Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-16
The Pope and the People,

USCATlNE, low A,
The Pope and the People.
The writer in the Enquirer, who signs
himself "Libertas," Is out with rejoinder tc
our last article on this subject, in which he
strenuously perseveres in the effort to mapu
facture sympathy for the disconsolate pontif,
and prop up his tottering throne. As refer
ence was before invited to history in proof Of
the mild, unambitious and salutary character
of the papal sway, we took occasion to direct
attention to Gregory VII, as a type Of that
power when in the full scope of its exercise,
We found Inn exalting himself above the
kings of the earth, and exacting the most
shamefully humliatins submission. The
specious plea that Henry was merely put
through course of spiritual discipline will
not suffice to shield from observation the
motive of vaulting ambition, that could brook
no authority Of any kind superior to its own,
which prompted the Pope to measures of such
extreme rigor. Thus it happened that, instead
of this act meeting the appreciation of the
people, it was, upon sober second thought,
repudiated by them, and Gregory driven in
disgrace from his capital. The nature of the
protest under which we admitted the first
proposition 1.-THE papal dynasty not founded
in robbery and bloodshed" which was
mentally reserved only for the purpose OF
economising space, is this: While no violent
demonstration Immediately preceded the
Inauguration Of this power, the responsibility
of which can be directly affirmed against the
bishops, they nevertheless invoked, from time
to time, the ''secular arm" as it was called,
(the aid of loyal sovereigns,) by diplomatic
arts and intrigues, in manner that occasioned
the shedding of blood and acts of spoliation,
In order to accomplish their ambitious design
in the progressive development and establish
ment of the papal supremacy. utthis question
does not really affect the subsequent one as
to the practical working of that dominion.
In answer to the second proposition-"The
Popes never endeavored to extend their terri
tory"-it is probably true that power,
always obnoxious at home, Qor reasons
"Libertas" should have the shrewdness to
guess,) and encountering there the most
violent opposition, was ever unable to crafty
itself in this respect. The Popes, however,
betrayed the fact that territorial acquisitions
were ardently coveted in their assuming the
title of Lords of the Universe" making the
barren affirmation that the whole earth was
their property, and, upon the discovery of
America and the Indies, actually making
formal grant of them to Spain and Portugal.
Besides, the States of the Pope haze undergone
a very considerable amount of variation;
their extent has been diminished and increased
according to the will Of superior powers and
the fortunes Of war.
With regard to the remaining proposition
"The Popes ever espoused the cause of the
people"-we should like to see circum-
stantial proof of it, some item of history from
which it appears that the Pope ever once
surrendered his prerogative to rule over the
people, and was actuated by virtuous zeal
for human rights and human liberty. Gibbon
SAYS, "The banners of the Church of Rome
have neeer been found on the side of the
peopler' We think "Libertas" would be
puzzed to show an instance in which the
intervention of a pontiff did not tend to his
own personal ggrandizement, ifnot expressly
designed to accomplish that object. 1t is
contended on the authority Of an American
Protestant writer, that papacy distinguished
itself, in the middle ages, as the only advocate
of the rights of man, the refuge of the dis
tressed, the helper of the injured, the only
hope of learning, source Of agricultural
improvement, &C.. Well, we are willing it
shall have the credit for everything Of this
sort enjoyed in the "Dark Ages" an estimate
of which may be found in the suggestive
remarks with which Gibbon closes his famous
history: "The effects of their 1.-THE Popes')
temporal government may be collected from
the positive and comparative view Of the arts
and philosophy, the agriculture and trade, the
wealth and population, of the ecclesiastical
state. For myse!t, it IS my s0ish to depart in
charity soith all mankind, nor am l oilling,
in these last moments, to offend euen the Pope
and clergy Of Roms." Macaulay ga distin-
guished writer, lately deceased,") says:
"Throughout christendom, whatever advance
has been made in knowledge, in freedom, in
wealth, and in the arts Of life, has been in
inverse proportion to the papal power. The
loveliest and most fertile provinces of Europe
have, under it's rule, been sunk in poverty, in
political servitude, and intellectual torpor.
The only apparent exception is France, and it,
when examined, will be found to confirm the
rule, for in no country that is called Roman
Catholic has that power, during several gen.
erations, possessed so little authority as in
France" e.E.r,
To prove that Italy is to-day as she has
frequently before been in rebellion against the
Pope, score of competent witnesses are
ready to take the stand. The testimony of
Edmond About is already before us, and
cannot be fairly impeached. LIE Guerroniere,
in his pamphlet, 1.-The Pope and the Congress"
arguing for limitation only of the papal
jurisdiction, says: "Since the treaties of 1915,
the Romagna has suffered not less than twenty
years of Austrian occupation. y Of
what avail are any illusions? By combina-
ton of many circumstances, by succession
of causes that 60 far back into history, the
temporal power of the Pope is seriously men,
aced. The Holy See is placed on volcano,
and the pontiff, who is charged by God to
make peace in the world, is himself constantly
threatened with revolution. He, the august
representative of the highest moral authority