The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-30 00:00:00

111: COCHIIV'S VISIT TO 12031 E.

In the number of the Correspondant, which has
just appeared, is an article by M. Augustin Cochin,
headed " Rome, the Martyrs of Japan, and the
Bishops of the 19th Century." M. Cochin has just
returned from Rome, where he witnessed the cere-
mony of the canonisation ; and it is not surprising
that he has been more impressed with it than those
who do not profess the same doctrines as himself.
But, whatever be his political or religious belief,
M. Cochin possesses mach ability as a writer, in
the estimation even of those who hold doctrines of a
far different kind. To many it will appear para-
doxical to be told that Pope Pius IX. is " more
tranquil and more confident of ultimate success"
than King Victor Emmanuel, aggrandized as he is
by nearly all Italy. " I was an eye-witness," he
says,—
" On the day when the contrast between the suc-
cess of Piedmont and the trials of the Pope reached,
so to say, its culminating point. In a little port of
the Mediterranean—Porto d'Anzio—l saw the Holy
Father, tranquil and smiling, walking on the shore,
in the midst of children and boatmen, There, on
the ruins of Nero's palace—the Nero who would be
reigning this moment at Rome through his succes-
sors were it not for the successors of St. Peter—not
far from the spot where the Pope disinterred the
" Apollo" from the ruins heaped up by the barba-
rians, was Pius IX., only accompanied by a few
prelates, whose fidelity increases with his misfor-
tunes, guarded by 500 Das of France, the sea
spread out before him, more calm than the land,
after haying-in vain called Europe to his aid; and
his eyes were fixed on the tiny craft whose deck
may, from one moment to another, be the only
domain he can call his own. A few days afterwards
I saw the King of Italy, under the glorious sky of
Naples, land before the eyes of a million of men,
received by the ambassadors of Europe, and fol-
lowed by the Bretagne and the St. Louis, that
were at Gaeta, and by six other French ships of
war, with their Admirals and 8,000 men, and
welcomed with the roar of their artillery, which
mingled with the salutes of two English
men of war. If France desired the unity of
Italy what could she do more ? I have seen these
things ; I have seen these men. I have seen Pius
IX. neglected, and Victor Emmanuel received with
acclamations; and, asking myself what indeed are
the faults of the victim, and where are the merits
of the triumpher, I understood better the mystery
of events, the ingratitude of men, the play of force,
and all the majesty of sorrow. True, in two short
weeks all was changed. Victor Emmanuel returned
to Turin in all haste; the muskets of the revolution
went off too soon at Brescia ; Garibaldi fell into
disgrace, and Mazzini appeared on the stage. There
was agitation at Turin ; General Goyon and a divi-
sion were recalled ;at Rome all was calm. I then
better understood the secret power of moral force,
and I saw why the conqueror was so agitated and
the conquered so calm."
M. Cochin quotes this passage from the Bishop
of Orleans' sermon at Rome :
" I ask even of those who do not share our faith
and our hopes, is there on this earth a city, a people,
a Sovereign Power who at a simple wish of the heart,
expressed in the most cautious, the most reserved,
and the most delicate terms, has seen at once the
whole world moved, and, from the extremities of
their empire, the representatives of every nation
come to lay their devotedness and their love at its
feet ? No ; and I do no injustice to any of the
Powers when I say that there is not one among
them which could thus stir the whole earth. I re-
peat it, there is in it a striking proof of the pre-
sence of God in his Church."
On the selection of the subjects for canonisation
M. Cochin observes :
" The Japanese slaves, a few obscure Christians
who died for the triumph of the faith and liberty
of conscience—who then thinks of such persons ?
If the Church acted from policy she would have
selected for canonisation the mother of an Emperor,
the daughter of a King, a Minister, an orator, a
writer, or a famous general. These would be pro-
tectors of great example and of great credit. No,
amid the trials of her earthly career she continues
her spiritual life, and she adds to the calendar
names whose renown is only echoedin Heaven."
- A part of M. Cochin's article seems intended as an
answer to the Revue des Deux Mondes, from which
I have already given some extracts. The Revue
des Deux Mondes, he says,—
" Reproaches the bishops with sacrificing the
Catholics to this sovereignty, for Italian unity is
only an object, a theory, whereas the temporal
power is a fact. I agree with it very sincerely, just
as the gardener who waters his salads in the gar-
dens which occupy a part of the Roman territory,
does not feel himself happier because he draws the
water in the country of the Caesars, and not far
from the tribune where Cicero spoke ; just as the
citizen of Frosinone or Viterbo, if he be vexed, or
judged unjustly, does not feel consoled by the re-
flection that he is one of the pieces of the temporal
buckler of the Catholic Church, and that he suffers
in order that your conscience, or mine, may be at
rest. It is important, then, that the Pope's sub-
jects should be well governed. But what are the
conditions of this good government ? The bishops
took care not to speak of it—not to say a word of
the form, not a word of the extent of the temporal
domain : because it was no business of theirs, any
more than it is of the Piedmontese. What has just
occurred at Rome must render the faithful much
attached to the principle of the temporal power,
but very indifferent to the form. It is a local affair,
a dialogue to be established in regular form be-
tween the governors and the governed. But do
people really believe that the Pontifical repine is
tyrannical ? Do they believe the Piedmontese
regime dcliciou's? Is it, indeed, so seducing to lose
a sovereign like Pius IX. in order to obtain one like
Victor Emmanuel ? It is alleged that the situation
of the Pope comes from his refusal ; on the con-
trary, his refusal comes from his situation.
Constrained, he can cede nothing. Free, he
would always be what he was in 1847. It
was said that he represented the ideas of the
age. This compliment is now reserved for
Victor Emmanuel. If there be one which can pro-
perly be called an idea of the age, as being the re-
sult of the experience of the world, it is this—that
progress is not obtained by invasions and revolu-
tions. To say that Piedmont, because it has an-
nexed three-fourths of Italy, has a right to the other
fourth, is to make of usurpation an argument in
favour of usurpation. Guarantee the Pope against
the invasion of Piedmont, and he will easily come to
an understanding with his subjects. Do not gua-
rantee him, and, were his Government perfect, he
would be overthrown as being the weakest. It was
said that the Catholics—the clergy and the bishops
—were gradually becoming converts to the belief
in the fall of the temporal power, to which the Pope
and the cardinals only held firm. It was said that
the Sacred College was divided in opinion; yet 300
bishops have affixed their seals to the declarations
of the Pontiff. The non possum becomes non pos-
sumus. It was said that religion would gain by
the fall of this worn out power ; the masters of re-
ligion are of a different opinion. We must incline
ourselves, and admit that they know what they
speak about. It was said that this question was a
question of party, agitated by some fanatics in
France. It is a reclamation from the episcopacy of
the whole world. Whether it be agreeable or no,
these are important facts; Another fact rejoices
Christian hearts and surpasses in importance these
that precede it. The Church has just given the
greatest proof of youth, union, and vitality, that has
appeared for two centuries. Where is there in the
world a spiritual society with such extent, durabi-
lity, unity, and ascendancy. What are the schools
of philosophy in comparison ? What are the aca-
demies ?"
M. Cochin concludes :
"The Bishops have come, thanks to the wonders
of industry, and machinery has served the Church
as printing served the gospel, without intending it,
because God has wished it. They have met toge-
ther in the name of the right of association ;
they have addressed themselves to the opinion
of men by means of publicity. The liberty of
worship is inscribed in the laws against them
and it is the liberty of worship which has de-
terred the Sovereigns from keeping them