The New York herald., 1870-12-18
The New Emperor Of Germany and she


envoy at Versailles has received from King
| William the assurance that so soon as the
present war is ended, he will restore the Pope
to his temporal power. When we remember
the correspondence which took place between
King William and Plus TX, In August Of this
year, when France was experiencing her frat
serious reverses-a correspondence which did
justice to the head and heart of the Holy
Father and to the head and heart OF the King
we are not much surprised by the intelligence
that the new Emperor of Germany means to
spread the mantle OF his protection over the
Holy Father. On that occasion the King,
after having expressed his regret that he could
not make an end Of the war which had been
forced upon him, assured the Pope that he
was ''united to him in bonds OF Christian
charity and true friendship" Later, when
the Pope made direct appeal to King Will
liam to protect him from the spoliaton threat
ened by the Italian government and people, the
King, though he could not interfere with a
friendly Power or with people seeking their
legitimate rights, begged his Holiness to re-
gard him as his ''sincere friend" In view of
these facts, and taking into consideration the
known sympathies of certain influential mem
bers of the Prussan Court, the announcement
that King William means to restore to the
Pope his temporalities is deeply and seriously
significant.
Any one who will take the trouble to refer
to the letter dated September s, and addressed
to the Holy Father from Rheims, will perceive
that the relations between the two illustrious
personages are entirely changed. Then Will
liam was only King of Prussia, in the midst of
a doubtful contest and striving to put down an
arrogant and presumptuous foe-his main
purpose, after victory, being to make Germany
unit. Now he is the triumphant conqueror,
the commander-in-c n-chief of the united hosts of
Fatherand, and the Emperor elect of that
Germany which, since the days Of tho great
Ohio up until 1906, was the right arm Of the
Papal power. The crown which in 1906 was
laid aside by Francis the Second, Of the House
of Hapsburg- Lorraine, William OF Hohen-
zollern is asked to resume in 1870. In Sep
tember William spoke only as the King of
Prussia In December he speaks as the chief
Of United Germany and the probable restorer
of the Holy Roman empire. As King of
Prussia he spoke only in the name of the
Protestants of the North. As Emperor of
Germany he speaks in the name Of the might
est people in Europe, well nigh one-half of
whom are attached to the Holy Catholic
Church. To make good his position King
William knows well that the interests of the
Holy Father must not be ignored. The inte-
the Roman Pontiff did much to make
Napoleon the Third what he was from
December, 1852, to September. 1870.
The absence Of Papal sympathy from the royal
house OF Italy is portentous of coming trou-
BILE. AS Emperor of Germany and the ruler
| Of 50 MANY Catholic subjects, William will
need The sympathy and friendship Of the Vicar
Of Christ. This latest promise of protection,
| or rather of assistance, seems to indicate that
the new Emperor of Germany is not blind to
| his needs and to his opportunities
| In connection with this matter, and as bear
| ing specially on the argument, let it not be
| forgotten that in the situation Of to-day there
| is much to remind US Of the days which wit
| messed the restoration Of the Roman empire
| under Charlemagne, in the year 800, and the
establishment of the Holy Roman empire, IN
der the First Otho in 962. AT both those
epochs the Bishop of Rome was in trouble.
| Charlemagne and Ohio each in his day crossed
the Alps, delivered the Pope from his ene-
| mics. and each as his reward received at the
hands of the Vicar Of Christ, in circumstances
| and amid services Of becoming solemnity,
the imperial crown. The Holy Father
is again in trouble. Another and
migaty Power, emanating from the ancient
seat of the Lombards, has invaded the
dominion Of the Holy Father and reft him Of
his temporalities. The voice which brought
Charlemagne and his Franks, Ohio and his
Saxons to the sunny plains Of Italy and to the
rescue Of the Papacy again sounds from the
tiIne-honored centre Of the Christian world
and calls for help. In the person Of the
Emperor elect Of Germany we behold another
Charlemagne, another Otho. The ancient
prophecy has been fulfilled 1.-THE ravens
have disappeared from the summit Of the hill
where the Great Frederick sleeps; the pear
tree blossoms in the valley; the resurrection
has taken place and Germany is one." Why
should not the new German Chief initiating
the example of his illustrious predecessors,
after he has subdued all his enemies, cross
the Alps, march to Rome, reinstate the Holy
Father in his temporalities and receive from
him in return that crown which was once the
symbol Of absolute and universal power?
There are many who will be disposed to re-
gard this as partaking altogether too much OF
the fancifnl. The Holy Roman empire dead
for the last sixty four years, and for ages moth
ing more than name, it will be said, can