Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-06
RICHMOND WHIG.
SUPREMACY OF THE POPE.

FROM bts London ltUes.
He mus. be dull observer Of the signs Of the times
Who does not see that the question OF the Popes tempo
RAJ power is shortly TO be cecided The hour has come
when the French Emperor must make known TO the
world his hna determination. There is an European
opinion which the most powerful cannot disregard and
that opinion Is unanimous in favor Of declaration OF
French policy. Both Liberals and Uramontanes con-
denim the attitude which the French Emperor maintains
at the present time Ii is neither reverentia to the
Holy Father, just to the Italian people, eour,e-
Gus 70 the English allies that be should proiong month
after month the dsquiet OF Central Italy, neither pro
tectng the Pope nor siding With Victor Emmanuel nor
yielding the wish Of the British Government that the
question should be speedily settled The present sua-
is evidently nolerabe for all parties and We may
expect that few weeks will bring about
The realization oil great many hopes ana
fears. The commotOn which has rcigned during the
last fortnight in Paris be the beginning OF he
end. q. de LlguerOnaiere's pamphlet, the ma'dessHt
of the Bishop OF Poters and the debates in the Senate
must be taken together and they show that both the
Government purposes and the public expects some IN
pOrtaut action IN Italian affairs But cannot help
thinking that there sgus OF still greater revolution
IL beyond doubt chat lere friendship between
"Pate" aud "Herod" though they may have been for
mery at eumi;y between themselves "PIlate has just
recognized that the Pope is within "Herods JurSdc-
ton, and Is Washing bis hands comiotIbly But what
is "Herod doing? SUppteSSing converts, Sequsslntng
ecclesiastical fluids untrOskEg Bishops Sublecung the
clergy TO civil Tribunals aud ab,Olyng the Popes Ate
subjects from their allegiance to hun and his PrelAure
l. such an example likely TO be lost upon PLATE; Hap
PLY for the reputation OF the French Church, 1t has al
ready gone through The fiery trial The Revolution OF
1889 IS left it little which the covetous statesmen OF
this world can de sire to lay their hands Ii is poor and
laborious and selfdenying and practises every en-
forced virtue in most exemplary manner. But 1t Is not
long suffering or meek it is very muched pulled up and
thinketh great deal OF evil ruler like Napoleon is
moi likely to remain unnhleueed by what is passing 10
IL stitutiOnai SOVprpiuu Int the
other day AS of little account any OF his now dScrown-
"a Italian broheis il without danger, and even with
the approb alton OF liberal Roman Catholics, makil him
self master OF Lis domiuons, and placing the altar
IN due >ulecOn the throne. At the same time the
Pope and his d,oeerOus advisers carrying things
to exremites both in Italy and France. Nothing that
Ills Holiness has dOue in his country is than
his refusal to institute the Bishops appointed by the Chief
OF the French Empe. To avail himself OF all the rights
conferred on hig by the COncOrdat may be spirited
but is not udiOls exercise OF authority The stupid
nsratitude Of the Pepl CAmarlla does indeed pass
d,rstanding They cannot but be aware that man like
the French Emperor will strongly resent their conduct,
aud it thew are blind they must perceieve how much
they are t his mercy and how completely they may lose
not ony their temporal power il Italy but their spiritual
l0Ser in France.
The Bishop OF Potiers as an acute ec,leias.c,
10 have suspected what might come when he issued his
famous laa.legsut Never sine the iCuadation Of the
Empire In 1852 has priest dared TO write so boldly,
htttilN, anu We luhN SAs % WI. A't.Sai NV
i've Is rare in these DAYS of courtesy and mutual ccEces
sion The times when opposing statesmen thrsted for
each Others blood the times even, when, like Flt ard
Fox they never entered the room are goue by.
species Of literature has sure by this soiening OF man
ners As authors hives much more Interesting when
thsy assaied each other in GrubSreet than now that
they devote themselves TO mutual sdu ion, polite al
history had more life and spirit IN plst times than 10
our own The Bishop of Poi iers has studied the Old
masters Of the art Ct teuuuCiiOU he writes IN the
best stye Of intolerance and defiance. But throughout
il /, evident that he ia without hope. Ii lie hoped Ee
would De aore gentle sud Orgiypg FOR who would be
merciess 10 an Emperor except men on whom al ifre'
v,rble sentence has gone forth: lt was evident tn1i
the Emperor had been gwen over to reprooate ulni
For Two wears past the Church has been in doubt about
him; now those docLts set at rest but mos; pain
Giy Formerly His Majssty wss "Diocletian," now he
il Pltc;" il wants perhaps but The entry the Pied
montese troops into Rome TO confer him the name OF
Judas In short there Is War between the Emperor Ma
pOleon and his clergy lie has with wonderful patience
ana orbearance endeavOred to draw them over TO b-
er policy and 10 iusti into them patrio c feelings but
he has been wholly unsuccessful ami We have II now
from the lips Of the all thai they have but one mist'r
the Pope We NAV well excuse the teaStre Of Ills
HoiaCs no Irish fedSt when find that divided al
eeance i. held by the aatee of the mos; powerful AID
perhaps the mos, strci OF the Continental oyernucDs
IL NAV be; however that this ev is about 70 work rs
own cure Ia the present relations which now prevail
between the State and the Church in France, the Empe
Obliged 20 SIT and see ms pans thWafeu DIS peO-
ne, attachment 20 the Throne lesseuej his own
family life dsrespcctiuS alluded TO- aad all because the
clergy have a foreign master. What u kapoic0n Jere
70 determine on making the Church Of France rb:ion
Al anl independent and not a vassa Church: Stranger
things haze happened in the history OF revolutionary
France The lesson Gf the present year may possibly not
be lost upon military ruler aud his worldly counsel Or
Nav there are Priests and perhaps, even Bishop. who
would be glad to see the Gacsn liberties restored, and
the successor ofSt Peter Acknowledged the rma'e OF
the Christian Church while his claim to absolute spirit
nal power was rejected The Ultramontanes have car
red things With SO gh hand since lN3. that they have
aEenated thousands OF resiousy disposed people
The abohtiouc tie Fgeneh provincial lituges and the
substitution of the komsh Service .hoagu uC~ry tue
whole OF France j. though the greatest not the only
eneroachmen made by the Ultramontanes Al the pres
ent time also the Pope has thought fit to give his pro-
tector no little trouble with respect TO the confirmation
of Bisbops What if Napoleon were TO revise the Con-
corlat so as 10 have preates after his own choice with
out the iuteireree OF the Vstcany That change
of the kind is possible ne fglly believe. Perhaps the
Bishcp of Poiuers iray live TO poiat 10 his oo thS
asfa prodigy that the spirits OF two achsEuers have
met in the Iub rial breast aud that the ruler they elect
ed is no, only, as he has already Saiied hiu lase b
Henry VIII.