the +united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, when the legal +disabilities which weighed so long on the Catholic people, were +removed. It was the noble and powerful protest of a mighty +empire against the narrow and irrational spirit of persecution, +which still disgraces so many of the European nations. If +ever the Catholics, by superiority of numbers, which is far +from being an impossible state of things, should come to sway +the destinies of that empire, the glorious fact will be remembered +and bear its fruit. England, Ireland and Scotland, +already enjoy an abundant measure of their reward, in the +increase of piety and of that righteousness which exalteth a +nation. This is manifest in many ways. It is particularly +shown forth by the more friendly feeling towards the Catholics +of the empire which now universally prevails. We may not be +supposed to know much, here in Canada, about the state of +sentiment or opinion in England. But when we appeal to the +testimony of so eminent an Englishman as Cardinal Newman, +what we affirm cannot be easily gainsaid. In a discourse +recently delivered at Birmingham, on the growth of the Catholic +Church in England, the very learned cardinal noted the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page414">[pg 414]</span><a name="Pg414" id="Pg414" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +striking contrast between the feeling towards Catholics in +Cardinal Wiseman's time and that of the present day, and +accounted for the improvement by showing that there is now a +much better knowledge of the Catholic religion among Protestants. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What I wish to show,”</span> said his Eminence, <span class="tei tei-q">“and +what I believe to be the remarkable fact is, that whereas there +have been many conversions to the Catholic Church during the +last thirty years, and a great deal of ill-will felt towards us, in +consequence, nevertheless, that ill-will has been overcome, and +a feeling of positive good-will has been created instead in the +minds of our very enemies, by means of those conversions +which they feared from their hatred of us. How this was, let +me now say: The Catholics in England, fifty years ago, were +an unknown sect amongst us. Now there is hardly a family +but has brothers or sisters, or cousins or connections, or friends +and acquaintances, or associates in business or work, of that +religion, not to mention the large influx of population from the +sister island: and such an interpenetration of Catholics with +Protestants, especially in our great cities, could not take place +without there being a gradual accumulation of experience, +slow, indeed, but therefore the more sure about individual +Catholics, and what they really are in character, and, whether +or not, they can be trusted in the concerns and intercourse of +life; and I fancy that Protestants, spontaneously, and before +setting about to form a judgment, have found them to be men +whom they could be drawn to like and to love quite as much +as their fellow-Protestants—to be human beings in whom they +could be interested and sympathize with, and interchange good +offices with, before the question of religion came into consideration.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The increase in the number of Catholics and of Catholic +institutions in Great Britain, has kept pace with the growth of +friendly sentiments in their regard. That island, <span class="tei tei-q">“the mother +of nations,”</span> appears to be destined to unite by means of her +ever spreading language, the immense family of mankind. +For what end and purpose none can tell. The hidden ways of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page415">[pg 415]</span><a name="Pg415" id="Pg415" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Divine Providence are known to God alone. We may, nevertheless, +in view of certain well-known facts, presume to draw +the veil of mystery aside, and discover so far the secret of +God's mercy. In Pius the Ninth's time the number of Catholics +has been doubled in Great Britain, as well as in the United +States of America, Canada, Australia, remote India and the +Cape of Good Hope. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the time of the election of Pius IX., there were in England +and Scotland eight hundred and twenty Catholic priests. +There are now two thousand and eighty-eight.<a id="noteref_12" name="noteref_12" href="#note_12"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">12</span></span></a> The number +of churches and chapels had grown from six hundred and +twenty-six to one thousand three hundred and fifteen. Within +the last twenty years religious houses for men had increased +from twenty-one to seventy-three, and convents for religious +sisters, from ninety-seven to two hundred and thirty-nine. +Catholic schools and colleges had more than doubled their +number, being now one thousand three hundred, whilst a little +over twenty years ago it was five hundred. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the British colonies, generally, including British America, +Australia, India, and the West Indies, there were, in +1855, no more than forty-four Episcopal Sees, several of which +owed their erection to Pius IX. By the year 1876, the solicitude +of the same venerable Pontiff had raised to eighty-eight, +the number of archbishops and bishops who exercised the +duties of their sacred office, throughout the Colonial Empire +of Great Britain. In the whole empire there cannot be fewer +than one hundred and twenty-five prelates, whether vicars-apostolic, +archbishops, bishops, or prefects-apostolic. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In no country have the benefits of religious liberty been +more abundantly enjoyed than in Canada. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page416">[pg 416]</span><a name="Pg416" id="Pg416" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +In 1869, the two Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, formerly +Canada West and Canada East, counted ten dioceses and seven +hundred and seventy-nine churches. Including Sherbrooke, +Chicoutimi, and the vicariate-apostolic of Northern Canada, +there are now thirteen dioceses in the two provinces, whilst, +during the seven years anterior to 1876, there was an increase +of one hundred and seventy-three churches, making, in all, +one thousand one hundred and seventy-one. In the same +period religious houses had increased from seventy-three to +one hundred and ninety-six. Education of a religious character +is, at the same time, amply provided for. There are, in the +Province of Quebec, three thousand one hundred and thirty-nine +parochial, and altogether three thousand six hundred and +thirty elementary schools, for a population of one million eight +hundred and eighty-two thousand souls. These schools, without +including educational institutions of a more private kind, +which are very numerous in Lower Canada (Quebec), allow +one school to every six hundred people. It may be doubted +whether Prussia, even, which possesses greater facilities for +education than any other European country, comes up to this +standard. The increase of Catholic people everywhere, throughout +the country, keeps pace with the building of churches and +the establishing of Catholic schools and other religious institutions. +This increase is particularly noticeable in the towns +and cities, where the growth of the Catholic population is +remarkably rapid. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In all the British dependencies, liberty, as understood by +the British people, prevails; and, wherever it is held in honor +and exercises its legitimate influence, religion nourishes. +Contrast, for instance, Australia, when a penal colony, and +when liberty was unknown with Australia, as it is to-day. In +1804 two priests were permitted, by the civil power, to perform +the duties of their sacred office. Their labors sufficed for the +very limited spiritual wants of the colony. By 1827 these +wants had so slightly increased that two priests were still able +to meet them all. One of these was Dr. Ullathorne, now +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page417">[pg 417]</span><a name="Pg417" id="Pg417" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Bishop of Birmingham, assisted by another priest and a lay +teacher. So late as 1842, matters were little better, Hobart-town +having one priest, but no church. Australia, meanwhile, +was growing in importance, and it came to possess, as became +an important British colony, constitutional government. This +was a new era for the cause of religion. Australia has now, +1880, two archbishoprics and ten other episcopal sees. In +three of the dioceses, Melbourne, Sandhurst and Perth, there +are no fewer than one hundred and thirty-five priests. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the epoch of Independence, 1776, the number of Catholics +in the new republic was estimated at twenty-five thousand. +The spiritual wants of this comparatively small body were +ministered to by nineteen priests, who were under the jurisdiction +of the bishop Vicar-Apostolic of London, England. By +1790, the number of priests was doubled, and a bishop was +appointed. In 1840, there were in the United States one +million five hundred thousand Catholics. By 1855, they had +grown to two millions. In the twenty-one years from 1855 to +1876 the increase was from two millions to six million five +hundred thousand. This extraordinary growth, though rapid, +was, nevertheless, vigorous and healthy. There was a corresponding +increase in the numbers of the clergy, as well as of +religious and educational institutions. For the instruction +and spiritual comfort of so great a flock, there were, in 1879, +no fewer than five thousand three hundred and fifty-eight +priests, with fifty-six bishops and archbishops, five thousand +and forty-six churches, three thousand seven hundred and +eleven oratories and missionary stations. Religious houses +have also increased in due proportion. In 1855, there were +only fifteen religious houses for men in all the United States. +There are now ninety-five. Communities of religious sisters, +who chiefly devote themselves to works of charity and instruction, +also flourish. In 1855 there were only fifty such communities. +There are now two hundred and twenty-five. Educational +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page418">[pg 418]</span><a name="Pg418" id="Pg418" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +institutions of a religious character also abound. In +1800, there was only one Catholic academy for girls in all the +United States. At the present day they number more than +four hundred. Catholic colleges have increased from two to +sixty-four. