Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-10-31
Ihe Standard.
THE ITALIAN REVOLUTION.
THE PAPAL ALLocUTIoN.

.s THE PAPAL ALL0CUTI0N.
The following is the allocution pronounced by his
Holiness, Plus TX at the secret oonsistory Of the
28th ult
VENERABLE BRETHREN: 1t is with incredible PAIN
and profound sorrow that we are forced to deplore
and condemn new attacks unheard of till these days,
committed by the Piedmontese government against
us, the Holy See and the Catholic Church. That
government you are aware, abusing the victory
which by the aid of warlike and great nation It
had gained in most disastrous war, extended Its
sway over Italy, IN defiance of all laws, human and
divine. After exciting the populations to revolt,
and with monsrous injustice driving the legitimate
sovereigns from their dominions, it invaded and
usurped by an iniquious and truly sacrllgeons ACT
certain provinces Of Emilia subject to our Pontcal
authority Now, while the Catholic world, respond
ing to our most just and grievous complaints ceases
not to protest against this mpous usurpation, that
same government arrogates to itself other provinces
of the HOLY See in the Picenum, Umbria and the
patrimony of St. Peter. Seeing the population OF
those provinces in the enjoyment of the most per-
feet tranquility and faithfully attached to US not
withstanding that a lavish expenditure OF money
and other perverse dealings had failed to ssaSee
them from our leglmate civil government and that
of the Holy See, it then let loose upon those pro-
yinces band of worthless men to excite troubles
and sedition and afterwards sent a numerous army
to attack those same provinces and subject them by
force Of arms
You are well aware venerable brethren, Of the
impudent letter addressed to Cardinal, the Min
lister Of Forign Affairs by the Piedmontese govern
ment to Justify its brigandage. 1t is not ashamed
to tell us that orders have been given to its troops
to occupy our provinces, if did not Immediately
dismiss the foreigners enrolled in our small army,
raised solely to secure the tranquility of our Pom
tifical dominions and their populations; and you
arc aware that at the very time that letter was re-
ceived, those provinces were actually occupied by
the Piedmontese troops. Verify it is impossible not
to be deeply moved and indignant in presence of
these false accusations, the various calumnlcs, and
the outrages with which that government is not
ashamed to cover its impous and hostile aggression
against the civil authority Of the Roman Church,
and to attack our own government. Who would
not be astonished to see our government taken to
task for enrolling foreigners in our army when eve
rybody knows that none can refuse to a legitimate
government the right of enlisting foreigners among
its troops! Assuredly this right belongs in spe-
cial manner to our government and that OF the Holy
See, since the Roman Pontif. the common father of
all the faithful cannot decline to receive with all his
heart those who, influenced by religious zeal, wish
to serve in the Pontiical army and lend their aid
to the defence of the Church. Here it must be OBJ
served that this concourse Of foreign Catholics is
chiefly due to the perversity of those who have as
sailed the civil power of the Holy See. No one, in
deed, can be ignorant of the indignation and grief
which seized the whole Catholic world at the news
of the unjust and impous aggression on the domin-
ions of the Apostolic See great number of the
faithful, from different countries eagerly FASTENED
of their own accord towards our Pontfcal domin-
ions and enrolled themselves IN our army to defend
rights, those Of the Holy See and of the Church
With singular malignity the Piedmontese govern
ment does not hesitate calumniously to stigmatize
our soldiers mercenares--our soldiers, Of whom
great number, both natives and foreigners, of TO
bic extraction and bearing llustrous Names have de-
termned to serve in our army without pay, and
solely out of love for religion. The Piedmontese
government well knows the Dcorruptble fidelity of
our army, and how useless were all the pe1fdious
maneuvres employed. 1t is useless to offer any
retation of the false accusation of barbarty brought
against troops, since the calumnators can pro-
-drce no produce no proof of the charge; and what
is more, this same accusation may with justice be
thrown back on themselves, and fully justified by
the atrocious procamatons issued by the chiefs Of
the Piedmontese army.
1t is we'll to remark here that our government
could have no suspicion OF this hostile invasion,
since it had received the assurance that the Pied.
montese troops were approaching our territory, not
as invaders, but to protect it from bands of dsor-
derby persons. The General-in-Chef of our troops,
therefore, could not think that We would have to
fight against the Piedmontese army. The aspect of
Things having changed contrary to all right and all
expectation, soon he learned the hostile inva-
sion Of an army evidently stronger and more num-
erous than his, he wisely resolved to retire to the
fortress of Ancona, order not to expose our sol
diers to inevitable destruction, but being stopped
on his march by the enemy's troops, he could not
but fight to open way for himself and his soldiers
At the same time, however, that we award due
and weldeserved praise to the Generalin-C Chief of
troops to the officers and to the soldiers, who
when attacked unawares by the enemy. fought most
bravely, though inferior in numbers for the cause
of God, Of the Church, of this Apostolic See, and
Of justice, can with difficulty restrain our tears
on learning how many valiant soldiers, young men
Of rank especially whom their faith and noble hearts
had induced to fly to the defence of the temporal
power of the Roman Church, have met with death
in this unjust and cruel INVASION We deeply SYM
pathize with the mourning into which their families
are plunged. God grant that we may lie able to
dry up the tears Of those families by our words. 1t
will be for them, at least so we trust, ground of
no little consolation that the honorable MENTION so
well merited, that we make of their fallen rea-
tives prove the signal example Of faith devotedness
and love towards ourselves and this Holy See,
which they have by immortalizing their names.
given to the Christian world We further cherish
the hope that all those who have glorously fallen
luz LUG ChuSc VI tiS OHui Will IndL etcTHdl
peace and beatitude for which we have prayed, and
shall pray increasingly, to the most High and most
gracious God We must also here award the praises
due to our dear SONS, the Governors of Provinces
especially the Provinces Of Urbino, Pesaro and
Spoleto who, in the midst of the gloomy vcissitudes
Of the times have constantly and courageously per
formed their duties.
But now venerable brethren, who could tolerate
the glazing impudence and hypocrisy with which
the infamous aggressors dare, in their procamations
to say that they enter into provinces to reestab
lish there the principles of moral order? And THU
rash affirmation is made by those who, declaring ar
implacable war against the Catholic Church, its
ministers and its property and absolutely despisine
the laws and ecclesiastical censures have not hesita
ted to throw into irons either eminent Cardinals o
the Holy Roman Church, or Bishops, or the mos
honorable men of one or the other clergy to driv
religious communities from their own monasteries
to rob the Church of its property, and to devasat
the patrimony of the Holy See. The principles o
moral order would therefore be re-established BY
those who found public schools Of every false doc
fr.no md oc rho on h,