The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-10-03 00:00:00

despotism share the fate of other absolute and
tyrannical Italian Governments, which have
failed to avail themselves of often repeated oppor-
tunities to save and redeem their subjects, and so
to avert their own ruin ? That the Papal
Government is presided over by one who claims
to be the Vicar of CIIRIST on earth can of
itself entitle it to no exemption from the fate of
all oppressors. Is not the author of the massacre
of Perugia entitled to the same measure of justice
as the perpetrator of the massacre of Palermo ?
The Papal Government, as a political system,
must, like that of the Neapolitan Bourbons, pass
away, and be remembered only as a historical
beacon and warning to all who would occupy the
foremost rank, and sway the sceptre of power.
The proper interests of a people and their sove-
reign are not only perfectly compatible, but inse-
parable ; while wanton acts of cruelty and an
arbitrary use of power, by one or other, are not
only wholly inconsistent with' the welfare of
either subjects or of rulers, but their penalty
sooner or later is inevitable ruin and extirpation.
A government like that of the sovereign Pon-
tiff, which attempts to unite in one head abso-
lutely both ecclesiastical and civil power, involves
many anomalies and defects, which render its per-
petuation impossible amidst the light of freedom
and liberty. A religious and political despotism
is doubly oppressive,—it enslaves " mind, body,
and estate." That the apostle of " peace on earth
and goodwill towards men," should command
armies and direct military operations seems
utterly incompatible and self-destructive. That
the preacher of mercy and forgiveness too the peni-
tent should also wield the sword of justice with
due severity and impartiality, seems equally
impossible. That the administrators of a system
of exaggerated religious duties, should give fait
and legitimate weight and importance to what
are called secular rights and duties, seen not Teat
difficult to realise. That a Sovereign whose part-
mount mission is to teach men their religious duty.
and to arouse them to acts of devotion, should
stimulate his people to the development of the
national resources, and initiate the adoption of
every modern improvement, appears beyond the
chances of probability- Nay, more ; the facts
have proved that in these, and in many other
respects, the attempt to iombine in one person
these antagonistic duties is impracticable ; and
the result' has been that wretched state of matters
which has driven the people into rebellion and
revolution. For many years this anomalous
Government has maintained its place and the
semblance of power merely by the strength and
support of one foreign power or another—then of
Austria, now of France. How long this support
will be continued or availing, seems daily to
become more and more matter of doubt.

However sincerely we might rejoice at the
downfall of the temporal throne of the Pope, we
cannot help thinking that those adherents of his
Holiness, who deprecate such an event as tending
to destroy his spiritual power in Catholic Europe
have at least consistency on their side. To enable
us to form a just appreciation of the probable
consequences of the final downfall of the temporal
sovereignty of the Pope, we must keep in view
that such an event, so far as we can at present
see, carries with it the supposition of all Italy
united into one powerful kingdom, with Rome
for its capital. This idea again involves, as a
natural consequence, not merely freedom from
foreign intervention, even on the part of France,
but the complete subjection of the ecclesiastical to
the civil power in Italy, quite as much as it is now
in France. This might virtually be accomplished
by some such arrangement as we have sketched
in previous articles, according to which the Pope
might enjoy a free residence in the Vatican,
while VICTOR EMMANUEL reigned supreme in
the Quirinal, with the classic waters of the Tiber
flowing between them. The spiritual Sovereign
would thus become to some extent politically
subject to the King of Italy. When the " Pope"
becomes only an additional title for the Bishop of
Rome, how long will the other Catholic nations
of Europe continue to own his authority as
supreme Bishop ? Are not the ancient liberties
of the Gallican Church more likely to be expanded
than diminished by the change ? Why should
Austria continue to acknowledge the head-
ship of a foreign Bishop at Rome, then no
longer a Sovereign with temporal dominions in
Italy ? Why should not even Spain also in the
end prefer the authority of its own Archbishop
to that of the shorn power of Pio Norco
or his successor in the See of Rome ? What
would it then avail the refractory clergy of
any particular national church to appeal to Rome
against the injunctions of their temporal sove-
reign ? In short, will not the abolition of the
Pope's temporal power, and his subjection to that
of Italy, necessarily lead, perhaps not imme-
diately, but in the long run, to a material diminution
of the spiritual power, not merely of the Pope
and the Italian Priesthood, but of ecclesiastics
generally in every Catholic country ? Nay, more,
will it not ultimately revolutionise the present
system of government in the Roman Catholic
Church ? Whether or not this may ever go the
length of an universal protest against the
usurped supremacy of the Bishop of Rome, it
were hard to sap; and in the meantime we
express no opinion. But we cannot help thinking
that it will lead to greater independence among
the national churches of Catholic Europe, and if
not to the denial of the spiritual supremacy of
the Bishop of Rome, at all events to something
but little better than a nominal acknowledgment
of his claim. When the title of Pope becomes a
mere courtesy, we may conclude that the shadow
and not the substance remains—the name without
the evil reality. This were a consummation
devoutly to be wished for in the interests of all
nations, but of none more than in that of Italy
herself.

Much, however, remains to be accomplished,
and many, apparently all but insurmountable,
obstacles have to be overcome before so fair a
prospect can be realised. At the present critical
state of Italian affairs, it seems more than over
difficult to say what a day or an hour may bring
forth. All eyes are turned towards Louis
NAPOLEON, VICTOR EMMANUEL, and GARIBALDI.
One false step might dash to pieces the good that
has been wrought, and blight every hope for the
regeneration of Italy and the maintenance of the
general peace of Europe. A heavy responsibility
now rests with the English Minister for Foreign
Affairs as to the influence we may bring to bear,
and the part we may have to play in the denoue•
ment of one of the most interesting epochs in
modern history.

THE LATE MR. JAMES ROBERTSON.

Our obituary of to-day records the death of a most
respected and useful citizen,—Mr. James Robertson,
of the firm of Messrs. Robertson and Ewing,
general merchants and shipowners, of this town. On
Monday last Mr. Robertson was apparently in the
enjoyment of good health : in the early part of the
afternoon he was talking to several gentlemen at the
Athenwum, and was, to all appearance, well and vigo-
rous. He arrived home that evening shortly before six
o'clock, and retired to his bedroom to dress for dinner.
Being a gentleman of most punctual habits, and a
longer time having elapsed than usual before his return
down stairs, one of the servants entered the room, and
found him in a state of insensibility. He had been
arranging his toilet, and the brush was still in
his hand. He remained insensible until shortly before
four o'clock yesterday morning, when he expired.
The deceased was a widower; and although we believe
he has left no family to mourn his sudden loss, he has
left many kind friends who will as deeply deplore the
unexpected death of one who by his many virtues
adorned the sphere in which he moved. As vice-chair-
man of the Watch Committee, he has rendered most
efficient and praiseworthy services. He was a native of
Greenock, Scotland, and was sixty-one years of age last
August. He was a strong advocate for the formation of
the nth Scotch itif,l9 corps; and as chairman of the