, 1861-03-15
'sFrance;; Rome and Italy,, By La
Guerronlerc,

This pamphlet, expected by the public for
over three: months, has ct last mnde its appear
ancc t WAS brought to the publisher coun-
ter on the 18th Of February last, and in two
hours the first edition was exhausted. This is
IN evidence Of the interest the French people
feel In the three questions which its title eng-
gests, and TO which its pages are devoted !:
First, the existence Of the temporal power Of
the Pope; second, the necessity for Rome be-
Ing the capital Of Italy; and thirdly, the part
France is going to play In the settlement Of
nshed With the assent Of: the Mnister oI the
Interior, has already reached all parts Of Eu-
rope, and produced profound impression
every where. Sanctioned as it is by one Of the
first officials Of the Empire, it mny be more
properly called the work Of the French Gov
crnment than that OF La Guerroniere.
The author commences by reviewing the
ground of contest. He says:
- THERE'S at this momentum Europe Ques-
tion towering above all others, md it IS the
Italian question, while the central point Of
Italy's history and destiny is Rome Held by
the Church as . guaranty, rcvercd by faith as
by the peninsula IS the capital Of its nationali-
ty, Rome remains the most intricate problem
Of our day.
"ThaDk God, the Pope, as aspiritunl power,
is not concerned In the pending conflict Our
time is not one Of heresies, schisms ana ren-
k7+-%N
tholicism, instead of being on the decrease, is
rather On the increase. In France, the Catho-
lie Church, powerful and cal1n amidst dissent
eFs who are free in the exercise Of their Wor~
ship, secs its moral authority grow under the
protection Of our laws and habits. Outside Of
France, and wherever our influence penetrates,
we carry with US the germs Of faith. Tie
cross always looks up behind our flag; VIC
give to bis Holiness number Of souls more
than sufficient to compensate the loss of his
subjects; We enlarge every day the frontiers Of
the true empire whose seat is Rome
4tBut at this moment the temporal power Of
the Pope goes through j crisis the Importance
and perils Of which we will not deny. As .
political question, it touches the great inter
csts Of the Government and Of the people; as
religious question, it throws public spirit into
q passion, spreads alarm among the faithful,
principles Of humanity.
"TieWed in this tWo.foid aspect, all things re-
lating to the spiritual Independence Of the
leader Of the church bear L character Of uni
versatility which imposes itself upon the diplo-
macy OF all nations, and especially upon that
Of France.
"What are the causes Of this crisis ? Who
has brought about the fatal antagonism be-
tween Papacy and italy? Who created mis-
trust between the Vatican and the Tuileries?
IF the Pope is to-day isolated, if he is Eepara-
ted from the Italian cn1se: whose leader he
naturally is, ii he has lost 4 portion of his
States, whose fault is it Is it owing to French
policye Has this policy been wanting in re-
gard, deTotednes6, sincerity, abnegatiOn and
Foresight? Has not the "eldest son Of the
church been faithful and respectful? Respon-
sibilities must now be defined in the ba1ance
sheet Of facts each one must come in for his
share. Public opinion will know how to dis
criminate between those whose blindness and
obstinacy have brought the power of the Pope
to its present condition, and those whose ef-
forts and advice, always generous but always
disdained, might have effected its preserva-
ton"
The answer to this question occupies the
rest of the pamphlet, and contains, with an
apology Of the French Government, very
sharp and animated attack against the Court
Of Rome. It pictures with considerable force
the sad condition in which the temporal pow
reader with the history Of the facts which have
brought about the separation Of Italy from the
Papacy. That separation was effected in the
year 184S, when the Pope refused to take part
against Austria. On this occasion Cardinal
Lambrnschini, who had seen with great unea-
siness the liberal reforms previously granted
by Pius X, exclaimed in fit Of joy
thank God Rome las still q Pope!" In the
eyes Of Italy the Pope represents Austria; in
the eyes Of France lie represents the treaties
Of 1915. The German Journal Of Frankfort
sees in 1he pamphlet declaration Of war Of
Paris against Rome, and calls it "The Swans
Song''
This pamphlet reveals in stronger light the
intrjgues, shifts, prejudic:s, faults, and even
the ingratitudc Of Rome. It points out the
stupid resistance of the Holy See to the 1tal-
ian revolution and to the propositions OF
France, the miserable condition in which the
temporal power Of the Pope has fallen, and
the unaceountable obstinacy Of the Papal nip
listers. It urges the Papal Government to
adopt the principles which made Italy what she
now is, and intlnlates that if such course Of
action would be rejected, France would do for
Rome what she has done for Naples and Gaeta,
and Withdraw her troops. If the French army
leaves Rome, Italy comes in; if the French
army remains, Rome will no more be governed
by the Pope but by the French General Guyop,
who represents the public spirit of France;
that is to Fay, the revolution Of 1850 and the
principles Of nationalities-N !. Iba