New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-10-21
THE ETERNAL CITY
of the People, Politics, &c.
Row. Sept. n. lsts

NUM- - A-t-.
FRlESD GREFLLr To describe TO you Rome
would be foily-to give a detailed account OF my
feelings and impressions while wandering among
the fallen fragments Of its former greatness and
contrasting It's past glory with its present degrs-
dation, would be tedious and modifying. pass
them all BY and look az Rome at it IS in the pre-
sent aspect Of affairs IN Europe.
In America we have altogether overa;ed the
Pope and his movements, considered as a PoIit
clan As a Man. as a Priest and Ecclesiastic he
IS beyond question very clever, and worthy to be
at the head Of the Catholic Church he IS benev
olent. wishing well to everybody. He IS humble.
esteeming the interest and happiness Of others IS
az object 70 be kept always In sight. Bat he IS
neither penetrating nor resoiute. He lacks the
energy 70 accomplish what he honestly desires
and confidently believes would be far the best
He is coniding. and hence liable to be deceived.
He IS easily persuaded, out Of the pure goodness
Of bis heart 70 submit % the coulses OF others
matters which. as the head Of government, he
should himself determine and see carried out.
He did not so much originate the measures
which have given him 50 much fame, as he sub
nlitfcd % adeInand clamorously made blythe ext
cencies OF the times when he assembled the Papal
throne. He probably incdedheartily with them:
and, / have no doubt, he would abandon his posi-
ton cheerfully, If he believed that, BY so doing,
the cause Of the Church and the good Of humanity
could be promoted. That am correct in these re-
marks is evident from the fact that his policy has
completely changed several times, to correspond
with the demands made upon him. The liberty
81. a..
t. ask, and finally demand imperously, tor more.
He continued to assent till the Church took alarm,
aud crowned heads about INN demonstrated. The
people ignorant superstltOus and used 70 habits
OF submission, knew not fchGt they wanted nor
h0r 70 use what was given them. Influences
were brought 70 bear upon the Pope whlch have
completely reversed his measures, and restored 10
his Ministry the very man who, Of all others was
most Objectionable 70 the people, and whose rsiec
ton had been the first achievement m favor oi the
people lie listened - the clsmOr against the !es-
ultg aud TOOK aw ay I'll cir nghts-thelr eXlstence-
aud still be is on good terms with them and. ], is
expected. they will be shortly restored.
Hence, during the past season, Rome has been
a scene OF constant cOmmoton-and Is 50 STILL
Nothing IS more settled TO day than ten months
ago In tact, but day before yesterday the Minis
try again resigned Tor the nth or sixth time, and
there Is now - Government. Nobody i5eis any
security mere. The people-the masses-ieel that
they have rights and power but how 70 secure
the one and use the other they know uCt. 1t Is
fortunate that masses are not often rssh-that
mobs do not often collect without cause Things
20 ON very well There is no disorder Every
thing IS calm and quiet The only trouble Is no
body believes It can long remain. There IS
general distrust-a want OF confidence, br, after
ALL governments are no more than ban1 notes
good as LONG as the people have confidence IN
their value
lHh.-An effort has been made to form Mn
istry. without success The report to-day Is. that
the French Ambassador has been entrusted with
the business Of organizing one. There IS no doubt
French influence IS powerful here-more than
that OF all other nations together The agreement
IN religion and the number OF French Cardinals
produce It What the success will be IS uncer
tain. The people are better satisfied, inAsmuch
as France Is a Republic All may 20 well
everything may be IN CommOtlOn IN day. No
thing il settled every body IS anxious and dis
satisfied The cry now is on the part OF the
friends of the old regime. that the freedom Of the
Press makes all the mischief There ~ no doubt
the Press here as well as ia some other parts OF
the world, is badly managed. Every sort OF trash
= published and posted about the city. Yester-
dsy the Pope was placarded all about the streets
As "traitor Every kind OF stuff IS led out u
the hungry people, true, false and ridiculous
This helps 70 keep up q constant dlsqmetude
There are no intelligent, clear-sighted writers
adequate 10 the tlmes-no mighty genius VINO
can unravel the mysteries OF government, and
mold these iragmentery materials INTO ne" ana
appropriate forms Pity some political architect
does not exist who can erect a new and c0ini0rta-
ole structure, even though, like some buildings
here IL should be dishgured little with occa
siona blocks of ancient inscriptions, UroHg SIDE
ND. IL is feared none such VIII be found al pre-
sent The manifest tendency now IS backward,
for nobody is satisfied with things as they are
and those OF the old school, like the people OF
France on the fall OF Napoleon, Will insist on
Bourbon, and the multitude will consent 10 make
another experiment even OF thoe who have op
pressed for centuries.
The great trouble lies in the gross Ignorance OF
the people and fear in their want OF principle
OF all nations have yet seen, the Italians are the
least fitted for real freedom They are not Tree.
Their very habits OF life are servile. Til man
IS free In spirit how can he be Ia body I'M
men are republicans, how can they form a he
public The doctrine Of Jesuitism has been
preached and pracficed so long here, reilglousiy
politically and socially, that nobody ieels hImseh
free How then, can he assert and maintain Tree
dom The Italians are degenerate race, proofs
Of which are everywhere 10 be seen. The Vigor
OF youth and manhood Is gone. They are hardiy
decent relics OF the past. The nation IS IN dotage
Death must come aud a resurrection follow H. be
fore Rome can live again, or italy become "ha' II
once was
Much trouble is experienced here IN money
matters The Pope has made paper tender, and
in consequence, all money has gone out OF sight
Gold and silver is at premium Of seven eght
and ten per cent, or, more correctly, paper mas
deprecated az that rate. An edict has Just been
passed that nobody shall leave the county VIII
over 50 scudi dollars in gold What We poor fel
lows are 10 do who have nothing bu, gold, Is a
question of some interest just now, when the
Pope's promises will not pass out OF MS political
dominion. IL is q pity politics and religion are
not practically more in harmony. The night OF
search" we shall question In tins instance
Yours, a. :. p.
Pompeii.