The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-07
The Policy or the Froncn Expedisaoa GO

From the London Times Aug ISL
Inc only ground on which the policy of tho
French expedition TO Rome has been defended,
even by the m nisters Of the republic, is the posi-
tive assurance that the restoration of the Pope, as
effected by France, would be accompanied by
thorough reform of the abuses which are encrusted
on the temporal government Of the Papal States
M de IocquevilIe concluded his last speech on
this subject by declaration that he could under
take TO say the Pope was prepared to sanction such
an arrangement, and that the consequence of the
Pspsl Restoration would be blind aud implaca-
Bile reaction. The honor OF France, the tranquility
OF Rome, and the very exlstence OF the Pops as
temporal sovereign, depend on the fulhment OF
these engagements. Unhappiy the first acts of the
Ponuf betoken the existence of a very different
spirit, and have ut once reused the hostility and
the suspicious of the Roman people to such pitch
that fresh lnsurrection would have Immediately
broken out if il had not been for the imposing at
ttude of the French army.
General OudlnOt had prevailed upon Prince
Odeschachi and some other eminent Roman lay
ment, in concert with the French military aulhori-
ties, until such time as he should hand over the
government OF Rome to the Pope, or to his repre-
sentatlves; These individuals, who appear to
have acted from very patriotic motives, have since
received General Oudinots official thanks for s.the
enlightened and active service they had given him
In the direction of public affairs" and it is
obvious that Plus TX could not have done better
than IN inirusting the supreme power to this res
p~ctsble municipal body of Roman laymen until
his own return 10 the Quirinal. He has pursued,
however, directly opposite course The
commission which arrived in Rome on the Sd Of
August, IS a revival OF the worst and most contemp-
tible ussees Of the old PaPal administration. A
triumvirate of MonsgnOri, whose names and cha
rscters are literally abhorred by the people, has
sumed The reIns OF gsvenment, without word Of
practical assurance To the nation, or word OF re-
monstrance on the part OF the French general
Their first measures were of piece with their
proclamation. They instantly removed from office
all the persons who had obtained employmen mt since
aud herr am puf ted he diaPO
tent oil the most formidable and Intelligent agents
Of the republican party. They rescinded all the
laws passed since November, and restored the
hateful and clumsy old courts OF justice. They
appointed commission Of inquiry with underlined
powers and quashed the municipal bodies in the
towns, 10 which they ought especially 10 have
looked for support And they repudiated one-thlrd
OF the paper currency, by measure which could
not fail at such moment to occasion excessive
irritation and embarrassment. This paper being
lnconvertble, II was the interest Of the government
TO maintain Its circulation as long AS possible; it
was a convenient fiction; and as the value Of the
republican baiocehi must eventually have declined
that would have been the time to propose the con-
version Of this currency. Coin had disappeared,
and there remedy for this state of things hut
10 allow the paper to sink to its own level The
unpopuariy Of such acts these s, of course, ex-
cessive, and If the object OF the French be to
store the Pope to power, they could not have rem
dered him greater ds-service than by tolerating
60 fatal and absurd commencement
We have no doubt that when the Papal govern
ment was attacked in November, 1913, by the MUIR
der OF M. Ross, and brutal outrage on the Pope's
palace, the better part of the Roman population
were disguised and appalled, by such acts OF vi0-
encs. The government which was. then over
thrown by Mazzini was the best experiment Rome
had witnessed. The cabinet consisted of able lay
men; the Chambers had convoked the best citi-
zens e central Italy The destruction of that form
Of government was fatal blow to the cause Of the
constitution and OF freedom. But, much as that
event has been deplored, we can entertain little
doubt that if the choice Of the X sman people lies
only between the two extremes of a complete re-
storsuoR Of clerical Improvement and the evils of
We can conceive nothing more odious than that
power, sanctioned by ages, and laying claim TO
something like divine authority, should show IL
sell more arbitrary, implacable, and unjust than the
conduct Of the Court Of Rome, we venture to af-
firm that the most hostile measures Of Mazzni and
associates, will have proved less fatal to Its
riy and power than the foolish and intoleran actions
OF its own representatives. The avowed object of
France and the Catholic powers Ne to give perma-
nence, stability, and Independence to the head Of
the church to which they belong; but the states
Of those countries must perceive that this object
is absolutely unaiainable, unless it be possible to
promote mutual confidence and unisn between
the Pentiff and the people whom he 10 TO dwell
amongst and to govern. II Plus TX. has not sufii-
cient Independence ofjudgment and vigor Of char-
acter TO distinguish the inst rights which he may
uphold from the gross decisions which have almost
buried the pacacy under their ruins, his Infataaon
Will give the deathoow 10 MS power. he 10 SAID
to have relied on some miraculous lnterposron of
Providence on his behalf ever since his Hegira or
fight to Gaeta. and possibly he may imPute to the
unlock edfor operations OF the French Republic a
somewhat miraculous and supernatural character.
But even .popes cannot reign suPernaturallyj they
have no charmed lives and their temporal power
will, like that OF o,her princes, perish when il
abused. An enthusiastic enemy Of the paeal
power could perhaps desire better than to il
restored by means and with Accomplishments
which show its nature 10 be Incorrigible and its
downfall inevitable. We desire to speak with
greater respect Of the head of large portion Of the
Christian world. but at the same tune we can dis
nothing in the present policy and intentions
Of the Pope, which seems calculated to dissppoint
the predictions Of his bitterest adversaries.
Movement Of Insli " uals In Europe.
The Brussels papers mention the intention Of the
King Ct the French, Louis Philippe to visit Brussels
Tbs Impartial de Bruses In . recent number says
We informed that the civic guard Of Bruges In
tend TO give ball 10 bis Majesty King Leopold during
his scieurp nj nd that yerv