The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-23

l iHE ITALIAN QUEST1ON-AstHH TOTES ALTO
0TIoN.-The allocution Of tIi>' Pope, delivered
at the last Consistory, is just such an apprecia
ton OF the present difficult situation Of affairs
in Italy ms was to be expected from that weak
minded and timid old mar. He gees ia the recent
significant movements in his own territories only
an attempt ON the part Of evil disposed and in
fdel agitators to invade his rights and curtail
the patrimony Of the church. He acknow-
Lodges none Of the political wrongs and griev-
anccs which, previous to l848, touched his
own heart, and induced him to offer the con-
cessions to his subjects which he was after
wards prevailed upon to revoke. Instead Of
meeting boldly and in candid spirit the qucs-
tons which will be shortly forced upon his
consideration, he contents himself with threat
eniDg the thuDders of the church against those
who take part In these movements The me-
nace has been deprived of all force even la
the eyes Of the most bigoted, by the perverse
and INSCRIPTIONS conduct Of the Roman gov
crnment and the sanguinmy proceedings Of its
mini0ns ut Perugia. The most seslous Catho-
lies now argue that there are no advantages
which the temporal sovereignty Of the Pope
can confer on the church which can compen-
safe for the discrcdit brought upon it by the
abuses which have grown up under the civil
administrations Of the Popcs, and the suffer
ings that have Keen caused by them to the
people of the Roman States. So far, therefore,
us its territorial rights and dominion are con-
cerned, the Pontifcal government will find but
few defenders in any new political settlement
that may be made of Italy. 1t may try to ter
rify the timid by its spiritual fulminations, but
it win not the less have to resign itself to yield
up the privileges and possessions with which
Pepiu, Charlemagne and other sovereigns en-
dowed it, and to return again 10 the insignif.
cant position, temporarily speaking, that it &C.
cupled previous to their time.
As regards the other aspects of the italian
3; ;.c este: il is now pretty generally I'M
derstood that the people Of Ceutral Italy
will not be forced to receive back the de-
throned princes. All that will be accom-.
plished by the Zurich Conference will be
the signing of the treaty Of peace and
the apportionment of the Austro- Lombardian
debt. It is said that the terms of the treaty
will be complicated. and that they will
give Austria an opportunity of picking another
quarrel with Piedmont. That will give the
friends of liberty but little concern, provided
the determination attributed to Louis Napoleon
of preventing foreign Intervention in the
settlement of the internal affairs of Italy be
confirmed. 1t is not the power of Austria, but
The countenance Of France to its projects Of
f0rcible interference in the affairs of the
Duchess that is dreaded by the Italians
whole force of their old oppressors if the
French Emperor will only refrain from throw
ing his weight into the scale.
Although there is but little reason to appre-
bend thaa Louis Napoleon will prove unfaithful
to his promises, the Italians are acting
wisely 10 prepare for the worst. Heaven only
helps thsse that help themselves; and by arm
ing to resist any attempt to force back upon
them the sxil ed princes, they have, no doubt
France that it would be impolitic
to sanction sudn proceeding.
A Congress Of the European Powers is the
only natural anal possible solution to the diff
culties with which, the Italian question is beset
and to this the governments interested will, we
are convinced, agree. Its decisions may not be
in accordance with the aspirations Of she people
Of Central Italy but it will not the less have the
effect Of securing their Independence Of Aus
tria. France will, probably, be awerse to
the annexation Of the Duohies to
fuSo foro ho uNtd e. y
dom of Northern Italy assume more formidable
than those which she has already
given her by the addition of Lombardy. This
being the case, the question arises what is to
be done with the Duchies Jealous Of the
political ascendancy to which such selec-
ton would lead, none of the Powers direct
ly interested will suffer prince belonging to
any of the leading dynasties to be placed over
them as ruler. Sardinia will object to the
Archduke MAMMALIAN or any connection Of the
House Of Austria. Austria will object to- the
Prince de Carignano or any scion of the House
of Savoy, and the Duchies themselves will pro-
baby object to Prince Napoleon, or any other
member of the imperial dynasty. AS to the
Coburgs, the idea will not be entertained
for moment Of giving such a position to
another member of that busy, intriguing
family. The consequence will be, as in the
case of Greece, that some nincompoop, of whom
no one will be afraid, will be selected to fill the
throne Of Central Italy, thus leaving the future
of the peninsula to the uncertainties arising out
Of such division of interests.
The greatest difficulty Of the Congress will
be the disposition Of the States of the Church.
Louis Napoleon has all along exhibited the
greatest repugnancc to approach that question;
but the conduct Of the people of the Emilian
provinces, and the movements Of Garibaldi
will compel the Congress to deal summarily
with it There is but one way, as we have
already stated, in which permanently