The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-16
THE STATE or EUROPE.
prom the london rlmes, Fob. 20

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In the very few words that were uttered last night br
the three men, each of whom has more than once led the
Commons, and may do SO again., the question that ba.
rasses the whole OF Europe was brought at least to q yeiy
narrow geographical issue. Central Italy was the point
of collision between the two s1ea3 .asnder clouds, and
the spot whore the eye might look for the first streak OF
red flame. Whatever the cause at stake, whether the
motives were high as heaven or lower than earth itself.
there, in that volcanic region, the struggle was to break
out, even though all the earth might be subsequently
drawn in. We are forced to take a common-sense view
of tho case, and It'll the only solution. Did it concern
the mere personal safety OF Plus TX, his staff OF cardinals
the Christian Churches, and the Pagan remains which
they spend the revenue of a State in maintaining, then
we cannot see why the thing should not be managed by
a friendly arrangement. A very few French and Aus
trian soldiers, or officers, or policemen, or even consular
agents, associated 1T Rome and the other Papal cities,
would suffice TO prevent them from becoming the rally
ing point of European disatfcction. Ii Is scarcely posi-
BILE to suppose that these costly ornaments, these move.
ments of troops to and fro, these occupations and for.
tiications in "a territory containing only some three or
four millions of people, in these days no great warriors,
can regard only the care Of an historical site, the sanctity
ola See, or The safety of an ecclesiastical parsonage.
What is this but the plainest hypocrisy 2 1t il to make
Rome an idle pretence and a public nuisance. The real
question, TO speak the plain TRUTH, which brings the Gaul
once more to the Capitol, and makes the halls of the Ca.
sars echo his incessant drum and ring with his shrl
trumpet, is not that the pilgrim may continue to bow be-
fore his Holy Father, but that France may have a boun.
Diary more to her taste, and may have at least all westof
the Rhine and the Alps. Ii this cannot be, at least it Is
worth trying for; the hope is something the attempt
has its value. Napoleon III must keep himself wei up
TO the expectations of the people, and seem n, least to be
on the point of doing great things. He must have an ar
my and a revenue, and these require an ~ostensible object
The vulgar substance of these hopes is north of the Alps;
the shadows and words of them are south Of the mighty
barrier. No doubt Italy itself, now as of old, since the
beginning Of history, has been a prize worth the winning
in Gallic eyes. We dismiss from the question any present
hope Of acquiring the soil of Italy. Yet we do say, with.
out reserve, it is a vulgar question Of dominion and power
that draws both France and Austria to Rome, and it is
really conquest which they seek by arms.
But we have now the gratifying, and not less surprb-
ing, assurance, from the lips of Mr.. Disraeli, that France
and Austria have agreed to withdraw their forces from
the Papal States, and leave the model government to iis
own favor with its people. They have discovered that IL
is possible, or within the bounds of hope, that the little
realm blessed with an actual theoc,acy may 90 on as
peaceably as any other small State. 1t is not expressly
stated how Rome is to be left, and how the security Of the
Pontif is to be provided for. Perhaps the Roman Cath.
Ole powers will assume a protectorate, even at the cost
of %imparing the spiritual character of the Roman polity.
Perhaps they will merely garrison a few forts and towns.
Perhaps they may even try the experiment OF leaving
Rome and the States of the Church quite to themselves.
At all events, they have consented to withdraw their
armies, and so to abate the threatenings that lately thun.
dcred over Europe, The whole world will rejoice TO bear
what, In fact, Is a reprieve to millions of lives, doomed
otherwise To perish in the cause of Catholic piety aud am.
bition. Even in this island we seem to feel sccurer and
to sit easier. For our defence, indeed, we must still do
our best, for that rests with ourselves. England must
not he at the mercy of negotiation, or find herself I'M
armed In the neighborhood of a continent under arms,
and, II not at war, on its very eve. Who knows how
soon powers that have quarrelled for ambition, and made
up for convenience, may make a common cause against
usf Should they ever do so, they must find us prepared.