The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-31

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The Count de Chambord-head of the house
of the French Bourbons, and heir to the throne
Of France, according to the order and rule of
epitimacy and Divine right-lately issued a
most important manifesto on the condition of
his country and the position and duties of the
people. The paper of which we append
translation, is dated Frobsdorf, December, 1866,
and addressed to "a friend" II is as follows:-
Tbe year about to end, my dear friend, has
not been a happy one for Europe, nor especially
for France. The gravity of present circum-
stances shakes every mind; public opinion Is
reused; lmpeIilled interests view the present
with uneasiness and the future with apprehen-
sion. Barely recovering from one violent shock,
Europe breads further cOnvulsions. In every
direction people are arming, and preparing
formidable engines OF war and destruction. The
events that have taken place in Germany and in
Italy have overthrown all calculations deceived
all anticipations, roughly disturbed the Euro
peaD equilibrium, and no country has felt more
keenly than ours the painful rebound OF all
those sudden blows
However, thank Heavn, in considering thi
state of things calmly and dispassonately, /
find IN it nothing that is irreparable for us; our
preponderating influence has been profoundly
shaken, but firm policy, equally removed from
temerity and weakness, may restore 1t: Yes,
France, with her energy her loyalty, her disinter
estedness, prompt to take fire on behalf of every
great idea, to devote herself to every just cause;
with her army, too, admirable in its discipline
as in its valor; with her powerful unity, the
work of centuries, will always find herself leader
OF the nations. Her greatness is necessary to
the order, the stability, and the repos,' of
Europe; but this is an additional reason for not
neglectng the counsels OF far-seeing policy,
for not accepting IN silence what our forefathers
were, in every age, strenuous in preventing, for
not allowing to be formed at our doors two eX-
tenslve States, one OF which, at least, has COM
mand of an incontestabe military force. Justly
jealous of the honor and dignity of our beauti-
ful country, we dread, on its account, even the
shadow OF dminution of the influence which
belongs to it. My thoughts naturally revert with
melancholy TO Rome, where, at this moment,
we are permitting to be destroyed one of
the great things that God has accom-
plished through France-gestn Del per Frances
1 mean the temporal sovereignty OF the head of
the Church, that indispensable guarantee of his
spiritual authority throughout the world. When,
eighteen years ago, we raised up again that in
stitutiOn of q thousand years, which for
moment was overthrown by the revolution, we
loudly claimed as a sacred right the duty OF de-
Tending It against new attacks; and SO long as
our soldiers have protected the Holy City the
revolution trembled before them, but their de-
parture is announced. What will happen after
wards?
If different ideas had prevailed in the Govern
ment OF our couutry-taithful to its natural
traditions and to It's glorious title OF the eldest
daughter of the Church-France would have
had something more to offer to the Holy Father
than provisional and temporary support. Sus
tanned by her, Plus TX would have had nothing
to fear from his enemies. He would have
pOntif and king, and his subjects would long
Since have been indebted to him for improve
ments in which he himself had generously and
paternally taken the first steps. AT present we
are perhaps tending towards catastrophe the
consequences of which are incalculable. 1t is
not the future of the Ponu6cal sovereignty
which is alone in danger. Hitherto, 1t has
been said (while the head OF the Church was
subjected to the spoliation Of his temporal
poWer) there has been no other purpose in
view than to bring him back to the condition of
honorable
tOlic age, in order that, relieved from all cares
of worldly rule, he might be able to exercise
his spiritual authority with greater freedom.
But now there is no longer any concealment.
II is in reality his spiritual authority which is
aimed at through his temporal power; it is the
principle itself of all religion and all authority
that is assaiIed; ard it will soon be demanded
logic ally that the idea of God shall be made to
disappear from our laws and our tribunals.
There will then be no other bond between men
save that OF interest. Justice VIII be reduced
to a mere conventional term; no other means
will remain of attaining it except force; and
the edifce of society, undermined in its founda-
ti0ns. will everywhere sink into ruins.
The interference OF the Church in politics is
repelled, not without reason, and ii is required
that the clergy should confne themselves to
their sacred functions, and not meddle with
things external; but how is il possible that they
should not give attention to these when the
government of the Church has been thrown into
disorder from without when its venerated head
shall no longer be free, and shall be forced to
4 leave Rome to wander without place of refuge,
and having nowhere to lay his head?
No, the cause of the temporal sovereignty Of
the Pope does not stand alone; 1t is the cause of
all religion; that of society, that of liberty; its
fall must be prevented at any cost.
Let us say to the credit of our country that at
no epoch, and under no circumstances, has it
deceived itself respecting the character and
bearing of what it has seen accomplished and in
pTeparation; its good sense has never ceased to
point out what was to be done and what avoided.
Thus its first impressions respecting Italy, the
expedition to Mexico, and the struggle ready to
be begun in Germany indicated beforehand,
within the narrow limits allowed to their mani
festations, the dangerous consequences of a
policy persisted in in spite of reiterated warn
ings, and which manifestations facts have not
failed subsequently to justify.
You draw an affecting picture, my dear
friend, OF our internal condition. I recognize
with you the profound evil which arrests in
France the free development of our national
destinies. You have long known what prayers
my reason and my heart dictate for my coun-
try. Need again repeat them here? A power
founded upon hereditary monarchy, respected
in its principle and in its action, equally re
moved from weakness and from arbitrary will
representative government in its powerful
vitality; the public expenditure subjected to
real control; the supremacy of the law; Tho
avenues to public employment and honor
open to all RELIGIOUS freedom and everl
civil liberty maintained beyond reach o
danger; the internal administration relieved
nom the impedIments OF excessive centraliza
ton; landed property restored TO freedom ant
independence by the dimuniton OF the burden
winch press upon it; agriculture, commerce
ana manufac ures constantly encouraged; and
above all this, one great quality-honesty
Honesty, which is not less duty In public lit
than IN private; honesty, which constitutes tn
moral worth OF States as we'll as of individuals
Is IL u necessary to add that, the country havin