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The number of parochial schools is not so great, in proportion +to the population, as in the Province of Quebec. This is +accounted for by the still defective state of religious liberty in +the United States. There is a sort of State fanaticism there +in favor of common or national schools. Whilst Catholics cannot +avail themselves of such institutions, which provide only a +Godless education, they are, nevertheless, heavily taxed for +their support. Being so burdened, it is surely much to the +credit of the Catholics of the United States that they, in addition, +support two thousand two hundred and forty-four parochial +schools, besides six hundred and sixty-three colleges or +academies, and twenty-four seminaries, for higher and ecclesiastical +education. Notwithstanding the drawback alluded to, +Pius IX. entertained a high idea of the North American +Republic, and he showed that he did so when he declared that +it was almost the only country wherein he could exercise, without +hindrance, the duties of his sublime office. He further +evinced his appreciation by raising several American bishops +to the dignity of archbishop, and one to that of cardinal. The +Archbishop of New York is the first American who has enjoyed +the high position of cardinal. He was formally thanked for +this well-merited honor by the President of the United States, +and all America concurred in extolling the wisdom of the choice +which gave the dignity to the Most Rev. Archbishop McCloskey, +of New York. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +HIERARCHY OF SCOTLAND. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the latest labors of Pius IX. was that which he undertook, +on the urgent request of the Catholics of Scotland, in connection +with the restoration of the ancient Scottish hierarchy. +The venerable Pontiff, now so far advanced in years, did not +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page419">[pg 419]</span><a name="Pg419" id="Pg419" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +live to complete this important work. The late reverend and +learned Dr. Grant, President of the Scotch College at Rome, +ceased not, meanwhile, to promote, as representing the Catholics +of Scotland, the institution of the hierarchy. His knowledge +of the country and historical research eminently qualified +him for the task. The work, so happily commenced under +the auspices of Pius IX., was brought to a conclusion soon +after the accession of his successor, Leo XIII. The Most Rev. +John Strain, well known as a sound theologian and eminently +practical preacher, was appointed Archbishop of St. Andrews +and Edinburgh. The learned prelate thus became the successor +of the ancient Archbishops of St. Andrews and Primate of +Scotland. The other Episcopal Sees erected were Glasgow, +Aberdeen, Dunkeld, Galloway, Argyll and the Isles. Glasgow, +in consideration of its former honors, was made an archbishopric, +but without suffragans. The archbishop is a member of +the Synod of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. To the undying +honor of the people of Scotland, there is nothing more to record. +There were no commotions, no eloquent appeals for the purpose +of allaying groundless fears and calming the popular +mind, to burden the tale of the historian. An unsuccessful +attempt at riot, by some rowdies, in a city of six hundred thousand +souls, confirms rather than derogates from the absolute +truth of this statement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There are already in the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and +Edinburgh several important religions institutions. Among +these may be mentioned four communities of religious sisters. +The sisters, called <span class="tei tei-q">“Ursulines of Jesus,”</span> have two establishments +in the city of Edinburgh, and devote themselves entirely +to education and charity. There are fifty-four churches, chapels +and stations. The missions, properly so-called, are twenty-eight +in number, and forty-three priests, of whom thirteen are +members of religious societies, perform all the missionary duty +and minister to the spiritual wants of the congregations. It +cannot be said that education is neglected, and such education +as recognizes religious principle; there being, in addition to the +convent schools, thirty-six congregational or parochial schools. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page420">[pg 420]</span><a name="Pg420" id="Pg420" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the Archdiocese of Glasgow, one hundred and twenty-one +priests, of whom twenty-four are members of religious societies, +attend to the spiritual wants of the missions and congregations. +The Glasgow missions count fifty-nine, with seventy-eight +churches, chapels and stations. The congregational or parochial +schools number one hundred and eighty-six, in addition +to religious educational institutions. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Aberdeen has forty-seven priests, of whom seven are members +of the Benedictine Order. It has thirty-two missions, +with fifty-one churches, chapels and stations. Colleges, convents, +and congregational schools, are in proportion to the +Catholic population. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Dunkeld contains within its borders the important seaport +town of Dundee, and the ancient city of Perth, where may +still be seen the Church of St. John, against which the Knox +Iconoclasts cast the first stone—the sad prelude to their furious +onslaught on all the sacred edifices of the land. At Dundee +there is a numerous Catholic population. In the whole +diocese there are thirty-three priests, of whom twelve are members +of the religious Society of Redemptorists. There are +religious communities of Sisters of Mercy, Little Sisters of the +Poor, and Ursulines of Jesus. The Marist Brothers and Redemptorists +have their monasteries, and there is a creditable +number of congregational schools. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The ancient See of Whithorn (Candidacasa) is now known +as the diocese of Galloway. It dates from St. Ninian, the +apostle of the Southern Picts, by whom it was founded in 397. +It was destroyed in the time of the Scandinavian invasions, +and remained extinct from 808 till 1189. It fell again at the +epoch of the Reformation, and had no bishop from the death of +Andrew Durie, in 1558, till the appointment of Bishop McLachlan +by Leo XIII. The residence of the bishop is at +Dumfries, where there is a numerous congregation and an elegant +church. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Argyll and the Isles is a diocese full of promise. The traditions +of its piety in ancient days are a rich inheritance. It +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page421">[pg 421]</span><a name="Pg421" id="Pg421" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +has already thirty-eight churches, chapels and stations, together +with some numerous congregations. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +INCREASE AND NUMBER OF CATHOLICS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD +IN THE TIME OF PIUS IX. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +About the time of the accession of Pius IX., the Catholic +population of the world was estimated by scientific men at two +hundred and fifty-four million six hundred and fifty-five thousand +(see the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Scientific Miscellany</span></span> of the time). Since that +time there has been a very considerable increase. How great +it has been we may judge from the statistics with which we are +most familiar, those of Great Britain and the British Colonies, +as well as those of the United States of America. The eminent +statisticians, Drs. Behm and Wagner, hold that the number of +Protestants has more than doubled in the same period. Some +thirty-five years ago, according to the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Scientific Miscellany</span></span>, the +Protestant population of the world was forty-eight million nine +hundred and eighty-nine thousand. Without saying that the +learned men alluded to are wrong in estimating them now at +one hundred and one million, it may be claimed that Catholics +have enjoyed at least as great an increase. The tendency +of the latter, in the present age, is to spread and to +spread rapidly, whilst among Protestants, according to their +own ablest writers, there exists no such expansive power. An +opinion prevails among those who are not friendly to the Catholic +Church, that such an institution can only take root and +grow in an age of ignorance, or among ignorant people. This +opinion enjoys not the sanction of the most distinguished Protestant +authors and preachers. Baron Macaulay writes: <span class="tei tei-q">“We +often hear it said that the world is constantly becoming more +and more enlightened, and that the enlightenment must be +favorable to Protestantism and unfavorable to Catholicism. +We wish that we could think so. But we see great reason +to doubt whether this is a well-founded expectation. We +see that during the last two hundred and fifty years the +human mind has been in the highest degree active; that it +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page422">[pg 422]</span><a name="Pg422" id="Pg422" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +has made great advances in every branch of natural philosophy; +that it has produced innumerable inventions, tending +to promote the convenience of life; that medicine, surgery, +chemistry, engineering, have been very greatly improved; that +government, police and law, have been improved, though not +to so great an extent as the physical sciences. Yet we see +that during these two hundred and fifty years Protestantism +has made no conquests worth speaking of. Nay, we believe +that as far as there has been change, that change has been in +favor of the Church of Rome. We cannot, therefore, feel confident +that the progress of knowledge will necessarily be fatal +to a system which has, to say the least, stood its ground in +spite of the immense progress made by the human race in +knowledge since the time of Queen Elizabeth.”