The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-17 00:00:00

FRANCE AND THE PAPAL RUM.

Though the Times thinks there is good reason to
believe that a second French expedition to Rome is immi-
nent, it is still willing to hope that the Emperor has not
given the subject mature consider►tion. Fair play is
certainly not allowed to the Roman, by their rulers. From
France the Papal champion, rush forward openly ; from
Italy the insurgents smuggle themselves in singly
and stealthily. Non-intervention holds good against
the Romans only. But the question has now
outgrown the September convention. The quarrel
is between all liberal Italy and all retrograde
France. Between the Emperor Napoleon and Rome
there is no possible reconciliation, let him do what he will,
while Italy, on the other hand, has set is heart on its
capital. By his hesitation M. Rattazzi has grievously
jeopardised the destinies of the monarchy. The republic
ought not to he left to conquer or die for Rome. Even if
the French are ready to go there let Itattaszi be sure to be
there with them, to be there before them. Let him strike
first and negotiate afterwards. He need not say in whose
name or for whose sake he goes to Rome. He need say
nothing ; but just step in and bold hi, counseL Could
France suffer it to be said that she does not disdain
to go to war with the weak ; that she visite on Italy the
vengeance she cannot wreak upon Prussis ?

The Daily New will decline to believe in the possibility
of a second French intervention at Rome until a French
corps d'arntee has landed at Cirits Veochia. The evil coun-
sellors who would instigate the Emperor to the perpetra-
tion of a folly surpassing even the Mexican expedition are
the bitterest enemies of his government. They bold him
very cheap, as a ruler without a policy or a purpose which
be can call his own. They would despise and hate him
none the less for doing their work.
While the Telegraph condemns the idea of French interven-
tion it feels itself bound to consider the exceeding difficulties
which beset the French government. Rightly or wrongly
the Emperor of the French accepted the mission imposed
upon him by the policy of the Republic, and constituted
himself for some eighteen years as protector and patron of
the Holy See. Three years ago he agreed to withdraw his
troops, on the condition that the Papacy should not be
attacked from without ; and now, within a few months
after fulfilling his part of the compact, be sees an insurrec-
tion which, initiated and supported from abroad, threatens
to depose the Pope from his throne. Should the Italian
troops pass the frontier it is to be hoped, nevertheless, the
Emperor will consider that enough has been done,
The Standard assumes very confidently that another
French occupation of Rome will be destructive to the Italian
kingdom, and that the abandonment of the September con-
vention and the Papacy would imply war, and that an
immediate one, with Prussia. It goes on to contend that
the Emperor cannot abandon the Pope without dishonour,
and that Frenchmen with few exceptions would feel in-
dignant at "the submission of France to the vapouring of
Italy." At all events. if Italy is to get Rome France will
seek her compensation on the Rhine, and the Prussians
will have to pay for the triumph of the Garibaldians.