The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-02-24
The Emperor and the Pope.

If it is ever possible upon reflection to re-
joice in an act of despotic authority, the
world has good cause for satisfaction at the
suppression of the Paris Univers. That Jour-
nal has long been one of the chief support
ers of those ultra montana opinions which
are now seeking to reduce the Catholicism OF
the nineteenth century to the level of earlier
times. 1t was journal which seemed to have
no right to place in this modern world of
ours. when men are beginning to see that
there are rights deserving respect, besides
those Of reignins dynasties and heirarchies
it might have made an efficient organ for
Charles IN, but it seemed hardly toerable
that in the time, not to say under the reign,
of Napoleon ILL.,, this supporter of obsolete
errors should claim the attention and sup
port of the public; and it required very
refined and abstract love of the liberty of the
press to make one content that this journal
should enjoy that federation which its own
principles did not encourage. Now that the
deed Is done. there seems to be a sort of re-
tributive justice in the fact that the Cnivers
met its fate from an act Of authority resting
upon a decree relative to the press, made
few ears ago, and the appearance of which
the tnivers alone Of all the Paris journals
hailed with satisfaction.
This act of the imperial government, how
ever, seems to have most significant bear
ing as regards the European question and
the designs Of the Emperor. 1t has been re-
marked by some of the English journals,,hat
the selection of the particular offense of pub
fishing the Popes encyclical letter, as rea-
son for suppressing the Univers, has occa-
stoned some surprise. In fact the document
Itself. the more important part of which we
print elsewhere. seems scarcely to be such as.
even under the French censorship. rendered
so severe a Judgment necessary. Its attack
upon the imperial policy is neither in terms
nor IN substance more severe or objectiona-
bic than that of other documents which have
been printed with impunity. ard by no means
50 severe nor couched in language so Often
sve as much that has appeared in the Uni
vers itself. 1t is a paper of great political
Importance, but even that, We think, would
hardly have led to what ensued, but for de-
sign Oh the part of the Emperor to throw
down the gauntlet openly and take his posi-
ton before the world, upon the Italian cues.
ton.
The suppression of the Univers for this
publication now makes the antagonism be-
tween the Emperor and the Pope complete.
The former has offered his plan ofsettlement.
the latter has declined it, and the journal
which dared to print the refusal is suppress
ed,-wl'at then is the Emperor's disposition
towards him who wrote the refusal? We
row seem at last to have reached the turning
point in this long and complicated story
Cavour has returned to his old place in the
Sandman cabinet and in the politics of Italy.
The Italian peninsula is still thronged with
French troops in such force as to compel Aus
trla to stay her hand, even if she were dis.
posed to embroil herself once more; and the
French Emperor, the man who controls the
secret springs of al! these movements. has
now testified in the most public manner his
determination to place no obstacle in the way
Of the freedom Of Central Italy. What then
is to oppose that freedom, and what power is
there which at this moment is in position
&c come forward aud dictate to him any
change of policy?
bile there seems to be no alternative for
'he Rope out the surrender of the Romagna,
and while this seems almost certain to he ar.
companied by the final liberation of Central
Italy from all further dread of Italian power
1t Is interesting to observe by what instru-
ment the chief actor has promoted this con-
summation. Hardly any other monarch hol.
ding position like his would have veptured
to avail! himself of revolutionary elements in
general European crisis, and yet this is the
cHitf influence which he has brought to bear
IN ihl, delicate discussion. What was it hut
organized revolution that effected the COM
ple'e expulsion Of Austria? What but the
fear of revolution constitutes the pressure
new bearing upon the Pope. or causes him
to dread the withdrawal of French pro,ec-
f,on-"hat else will lead him to forego his
CLANS upon his former subjects? That mind
must needs be both clear and bold in its CON-
cepf'on>' which can thus tempt danger with
lmpun:ty and can summon up such agencies
secure III the full control Of their Destructive