The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-28
The Pope ON HIS Embarras s,n ents.


No one can read the address OF Pope Plus
to the French troops previous to their depar-
ture from Rome without mingled sentiments Of
pity and surprise-we will not say Of irdigna-
ton. Il was to be expected that the occasion
would call forth some strong expressions Of
feeling, but we were certainly not prepared
for the extreme bitterness which his Holiness
manifested. Common prudence, If not COM
mon fairness, should have prevented him utter
ing the ISLANDERS and insults which he gave
expression to in regard to tho italian King and
people. Does he suppose that the world can
be brought to exhibit any greater degree Of
sympathy with his misfortunes, or that the
Italian nation are to be conciliated into
respecting what he calls the rights Of the
Church, by his superstition that "Italy would
consider itself undone il there still remained
a corner Of the land (meaning Romeo where
order, justice and tranquility reign" This
sheer, unfounded and absurd though 1t is, and
the equally unhappy allusion to the Tarpcan
rock, will certainly not contribute to lessen
the difficulties by which he is surrounded.
Hard words are but poor. substitutes for foreign
bayonets. Far better would it have been for
his personal interests and those OF the Church
if, in imitation of the example OF his Divine
Master, he had spoken of his injuries, though
as yet only anticipated, in terms of charity
and forgiveness.
1t is strange that where there il such strong
conviction of helplessness, and whore there is
so much to be gained by Cancellation, there
should be such a logged determination to
yield nothing as is manifested in this address.
1t is plain from its tone that his Holiness IN
derstands no middle torn between resistance
and fight. lie will either continue to be an
absolute ruler or he will be an exile. As the
conditions by which he has been maintained in
the former position have departed with the
French il is manifest nat on the first growl-
ings of the apprehcnicd storm he contemplates
following in their wake.
1t is pity that in a crisis like this there is
not at the head Of the Catholic Church Pom
tiff of broader views and frmer nerve. Such
man would at once rccognize the impossi-
bility of maintaining longer the system which
has become so odious in the eyes OF liberal
Europe and which is looked upon with dis
favor by the great majority Of Catholics them
selves. Seeing this he would endcavor to OBJ
tain for the Church the best terms possible,
and, above all things, seek TO secure Rome as
the perpetual scat Of the Papacy. II seems to
us that IL met in spirit OF Cancellation and
liberaliy there would lie no indsposition on
the part Of the Roman people to come
to such an agreement 1t is now gen.
orally admitted that 1t would not be
desirable to make Rome the capital Of Italy;
20 that ibis once fsvorite idea would offer no
obstacle to its continuance as the residence OF
the Popes. Some plan could easily be hit
upon by which . knitted civic jurisdiction
could DO given them, which would not be
likely 10 clash with that possessed by the head
Of the nation. But under present circumstances
we tear that such an arrangement viii not be
possible The recent declarations Of Plus
seem 70 forbid the hope Of any accommoda-
ton being arrived at The French Emperor fore
saw this when no threatened him with the loss
Of his friendship II he Aed from bis territories
| But AZ his Holiness believes In prospective
miraculous dispensations in his behalf and
has lost all faith in Napoleon's promises, II Is
pretty certain that he will follow the bent OF
| his own convictions, which tell him that his
health will be best consulted by speedy re-
naval from the malarious atmesp here Of Roma.