The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-10-19
THE CLOUD I'm THE EAST.

corded are five men killed and fifteen
wounded, whose locality is in the little
province of Viterbo, beyond the Mediter-
ranean, and which is yet confined to
few companies of regular troops and
scattering bands ofinsurgents, would at
first appear an unimportant topic in this
far removed region. But when it is con
sidered that it is blow aimed with well
directed vigor at the temporal power OF
the Pope, and that it is not improbably
the inception of that great European
war so long threatened, and so often
postponed, it becomes not only interest
ing but important. 1t is war just
lighted, but the flames are rapidly
spreading. 1t is not merely a local ir-
ritation, but is an indirect attack upon
every country where State and Church
are combined. 1t aims directly to dis
possess the Pope of his temporal domin-
ions, indirectly to assert that the union
of Church and State is tyranny and op-
posed to Liberalism and progression.
We see the King of Italy hampered by
treaties, endeavoring to check the rising
flood, and remaining inactive with his
legions while the Papal troops are driven
toward Rome. France is committed to
sustain the Pope in his possessions, with
her 100000 soldiers and the half mil
lion Chassepot rifles, fresh from the ar
mory. Yet with Bismarck willy, danger
Gus, and biding his time to strike vital
blow at the autocrat of France, Napc-
leon will not rush hurriedly into con-
test that opens his frontiers to the ap-
proach of the Prussian columns, and
while the kilograms report great activity
at the naval station at Toulon they
also assert that their Majesties of France
and Prussia will at once have confer
ence at Baden. Italy hates Napoleon,
notwithstanding the assistance he rem
dered during the war for Freedom. Ma
poleon fears that Victor Emanuel may
recede from his furious proclamation
against the insurgents, and that with
Mazzini and Garabaldi leading the revo-
luton a republic will be formed beyond
the Alps, but hesitates between permit
ting the establishment of hostile gov
eminent on the south, or involving a
conflict with his eastern enemy, whose
drilled armies number million men,
and whose King and Minister of War
are only awaiting favorable opportu-
nifty to wipe out old scores with France
in blood. The interposition of France
in the Italian troubles, if Victor Eman-
uel should be compelled by the Italian
people to take a position against the
Roman government, will undoubtedly
necesitate an alliance between Italy and
North Germany, in which case, Napo-
leon is likely to have another failure to
add to his list of unfortunate schemes
within the last few years. England can
not sympathise with the Pope or lend
him assistance, for although she is to
Ireland. with her established church
/ imposed upon people, the majority OF
whom are Catholics, paying their own
priests voluntarily, and the Episcopal
prelates by compulsion, as bad as Rome
yet that very fact precludes her from ex.
| tending aid to His Catholic Holiness.
Besides, England dare not engage in
foreign war at present. Russia but
awaits the action of France on behalf oi
the Pope, to push with desperate energy
toward the accomplishment of that OBJ
ject, retarded, but not defeated by the
Crimean war AN exit to the west through
the Bosphorus and Dardanelles. The
peace of Europe is not maintained by
amicable feelings of the Great Powers
toward each other, but the balance o.
power is so nicely adjusted that each i:
kept in its proper place by the danger
resulting from hostile attitude The
Italian question promises to disturb the
equanimity restored by the demolition
of the fortress of Luxemburg, and al
that is required to plunge Europe in &
bloody contest is the continued success
of the Garabaldians. In it's contest fol
Liberalism, the severance of Church anC
State, and the establishment of a Re
public on the ruins of that ancient ty
ranny, the people of America bid Italy
God speed.
CoRRECTIoN.-The Sacramento Un:O1
| Sls. Il.