The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-16

tlon nor expectation Of the supreme honors of the
church, should be called from his quiet home At
Spoleto, to rule a vast hierarchy and control
turbulent and long enslaved people, was an event
for which he was poorly prepared, and Of whose
occurrence he could have had no anticipation.
II was certain that some strange results would
spring from so unprecedented movement. 1t was
evident that Europe was preparing for general
change; bat no anticipated that this change,
which seemed to be working gradually. would
preciptate itself into a revolution. The surface
everywhere seemed calm; and it Is probably true,
that no prince In modern history, and no pope at
any period, ever came to an absolute throne with
a fairer chance of shaping events and controlling
the current of his own fortunes, than did Pho Mono
Italy, which for ages had been the most beautiful
and the most unfortunate of all lands--around
which clustered more stirring associations than
any other-had been crushed into the earth by the
heel OF an hundred despots. Her princes had been
tyrants, and her popes had been butchers OF brave
and good men. The whole peninsula, since the
consummatlon of the Holy Alliance, had been but
fef of Austria. The shadow of thgt black
despotsm had hung the fancy of every Italian,
like vision of nightmare over the brain OF a
sleeper In every part of Italy the spies Of Met
ternlch were Turk ng-everywhere his agents were
seeming out the steps of liberty, with the ferocous
sagacity Of trained bloodhounds Every day, VIC
TINS were inundated on the altar of tyranny. And
yet, when Plus TX. ascended the throne, not man
in his State dreamed Of the reforms he would
achieve. His first step was to proclaim general
amnesty for all political offences, and thousands
came forth from the dungeons of Rome and the
,nf ia naa I,,n ha 81.
pressons under which his people were grooming.
Reform followed ieform, until, in word, he had
emancipated his country from the curse of despot-
ism. His name was pronounced with gratitude in
every cottage in Italy, and the world to do him
honor. Rome once more became the centre of
light and liberty, as she had been ia the time of
the ancient republic. No prince ever stood on a
prouder eminence No pope was ever SO much
beloved. His throne was the firmest in Europe
His people would have died for him. They had
already erected monuments to his fame, and were
building temples in his honor. His moral Inhu-
ence was omnpotent in Itay-lt was unbounded
in Europe
Owing 10 causes which have never been fully
explained, he suddenly changed his policy. In a
day he ceased to be a liberast, and became con.
servatlve; the day after, he became a monarchist;
and he ended by becominga despot The splendid
fabric of his reforms melted away. The admins
tIauon was fast retrograding; and it seemed evi.
dent, either that he had been insncere in his
former professions, that he now repented of the
reforms he had worked. The effect of It all was
practical betrayal Of the popular cause. 1t mat.
tered nothing to the liberal cause in Italy, and
throughout Europe, whether Plus TX had deceived
others or been deceived himself In either case
freedom was neutrality-suspicious. were betray-
ed-tyrants were strengthened, and despotism en-
coursged. His detection from the cause OF libe-
raj Institutions, was, for the time being, the chief
agency which brought about the ruin OF the repub.
lican party on the continent His detection was
the warchword for the fall of Hungary.
The indignation of the Italians could not be con.
trolled. Rome rose to expel this new Tarquin from
her walls. knowing how deeply he had wounded
the cause Of liberty, and how deeply his name was
adhered for II, he anticipated the revenge Of his
betrayed people, by flying from his palace and his
kingdom, and taking refuge with the bigoted Bour-
bon butcher Of Naples.
his State, the Roman people established the Re-
public; and IL would have stood TO this day. had
not been overthrown by the ambitious intrigues of
France. The Roman people have been smitten
down, but not crushed nor subdued. The SEM
blapce of papal power has been again set up, and
the Pope's commissioners, backed by fifty thou
eaud bayonets, publish their edicts and DEGREES.
But Plus IN. has not dared to return. lie knows
that he has betrayed his people, and that he is not
safe among them Thus is the reason why he has
not returned, and why he Is not likely to, very
soon lie sold his country to foreign foe, and in
fighting against that enemy, they lost precious
blood. Ii is not yet washed out from Roman pave
ments-it is not iorgotten-it will never be !