</span> If, then, Protestantism, +as regards increase and development, has been at a +stand-still for the last two<a id="noteref_13" name="noteref_13" href="#note_13"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">13</span></span></a> hundred and fifty years, whilst it +is admitted on all hands that Catholicism has been growing +rapidly, it is not, surely, unreasonable to claim that the increase +of Catholics keeps pace with that of Protestants. The +claim, however, must be waived, as it would give a greater +expansion to the Catholic Church than Catholics can suppose +it is entitled to. If the number of Catholics had doubled +within the last five-and-thirty or forty years, as that of Protestants +is alleged by the learned statisticians to have done, +they would now count five hundred and nine million three hundred +thousand. Behm and Wagner estimate them at two hundred +and seventy million. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page423">[pg 423]</span><a name="Pg423" id="Pg423" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Judging by the facts alluded to, this estimate is certainly +below the mark, and we shall still be considered as determining +for a low figure when we reckon the Catholic population +of the whole world at three hundred million. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The heathen masses are still the most numerous. But, if +the statement recently made by the Secretary of the Chinese +Legation, at Washington, may be relied on, they are not overwhelmingly +so. This statement reduces the population of +China from the fabulous number of four hundred million to +one hundred million. It is not, surely, reasonable to suppose, +as the world has so long supposed, that one nation, China, has +a population double that of all the nations of India. The +whole heathen world, therefore, cannot count more than six +hundred and fifty million souls—too many to be still in darkness +and the shadow of death. But let each believer labor to +convert a heathen, and there will be light at last. The believing +portion of mankind is not so far behind, in point of +numbers, at least. It consists of (according to Drs. Behm and Wagner): +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +300,000,000 Catholics.<br /> +90,000,000 members of the Greek Church.<br /> +101,000,000 Protestants.<br /> +7,000,000 Jews. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ANNIVERSARY OF THE EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION OF PIUS IX. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The 3rd of June, 1877, was a great day for Rome and the +Catholic world. Of all the <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">fetes</span></span> which Plus IX. was +favored to celebrate, there was none more honored than the anniversary +of his episcopal consecration. One would say that the faithful +Catholic people everywhere had resolved to make it an occasion +of protesting against the treatment to which the venerable +Pontiff was subjected, and the false principles which governed +the Italian faction, by which he was so cruelly persecuted. +Pilgrims came from all lands and crowded the streets of the +Papal city; for such it still was. Notwithstanding all the +efforts of the usurping government, the Roman people acknowledged +no other ruler at Rome than the Holy Father. During +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page424">[pg 424]</span><a name="Pg424" id="Pg424" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +six months of the year 1877, the devoted Catholics of every +nation ceased not to throng the streets, the approaches to and +from the halls of the Vatican Palace. Nor did they come +empty-handed. They were literally laden with gold and silver, +together with an endless variety of other rich and appropriate +gifts. A month before the anniversary day, there were already +five hundred chalices, as well as other church plate, jewellery, +vestments, altar linens, etc., deposited in the Vatican. An +eye-witness beheld these precious offerings suitably laid out in +one of the largest galleries, forming an immense treasury, from +which the benevolent Pontiff supplied the poorer missions +throughout the world. Congratulatory addresses were constantly +presented, and Pius IX. was indefatigable in receiving +these proofs of the faith and love of his spiritual children. +Day after day he made replies to deputations, and often, four +times a day without appearing fatigued or giving any sign +that his bodily strength or vigor of mind was failing him. +Day after day, throughout the whole summer of 1877, the +faithful people ceased not to astonish the new masters of Rome, +who flattered themselves with the belief that faith was dead in +the world, and would no longer be an impediment to their +domination. They beheld pilgrims from every clime in vast +numbers, of which they could form no estimate. They also +heard their voice, and wondered at their admirable unanimity. +<span class="tei tei-q">“All of us, whoever we are, Christians of every nation and +of every tongue,”</span> said the Bishop of Poitiers, speaking +in the name of his fellow-Catholics, <span class="tei tei-q">“we have all +been brought here by the desire, the necessity we are +under, to offer our tribute of regret and love to the venerated +Pontiff, whom the whole world honors with all the veneration +of filial duty. After having placed at his feet our presents and +our respectful homage, we come to offer, in this sanctuary, our +thanksgiving and our prayers—our thanksgiving, for Pius IX. +has been preserved to us beyond the term of all preceding +Pontificates—our prayers for his remaining in this life is, at +present, our only pledge of safety.”</span><a id="noteref_14" name="noteref_14" href="#note_14"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">14</span></span></a> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page425">[pg 425]</span><a name="Pg425" id="Pg425" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On occasion of the memorable anniversary, Pius IX. proclaimed +a jubilee, and thus afforded to all his children throughout +the universe an opportunity of uniting with those of Rome +in one common prayer and act of thanksgiving. Numberless +communions, in every Catholic land, on the very day of the +anniversary—3rd June—bore witness to the lively faith which +universally prevailed, and made it plain as noon-day to the +unbelieving that the body of the Church is united by the bond +of charity, even as is the family by the ties of blood. The +power of such a celebration was widely felt. And the revolutionists +of Italy believed that something must be done in order +to counteract its influence. They could not propose, as they +had done six years before on occasion of the anniversary of +Pius the Ninth's exaltation to the Popedom, to display on all +the public edifices of Rome the flag of revolutionized Italy in +fraternal union with that of the Pontiff and the Church. It +must, therefore, be unfurled in direct opposition to the cause +of the Holy Father. A festive commemoration of the <span class="tei tei-q">“constitutional +statute”</span> was ordered to be held on the 3rd June, +the day of the Papal celebration. The scheme proved to be +more than a failure. It was intended as an insult to the Pope +and protest against the Christian faith. In reality it became +a testimony which redounded to the honor of the Holy Father +and the glory of religion. What cared the Romans, or the +people of the Roman territory, for the <span class="tei tei-q">“constitutional statute”</span> +of Charles Albert? Their <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">vivats</span></span> were all for Pius IX. +and his more constitutional constitution. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Long live Pius IX.!—Pius IX., our only King!”</span> No +other cry was heard in the streets of Rome, or in the wide +campagna. The populations of the country as well as of the +city were alike devoted to Pius IX., and would have no other +to rule over them. The usurping revolutionists must needs +retaliate. In doing so, they still more degraded their +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">fete</span></span> of +the <span class="tei tei-q">“constitutional statute.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On occasion of royal <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">fetes</span></span>, favors are liberally +dispensed. This order of things was now reversed. Parties convicted of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page426">[pg 426]</span><a name="Pg426" id="Pg426" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +illuminating their houses, of displaying white and yellow colors, +or of expressing in words their loyalty to Pius IX., were sentenced +to imprisonment. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +DEATH OF ANTONELLI AND PATRIZI. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Shortly before the anniversary celebration, Pius IX. had to +lament the death of his faithful Secretary of State, Cardinal +Antonelli. This intrepid statesman had done battle courageously +during six-and-twenty years for the Church, the Holy +See and the temporal sovereignty of the Roman Pontiff, who +had been threatened in his life, his priestly honor and his +character for integrity. The devoted cardinal defied both the +poniard and the tongue of the calumniator. Although able to +unmask the most secret intrigues of the revolutionists, he could +not avert the blow which it was permitted that they should +strike against the time-honored institutions of his country. +They appear to have been destined to reign for a time. Their +success did not appal Antonelli nor shake his fidelity. In evil +report and good report he stood by his sovereign, and shared +his exile as well as the honor which he enjoyed in the more +auspicious days of his glorious Pontificate. