The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-12
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, JANUARY IL, 1860


attracted general attention, not solely on account
of the bodness of its views but because it is be-
lieved that these have been sanctioned by the
French EMPEROR. The author is supposed to be
M. LA GuERRoYIERE a well known and influential
writer. The position and prospects of the Pope
are the subject-matter of the pamphlet and, in
connection with these, the duties and probable
intentions of France are also discussed. The
temporal power of the Pope says the writer,
ought to be maintained, but as ''the extent of
'territory is altogether separate from The principle
"of sovereignty" his jurisdiction may very pro-
pery be limited TO the city of Rome This is the
chief point made, though many suggestions are
thrown out in regard to the methods by which
this prospective municipal government is to be
supported and defended, some of which are rs
follows
ellis government being strictly paternal it WERE per-
haps better that should rule small population this
people should have army, press, National Legs
ature its public life should be centered solely its
municipal organization but in return it should among
other benefits enjoy exemption from taxation the Papal
budget should be made up by contributions from all the
Catholic Powers tile tranquility and involabity of the
Holy See and the dignity of the President of the Italian
Confederation must be guarded by select corps chosen
from the Federal army; much municipal liberty as
possible must be granted for the double purpose of
details ard indemnfyng the people by local public life
for their loss of political life"
It is impossible to disguise the fact that this is
direct attack upon the secular power of the
PoPE. The adroit proposition of NJ LA GUERRo-
MERE, that 'the extent of territory is altogether
Separate from the principle of sovereignty" is
true enough in the abstract, but if ruler is
stripped of his dominions he is not less the loser
because of such a concession concerning his right
TO govern. After his jurisdiction has been re-
stricted to Rome ITSELF further application Of
this theory may confne it to his palace and
the adjoining gardens. IF the European
Congress acquiesces in the plan thus set
FORTH it will practically wrest from the Papacy
the temporal authority it has welded for many
centuries. 1t must not be imagined, however, that
the States of the Church have, during this period,
been always comprised within the same boundaries,
that the claim of the Popes to rule as Princes has
never been disputed. RANKE says-sthe papal
"power was not so Interchangeable as is commonly
supposed. If we consider the questions apart
'from those principles upon which its existence
depends and which it cannot abandon without
''consigning itself to destruction, we shall find it
''affected quite as deeply any other government,
'and 10 the very of its being, by the vari
''ous destinies to which the nations of Europe
shave been subjected" The Roman Government
has in its time won and lost provinces precisely as
kings have done, and has fought, negotiated and
solicited like its carnal-minded neighbors. The
Pontifs, from the days when they seized on cities
for their nephews, down to those in which Peru
gia was sacked, have been as busy with political
calculations as the petty Dukes of the adjoining
States. There is no reason, therefore, why their
dominions should not still share the vcisstudes of
nations. 1t need not create surprise if the ap-
preaching Congress deprives the Popedom of the
territory which the Congress of 1915 gave it, nor
indeed would it be extraordinary if the intima-
tons of NJ. La GUERRoNIERE's pamphlet were real
lied. Even before the Reformation it was often
limited that the functions assumed by the Papacy
were inconsistent, and after that event these views
were repeatedly and vehemently pressed in many
quarters the Continent. So general had
they become in Germany about the mid
die of the sixteenth century, that the
Venetian Ambassador GIUsTINIANo an acute and
careful observer of public opinion, enumerated, on
his return from the former country, the conces-
be reconciled to the Church. One of these was
that 'the PoPE must no longer claim to be the
vicegerent of Christ in temporal as we'll as spirit
'ual things" Since then the secular power OF
the Popes so far as it depended on the opinions
and wishes of the civilized world, has been stead
lily on the wane. The conclusion that a theocracy
and monarchy cannot be united in one practical
system advantageously for mankind has now
found very general acceptance among thoughtful
men, and the people of Europe have seen it de.
monstrated in the continued disagreement O
Italy. II then we have not misinterpreted thu
tendencies of the age no one ought to be greatly
startled at such change in the affairs of the Pa
pacy as this pamphlet foreshadows As TO thu
probability Of these things coming soon to pas:
we can only speculate IT. as it is said, the
French EMPEROR read NJ. La GUERRoNIERE' manu-.
script before lis publication, there is every reason
to believe that its theories will speedily become
facts. That potentate is too cautious about hi:
proceedings and is too shrewd Judge of thu
strength and nature of public sentiment to hav,
sanctioned even covertly such arguments as THU
treatise contains, unless he was satisfied they
would meet the approval of the majority of hi
subjects IT. therefore, we could assume that HI
was aware of the contents of this little tract W,
should want no clearer indications of his plans
than we gather from the following signiican
extract:
The Emperor of the French, who has constantly de
ienned the rights of the Holy See has his
authority to appease the spirits of Central Italy and re
conciie the people with their former governments H
as not been able to succeed and has Influence has ailec
before the imposSible.n
As soon as The powers of Europe finally deter
NINE thai, when ''moral authority" has failed, tn
Italians shall be left to regulate their own affairs
they will do all that is necessary for the regene
ration Of Italy. The people in their presen
temper may be relied on, under the gudanc
OF VICTOR EMMANUEL and Count CAvouR, Il
settle old scores satisfactorily with 'their forme
governments" and to establish others unde
fairer auspices.