The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-20

vest, and that the churches only there to adj
minister comfort TO the dying.
entered Rome ut 10 o'clock IN the evening, ana
proceeded through via Del Corso, the finest street
in Rome to the Hotel des Isles Brtaniques- first
hotel in the city-at which were then lodging the
two archdukes Of Austria, Albert and Renter, with
= batch Of minor German princes. Well, on the
route through that street. to that hotel distance Of
more than an English mile, met, perhaps, half
dozen persons. The shops were closed, and beyond
the tread Of the French sentries and patrols no
sound was heard to disturb the silence of the night
At the hotel was Informed that, after the French
had entered the city, the shops were closed ut I
o'clock; but now an extension has been granted,
which, however, ID not taken advantage Of by seven
eighths Of the tradespeople. Their profits do not
pay for the oil or the gas which they would con-
sumo, and they prefer retiring before the hour fixed
by the military commander.
The present city Of Rome, its government laws,
and the condition Of the people, all remnants OF
the middle ages-nothing more. l say remnants,"
because the middle ages were the times of Roman
grandeur after the fall Of Rome the present is no
thing but an elegy on the pasta city Of mobiles and
beggars, OF Anticipated feuda splendor and the most
squalid poverty. Palaces and churches go to decay
and the government itself is only sustained by for
eisn bayoncts. Whichever way you turn your eyes,
you behold the grandeur Of the past eclpsed by the
meanness dirt and wretchedness of the present, the
memory OF wealth and power efaced by the sight OF
starving men and women, and the senseless pomp
Of political ronentity.
But is Rome really pewerless as the dilapidated,
filthy, dingy city would lead you to supposeis there
power here capable Of exercising an influence at
distance3 My answer is, no! The power
Of Rene at the present day Is gift bestowed upon
it by foreign potentates, in their own well under.
stood interest-the Pope possesses no more real
power than France and Austria are willing to bestow
on him to counterfeit other influences which they
consider more threatening to the pcrpetuation OF
their power. The Church of Rome, when in the
zenith Of its power, was the protector of the
laboring classes, the umpire of kings-who con.
sidered no other authority binding upon them
and the conservator Of public morals In an
age Of barbarsm and arbitrary rule. Times
have changed since. The discovery Of America has
opened new roads OF commerce, and the wealth OF
the New World has given fresh stimulus to enter
prize and industry. The growing wealth Of the mid.
die classes has effected their emancipation from feu
dial thTaldCm, ard the sovereiens Of Europe them.
selves have ayaed themselves Of this new power to
sutdle their rebellous and defying mobiles. The
industrious classes were combined into corporations
and, aimed with this new political power, resisted
successfully the Entertainments of the aristocracy:
while at the same time they succeeded in many
States in obtaining share in the political Govern.
Mfnt. This was especially the case in the Neither.
lends where the combat between the mobiles and the
bourgeoise drove the former entirely from the
field and established par excellence, COME ieration
Of towns.
Then can Professionalism, which, in its inception,
was not SO much an effort at purifying religion as an
attempt to emancipate the States from the supreme
cy OF Rome, and the political consequences flowing
from that supremacy Of ecclesiastical power. No
thing shows so completely the intimate connection
between the early Protestant movements and
the effort at political reorganization the fact
that the Introduction Of the new doctrine led al
most everywhere to political revolution, and in consc
qnence OF it, to war and bloodshed. The
tween the lower nobility and the Empe.
ror; in England the Introduction of PROBES
tansm led to the revolutions OF 1910 and 1880; in
France to the political power, and finally to the ex
fulsion Of the Huguenota; and in Sweden and Nor.
way to the establishment of great Scandinavian
Power. These States which did not participate in
tic new moyeMent-spch as Spain and Portugal
Polard and Italy-fe into species OF political tor
por, m which ney we've only reused by the French
Revolution of 1879.
ines for, PTQeslssrtisT, as political principle
bad betn nole or less true to its mission; and when
the whole social edifice Of Europe began to give way
in 1853. the dangers to which the States Of Europe
had fIen exposed from Papal supremacy appeared
as nothing Comparld to those attending an ahjura-
ten Of all religion and the ndiscIinlnate attack on
all existing governments. 1t was then that, under
the auspices Of Protestant England and Prussia on
tie ore side, and Catholic Austria the other, the
long waIs of the French Revolution were carried on
against France, which at last succumbed to the
efmbined forces OF the Greek, Catholic and PrOtes
tant churches. The Pore was reinstated BY the
combined diplomatic act Of all the Powers represent
ing these churches, not SO much to reestablish the
political equilibrium Of Europe, as to act check
on the growing tendency toward total unbelicf,
which was looked upon as the basis Of all re-
ard Austria. with the tacit consent Of Enga 4
ard Russia, became the special guardians Of tie
Pope whose power had ceased to be a canse Of m
tin at the head of the Catholic church was still
capable Of acting as u COMPUTATION formula on the
turbulent spirit OF the Masses 1t was not so much
the affairs OF Italy their which induced this
poliay towards tie head OF the Catholic church.
The Pope had no longer the power to strike bat he
possessed still that influence over the minds 81 thou
sands which might serve to maintain the status quo
between the people and their respective govern
mcnts. The church, instead OF holding power over
kings, Leeame their servior; it quilted the position
which it had maintained during the middle ages
and instead Of sustaining the people against the
ntra,y power o. princes exsrced ats i,uenee -
Prom that moment the church was made the point
of attack by the revoptonists while the sovereigns
OF Europe assumed the obligation Of protectiI 5 It,
ard with it the sovereign p0ntih
While these things were going on, Pr0testan'ism
itself ha assumed various forms, and gene throagh
a variety of phases. In England it assumed the
Episcopal fern, in which 1t became most powerful
political coadjutor Of the government rendering it
way, rendered TO France, Austria aud Naples, while
in Prussia, where the Episcopal form was precluded
BY the Evangelical church. frequent conflicts arose
between the King and portion Of the Clergy. Pro.
testantism in Germany having failed in It's political
mission of regeneration and reorganization, bee, me
merely speculative. 1t ceased to be doctrinAl and
became either abstract ratiocination, or at best
philosophical criticism Of religion. This was the
point where the progressive Protestants OF Germany
met the Catholic encyclopedias Of France; it was
the point Of seepticsm, OF religion cherished mercy
as an historical tradition. This would not have been
the case If the Protestant religion, after succes
to the dignity OF religion Of State il Germany,
Ly SOM political combination or other had been
repubIicsnised. In either case the clergy would
have had mission corresponding to their holy