The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-12
The Deposition Of the Pope.

New York, Monday, March IL, ls4O.
The Deposition of the Pope.
BY the recent intelligence from Europe, received
by the steamship America, we have learned that
His Holiness, Pope Plus the Ninth, has ceased to
exist as temporal prince; that he has been, by
the solemn act of the people Of Rome, dethroned
deprived of all temporal power and that republic
has been established in the Holy City. AS if to
make the matter sure, as if (it we may use the
term) to clinch the affair, and to convince even the
Pope himself of the futllity of his implied threat
ct reducing his refractory subjects to order by
calling upon the Catholic powers Of Europe to re-
,nstate him by force, In the position from which
he has been elected, it voted by the executive
committee, or provisional government that in case
His Holiness should return to Rome, he would
have the privilege of enjoying all the guarantees
necessary for unfolding his spiritual power as head
of the Catholic Church. Not syllable was men
toned OF his temporal power not q word wa ,
uttered that if he would return he would be
restored to his rights and privileges as a temporal
monarch, of which he was 30 suddenly deprived /;
not symptom OF cOntritIon was apparent for the
steps that had been taken; not a murmur was
uttered that the people had committed q rash act
IN depriving him, they did, the successor OF ST.
Peter, OF his sovereignty nor were there the
slightest evidences OF repentance manifested. so tar
from that, the declaration that the City OF the Seven
Hills was republic, was received with manifesto
tons OF the greatest joy; the pubic buildings
were Illuminated gladness was depicted On every
countenance; it seemed as if burdensome load
had been removed from the breasts of the Roman
people.
When we take into consideration the condition
OF Europe during the last few years, the deposition
OF the Pope, the circumstances under which 1t took
,lace, and those which have succeeded it, we are
Of opinion that this last deliberate and we'll con-
sidered movement is one Of the most important,
If not the most so, that has taken place since the
election Of Louis Philippe from the throne Of
France, and the establishment OF republic in that
country Plus the Ninth was the man who called
into action-lnto determined and terrible activity
the spirit which created such tremendous
changes and upheavlngs on the European cont-
nent, as we have chroniced during the last
fifteen months. He was the sun by whose
genial warmth he torpid spirit of rebellion
and revolution, or to use more appropriate
term, the spirit of human freedom and human
rights, which had ever since the first French revo-
luton been crushed and cowed by the armed
minions Of monarchy and aristocracy In that part
of the world-he was the sun which warmed that
spirit into activity and lfe-which loosed the long
pent paintings of oppressed millions, and lighted
their path to freedom. But he mistook the age In
which he lived-he mlstook the feelings of the
masses-he had no idea that the spirit which he
evoked, would, In the end, prove mlghtier than
his power to control it-that it was like the pen
up fires of a volcano, which, once freed, would
burst forth with uncomfortable fury, burying and
destroying every obstacle In Its way.
The spirit thus called into play was antagonistlc
to the form OF government existing in Europe.
1t was radically and irreconcllaby opposed to
monarchy and aristocracy; 1t was 80 no stie to
kings and queens that the struggle which 1t COM
menced would be fatal to one or the other
That spirit must be checked, subdued, and ulti-
mately overpowercd, or despotism, IN every shape,
would fall. Hence arose the great problem OF the
ever memorable year A. ID. 1915: Would the.e be
a reaction would revolution end in anarchy {!
would the scenes which followed the first French
revolution be re-en acted would the sober and
sensible portion of the people be so overcome with
the horrors OF the guiotine and the prison. as to
make them pant for peace and ordcr at any sacrl-
fce, even by the yielding up of all that they
achieved, and then bending their nccks again
under the CALLING yoke from which they freed
themselves by their own act, This was
the gre at problcm-the problem on which depended
the great question of human freedom and human
rights. The dcspots of Europe watched and
scanned every movement in France; they predicted
what they deslred--a short life to the republic, a
counter revolution, a state OF anarchy, a recur-
renee of the scenes of the old French revolution,
satunalia of horror and bloodshed, and the rcsto-
ration Of the Bourbons. The smallest and most
trivial events distorted and magnified by the
paid agents and newspapers IN the dcspotic In
tersst prediction after prediction was made, that
the republic was shadow; bur, Heaven be praised,
the enemies Of liberty convicted themselves as
false prophets. In quick succession followed the
deposition Of the Pope the identical monarch who,
to use Mr. Bentons celebrated phrase, set the ball
motion-the ball OF revolution which has created SO
much upheavipg among the dry bones Of despotsm
In Europe, and that deposition has been ratified and
solemnizsd by the firing OF cannon, the Ilumlna-
ting Of Rome, and the JOY full Manifestations Of the
Roman people.
in this view, therefore, the formal establishment
Of republic IN Rome Of the utmost Importance
rs regards the future political condition Of Ea-
rope tits apparent that the sanctIty tho Pope
dem. the "reminiscences, influences and assecIa-
tons oi the great Catholic church, tho very success
FOR Of 81 Peter, the spiritual monarch of The whole
Catholic woild,was forced to give way-couId not
maintain his ground aganstthe newly evoked srtrt
1T liberty which has, by its progress, startled aud
-lectr fled the world. Where then, Is the evidence
of re- action "A the public mind OF Eorope towards