The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-01
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F,op, the NJ Y. Times. Il
W. vorld all like to see Rome the capital o.
1taIv-arstly, because it would be an extern
sio,, of civil liberty, and, secondly, because 1t
v-o,,Id give that unity to the new kingdom
,ritbout which it must continue to have pre-
.,orious exietence. We leave out the religious
asneot of the matter, because we really fail to
COO that Il would necessarily have any very
ftSeenendtrs effect upon the interests of the
Catholic faith. There are two or three eX-
treme views or points of view, on this part OF
tbp business. There are Protestants who ina
cine that the taking of Rome from the Pope
would shatter the entire Catholic system, and
that it would be the beginning of the destruc-
tion of the "Man of SIM foretold in revelation.
On the other extreme there are Ultramontane
Catholics who entertain views that really
amount to very much the same thing They
believe that the destruction of the temporal
power would not only be blow at the au-
thority and independence of the Head OF the
Church, but that it would be an undermining
of the Church itself. In fact, with them the
doctrine of the temporal power partakes OF
the nature of a fundamental religious dogma,
and if it be invalidated or overthrOwn the en-
tire fabric of faith is shaken. There is, how
ever, another party in the Catholic Church,
embracing number of liberal prelate5 and
priests, and all the liberal lay adherents OF
Cathoicity, who look on the temporal power
as something necessary neither to the rope
nor the Church. and who would very willingly
see his Holiness existing, not as sovereign OF
Rome, but simply as spiritual pontif OF the
Catholic world They deny that form OF
faith which they claim to have existed long
before the Bishops of Rome were sovereigns OF
Rome, would be adversely affected if the sove-
\ - Afwraa
dition of bishop. They deny that the sway
which the great moving ideas of Catholicity
have over the minds of hundreds of millions of
the human race, would be destroyed or even
weakened by an incident Of such trivial import
as that of depriving the Pope of the govern
ment of a city and few circumjacent leagues
of land.
On the whole, the latter view seems far the
most philosophic and veritable-moSt in con-
sonance with human nature, the laws of
thought and faith, and the analogies OF his
tory. Were the other view tenable, we should
anticipate a decadence of Catholicity tar
speedier than we are now able to have any
idea of. For, looking at the situation OF
affairs in Europe especially at the kingdom OF
Italy and its relations, we confess that, though
the present revolutionary olItbursts may fail,
we cannot see that the temporal power has
any chance of continuing to exist for any great
length of time-unless, indeed, Heaven inter
fere by working such a miracle IN It's behalf as
the Pope has recently been expecting.
The failure of the Garibaldi attempt will not
long postpone the solution of this Roman
question which is ultimately inevitable. We
now hear of a Conference that is to be held
between the Governments of France and Italy
for it's settlement. The proposition was Ori.
ginally made by Napoleon, and we have nc
doubt that, for very sufficient reasons, he will
be more than willing to have other powers
than those mentioned participate in the Con
ference. Austria is unquestionably entitled
to place in it; and when the project was
first moOted, Bismark claimed that the voice
of Prussia should be heard, by right OF he
position as a semi Catholic power. Neithe
Russia nor England will put forth any claims
of Catholioity, but we can very easily forecas
the nature of the decision that will b
rendered by the four great powers named
under their present circumstances ana rela
tiOns. 1t is to be feared that Austra-ay
even old Catholic Austria-would not, with
Government which has abolished the Concoi
dat. and which has the Lutheran and Libers
Buest at its head give any very determine
support to the temporal claims OF his Holiness
The course that would be taken by Italy an
Prussia we know. Napoleon, to get credit an
support from the priestly influence, woul
doubtless make a pretense of sustaining i
while at the same time he could easily show
his Catholic supporters that, in reluctant
asserting to certain changes he only accepte
what was inevitable, and had even then save
them something. When the Conference COZ
venes, it will settle, en- permanence, the temp
raj power of the Pope. And we shall have
wait till then for its settlement.
-zu