The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-25
FOREIGN EXTRACTS.
THE FRENCH PRESS ON THE POPE'S ALL


In regard to the quarrel between the Pope and
other powers, the journal des DeJats heretofore
the champion of the Pope in Paris, says:
son one essential point we are OF the same opin-
on as the French bishops; like them we think that
the independence of the Holy Father is a necessary
condition of the exercise Of his spiritual power
1t is evident that French, Austrian or Piedmon-
tese Pope would not be independent Is the tenn
poral power of the Pope the sole guaranty of his
independence. and if so, how can the maintenance
of that power be recOnciled with the difficulties of
the present situation? We cannot help regretting
the tone and spirit which animate these pastoral
letters, and especially that of the Bishop of Poi
tiers. This reverend prelate declares that 'the
Roman government, in its chief, its higher digni-
aries, and Its present representatives, is inferior
to no contemporary government, and that in all
the degrees Of the central, provincial, and muni-
cipa administration, it has nothing to fear in any
quarter tron comparison of merit with merit,
position with position, person with person. The
natural consequence to be deduced from these
words is that the most enlightened governments
of Europe, instead of recommending reforms to
the Pope, ought to regulate their own conduct
by his
The Bishop of Poiters especially bitter against
the pamphlets and declamations with which the
pontifica government has been assailed Wcmay,
however, be permitted to remind the reverend pre-
late that it is not pamphlets only which have called
attention to the ponthcal government as defective
and compromised in the Judgment of its subjects by
numerous abuses, but that there is, on that point
if we may be allowed the expression, public out
cry through all Europe, ana the word reform in
serted in the preminaries of Vafranca, is address,
ed not less to the Roman States than to the other
States Of Central Italy. For ourselves, it is quite
as much in the interest of the Roman government
in the interest of its subjects that desire to see
it lend willing ear to the enlightened and friendly
counses of Europe, and to consent to salutary
changes We sincerely believe that the Bishop of
Fotiers would more effectually support the Pope's
temporal power by defending it with greater pru-
dence and moderation. The pontfcal government
has nothing to gain and all to lose by such excu-
sive apologies and such absolute pretensions."
The Steele, with less reverence if not more cur
age. takes a still more Ineligible tone:
"The praiseworthy efforts made by France and
other powers to obtain liberal concessions from the
Pope have only served, up to the present time, to
excite the fury of the Ultramontane party. 1t is
complete rising en- mdsse; the decamations of the
legitmist journals of Paris and of the departments
form a chorus with the pastoral letters of the
episcopacy. The old retrogrades are ALWAYS the
same-they have forgotten nothing nor have thev
learned anything. Whoever dreams, be he prince
or simple citizen, of liberal institutions for the
Roman states, or of any remodelling of the pOntif-
cal power is beyond the pale of the law in the eyes
of those bigots of the sacrsty and of those white
terrorists. They threaten the Emperors and Kings
of the present day as lie Maisre threatened Napo-
leon l.. and the Jesuits menaced Henry ". Be
assured that they would excite religious crusade
on the subject If they could, and that after those
professions which are got up with all the pomp
attendant the form OF religion, and in which the
priests, clad in imposing costumes, march along by
the light of wax tapers, and to the sound Of the
pealing organ, the faithful might well blush con-
fine themselves to prayers in favor of the Pope and
| to ask whether there is not some temporal ven
geance to be taken against those who are pointed
out to them liars, heretics schismatics, felous
adventurers towards, reprobates and secedars from
! the right path-against those who are simutane-
ously denounced to them by the episcopal pastoral
letters and by the organs of the clerical press"
Again on another occasion the same print says
| "rhe pastoralletters of the French bishops ap-
pear to US very reprehensible, and there would be
! good grounds for appealing against what we must
declare to be an abuse of their position if the
common sense Of the country did not properly ap-
precate those unskiful excitements and ill-found-
| ed reproaches. Not knowing of what wood to
make their arrows, the Utramontanes employ 81
multaneously temporal and spiritual weapons
! They excommunicate the ROmagnese and demand
that the pontifcal troops shall be marched against
| the Legations. They not only devote their adver-
saries to eternal damnation, but they also solicit
| their temporal determination. COntounding the
religious power of the successor Of st. Peter with
that mundane authority which he has received
| from some generous mnnarchs, it is natural that
| they should confound soul and body, and that, a-
! ter having hurled against rebeous subjects thuu-
ders which the progress of the times renders every
dav less murderous-teum imbelle ct sine ictu-they
avow that they should not be sorry to complete
the work of Colonel Schmidt at Perugia. And for
what are all these outcries, all this noise and fury?
Because a aqueshon Is argued which in no way af
ects any religious dogma, and is perfectly suscep
| tible of discussion" :"
Abiding to the praises given by the bishops TO
the government Of the Pope, as most paternai and
atfectionate, the writer observes
| ''lf the government of the cardinals enioys the
prediction, the devotedness, the veneration and
the enthusiasm of the populations, why do ten
thousand French soldiers mount guard round the
NaticanE Why do the Utramontanes utter loud
cries the moment the recall of the French troops
talked Of? Is it by chance to protect the cardinals
against the love of those whom they govern that it
is necessary to have recourse to foreign bayonets
Al L
prefer being protected by Austrian soldiers, and
that, notwithstanding all the manifestations which
have taken place in favor of General de Goyon, a
Gyuai Schlick would be preferred to him, for
want of the defunct Radetsky. 1t cannot be denied
that the Papal government only maintains itself by
the support of France and that of Rome, like all
the other cities of the Pontical States, would have
made its pronuncidniento if France had not been
there. How many times have we heard it said by
the impartial Italians who had studied the state Of
affairs, "If the French army were to leave Rome by