The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-10

THE PAPAL Observation-Disclosures OF THE RO-
MAN NoBHTx-An address has been got up by
the Roman nobility to the Pope, which affords a
will 60 in defiance of class privileges. 1t un
deytakes vindication of Papal policy, and
~iDos up With prayer for the continuance of
the blessings Of theocratical government. The
fact that out Of the l45 Patrician families of
Rome, 40 signatures have been obtained to this
document, would tell sadly against the intelli.
gepce and patriotism Of that body but for the
redeeming circumstance that the heads of tho
Roman arstocracy, such as the Prince Doria,
two of the Rospigliosi, three Piombini, two
Massimi, the Duke Of Gcrmaneta, the Duke of
Fiano, the Duke of Lante, one of the Vitelles-
Chi. Prince Gabrielii. Prince Torlonia and Signor
Malatesta, have refused to append their names
to it. II is stated that out of the number who
have signed the address at least two thirds are
officeholoers, fact which at once explains the
manner in which the document was got up.
That the Roman government should have re-.
course to a contrivacce of this kind is evidence
of the desperate condition to which it feels it.
self reduced. Certificates of character in cir
cums'ances ofpolitcai distress are not, however,
likely TO avail much in our day. The Roman
question, like all Others involving material in.
teretts, bias to be settled on data more positive.
IL is not likely, therefore. that the Holy Father
will produce much effect on the mind of Europe
by this piece OF compulsory testimony. The
ahuses of the Papal system are too we'll es.
tablisbeo to be palliated by the slavish asseve.
ra,ioDs Of q class who have SO strong an inte-
rect in uphoding them. At the same time we
cannot but look upon the fact Of the Holy
Father having recourse to such means of de-
fence az proof that he is awakening to sense
of the force Of public opinion.
All such efforts on the part Of the Pope are
now too late. The time was when by judicious
and opportune reforms he might have averted
the political doom with which he is threatened.
Now he has passed out of the circle of the
diplomatic necessities which have to be con.
ciliated, and bis interests will be disposed Of
without reference to traditional prejudices.
AS a political sovereign he weighs like an
incubus upon Europe, and men have made up
their minds to get rid Of him. The storm
raised by the ultramontane party, with view
to force the Catholic world into defence of
his pretensions, has found but small echo.
The struggle which has been carried on be-.
tween the bigots and fanatics of the Church
and its intellectual elements has eliminated
in the utter defeat of the former. Rational
Catholicity has no longer any sympathy with
pretensioDs which are based on injustice and
oppression, and even the inferior clergy admit
that it is for the interest of religion that an end
should be put to a system which has brought
SO much discredit and odium upon it. Were
the paItisans of the Papal government wise
they would oppose less fierce resistance to
measures which it is wholly out of their power
to avert. The only effect of their violence will
be to prevent compromise, and thus to rem
der it imperative upon the European govern.
ments to reduce the Popedom to the proper
tons that it occupied previous to the time of
Constantine.