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Three weeks later, Cardinal Patrizi, who was Vicar of +Rome and chief counsellor of Pius IX. in all matters connected +with the government of the church, was called from this earthly +scene. Thus was the aged Pontiff destined to be tried by new +afflictions. The success of his enemies and of the enemies of +the Church, the privation and humiliation to which he was subjected, +were rendered more severe by the death of his dearest +friends who were also his ablest supporters. He was grieved, +but could not be crushed by so many calamities. He remained +until his health utterly failed equal to his high position. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page427">[pg 427]</span><a name="Pg427" id="Pg427" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An additional cause of sorrow to the Holy Father was the +enactment of the Italian Legislature, known as the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Mancini +law</span></span>. This law was in downright opposition to the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">law of +guarantees</span></span>. It made it a crime to preach the Gospel. On pretence +of repressing the abuses of the clergy, their offences +against the laws and institutions of the State, it forbade all +apostolic preaching. It was too late. Nero, even, was not in +time, and all the fury of persecution could not uproot the belief +in virtue which prevailed. The clergy shall no longer say that +fraud, robbery, lying, violence and assassination are sins. But +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">cui bono</span></span>? The world has already its +convictions—prejudices, the philosophy of +<span lang="de" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="de"><span style="font-style: italic">Kulturkampf</span></span> may call them—in regard to +all such things, and no law that an infidel parliament can enact +will suffice to eradicate them. It could only sadden the heart +of the Chief Pastor to see the power which ruled in his country +and in his stead laboring so strenuously but ineffectually +to demolish the edifice of the church, which, for so many ages, +had been assailed in vain. It was the height of presumption, +surely, when a few modern Italians, a miserable minority of +their own nation, undertook a task which defied all the power +of Imperial Rome. In a country where liberty is better understood, +a powerful voice was raised in condemnation of the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Mancini law</span></span>. The British <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Catholic Union</span></span> +protested against the cruel enactment as an attack not only on the liberty of +the Church but also on the very existence of the Christian +faith in Italy. This purpose was, indeed, avowed by many of +its supporters in the Italian parliament. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX. could not fail to protest against such an attack on +that liberty which is the birthright of every Christian. In a +Consistorial Allocution of 12th March, 1877, he exposed the +plot which the revolutionists had prepared in order to prevent +the Holy Father from accomplishing his appointed mission—that +of instructing and edifying the whole flock of Christ. +That his protest was fully justified and demanded by the circumstances +of the case was abundantly shown by the rage +which it excited among the ruling faction. Their press did its +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page428">[pg 428]</span><a name="Pg428" id="Pg428" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +best to dissemble, and affected to treat with contempt the +Pope's address. It contained only <span class="tei tei-q">“lame and doubtful reasonings—such +arguments as are termed paralogisms or involuntary +sophisms, which escape the notice of their authors.”</span> The +government, in unison with the press, sought to stifle the +importunate voice of the Pontiff. The council of ministers +went so far as to resolve on prosecuting any journals that +should dare to publish the Papal allocution. But they found +it was too late. The obnoxious document was already printed +in France, and, consequently, open to the civilized world. So +the wrath of the ministry was allowed to cool. It sought, +nevertheless, to be revenged. The minister of justice, accordingly, +addressed a circular to the procurators-general, in which +he denounced the language of Pius IX. as <span class="tei tei-q">“excessive and violent.”</span> +The Pope himself he railed was a factious person, +as a fomenter of sedition and revolt. He also charged him +with ingratitude. For what was he ungrateful? Had they +not robbed him of his sovereignty and his property? Did they +not now hold him closely guarded in the Vatican? They +spared his life, indeed, but made him understand that he was +their prisoner, as, in reality, he was. To have gone farther +would have been to outrage all Italy, which they were so +anxious to conciliate, and the great Powers, whose forbearance +they so much needed. Cardinal Simeoni, who had succeeded +Antonelli as Secretary of State, in a circular addressed to the +Papal nuncios, pointed out the weakness and gross injustice of +Mancini's letter. The secret societies, on the other hand, congratulated +their most dear and most active <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">brother</span></span>, and expressed +the hope <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">that he would not stop until he reached the end +to which he so nobly tended</span></span>. The minister of justice fully +acceded to the wishes of the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">brethren</span></span>, and they could rely upon +it that he would persevere until he compassed the destruction +of the Papacy. Such good resolutions deserved a reward. +They awarded him, accordingly, what they called a <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">diploma of +honor</span></span>. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page429">[pg 429]</span><a name="Pg429" id="Pg429" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Mancini law</span></span>, notwithstanding all the efforts of its supporters, +never became law. There is not much in this history +to be placed to the credit of Victor Emmanuel. Nevertheless, +he, all of a sudden, opposed the enactment of the odious law +which he had allowed to be prepared and presented in his +name to the representative chamber. By expressing his +repugnance to it, he caused it to fail in the Senate. It is +related that it was on the representation of his daughter, the +Princess Clotilde, that he so acted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +PLAN FOR ELECTING A POPE. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the most daring enterprises of the Italian ministry +was their scheme, in conjunction with the Prussian chancellor, +for the election of a Pope on the demise of Pius IX. Hitherto, +when the Popes enjoyed their temporal sovereignty, the Cardinal +Camerlingo, or high chamberlain, directed everything from +the time of the Pope's decease until the election of a successor. +It was the purpose of the ministry to arrogate to themselves +the attributes of this high dignitary, who acted, temporarily, +as the Sovereign of Rome. For the attainment of their end, +fraud, lying and forgery were freely had recourse to. It being +understood that there existed a Bull relating to the election of +Pius the Ninth's successor, and that it was in the custody of +Mgr. Mercurelli, the Secretary of Pontifical briefs, a high price +was offered to any one who should treacherously deliver it into +the hands of the revolutionists. Such a temptation was not to +be resisted. A cunning scribe, who could imitate the handwriting +of Mercurelli, made a copy of an ancient Bull of Pius +VI., adapting it to the circumstances of the time. To the great +confusion of the astute chancellor and his associates, the +Italian ministers, the forgery was discovered, and the sage +statesmen befooled in the sight of all Europe by a common +felon. Nothing, however, was to be left undone that was calculated, +as the conspirators conceived, to secure the election of +a Pope who would reject the decisions of the Vatican Council. +For this end it was proposed to take military possession of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page430">[pg 430]</span><a name="Pg430" id="Pg430" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Vatican Palace, and appoint a commissioner to superintend the +election and carry out the views of the faction. This iniquitous +plot appears to have been overthrown by a vigorous article +which was published in the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Osservatore Romano</span></span>. It is said to +have been inspired by Pius IX. It stated, among other things, +that <span class="tei tei-q">“the Vatican changes not with the changes of the times, +and the Lord, who has protected it in the past, and given visible +proofs of His continued protection, will protect it in the future, +and defend it against all, whatever artifices, whether secret or +open, its enemies may employ, in order to conquer and overthrow +it.”</span> The revolutionary journals, whose constant cry +was <span class="tei tei-q">“war to the knife”</span> on the Church and the Papacy, could +not refrain from expressing their astonishment, it ought to be +said their admiration, of this masterly document. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is +impossible,”</span> said the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Republique Francaise</span></span> of 28th July, 1877, +<span class="tei tei-q">“not to be struck by the tone of authority, the vehemence and +the menaces, the ardent and deep-rooted faith which prevail +from beginning to end of this extraordinary production.