The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-08
The Pope and HIS Friends

Bishop Hughes organ in tlis city, the Free
mans Journal, follows, as might have been
expected, in the wake of that prelate, and
takes the same view of the condition of
Rome, since the flight of His Holiness, Pope
Plus the TX, TO the present time and In its last
issue published a statement which we are sure viii
cause good deal of surprise wherever it is read
The editor says that he has very interesting
article on the actual condition of Rome, compiled
from the most trustworthy sources, which groves
all the statements that have appeared in the Anne
rioan journals to be false and uKfounded that
priests and honorable citizens have been ssassi-
mated for venturing to love and praise the Pope /;
that the churches of Rome are shut up that priests
walk the streets only at night and IN disguise !;
that fourteen priests were in a single night muir
dered that churches are turned into stables that
nuns have been dragged half naked through the
streets that the people are under reign of terror
and that everything else bad abominabc, and de-
festable, is being done by the people of Rome, who
were so far STEPPED in iniquy as to be capable Of
actually overturning the temporal sovereignty of
heir prince and establishing COVE rnme Mt In lieu
Of more congenial to their feelings-hus follow
ing the example of the patriots of Italy, Germany,
America, and other countries.
Now the bishops organ must have a very poor
estimate Of the intelligence of the American peo-
pie, If it supposes That such trash as this, bearing
improbability and absurdiy on It's very face, will
be credited by them. II is so inconsistent SO
utterly at variance with the real state of the case
that it required small degree of hardihood to
put it forth. From the flight of the Pope 70 the
present time, the eyes of the world have been fixed
on Rome. Every newspaper Of influence through
out the globe has one or more correspondents
there, who have watched scrutinisingly every in
eident that has taken place. Not an occurrence
has happened there, OF either public or private
character, that has not been ferreted out by the
agents of the press, and related over and over by
them. No mention is made by any correspondent;
Of the commission Of any of those crimes which
the paper in question has discovered, and which il
promises TO make public in very interesting ar
ticle, as II terms it, "comped from the most trust
worthy sources" So far from that, all the reports
that have emanated from Rome within the period
referred 10, are unanimous in stating that, at no
other time within the memory of the people has
that city been more quiet, greater respect for
life and property manifested by the people IL a
reign Of terror existed in Rome as is asserted the
people would welcome back the Pope as their So
vereign, and would embrace the French army
under General Oudinot as brothers and deliyerers.
Instead OF doing so, however, they are emphatic in
asserting that the Pope shall never with their coz
sent again reign over them as prince, and have
withstood all the assaults Of the French, shedding
their blood freely in defence Of their newlyat;ahed
liberty.
The object of all these statements il obvious
The FjscmGH's Journal. like Bishop Hughes. de-
sres to preach crusade against the Romans. be-
cause, forsooh, they took the management of
their own affairs into their own hands, and adop,-
cd a form Of government Of their own. They wish
90 get the sympathies Of the people Of the United
States on the side OF the Pope, and against the
people Of Rome, 80 TO pave the way for the res
toraton of his Holiness. But with all due defer
ence to the editors, and to Bishop Hughes, we
think they are leaning upon broken reed The
people of the United States understand the rela-
hons of Rome very well. They can distinguish
between the Pope, as head of the church. and as
sovereign of Rome; and while they admire the
Romans for the course which they have adopted
towards HIM as sovereign, they applaud them for
inviting him back the head of the church. and
offering to support him from the revenues of the
State in all his dignity. The question is a very
simple one, needing no margina'notes. references.
or comments for explanation aud all attempt, 10
throw dust in the eyes OF the American people IN
the matter will be thrown away.