Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-12-23

proclaim new government, even before the
election of new Pope, and the secret So
cletles believed that the time had now come
for throwing off the mask.
Secret political societies, it is thought,
would be more injurious than useful to the
Italian cause, and perhaps only check and
discourage the efforts of government for re-
form. What generous Italian would MOI,
readily sacrifice his political connections, to
a government really paternal and judicious !?
The societies were for the establishment of
such government. At its approach they
must dissolve and cease to exist. The on
~ society. now must be the society of the
nation, and the only party the party of its
great and liberal head. Not that any per-
son familiar with the modern history of Ita-
ly, and an advocate of freedom, would blame
these societies, or fail to acknowledge the
good which they have accomplished A.
mong their members were the best and wis.,
est men of Italy; and the secrecy which
they practiced was dictate OF necessity-a
policy to deceive wakeful and remorseless
enemy. Their former leaders are now the
ii
for which they had long been secretly pre-
pairing the people.
In the interim between the death of Gre
CORY and the election of the present Pope,
the government fell into the hands of Lam
bruschini, and the Cardinals assembled in
conclave to choose successor.
Tn di scegleste
Romani, il ponteice
Anterior to the reign of Innocent H., the
pontiffs had been elected by the suffrage OF
the people, together with that Of the no.
bility and clergy, and was selected for his
talents, and piety, and inauance in all great
affairs.
Rome herself elected her pontiff, without
the Intervention and influence of foreigners
Yet his power was at that epoch greater
than in after ages. But when the Chief Of
Christendom began to be chosen by fac
ton Of the Emperor, from the party OF Chi
bellines, and the true Italian party, or
Guelphs, were depressed, their power d.
minished with their independence, and their
grandeur departed from them. From being
reyes regun., the masters of kings, they be-
came the servants and instruments of the
ambitious servants of kings. But now the
people of Rome had become justly weary
of these slavish and tyrannical masters, and
resolved, at all hazards, not TO submit them
selves to the choice of Austria.
The Conclave closed its doors on the l lth
of June, 1916, and on the evening of the 10Th,
the Cardinal Giambatis,a de Mastai Ferret,i,
also Bishop of Imola, was declared to be
the elected Pope, under the name of Plus
TX. On the morning of the 9Th, while the
golden sun Of Italy was rising over the seven
hills of the eternal city, the guns of St.
Angelo announced that Rome had sove-
reign and the Church living head. All
were astonished at the suddenness of the
election. The newly-elected Pope had been
known only as learned and pious man,
and as the Bishop of Imola; but whether
to see in him friend of the people or a
servant of Austria none could decide The
so precipilate an election ought to result in
extraordinary events. The crisis had at
length come, and the fate Of Italy trembled
for while in the balance On the morn
ing of the 2lst of June, the new Pope was
tsoemnly crowed at ST. Peters in the Va,i-
can. The liberals were silent, but the par
tisans of tbs last pontiff made festivities and
public reioicings. under the belief that Plus
TX. was man after the Gregorian model
His election was managed by no intrigue
or foreign influence. Divine Providence
chose him to alleviate the calamilies OF
Rome.
From the moment of his election to the
instant of his first reform, we may imagine.
If our own mood be sufficiently elevated
the thoughts and aspirations that occupied
his mind. Like Moses, doubtless, he was
engaged in the prayer Of the spirit, ponder
ing the miseries Of his nation, and revolving
in his manly breast the difficult enterprise
of reform. Surrounded by the partisans oil
the last Pope, the terrible hand of Austria
suspended over him sword, the ignorance
of the multitude, the desperate maligni.y OF
the friends of wrong, the habits of quiet
and inactive life, the want of powerful
friends, and the fear lest all his efforts nigh,
lead only to a brief period of hope and
prosperity, to be cut off by his successors ;
these thoughts must have crowded upon his
soul with sitting weight: but he was a
bove them all, and by the power of faith
was victorious He was alone, indeed bu,
was not the Giver of all good alone when
he took the form of man: Was not Moses
alone when he called his people to forsake
their idols? God is with man when he
performs the work of God, and all great
souls are with him. A voice called in his
ear, Plus Plus noli timere, fear not am
with thee, and with thy people; you are
my true representative on earth perseuera,
persevera, sustain the good work. Then
rises before him the history of the primitive
ages, when the Church was universal, and
d al aaioll o,,d c,,r,or4od L.. IL