, 1861-03-16
e: - = -. ;" # ..--
Gbitago Criht1tte.
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1861.
ITALY AND THE POPE.

ITALH AND THE POPE.
The late pamphlet of II. La -Guerro-
Mere, published by authority Of the French
Minister the Interior, has drawn the pub
lie attention very generally to the present
phase Of Italian affairs, and especially to
the decaying sceptreo of the poor old Pope.
Without reviewing the events Of the past
six months, which have trodden upon each
others, heels almost Us rapidly as the
changes in American affairs, we find an
existing stnt,ts, Of Italy united under con-
stitutfoaal government from the Alps 10
the shoot heel" except the ancient oil
garchy Of Venice and the ancient dcsrot-
ism Of Romc-the Inst Bourbon driven
from Parma and Naples, the last Austrian
from, Tuscany md 1todena-the Pope
quarreling with the Emperor, and The SUBJ
jects Of the Pope making bontires for Vic
tor Emanuel-the deliverer Of two king
don,s muttering threats from lis island
farm ag,ins! the Austrian domination ut
the North, and the sagacious premier Of
Sardinia endeayoring to hold in check his
aggressive projects. This is substantially
the present position of the Italian rcyolu-
lion.
None but the blindest deyotec Of the
Papacy can hope either for reinstatement
Of the "Holy Fathers temporal sovcr-
eighty in the revolted provinces, or for the
preservation Of his limited sway in Rome
itself. It is the devout theory Of all true
believers in the Church, that, however tile
storms Of this world may assail the rock Of
St Peter, nothing shall oyerwhelm it; but
it shall stand firm and immovable
through all generations. They assume
that the Almighty is somehow conf
mitted to its stability, and that whether
Emperors, Kings or people rise up
against II, their Vaccinations shall all be
brought to nought By special Divine i'll
terference. For the truth of the assump-
tion they appeal to history, and show how
often the "Vicar of Christ has been in
exile and in prison, and how regularly lie
has been restored to the Eternal City and
the scepter of the papal dominions re-
placed in his hands. They forget that all
former sequestrat:ons Of the pontifcal
states. except those Of 1913 and 1876, were
the result Of mere personal quarrels
between the sovereigns Of France,
Germany and Spain, and in obedience
to no popular movement deep
seated and abiding in the hearts Of
Italians themselves. The eonvulsions of
'99 and '48 were a part Of the great ground
swell Of liberty which has now become too
strong for Emperors or Kings. The inter-
rention Of dcspoic Europe was required
to give back to Plus VII the temporal sway
Of the Roman States, at the former period,
and the Intervention Of 4 French army
alone restored Plus IL to the Vatican in the
latter, aud has alone restrained the populace
from expelling him ever since. At1his nc
ment we find the elements Of national inda-
pendence and unity stronger than ever
before, the obstinacy and bigotry Of Pope
as blind and l1nreasoning as ever, and
the foreign bayonets upon which lis throne
has rested fifty years about to be with
drawn. What must lie The result? The
opinion Of France, and indeed Of Europe,
is that the temporal power Of the Papacy
must now see its end. Plus lX charges
the responsibility Of the dire event upon
Napoleon. Napoleon, with more truth
and better temper, charges it upon the old
time tyranny and ignorance O! the Pope
himself, who will neither reform lis
wretched government nor heed the march
OF great events going on around him.
It is plain That the Papacy is fast dis
appearing from among the sovereignties Of
the world. The pamphlet Of IL lie Gucr-
roniere says with fine sarcasm: eve
"tgive to his Holiness number of souls
more than sufficient to compensate the
"loss ofsubjects; we enlarge every day tie
" frontiers Of the true empire whose seat is
Rome" Whether the vast spiritual power
of the Pope will long outlast the overthrow
OF his temporal sway, is one Of the most
interesting problems the world has ever
seen solved.