Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-31
PIUSIy-THE REFORMtR.

Plus lX-Cardinal Mastai Fefret was elec-
ted Pope, June 10th, 1916, and assumed the
title OF Plus TX. He at once entered upon d
course the reverse of w hat his predecessor had
pursued. He tsent through the streets on
loo,' which the FIVE preceding Popes, had new
Ct aohe. lie preached, which no Pope had
oone before for three hundred years. He
sought the society of men of talents and in
lor,laooh, anu spent much time with them
and with The officers of the government. dis
cussng the projects of reform. He gave au-
dlence without the ordinary ceremonies. and
appointed daIs on which the meanest subject
could have free access TO his person.
Nor were these mere tricks 10 gain pbpu-
larity but the fruit of an honest desire to be
acquainted with the wants of his people, that
he might relieve them. A common soldier
brought to him loaf of miserable bread, and
said it Was fair sample Of their ratiohs. Plus
took the loaf and laid it on the plate of the
minister of war, whom he had invited TO din
ner; and as the astonished fnnctionary turned
pale, charged him with The fault After that
he went through the barracks, found 1000
oaves of similar character, which he dis
tributed 10 the poor: he degraded the ministers
imprisoned the bakers, and gave each soldief
money to buy bread for himself.
On the 10th of July, just one month after
his elevation, appeared the great first public
act of his administration, in a decree of am
nesty for political offences, which restored to
liberty, their country, their homes and the
rights of citizenship, the victims of previous
| tyranny, 10 the estimated number of 5000 -
Many of them were in great poverty, and
subscription was started in Rome for their re:
lief NIarini: governor of the city; represent
| oJ +o4 tho DoCo tboto dapporonc Doliticol
had prompted the movement The Pope call
ed for the subscription paper, put down his
own name for 100 and Alarini's for 10 scudi,
and ordered ii to be handed around amongst
the nobility. RenZi the leader of an insur-
rection at Rimini the previous year, called on
him to return thanks for the restoration of his
liberty, and was received as a son rather than
a rebel, and during 4 long and aliectionate
conversation, Plus took from his desk copy
of Renzi's revolutionary proclamation, and
said that although parts of it were wrong, it
contained many useful suggestions of which
he should avail himself.
He sent out circulars to the Governor of the
provinces, requiring them to investigate and
report upon the temporal and religious condi-
| ton of the people, and the methods of impro-
wing them, especially with regard TO the diffu-
sion of education, and the establishment of a
military school for the poor boys at Rome
With the same object he re instituted board
| of education, which had been first established
by Leo X, but never called together since his
time. He appointed a number of committees;
partly of ecclesiastics and partly of learned
laymen, each charged with the investigation of
some subject which concerned the public well
fare and the drawing up of plans for meliora:
ting the condition of the people.
Among the subJects were the following
Reform OF the municipal organization-Re-
form of the criminal and civil code, the COM
mission on which have already reported in ia
vor of trial by jury-suppres of tagran-
cy-lmprovemcnt of forests and rivers-cOns
structon of ralroads--the condition of the
Jews in Rome-the tariff on imports-the du.
ties on salt and other articles of home produc:
tion-the sanatory condition of towns, and
the erection of gas works. He proposed also
to his council the abolition of capitol punish
ments, and secularzng of the state offices,
which had long been monopolized by the cler-
gy. The cardinals who composed this cOun-
Gil were some of them shocked at the decided
radcalsm of the Holy See, and one Of them
told him that if he did not alter his system,
the people would demand a constitution
"And why" was the answer, ''shoud not
accede 10 their desire, if a constitution is ne
cessary TO the welfare of my subjects"
Be the intentions of the new Pope what
they may, he has so managed both his private
conduct and public acts, as to gain the UNI
bounded confidence of his people, and produce
} such good conduct, order an quiet among
them, as to astonish even his hest friends.
The number of offences committed against
persons or property in Rome, in June, 1886
tember 200, and in October III:
I Journal of CO1nD1etc9