The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26, 1866.

tion of the consequences, even more terrible than some
imagine,which may arise from so violent a state of things.
It will be said that the Holy Father ought to condescend
to friendly compromises with the so-called Italian Govern-
ment. But what other compromise is possible with one
who intends to despoil us than that of yielding up to him
our all ? And the vanity of such a hope was fully proved
by a very recent occurrence, upon which many were eager
to base an imaginary future. The Holy Father, by an act
of generosity truly worthy of the character of the Pontiff,
sought to bring about some purely religious act of accord
in order to relieve the burdened Catholic Church. The
success which attended the Pontifical invitation is well
known ; every way to a reasonable arrangement was found
to be closed. Nor is this to be wondered at considering
the counsels prevalent with the Government ; for is it to
be expected that those who, in Turin, had revolution for
a guide, will, in Florence, lower their banner ? It is of
especial importance to the revolutionary party to destroy
the social life of Catholicism, nor will they rest until they
witness the overthrow of that temporal dominion which
forms a bulwark and barrier against revolution. Another
artifice will bo used towards the Holy See in order to throw
upon the latter the blame of all that may occur and has
already commenced to be foreshadowed in the public
press. One measure after another of reform will succes-
sively be demanded on behalf of the inhabitants of the
now microscopically small territory remaining to the
Holy See, and by this means the temporal authority
of the Supremo Pontiff will be reduced to a mere
name, and Rome will become, if not the seat, at least
the property of the Piedmontese Government. And be-
cause the Pontiff will have to firmly reject such propo-
sitions of reform—especially considering the object to-
wards which they tend—cries will be raised of obstinacy
and shortsightedness, and such refusals will be said to
have produced any misfortunes that may ensue. These
arts are not new, and have already been used with some
success on former occasions. They promise a favourable
result in one of two ways. Either the Supreme Pontiff, it
is argued, will yield to the pressure brought to bear in the
matter, and will then lose the rest of his states, if not osten-
sibly, at least in reality ; or else he will resist, and thereby
afford a pretext for despoiling him by another way, namely,
by simply casting upon him the responsibility of all sub-
sequent events.

This exposition of the dangers and intrigues by which
the Holy Father is surrounded, without any available means
of defence, cannot but place Europe and the world in a
position to estimate the real state of things, and to do
justice to the Holy See by acknowledging it to be exempt
from responsibility in all future events whatsoever. The
present moment is a very critical one with regard to the
security and independence of the Holy See—even more so
than in 1848. At that time the sovereignty of the Supreme
Pontiff was attacked by a faction not numerous in It aly,
and discountenanced by every leading Government, and
the results of that aggression are known. Now, however,
there are persons even among the ruling powers who unite
with the agitating factions, and strive by every means to
achieve the same end. Can it bo supposed that these
machinations will not succeed, or that the Pontiff is now
possessed of more valid moans of opposing them than before?
"From the above remarks your excellency will easily bo
enabled to perceive, in a more definite manner, the nature
and serious extent of the perils to which the Holy Father
will be exposed after the departure of the French troops
from Rome. I have made this exposition somewhat ex-
tended, in order that it may serve your excellency for
guidance in any conversations which you may hold relative
to the manner in which the departure of the French troops
will affect the Holy See, and in order that your excellency
may not be led to believe that the Holy Father himself is
deceived with regard to the real intentions of his enemies,
" The Sovereign Pontiff will meet the dangers which
threaten him with that tranquillity arising from the con-
sciousness of not having provoked them ; but if, despite
every possible effort on his part, he is not successful in
obviating the deplorable consequences which may ensue,
it is perfectly clear that he is the last person in the world
to whom blame can attach.

" With this declaration, I bog to confirm to your excel-
lency the sentiments of my most distinguished esteem,

" Cardinal G. ANTONELLI.

" Rome, Nov. 18, 1865.
" P.S.—The telegraph has just brought mo the text of
the speech by which the King of Piedmont yesterday inau-
gurated the new Parliament at Florence, and the speech
itself is more than sufficient to enable one to perceive the
real intentions of that Government."