The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-11-01
DAILY PRESS.
Thursday Morning, November |. 1866.
rae Temporal Power Of ,.. Pope.
PORTLAND.

rae re@PsraI Power Of the Pope.
month ago the French and Italian news
papers we're much eXep ised over a curious
Iiece OF rapal diplomacy, which after two
years has Just come 10 hight. BY the terms of
the Frnch-Italian convention Of September,
1SGl, il will be remembered, Napoleon en-
gagged ON the 10Th September, 1865, to with
draw his troops from Rome and transfer that
city TO the protectorate of Victor Emanuel
Soon after the publication of the treaty
which had been vainly protested against by
the Pope, an official Englishman, one Mr..
Russell, on diplomatic duty at Rome, called on
his Holiness to take leave, being about to
spend few months in England. Plus TX,
during the interview, took occasion to ask
whether in case he should find it convenient
to leave Rome the English government would
grant him an asylum, the island of Malta,
perhaps, where he could exercise freely ms
spiritual jurisdiction over the Church MIR.
Russell replied that tie English government
was hot accustomed to interfere in matters OF
religion. and that il the Pope should sometime
find himself on English territory, he would
not probably be hindered in the exercise OF
his spiritual powers. Twice during his stay in
England Mr.. Russell called the attention of
Lord Palmerston the Pope's inquiry, but
received no response. After his return TO
Rome he received dispatch from London,
declaring that the Queen would respect the
spiritual authority Of the Holy Father il he
chose TO retire TO Malta. This dispatch was
duly communicated 10 Cardinal Antonelli,
and there the matter dropped.
Nothing could illustrate the uncertainty and
confusion of the Papal counsels two years
AGO more than this abortiye attempt 10 pro-
vide for rainy day. The world must have
looked very dark 10 the successor of Saint
Peter. when he turned to Protestant England
tor an asylum. There were rumors at the
same time that the Pope meditated removal
10 the New World and certainly there is no
reason why the United States should be view
ed with less favor by his Holiness than Eng
land. But in the iullness of time, all and
more than he. anticipated has come abou.,
and as usual the realty proves less dreadful
than the anticipation. The French troops
have departed. Victor Emanuel rules over
united Italy, and in accordance with the treaty
of 1864 removes his court from Turin to Flor
ence. The two governments upon which the
Pope relied for faithful support are powerless
Spain rent by internal discussions and Aus
tria struck down by foreign foe. And vet
Plus TX remains at Rome with apparently no
thought of leaving The King of Italy en-
cages to prevent any foreign interference, and
to refrain from interfering himself, with the
privileges reserved TO the Papacy, but these
privileges do not include the power OF forming
temporal alliances or treaties with foreign
powers. The temporal estate of the Pope Is
reduced to very nearly the condition of the
mayor of an important city, with chart
cred rights and suitable police authority but
owing allegiance 10 the general government
and the laws.
This loss OF temporal authority is regarded
by many Catholics with sincere alarm. The
clergy of Ireland and of France point to the
suppression of monasteries and confiscation
of their estates which have been practised by
the King OF Italy, and expect revolution in
the States of the Church. to be accomplished
by the expedient Of a popular vote A writer
in the Catholic World takes different and as
we believe wiser view. The spiritual dig
nifty of the Head of the Catholic church does
not depend upon his little principally in the
heart of Italy. While that church possesses
the power which it still undoubtedly Yields.
it does not need the support of paltry and
diiapidated throne. From the Catholic point
OF view, and indeed in practical reality, the
Pope OF Rome is SO much more than the ruler
OF petty state, that his temporal sovereignty
is after all matter of very little Importance.
ff s'FrOgeny of the kgebeiIion.',
writer for the Argus who uses for sigma
ture capital Z, commences an article on the
Astounding doctrines OF the Press with the
following courteous paragraph:
If the astonishing doctrines expounded in
the Press OF Saturday, were the honest con-
victons of the writer, which one may serious
ly doubt, they are additional proofs Of the con-
fusion of Constitutional ideas, remaining in
many minds as a hideous portion of the numer-
Gus progeny of the rebellion. ,a
This fellow, whose notion of the decencies of
discussion teaches him to dispute his antago-
nists honesty at the third line, proceeds to say
that he has not as yet read through the instruc-
tions of Judge Tapley, but is "sure they do not
justify the conclusions of the Press" AS by
his own confession he is not qualified to saw
what is or is not in Judge Tapley's charge, we
advise him to read it and then try again. We
published it last Saturday. There is no excuse
for rushing into print three or four days after
ward, without having read the very document
upon which he cOmments-unless perhaps Syd-
ney Smiths who declared he never read books
he was about to review lest he should become
prejudiced. If after reading Judge Tapley's
charge, the letter will point out any error in
to which the Press may have fallen in re-stat-
ing its conclusions We will make the correction
with great pleasure. If our alphabetical
friend will be kind enough to keep a civil pen
in his hand, he will appear better and will de-
serve more respectful reply than he can now
claim. %
Liberian Professor ON his Travels.
A special correspondent of the New York
Tribune, writing from Beirut, Syria, thus de-