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +ILLNESS OF THE POPE—VICTOR EMMANUEL AT THE VATICAN. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the autumn of 1877, the health of Pius IX. began to +fail. He caught cold and had a renewal of rheumatic attacks. +He was obliged, in consequence, to discontinue giving audiences. +Finally, by the advice of his physicians, he kept his bed continuously +for three weeks, from 20th November. The Pope's +indisposition appears to have been quite a God-send to the ever-busy +press of the hostile faction. There were, of course, +spasms, fainting fits, mortification of the extremities, etc. +The Pope is dying—the Pope is dead!—and the enemy rejoiced, +as over a hard-won victory. But the end was not yet. +The Holy Father recovered, and was able to hold a Consistory +and deliver an allocution on the 28th of December. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was one at Rome who felt differently from the party +with whom he acted in regard to the illness and possible death +of the Pope. This was no other than King Victor Emmanuel. +The dethroned Pontiff was still a power that helped to stem +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page431">[pg 431]</span><a name="Pg431" id="Pg431" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the tide of red republican revolution which rolled so angrily +against the tottering throne of united Italy. The barrier was +in danger. Only the slender thread of an exhausted life saved +it from giving way. The king was awe-struck, and sought +comfort in the Palace of the Vatican.<a id="noteref_15" name="noteref_15" href="#note_15"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">15</span></span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +What passed at the extraordinary interview none will ever +know. All that can be found on record is that the King of +Italy retired with a lightened heart from the mansion of the +Sovereign Pontiff. Pardon, benediction, renewal of promises—what +may there not have been? That the meeting was not +without result, an event which was not at that time far distant +clearly shows. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The restoration of Pius IX. to comparative health was matter +for thanksgiving and congratulation. A consistory was +held, accordingly, on the 28th of December, 1877. The cardinals +having assembled, the Holy Father thus addressed them: +<span class="tei tei-q">“We rejoice in the Lord at having experienced how faithfully +you sustain the burden of the apostolic ministry; and, at the +same time, for having enjoyed the sweet consolation to find +the sorrows of our soul alleviated by your virtue and the constant +affection of your charity.”</span> The venerable Pontiff concluded +this address, which was destined to be his last in solemn +consistory, by inviting the members of the Sacred College <span class="tei tei-q">“to +offer up their prayers assiduously to the throne of Divine +mercy for himself and for the Church,”</span> representing that the +strength of Christians is in prayer, in the power of God, which +the prayer of His creature, made in his image, causes to be +exerted. And who is stronger than God? <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Quis ut Deus?</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The aged Pontiff, whom the revolutionists of Italy and +other countries cried out against with such vehemence of +hatred and malediction, asked no other favor for himself of +the Supreme Giver than the pleasure to impart once more his +benediction from the Vatican to the city and the whole world. +On occasion of some foreign ladies resident at Rome coming +to present him with a rich canopy for decorating the Vatican +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page432">[pg 432]</span><a name="Pg432" id="Pg432" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +lodge, at the benediction he gave utterance to the following +prayer: <span class="tei tei-q">“Lend new strength, O Lord, to Thy Vicar on earth; +give new vigor to his voice and to his arm, in order that, in the +present crisis, it may be permitted him, as a sign of reconciliation +and peace to bless once more solemnly the whole Catholic +people, and that thus, through Thy assistance, society may +be restored to a state of tranquillity and the practice of all the +Christian virtues.”</span> He adored, without knowing it, the Divine +will, which was not that he should ever again impart his apostolic +benediction from the Vatican. This he knew not, and +could not pretend to know. But he was comforted in the firm +belief that the benediction would never cease to be dispensed. +On the same day, he said, addressing the Roman ladies who +presented a carpet for the solemn benediction: <span class="tei tei-q">“At this time +of darkness and tribulation, when we are in the power of our +enemies, you may say to me: <span class="tei tei-q">‘We have exerted ourselves so +much, we have offered up so many prayers, shed so many +tears, and, notwithstanding, all to no purpose.’</span> The time +will come when this present will be made use of. <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Tota nocte +laborantes</span></span>.... The Romans have, indeed, prayed. They +have given signal proof of their fidelity and their piety, amid +the gloom and trouble of our national catastrophes, and why +have they, as yet, obtained nothing? But what do I say? +Are those evidences of affection which every day reach the +Holy See to be reputed as nothing? Is that earnestness of +prayer which prevails at Rome and throughout the Catholic +world to no purpose? In the most desert regions and remotest +countries vows and prayers are offered up for our deliverance. +Your prayers and communions are so many petitions, +laid at the foot of the altar, which cannot fail to be heard. As +our Lord, who was pleased to show Peter where to cast his nets, +in order to have an abundant draught of fish, teaches us also +how we shall escape from the abyss of calamity into which our +sins, perhaps, have thrown us.... Although I, who, at +present, am the Vicar of Christ, may not, one of my successors +will, see Rome, which is our city, restored to its pristine +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page433">[pg 433]</span><a name="Pg433" id="Pg433" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +state, tranquil and flourishing as it was some months ago. He will +also behold all the rights of this Holy See completely recovered.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +By one of two things only, as far as man can see, is it possible +that Italy should be emancipated from its present bondage, +and governed according to the wishes of its people. A +constitutional monarchy, such as Pius IX. sought so long to +establish, would be the most secure and permanent guarantee +for peace and liberty in the south of Europe. A remedy for +present evils may also be found in a thoroughly representative +system of government, which the system that prevails for the +moment in Italy has no claim to be. There cannot, however, +be representative government so long as the Italian people +allow a reckless faction, which is only a small minority of the +nation, to control the elections, monopolize the votes, and constitute +themselves the legislature of the country. Patience is +a virtue. But it may be abused. It certainly has been so in +the case of Italy, and by a base conspiracy. When will the +people arise in their might, and, by their immense superiority +in numbers as well as intelligence, cast off the yoke of the conspirators—the +incubus which crushes and degrades them in the +eyes of mankind? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +KING VICTOR EMMANUEL SANCTIONS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE +FUNERAL OF PIUS IX.—DEATH OF VICTOR EMMANUEL. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the 29th December, 1877, King Victor Emmanuel came +to Rome on business of the State, as if the city of the Popes +were <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">de jure</span></span> as +well as <span lang="la" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="la"><span style="font-style: italic">de facto</span></span> his capital. On the 31st of +the same month, his ministers induced him to affix his royal +signature to some new acts of brigandage and usurpation, +which they had prepared, but which could not be accomplished +until the death of Pius IX. At the same time, a decree regulating +the funeral of the Pope was drawn up and signed by the +king. Royal honors were to be restored, but only when they +could not be enjoyed. The Holy Father, although stripped of +his sovereignty in life, was to be honored when dead as a +sovereign prince. It was appointed that mourning should be +worn throughout all the Kingdom of Italy. Court liveries, +even, were got ready, and also the minutest details of mourning +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page434">[pg 434]</span><a name="Pg434" id="Pg434" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +apparel. Nothing was wanting but death—and death +came—but not the death that was so ardently desired. +Scarcely had Victor Emmanuel signed the funeral decree, +which was intended to be, at the same time, the death-warrant +of the Papacy and the Church, when he was taken suddenly +ill. He was anxious to leave Rome, where his stay was always +as short as possible, but was detained by the receptions of +New Year's day, and in order to attend a diplomatic dinner on +the 6th of January. On that very day, a three-fold malady +laid him on his deathbed. He became at once the victim of +pleuro-pneumonia, together with the fatal malaria and miliary +fevers. There was no hope of his recovery. To leave Rome +was impossible. <span class="tei tei-q">“Carry me hence, at any rate,”</span> cried the +dying king, in an agony of horror; <span class="tei tei-q">“I must not die at the +Quirinal.”