The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-16
EapoIcon's Life In Danger.

against Napoleon, the Ianauclsm OF tue DISH
ops and clergy of France has been kindled
into terrible fame, which is famed into
fercer energy by the Emperor's suppression of
the Unirers. His life is in danger-greater
danger from this religious fanaticism than it
was from the political fanaticism of Orsini and
the red republican revolutionists. They know
that he is master of the situation, and that he
can carry out his ideas as effectually by mas
terly inactivity as by the most vigorous mea-
sures They see the Romagna annexed to
Piedmont, beyond the power of the Pope or of
Austria to prevent it, and they are maddened
to desperation. The Italian question is practi-
cally settled by his plans, without Congress,
and settled too, in the interest of civilization,
liberty and progress. All the Establishments of
fattery and all the terrors of intimidation,
spiritual fulminations and combinations of
earthly power, have equally failed to bend him
from his inhexible purpose. The Catholic po-
pulation Of Europe are too enlightened at this
time of day to fight for temporal crown for
the successor of St. Peter.
AS, therefore, Napoleon cannot be reached in
any other way, tits highly probable that attempts
will soon be made upon his life. More assassi-
nations of crowned heads and men in power
have arisen from religious fanaticism than from
protection of the Huguenots from religious per-
secution, by his PRONUNCIATION of the celebrated
Edict of Nantes, rendered him obnoxious to the
bloodthirsty spirit of an intolerant age, is re-
markable example of this. He fell in the
streets, in the open day, stabbed by fanatical
priest named Ravilliac. He was the greatest
prince ever known in France-the best and
bravest of its kings. And now the greatest
statesman France has since seen-the greatest of
modern times stands in imminent peril of being
taken off in the same way. Zealots like the assas
sin of Henry ~. believe that "the end sanctifes
the MEANS" and the world need not be sur
prised if some of them, stimulated by the Bour-
bons, should, with poignard or poison, strike
down the ruler of France.
But if Napoleon falls, he will bring down
with him Church and Pope and all, as Samson
brought down the temple of the Philistines on
the heads Of his enemies as well as his own.
So far from the Pope being served by such an
event, the revolution which Napoleon now
holds in check would burst out worse than it
did in 1892, and hang every priest
and bishop to the first lamp post or
the next tree. Not vestige of
the temporal power of the Pope would be left
on earth-even :" the Eternal City" would no
longer own his sway, and Pho Mono and his
successors would come down from a regal
throne to the level of the poor fishermen, who
possessed neither silver nor gold, and had not
a second coat to wear. Venice, which pants
for the freedom of the Romagna, and Hungary,
which struggles in the chains which the Haps-
burg has thrown around her, would once more
become Independent sovereignties, and all Eu-
rope would be lighted up with the revolution
airy flames.
But it may be that heaven has hedged Ma
poleon round in order to carry out its own
purposes, and that till his destiny is accom-
plished he has a charmed life. His mission
seems to be to punish one by one the parties
to the treaty of Vienna. He has humbled
Russia, be has laid low the pride of Austria,
and he now takes in hand the Pope. Whether
he will live long enough to avenge Waterloo
and his uncle by the humiliation OF England,
the principal party to the infamous compact, is
question which time alone can solve. As 1t
is, the life OF death Of this remarkable man
seems equally pregnant with great events. If
he is not prenaturely cut of by the hand of the
assassin, he will play out the final acts of his
grand role, and the last shall be greater than
.ho frat TT no falls a victim tn rcliUious fano
tcism, his death will be the signal for the break
ing out of long pent up revolutionary tor
nado, which will sweep all Europe, from the
Arctic Sea to the Caspian, and from the Straits
Of Gibraltar to the Ural mountains.
SENATOR HUNTER UPON STATE NvAsIoNs.-We
publish in another column the speech delivered
in the Senate, few days ago, by Senator
Hunter, Of Virginia, upon the invasion OF