The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-10-17
Antccodents OF Roman Revolt.

Anteccdents OF Roman Revolt.
70 nm American, who simply looks
at the kingdom of Italy geographically
nothing seems so unreasonable as the
conduct Of Napoleon in attempting to
dictate TO the King and people of Italy
as to what shall be thoir cap tai, and
whether Rome shall belong to the
Pope, and on what terms he shall re-
side there. But tho history, both Of
the Papal clam to Romo, and Of
Charlemagro 10 the Empire OF the
West, will explain the present contro.
versy which now seems to threaten the
French policy in Italy. The claim Of
the Church IS that when. ia the fourth
century, Constantine removed the
scat Of government from Rome to Con-
stuntinoplo. he committed She old scat
Of empire and the adiaccu. territories,
or the Roman dukedom, 70 tho pos
session and government Of the Church.
Other authorities trace the title Of
tho Pupacy to the custom of bestowing
large grants Of lands and secular prin-
ciplt:t'es 20 the clergy, such rs that in
75l, when Pcpln, the father Of Charlie
magne, anl then Prime Minister of
Childcrlc, King Of the Franks, dis.
patched n message to Rome, tn inquire
"whcthor It valiant ard warlikc nation
might not detdrOn1 an :ndolent and
incompetent King, and substitute in
his place n more worthy, and who
had already done great services to the
nation, without breaking the Divine
law 2 1t is SAID that an affirmative
answer was given to this, and that
pcpin, out Of gratitude, twice crossed
the Alps IL 75I.5, seized Revenna
Pentapolis, &c, and bestowed them on
the Pope. Twenty years later, Pepln
being dead, the King OF the Lombards
again attempted to seize the States Of
the Church. Charlcmagne, however,
on this occasion marched his army
across the Alps, overturned the empire
Of the Lombards, of whom he pro
claimed himself King, went TO Rome,
confirmed the grants said TO have been
made by Pepin of what have since
been called the States of tho Church,
to the Pope, sent missionaries, attended
6y his solliors, to convert the German
SaXons TO Christianity, compelling
them TO come in" and obtaining in
return nm election of himself, by the
Roman pcople,a as Emperor OF the West.
1t is IN this way that the Kings OF
France are said to have achieved the
titular dignity of "eldcst SOIL Of the
Church" and its chief defender with
the sword. Indeed, these events formed
and fixed the position Of France as a
Catholic power.
Char,emangc, on bcng elected En-
pcror Of the West, became sovereign OF
Rome, ard reserved TO himself the
supreme sovereignty but the beneficial
dominion. rs It is called, and subordi.
nate authority over the city Of Rome
and States of the Church, he made
over TO the Church. This plan is
supposed to have been suggested by
the Pontiif, who wanted to be defended
against the Lombards in his temporal
estat ~. and all backed by The sword Of
Il strong conquering power in the as
%sertion Of II spiritual dominion much
moro extensive. Ia return for this it
was IN his power TO bestuw on tho
temporarily ambitious King Of Franco
the sounding title and prestige Of EN-
pcror of the West. Napoleon |. wanted
to carry on; this bargain to its logiti-
mate result, c%oncedlng to the Pope a
spiritual empire. while he and his
successors extended a temporal do
minion to correspond with it, each
protecting and aiding the other.
Practically, however, the Pope and the
Napoienns have never been able to
agree,
IC is worth while to remember that
Charlomagne was engaged in a sort Of
habrtual contest with the Saxons, who
were p~orpotuaIly jealous of his au-
thority. Gormania was, as sheis now,
very ready to oppose this western I'm,
perialism, aud after eleven hundred
years, the old contests appear as it
they were about to be opened up again.
Napoleon and the Pope are on one side,
while Prussia, Lombardy and tho rest
Of Italy are combining on the other.
But after eleven hundred years how
changed is the prospect. The people
now are in advance OF the ir leaders
and the traditions of the past are giving
way before the advancing light of the
times, or rather the traditions Of The
Middle Ages are making way for those
more ancient and glorious ones, il
which Rome was the center of clviliza
ton and Of power.