The Portland daily press., 1865-11-14

1hE W1lLDhAW<AL lAOM itCEiE.
Ifthe Pdliie is to be believed, first step is
about to be taken towards withdrawing the
French troops from Rome. The Emperor's
intention to carry out the Convention Of Sep
tember was never really doubtful, though It
allan Republicans have gloomily predicted and
CATHOLIC Bishops immooestIy advised an I'm
perial breach of faith. As a European negoti-
ator, Napoleon III. has rarely shown himself
otherwise than loyal; and fragrant diplomat
ic fraud would be quite unworthy of the part
which he wishes to play before the eyes of his
generation. With respect to Rome, in pa tic
ular, he has been franker and mere plain spok-
en- than usual. Any mystery that is suppos-
ed to hang oven his future movements has
been conjured up by the wishes and fears of
interested parties, and ought not to be traced
back to any fancied obscurity. in his own dec
larations. On the one hand, the Catholic
world knows, or should know from serious and
continued warnings, that France no longer in
tends to spend men and money in the main
tenance or gross system of ecclesiastical mis-
rule. On the other, the Italians have been as
carefully and as loudly informed that the
French are not disposed to tolerate the Euro
pean scandal of Pope being driven from his
throne by the ambition or intrigue of Catho-
lie neighbor. The line which the Emperor is
is resolved to steer by the light ofhis own star
is difficult and dangerous enough. He trusts
to be able to take Rome from the Cardinals
and the Jesuits, without giving it to Italy,
This ola media would leave the Pope and the
Italians both being equally dissatisfied; and
Ultramontanists and Liberals, though from
different points of view, agree in hoping that
some strong current of circumstances or opin-
ion will drive the Emperor either upon Seylla
or Charybdis. Politicians may plausibly de-
ny the existence of any such middle channel
through the rocks as that which figures on
the Imperial chart; but if Napoleon ILL.,, by
his nerve or his ingenuity, succeeds in finding
one, Europe will have no right to COMPLAIN
that he has deceived either Italy or the Catho-
Lie Church.
There has never in modern times
been political question which, in respect OF
complication and difficulty, can compare with
the Italian. Part of the perplexity is due to
the fact that the three great actors in the dra-
ma have irrevocably pledged themselves to con-
hictlng lines of action. Like SWhiskerandos
and Sir Christopher in the Critic, the Pope,
the King of Italy, and the French Emperof
are all at deadlock. The conscience of the
Pope bids him nail his co,ors to the mast, and
sink his vessel sooner than reform. sThe King
OF Italy could never again look his subjects in
the face if he were to abandon his designs on
Rome. Napoleon Ill, meanwhile, has COM
mitted himself, too deeply for withdrawal, to
the foriorn hope OF making Italy rmambitious
and the Papacy plant. At first sight it would
seem as II MI Sneer were right, and "they
must all stand there forever" 1t is probable,
indeed, that the deadlock would have contin-
ued during the French Emperors lifetime. ii.
for the sake of bis dynasty, he had not deter
mined to force the question to an earlier issue.
Ihe Imperial resolve that the storm, if it
comes at all, shall come in the next two years
at latest, IS wise and even patriotic; but it is
not necessary to beiieye that Napoleon Ill.
himself IS 81 clear as to the way IN which future
events VIII shape themselves. Upon the whole,
the LIST OF possible contingencies is not SO wide
as might appear ihat Sne rope Should con-
sent OF ms own Tee WI 70 the conversion OF
Rome into the seat OF itanan monarchy IS a
supposlti4n Wmch may De dismissed. Cen
tuiles OF haplt nave made temporal pomp and
power necessary q; =. 20 tne Dishop OF Rome, and
ne Would , WIN a. difnculty learn now to sit side
t9 6y side Wild tne greatest or earthly kings
Inc llasllucehce oI tne Fapacy dates pretty
neaIly sro Ine ra Iille wnen W en- Imperialism MI,
grateo rom the ilDer 70 the Bosphorus, and