Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-10-27

effort to strangle IN tho cradle the newborn ephnu'
But new at last Spain, with her Most Catholic
Maiesties, had risen against the Rome she has SO
long ubeycd and idnlized, and courageous endeav-
or is shaking off the load which has long oppres-
sed her.
This struggle which is now developing itself
between the better citizens and the clergy ct Spain
the one battling for the admission of ciyilizing
light, the other for the retention oil the old enslayed
darkness, is not of recent origin. =.
1t dates so far back rs tho time of Ferdinand
VII. With occasional interruptions it has existed
throughout the reign uf Isabella II; it appeared
distinctly during her minority, and is now brought
to n decisive issue. Not that the Queen, or her
nearest confdants or friends, is willing party to
the movement; but she is compelled to follow the
impulse given to her Government by the COrtes
aud the popular will. During her minority, at
the outset Of the Regency, her mother, Maria
Christina, was compelled to seek the support of
the constitutional system, to curtail the pnpaI and
monkish influence. Beside an impoverished ma
ton and empty treasury there stood a clergy rev.
cling in wealth. possessing rich treasures and an
immense landed property lost and dead Tor all ma
tiUnal uses. This property it was determined to
return to the nation to which it originally belonged
in order that it might DO converted into q source
of public utility and serve to alleviate the public
debt. A decree was enacted directing the sale OF
this property and to pay the salaries Of the clergy
from the public treasury.
n great cutlery was, oil course, raised by the III
terested parties. Rome protested. but under the
pressure of newer and better ideas, the law was
partially carried out. In the course Of events, how
ever, Maria Christina, supported by the Modcra-
dos, felt herself strong enough to throw away the
mask of hypocricy, and under the premiership OF
Narvaez the Government atoued for the past by
prostrating itself before the papal power. The
further sale of church property was at once stop
oed and a concordat concluded. When liberty was
murdered by the French troops on the seven hills
Spain sent her ragged warriors, under Gen. Cordo-
va, to give the last turn to the rack.
The recent revolution once more directed the at
tention Of the nation to the existing abuses or im-
munities of the Church, and the interru pied ma
tionalism of Church property. Reform through
out was and is n paramount necessity, and above
all such reform as would abrogate those immune
ties condemned by common sense and reason as
the heaviest burners on the national body and
mind. In tho new budget the Cortes imposed a
certain percentage of tax on all salaries paid by
Government, and among others on those OF the
clergy, which as being the largest could best bear
1t. The Infatuated priesthood at once carried their
complaint to Rome, and the papal Charge d AT
flares at Madrid protested against this equitable
measure. Without noticing, however, the protest,
the Cortes continued their salutary work, abolish
ing Church abuses, reducing the power of Rome,
and directing that the clergy in all temporal mat
ters should be subject to the general laws OF the
country. The tribunal of the Rota, a supreme
Ecclesiastical Court in Madrid, instituted in times
gone by for the decision Of all civil and temporal
matters affecting the clergy, and hithcro indepen-
dent of the civil power, was abolished.
The Pope at once brought to bear the accustonl-
ed thunders which be has been recently hurting at
Piedmont. In an arrogant allocution he declares
null and void all the laws enacted by the legally
constituted powers Of the country, diSpenses with
obedience to them, and as has been the custom for
centuries with Rome under such circumstances
authorizes lawlessness and incites to revolt. The
priesthood appealed to and stirred up the worst
and most violent passions of the masses, and tried
to rekindle a bloody fanaticism, OF which we saw
the fruit in the recent outbreak at Barcelona. Pa
checo Franchi, the Roman Charge d. Afaires,
babe farewell. to Madrid. The excitement by the
last accounts was intense, and several attempts
had been made to burn the old concordat publicly
on the square Of the Capital. 1t is n curious his
torial coincidence Of Spain and Piedmont, that
whatever happens in one at once reacts on the 9th
: err country. When in 1920 Spain proclaimed thu
Constitution, Piedmont followed Ter example
This time Piedmont has taken the start, and nov
: beth countries are. engaged in mortal strife will
= Rome, the priesthood, and all the results Of lon;
t darkness. The Vatican FORCES its thunder, anC
accommodations are its lightning shafts; bu
they fall back impOtently from the shield of
! strong national sense aud a sound national con
science.
5 In the name of civilization and progress we 50
3 lutte with a joyous heart this parade of ROmal
S fury. 1t is Time Coz Italians and SIaniards TO sec
to learn, and to experience that though they ma
4 be communicated the sun will rise and set a
usual. the world will move in its accustomed roun
n and go on and prosper, and trees and fields wi
: bear their wonted bloom and yield their wonte
e harvests. No destroying lOcusts will appear, Q
S plague spread its wings, at the bidding OF tn
monarch of Rome; nor will the roofs of house
fall in, or graves burst their inclosure and stal
e open. Rome should carefully consider whether
these idle fulminations it is not like the self-destro.
ing scorpion, thrusting the enyenomed sting I'M
e its own head.-Tri6uRe.