The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-13 00:00:00

The Pope's Residence.

The Monde has an elaborate article to prove that
the Pope is fully justified in entertaining the deepest
distrust of the Italians, and dwelling on the advan-
tages of Malta as at least a temporary residence for
his holiness :

" We hold it quite natural that the Supreme
Pontiff should cast his eyes upon Malta, if the
English Government offers him that asylum. That
measure of precaution can hurt no one. It would
only offend the Italian revolutionists, if they wish
to keep Pius IX. a prisoner, and that very reason
would justify his taking measures to prevent their
realising their designs. But it is asked, why go to
Malta, and place himself under English domination ?
In the first place, Malta is Italian ground and close
to Italy, and Pius IX. would from thence be in a
position to communicate\vith all parts of the Catholic
world. From thence it would be easy for him to
carry on negotiations with Victor Emmanuel, when
the latter feels a desire to become reconciled with
the Church. Administrative centralisation not ex-
isting in England, the temporary sojourn of the
Pope at Malta would in no wise derange the British
possession, or impose any responsibility on her
Majesty's Government. Pius IX. would be more
at liberty there than elsewhere; for English domi-
nation not being founded on the principles of
Cvesarism, it is a species of suzerainty. The Italians
do not mean to rest satisfied with merely blockading
the Pope in the city of Rome ; he would resign him-
self to that painful situation. The Revolutionists
want to confine him to his palace. What could
Victor Emmanuel himself do ? The Italian Revo-
lution is also a religious one ; it pretends to reform
the Church. Did not the French Revolution also
attempt to do so ? did it not cause a frightful
schism ? It did not wish to drive away Louis XVI.,
but hardly had it broken out than it laid hands
upon the King. He was at Versailles, in the
palace of royalty ; the Revolution brought him back
to Paris in the centre of Jacobinism. Once in Paris,
in October, 1789, the choice of his Ministers was
dictated to him by the Constituent Assembly. And
he changed the prison-of the Tuileries for that of the
Temple when the hour of his death arrived. We
shall not say the Italian Revolution would imitate
that tragedy. We know the times are milder. Has
the object of the Revolution changed? No, assuredly;
and in effect it shows itself in Italy under the form
of schism and heresy. What is not to be feared from
Italian craft and hypocrisy ? It is on that point only
that the Italian revolutionists surpass the French.
They demand that Pius IX. should come to terms,
and there is not even the basis for a negotiation !
The Piedmontese, the Mazzinians, will one day find
themselves in Rome by accident, and all will be
over. Such is the perspective. The Revolution
although possessing a satisfactory capital in Flo.
rence, demands Rome. It is not Rome that

wants, it wants to lay hands on the Pontiff, to
strike the Church in the head. What discontent,
what perturbation in the different States of Europe,
should Pius IX. be made captive in Rome ? All the
Sovereigns will applaud the idea of the English
Government ; it rescues them from a great embar-
rassment, for they are no longer in a position to in-
terfere in Italy. And on the hospitable rock of
Malta Pius IX. would be able to wait until the
tempest had blown over."