</span> It was too late. The physicians would not allow +him to be moved. Unhallowed force placed him in the sacred +palace of the Conclave. Greater force held him there. The +prince who said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We are at Rome and at Rome we shall +remain,”</span> was doomed to die at Rome. After death, too, he +must remain at Rome, notwithstanding the wishes of all his +kindred and of his son and successor. The new king expressed +to a deputation of the municipality of Turin with what pain +he made the sacrifice which policy required. The policy of +the revolutionary faction would not allow Victor Emmanuel to +have his last resting-place with his ancestors at the Superga. +Policy forbade that death even should liberate him who was +called the liberator of Italy. Policy hoped to perpetuate usurpation, +by holding the usurper in the usurped capital. The +dead king remained in death, as he had ever been in life, the +captive of the faction. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As soon as Pius IX. became aware of the critical state of +King Victor Emmanuel, he sent to him his own chaplain, +Bishop Marinelli, with full authority to reconcile the dying +monarch to the church on his expressing repentance and +retracting. This dignitary went thrice to the palace, and was +as often repelled by the watchful ministers, who strictly guarded +the person of the king. They dreaded lest so public a retractation +as he was, at the time, able to make, and as would have +been required, should prove injurious to their schemes. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page435">[pg 435]</span><a name="Pg435" id="Pg435" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Later, when there was no hope of recovery, anxious that +the king should have the credit of being at peace with the +Church, they allowed his own chaplain, the Rev. Signor Azenio, +to approach his bed-side. This worthy priest, being fully +authorized, heard the confession of King Victor Emmanuel, +and administered to him the Sacraments of the Church. As +the most Holy Sacrament was borne to the monarch's deathbed, +Prince Humbert, Princess Margaret, and, together with +them, ten ministers and dignitaries of the Court, bearing +lighted torches, accompanied the priest: and as Victor Emmanuel +received the Viaticum and Extreme Unction, they all +fell upon their knees. (9th January, 1878.) This conclusion, +so consoling to the departing soul, was gall and wormwood to +the worldly ministers. The founder of United Italy, before he +could have the benefit of the last sacred rites, prayed to be +pardoned all his crimes against the Sovereign Pontiff and the +Church. By acknowledging and condemning his faults, he +also condemned the unhallowed work which was forwarded by +so much usurpation and sacrilege. The Christian-like end of +Victor Emmanuel did not meet the views of the ministers. +(<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Osservatore Romano</span></span> of 10th January.) Accordingly, they +endeavored immediately to lessen its effect on the public +mind. Their journals, unable to deny the truth, even acknowledging +the benefit they had by the king's confession and communion, +cunningly labored to counteract the same by the +grossest misrepresentation. They related that the king, at the +moment of his death, had spoken both as a Christian and an +infidel revolutionist. They made him thus retract his retractation. +<span class="tei tei-q">“In all that I have done, I am conscious of having +always fulfilled my duties as a citizen and a prince, and of +having done nothing against the religion of my ancestors.”</span> +As his conscience was thus at ease, for what did he beg pardon +of the Sovereign Pontiff and the Church? Of what could he +repent who acknowledged no sin? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">L'Osservatore Romano</span></span>, in reply, reiterated all that it had +already stated on the highest authority. <span class="tei tei-q">“Let there be an +end, once for all,”</span> said this excellent journal, <span class="tei tei-q">“to the profane +language which dares rashly to intervene between the dying +man and his God, of whom the priest is the representative. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page436">[pg 436]</span><a name="Pg436" id="Pg436" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +The Church, appealed to on so short a notice, and in the awful +hour of the death agony, mercifully extends her hand to him +who is about to approach the presence of the Sovereign Judge, +and opens to him, as far as possible, the way of salvation; but +she strictly sees to it that her holy laws be fully observed.”</span> +Policy makes laws which it violates as easily as it makes them. +The Church can never break her laws, which are of Divine +origin. Victor Emmanuel, accordingly, must have submitted +to the laws of the Church, in order to be reconciled to the +Church, to Pius IX. and to God. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the death of the king the revolutionists were struck with +consternation. <span class="tei tei-q">“Victor Emmanuel is no more!”</span> said the +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Liberta</span></span>, <span class="tei tei-q">“and Italy is like a warrior without his sword.”</span> They +all felt as if the edifice which they had raised were falling to +pieces. They took no blame to themselves, however. They +ascribed not to their folly or their wickedness the danger +which threatened them. <span class="tei tei-q">“God is unjust,”</span> said one of the party, +as he announced to the Romans the king's death. Considering +the term of human life, it was no doubt unjust, to remove +from this world a man at the advanced age of eight-and-fifty +years! Another, as the remains of the <span class="tei tei-q">“father of his country”</span> +were borne to the Pantheon, blasphemously exclaimed: <span class="tei tei-q">“That +everlasting Pantheon! so long the altar of inanimate gods—now +the temple of a hostile <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Deity</span></span>!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Although Pius IX., with his usual goodness and consistency, +authorized the clergy to take part in the funeral of the deceased +king, thus according what was due to the honor of a +Christian who had been reconciled to God and the Church, the +ceremony which, otherwise, would have been so solemn, was +sadly marred by processions of secret societies, Grand Orients +and Garibaldians, which followed the funeral car to the Church +of St. Mary of the Martyrs.<a id="noteref_16" name="noteref_16" href="#note_16"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">16</span></span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Pantheon was not too grand for so great a king. It +was only fitting that he who had lent himself to the baleful +work of paganizing modern Rome should have his final resting-place +in the temple that was so long sacred to Rome's +heathen <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">deities</span></span>. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page437">[pg 437]</span><a name="Pg437" id="Pg437" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Holy Father had so well recovered from his illness, +and his health was so good during the months of December +and January, 1877-78, that he was able to transact business +daily with the cardinals, heads of congregations and other +prelates. It was for him the revival—the lucid interval—which +so often precedes the final scene. Notwithstanding the pompous +obsequies which the late king had prepared for Pius IX., +the venerable Pontiff still lived, and was able to protest against +the pretensions of the successor of that king, and to defend +against his usurpation the Church and her inalienable rights. +The proclamation of King Humbert was met by a protest +addressed to all the Powers from the Cardinal-Secretary of +State, and Pius IX. himself raised his voice in order to vindicate +publicly those writers who had spoken the truth concerning +the deceased prince. The whole world was moved by the +solicitude of the Holy Father in laboring so as that Victor +Emmanuel should die as became a Christian, and in providing +that his funeral should be conducted according to the consoling +ceremonial of the Church. It now became his duty to +take care lest the irreconcilable enemies of religion should succeed +in availing themselves of these circumstances in order +to deceive and induce mankind to believe that the Godless +revolution was in sympathy with Pius IX. and the Church. +The venerable Pontiff was still able to take to task the indiscreet +writers who, from mistaken zeal, maintained that such +an incongruous coalition had taken place or was possible. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A very great number of people of all ranks conceived the +happy idea of celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of Pius +the Ninth's first communion. This afforded another great +occasion for uniting in prayer all over the wide extent of the +Catholic Church. The <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">fete</span></span> occurred on the 2nd of +February, <span class="tei tei-q">“Candlemas day,”</span> or the purification of the Blessed Virgin. +The Holy Father was able, all exhausted as he was, to leave +his couch, celebrate Mass, and even repair to the throne-room +of the Vatican, where he performed the ceremony of distributing +blessed tapers to the cardinals, bishops and heads of religious +orders. He spoke also with his accustomed eloquence +to those whom it gave him so much pleasure to see gathered +around him. He addressed himself particularly to the parish +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page438">[pg 438]</span><a name="Pg438" id="Pg438" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +priests of Rome, recommending above all things to their pastoral +solicitude, the children of the city who bore so important +a part in the celebration of the anniversary. He expatiated +on the value of Christian education, and exhorted the pastors +to stir up the zeal of parents. His apostolate had begun with +children in the happy days of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Tata Giovanni</span></span>. It was only +fitting that his last exhortation should be all in their interest +and for their happiness. