The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-02-01
THE ROMAN QUESTION

FROM ue european Times, Jan 7h1
NOW that the idea of a general Congress of the
European Powers, for the settlement of the Italian
dliflcuty, appears on all hands to be abandoned
rumor, with her hundred tongues, is at work pre-
parlng new solution. Amongst the latest may be
mentioned a statement which appears to have re-
ceved some credence in Paris 1t is to this effect.
that France and England with the consent or
connivance of Russia and Prussia will give Savoy
and Nice to France, and Genital Italy, including the
Romagnas, to Sardinia We are further told that
as the wishes ofthe Emperor of the French have
been so thoroughly thwarted at Rome he has de-
termned to draw his troops from the Eternal CITY,
ana, IN anticipation of that event, the Papal Gov
ernment Is busily engaged enlisting German and
other troops to maintain its position But here
a3aln the conflicting elements come into play for
a letter in the Potrie from Rome, declares that
Sardinia has assured the Holy See that it would
consider the enlistment of German volunteers for
the Papal army as a violation of the principle of
non-intervention and had threatened if the enlist
ments continued, to dispatch Sandman troops into
the Legations.
Can this question be settled without bIoodsbed L?
The Pope, deserted by France, and with Central
and Northern Italy arrayed against him, has no
prospect OF recovering his possessions by moral
means, and if he were to apply coercion to his
refractory subjects it is clear that no army which
he could bring into the field would be strong
enough for the purpose. The only Power which
could Interfere with any chance of success is Aus
tria, and she would unhesitatngy do so, even with
Hungary ripe for rebellion, if France had not en-
phatcaiiy declared that she would not permit the
| outrage. =
| The leviathan of the metropolitan press vester-
| day, in leading article on the rumor that Count
alewskl, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs,
| mad reslgned-a statement which is now confirmed
| is at issue with the journal we have quoted as TO
the policy which this country ought to pursue in
| the present continental crisis or more properly
speaking, dead lock- 1t turns the "cold shoulder
| TO our French alley, and its reasoning NAV be
| summed up in sentence-"You are in a precious
mess; get out of it best you can' AS the same
organ of opinion, though cold to-day, may be very
warm to morrow in the opposite direction, we will
| make free to quote a line or two from its latest
views with reference to the great Roman question,
| which involves not merely Italian but European
| liberty :-"Napoleon the Third" saws the Oracle.
rs now in the difficulty which commonly besets
| clever people who play double game-he has on
ly choice oftwo evils. He must break his en-
gagements with Austria, and protect Italy against
iorelgn interference, or he must drop his engage
ments with Austria, abandon Italy to her fate and
confess before the world that his idea was delu.
sion, and Magenta'and Soierino but hideous blum
ders Ii he adopt the first alternative he risks a
collision with all the Catholic powers of Europe: If
he adopt the latter, he becomes ridiculous in the
eyes OF a nation which can better endure grind
ing tyranny than singing epigram.''
TIE TEMPORAL Power OF THE PopE.-Tbe Bisbons
OF France have issued their manifesto on the Italian
question, In which the temporal sovereignty of the
Pope is an ingredient The Bishops of the Province
OF New \ ork now promulgate their views in a very
uOculnent Wnlcn IS published the
| New York Herald of yesterday The manifesto
thus dispeses of the Legitimacy of the title of the
| Pope:
ellis title, as it stands to-day is beyond all dis
pute the most Legitimate that can be put forward
| by any sovereign in Europe or in the world =
But some, perhaps, will inquire into the origin of
this title We answer that the origin does not ap-
| pear on the human record All we know is that
after the conversion of Constantine the Great the
seat OF empire was transferred from Rome to Bg-
zantium. During the immediate subsequent ares
the Emperor and his successors withdrew not ONLY
their presence but also their protection from the
people of Italy. The people ceased not to invoke
the aid OF the Emperor in periods of trial and of
desolation, of famine, pestilence and invasion by
| barbarous nations. To their appeal no answer
came, nor any aid. In these trying circumstances
the peepe raised their hands to the sovereign Pom
tiff, calling upon him to be their temporal saviour
as we'll as their father. = The temporal
authority of the emperors rom Constantine the
Great ceased to be exercised in what is now called
the States of the Church, but especially in that Dor
| tion which was more Immediately connected with
the imperial city of Rome 1t was not usurped bv
| the Holy Father 1t was rather forced upon him
| by the wishes and clamor of a neglected and un-
! governed people, 1t was res derelicta But st
all events In the origin of the temporal power of
| the Pope, he was the chosen ruler of the Italian
people, within the limits of what afterwards became
| his civil jurisdiction. Popular history states that
| at a subsequent period Pepin and Charemappe OF
France made him donation of this same territory.
with additional grants of extension as to its sur.
| face and population. The merit of their con-
duct on that occasion consists in the fact that they
reverenced and strengthened in the Supreme Sow
eregn of the Church title with which he was
| already invested. They were Catholic princes
| They could have taken away from the Pope his
! temporal dominion. But instead of doing so thew
| confirmed it.