Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-04-25
The ropes Interference IN sardinia.

fae ropes Interference In Sardinia.
Frequent illusions have recently been made TO
the interference Of the Pope in the afairs of Sar
dnia, and our readers may desire to know some
thing about the circumstances of the case. We
lind history of the transaction in letter by a
foreign correspondent 10 one of the New York pa
pers.
| For many centuries the Dukes Of Savoy were
famous, ortrather Infamous, throughout the civil
jed world for the bloody prosecutions waged by
them against the Waldehses, who lived within
their dominions. After the wars of Napoleon,
however, public sentiment in Piedmont and Sar-
dina was greatly modified, and desire for civil
and religious liberty was excited among the mid
die classes of the people. In l847. the King.
Charles Albert, resolved to crafty the tastes Of
his subjects, and granted them various privileges,
even extending full religious federation to The
Waldenses. These changes were very displeas
ing to the clergy, but as the new Pope, Plus TX,
then affected an appearance Of liberalism no open
opposition was manifested During the war with
Austria, which soon followed, Charles Albert was
twice defeated, ard finally abdicated the crown.
His successor, Victor Emmanuel, carried on the
work of reform, and has SO far maintained his
ground. aa s,
The attention of the country was at last direct
ed towards ecclesiastical affairs. There are in
Piedmont and Sardinia II different monastc or
ders who possess GOA houses or converts, with
s, 1868 monks and nuns. The property Of these
monasteries is estimated at nine millions of dol
lars, land the animal revenue at four hundred thou
sand dollars. The Government proposes to sup
press the monastic communities, except those
whose members devote themselves to the instruc-
ton of youth and the care of the sick. These
are the only useful communities, while the others
are burden and curse to the State.
In fhe next place, the Government proposes to
divide the revenues Of the church more equally
among the clergy. The property of the church,
independently Of that which belongs to the con-
vents, amounts to eighty millions of dollars yield
ing an annual revenue Of three to four milions-an
enormous amount for so small country. The
bishops and other dignitaries have taken to them
selves the lions share of this rich revenue, while
an allowance of 1874 900 millions dollars annually
is made from the public treasury to enable the in.
feror clergy to eke out subsistence. One of the
archbishops receives annually $4,000, and three
bishops $2l 900, SIC, 900 and 5000 each; the
$500 priests have an income of not more than
$l6O each, including the supplement from the
treasury. The Romlsh See has been appealed to
in reference to this state Of affairs, in vain.
In this condition of affairs, the Parliament has
felt itself obliged to carry out the reform-not to
rob The church. but to egualize its revenues among
the clergy. The bishops have resisted, snd final
" the Pope has declared the whole proceeding
null and roid. He even goes further and admon-
ishes the Government to "hasten to repair the in
Vulnerable wrongs they have done to the church,
and thus spare our paternal hear, the very pain
full necessity Of striking them wit the OeapOns
yith Which our sacred ministry IS endo,oed from
on high"
These things, be it remembered, did not occur
in the "dark ages" but In this nineteenth centu
ry and year of the Christian era 1855. What
will DO the effect of the Pope's "admontiOns" re-
mains to be seen.