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All, in expressing his gratitude for the prayers that were +offered in his behalf, he asked was that they should be continued, +hoping always <span class="tei tei-q">“that He who had commenced a good work +would not fail to bring it to a successful termination.”</span> But +it is not given to man to complete or perfect anything in this +life; and that pontificate of thirty-two years, which was still +more astonishing by its acts and labors than by its long duration, +was destined to leave its good work incomplete. It will +be continued, nevertheless, and men will be made to understand +that it is not alone Mastai's work, or any man's work, +but the cause of Him who guides, with irresistible power, the +destinies of mankind. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pius IX., however, had accomplished his appointed task. +He had celebrated, and with a wonderful renewal of health, +his last festival and his last anniversary. Four days later, in +the evening of the 6th February, he was seized with a slight +attack of fever, which caused no alarm. It was the prelude, +however, to more serious attacks, which shortly succeeded one +another in rapid succession till the moment of his death. At +four o'clock in the morning a potion was administered, in order +to soothe the feverish agitation of the patient. Its good effect +was only of short duration. As his physician entered, <span class="tei tei-q">“this +time,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“my dear doctor, all is over.”</span> He did not +share the hopes of those who attended the celebration of +Candlemas day. He understood that his last hour on earth +was near at hand, and he requested that the Holy Viaticum +and Extreme Unction should be administered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As soon as the doleful tidings reached the city, the people +were bid to prayer by a general ringing of the bells. Great +numbers of the faithful sought the approaches to the Vatican. +Many entered and crowded the halls and ante-chambers of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page439">[pg 439]</span><a name="Pg439" id="Pg439" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +palace, offering up their prayers, with abundance of tears, as +Bishop Marinelli, whom, only one month before, Pius IX. had +sent to assist King Victor Emmanuel, conveyed the Viaticum +to the chamber of death and administered the Sacraments. +As the malady increased it attacked the lungs (not the brain, +as the infidel newspapers falsely represented),<a id="noteref_17" name="noteref_17" href="#note_17"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">17</span></span></a> rendering difficult +and painful the breathing of the patient. Nevertheless, +Pius IX. calmly and distinctly repeated the prayers for the +dying, which Cardinal Bilio had begun to recite. At the end +of the Act of Contrition, he said, with great humility and confidence, +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Col rostro adjuto</span></span>”</span><a id="noteref_18" name="noteref_18" href="#note_18"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">18</span></span></a> and expressed his Christian +hope, saying, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">In Domumm Domini +ibimus.</span></span>”</span><a id="noteref_19" name="noteref_19" href="#note_19"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">19</span></span></a> As the cardinal, bathed in tears, hesitated to pronounce +the words of final adieu—<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Proficiscere anima +Christiana</span></span>”</span><a id="noteref_20" name="noteref_20" href="#note_20"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">20</span></span></a>—the Holy Father inspired +the courage so necessary at the hour of separation, be, +himself uttering the words, <span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">Si Proficiscere</span></span>.”</span> +He must bless, once more, the Sacred College, the members of which were all +kneeling around him. Cardinal Bilio, in their name, asked +him to impart his blessing. Extending his right hand, he +blessed them for the last time. Scarcely had the hand that +had been so often raised in blessing mankind fallen on the +couch when the eyes became dim. A little before four o'clock +the death agony commenced. A few moments before six Pius +IX. ceased to live. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Eternal rest give to him, O Lord,”</span> devoutly said the cardinal, +<span class="tei tei-q">“and may perpetual light shine upon him.”</span> These +words conveyed the mournful fact that Pius IX. lived no more. +They were, at the same time, the occasion of an outburst of +love and devotedness, which showed that this wonderful Pope +still commanded in death that affection which, in his lifetime, +had been often so gloriously manifested. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Cardinals, prelates, nobles, people of Rome, guards and +servants, struggled and crowded on each other, in order to +press, once more, forehead and lips on those sacred hands +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page440">[pg 440]</span><a name="Pg440" id="Pg440" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +which could never more be raised to bless them. It was a +singularly affecting scene. The wail of sorrow and the unfeigned +expression of esteem and love arose also as the tidings +spread throughout the wide extent of the Catholic world. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The deceased Pontiff needs no eulogium. His memory will +be as green throughout the centuries to come as on the day +of his decease. It is impossible, however, to avoid calling to +mind the words of Saint Cyprian, spoken in praise of Pope +Cornelius, and most appropriately applied by the pious and +learned Bishop of Poitiers to Pius IX: <span class="tei tei-q">“After a promotion +which he had neither desired nor sought, but which was due to +him alone who makes Pontiffs, what activity from the first +moment he was in office! what boldness of initiative! And, +what we must chiefly consider and praise, what strength of +faith and what courage in having perseveringly and intrepidly +held the sacerdotal chair at Rome, at a time when, through +opposition to the priesthood, were uttered such fearful threats, +and when the Powers of the world were more inclined to undergo +any kind of reverse rather than that the Priest of God +should occupy at Rome a throne which was the rival of their +earthly throne. If, in the midst of so much agitation, the +power of the Lord evidently protected the priest whom he had +chosen, that priest, nevertheless, in resisting, suffered all that +it was possible to suffer, and overcame, by his priestly energy, +those for whom were in store other and ulterior defeats.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">St. Cyprian</span></span>, Epist. LII, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">ad Antonianum</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The death of Pius IX., long so ardently desired by the +Italian ministry, came upon them unawares at last. They +had no scheme or plot in readiness, to thwart the action of the +cardinals in the election of a successor to the Pontificate.<a id="noteref_21" name="noteref_21" href="#note_21"><span class="tei tei-noteref"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">21</span></span></a> +The Conclave, accordingly, assembled in due course, and, on +the third day of its meeting, elected to the Chair of Peter +Cardinal-Archbishop Pecci, Bishop of Perugia, who will be +known in history as <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Leo</span></span> XIII. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +—FINIS.— +</p> +</div> + +</div> +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-back" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + <div id="footnotes" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <a name="toc5" id="toc5"></a> + <a name="pdf6" id="pdf6"></a> + <h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Footnotes</span></h1> + <dl class="tei tei-list-footnotes"><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_1" name="note_1" href="#noteref_1">1.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">In 1855 the Bonaparte family were without a name +in that Europe where they had possessed so many thrones. One man had compassion on them, +and acted generously, Pius VIII. welcomed them to his States. A member of this +family, Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, having always shown great faithfulness +to the Holy See, Pius VIII. conferred upon him the title of a Roman +Prince and the principality of Canino. Lucien's son has not been gifted to walk +in the footsteps of his honorable father. Balleydier, in his history of the Roman +revolution, thus portrays him: <span class="tei tei-q">“Versed in dissimulation, Charles Bonaparte +had, under the preceding Pontificate, acted two very opposite characters. In the +morning attending in the ante-chambers of the Cardinals, in the evening at the +Conciliabula of the secret Societies, he labored to secure, by a double game, the +chances of the present and the probabilities of the future. He had often been +seen going piously to the Vatican even, to lay at the feet of Gregory XVI. +homage which his heart belied.”</span> No doubt, in 1847 and 1848, he thought himself +an abler man than his father, as he marched, poignard in hand, at the head of +the malcontents of Rome.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_2" name="note_2" href="#noteref_2">2.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">This danger is past.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_3" name="note_3" href="#noteref_3">3.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">Mr. Perkins, in his +letter to the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Times</span></span>, makes out that they forced open +the houses of the inhabitants to make them give up their wine, and that they +got drunk.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_4" name="note_4" href="#noteref_4">4.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">Protocol, +March 18th.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_5" name="note_5" href="#noteref_5">5.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext"><span class="tei tei-q">“If +we were to sift the pretensions of all our public men, to discover +that one person who is necessarily best informed of the past and present state +of Italy, and the causes and means that have produced the anarchy which +now prevails over the greater part of that unfortunate peninsula, Lord Normanby +would inevitably be the man for our purpose. His long residence in +Italy, his intimate acquaintance with all that is there distinguished for +literature, science, art and statesmanship, and his unquestionable liberality of +sentiment, as a politician, give him a paramount claim to our respectful +attention, and even to our confidence, when he comes forward to enlighten +his countrymen, with respect to Italian affairs—a claim to which no other +member of the legislature can have the slightest pretensions. He has, too, +throughout a long public career, always maintained such an independence of +character, and so nobly and generously subordinated his personal interests to +his sense of public duty, as to entitle him as a right to our confidence, when +he unbosoms himself either in print or in speech, of that knowledge which he +has acquired by long study and experience in official and non-official life, and +tells us important truths which it is necessary for us to know, in order to be +able to form a correct judgment upon momentous passing +events.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Weekly +Register</span></span>, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">February 11, 1860</span></span>.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_6" name="note_6" href="#noteref_6">6.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">Whoever +thinks to devour the Pope will die of indigestion. These words, +though not very polite, proved to be prophetic.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_7" name="note_7" href="#noteref_7">7.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">If +Russia were a little more within the pale of civilization, it would be +noted as an exception. Its bishops were not allowed to proceed to Rome.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_8" name="note_8" href="#noteref_8">8.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">The +number of prelates at Rome attending the council was never, for any +length of time, the same. And writers give the numbers according to the time +at which they noted them.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_9" name="note_9" href="#noteref_9">9.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">The +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">left arm</span></em> looking from the door of the Basilica, +the <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">right</span></em> looking from the high altar. As +was fitting, it was the Gospel side.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_10" name="note_10" href="#noteref_10">10.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">According to the best statistics that +can be found.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_11" name="note_11" href="#noteref_11">11.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">There +appeared at Munich, in 1874, an ingenious caricature. It represented +the Prussian chancellor, endeavoring, with a Krupp gun, which he used +as a lever, to overthrow a church emblem of Catholicism. Satan comes on the +scene, and says: <span class="tei tei-q">“What are you doing, my friend?”</span> Bismarck, <span class="tei tei-q">“This church +embarrasses me; I want to upset it.”</span> Satan, <span class="tei tei-q">“It embarrasses me, too. I have +been laboring 1800 years to demolish it. If your Excellency succeeds, I pledge +myself to resign my office in your favor.”</span></dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_12" name="note_12" href="#noteref_12">12.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">A +later estimate than at page 120.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_13" name="note_13" href="#noteref_13">13.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">The late +celebrated preacher, Dr. Cumming, also admitted the expansive +power which is characteristic of the Catholic Church. And in doing so, he bore +witness to its actual growth in his time. In a lecture delivered at Brentford, +England, in 1860, he said: <span class="tei tei-q">“He would do the priests of the Church of Rome the +justice to say that a more earnest, energetic, a more industrious body he did not +know in any portion of our church; they were laboring incessantly for what +they believed to be the truth, and he would that he could say without success, but +he was sorry to say <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">with great success</span></em>. He saw going over to the Church of +Rome a section of the nobility and many ministers of our church. These were +well instructed, and ought to have known better. In England, account for it as +they could, it had made progress to such an extent, during the last twenty years, +that it had doubled its churches and doubled its priests.”</span>—Lecture at Brentford. +England, 1860.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_14" name="note_14" href="#noteref_14">14.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">Discourse +delivered in the Church of St. Peter <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">ad vincula</span></span>, 1st June, 1877, +by the Bishop of Poitiers.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_15" name="note_15" href="#noteref_15">15.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">La +Captivite de Pie IX. par Alexander de St. Albin. Paris</span></span>, 1878. Pages 513 +and 514.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_16" name="note_16" href="#noteref_16">16.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">That +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">was</span></em> the Pantheon, or temple of all the Gods. It is now the Church +called <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">St. Mary of the Martyrs</span></span> (<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Sæ Mariæ +ad Martyres</span></span>).</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_17" name="note_17" href="#noteref_17">17.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">Their purpose +is sufficiently manifest. But the calumny did not avail +them. Pius the Ninth's last illness was of such a character as to render impossible +congestion of the brain. He possessed to the end his mental faculties. +And when the power of speech failed, he was still able to express his thoughts, +which were clear and distinct, by looks and gestures.</dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_18" name="note_18" href="#noteref_18">18.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext"><span class="tei tei-q">“With +the aid of Thy grace.”</span></dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_19" name="note_19" href="#noteref_19">19.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext"><span class="tei tei-q">“We shall enter into the House of +the Lord.”</span></dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_20" name="note_20" href="#noteref_20">20.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext"><span class="tei tei-q">“Depart, Christian +soul.”</span></dd><dt class="tei tei-notelabel"><a id="note_21" name="note_21" href="#noteref_21">21.</a></dt><dd class="tei tei-notetext">The +crisis in the Eastern question, the attitude of the Holy Father on the +occasion of Victor Emmanuel's sudden demise, the consequent devolution of the +crown to a new sovereign, the scandal of the Prime Minister's (Orispi's) notorious +criminality before the law necessitating his unwilling resignation and the +fall of the ministry, the suddenness of the Holy Father's decease; all these +events and conditions, in their several degrees and kinds, made the moment at +which it had to meet astonishingly propitious for the holding of the Conclave in +the Vatican itself.</dd></dl> + </div> + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgfooter" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIUS IX. AND HIS TIME*** +</pre><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader7" id="rightpageheader7"></a><a name="pgtoc8" id="pgtoc8"></a><a name="pdf9" id="pdf9"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Credits</span></h1><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">June 17, 2008 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name"> + Produced by Irma Špehar, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + (This file was produced from images generously + made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + </span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader10" id="rightpageheader10"></a><a name="pgtoc11" id="pgtoc11"></a><a name="pdf12" id="pdf12"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This file should be named + 29143-h.html or + 29143-h.zip.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This and all associated files of various formats will be found + in: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/1/4/29143/" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span><span style="font-size: 90%">/dirs/2/9/1/4/29143/</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old + editions will be renamed.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that + no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the + Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United + States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. + Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this + license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. 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