Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-10-08
IN ITALY.

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The action Of King Victor Emanuel
In moving his troops to occupy Rome
Is attracting much attention through
ou, the civilized world. The King as
serts that his movement Is made to
prevent the proclamation Of the Italian
Republic; but 1t seems to be generally
believed that ere long Rome will BE-
declared the Capital Of Italy. For
centuries Rome has been a prominent
object In the eyes Of the world. There
once conferred the power of the world,
and her eagles cleaned all over the
habitable globe. But she fell. And
now, for more than a thousand years,
the majority Of the religious world has
looked to the Eternal City as the
source Of light, authority and dogma.
A glance Mt the history Of the States of
the Church will not be inappropriate
ut the present time. Ten years ago
the convulsion In Italy detached and
made independent most of the Papal
territory. At that time the Pope's
temperatures iacluded 1928 square
miles Of territory, containing a popu-
lation Of 3,l24.6Ss. There were left
only the civil divisions Of Frosinorc,
Veletrl, Civita Vecchis, Niterbo, Co
mqrca and Rome. Their present ex-
tent from north to south Is about 10
miles, with n breadth varying from
eighteen to fifty miles. There Is a
coast line of about 1850 miles, generally
low and marshy. There Is only n sim
gle harbor OF any p~retensions, that Of
Civita Secchla, which Is possessed ofbut
few natural advantages. 1t has, since
1860, been the principal entrance and
outlet Of Rome. The port was built
by the Emperor Trajan. 1t Is not quite
forty miles north-northwest Of Rome,
and contains a population Of 1000. 1t
Il walled, well built, containing nu-
merous converts, churches, hospitals
and other public buildings. The har-
Dor Is formed by two large moles. and
outside Is . breakwater to protect
vessels from the strong western
gales which sweep the Mediterra-
mean. At one time, the port had quite
an important trade, being n free port.
Since the disruption Of 1850 trade has
declined, though there are lines Of
steamers connecting with Marsellles,
Leghorn, Genoa, Naples, Greece, Tur'
key and Egypt. A railroad. also COLI
meets It with Rome. As early as Con-
stantine, the Catholic Church began te
acquire property in Rome, and looked
to 1t as the final seat Of the Church
which It became, the Pope taking up
his residence there. In IA the Loni.
bards laid siege to the city, and
Gregory III, then Sovereign Pontlf,
sought the aid Of France. Pope Ste
phen II also sought French aid, and
Pepin marched to his assistance, de-
feated the Lombards, and compelled
their King to cedc to the Pope a large
territory, chiefly on the Adriatic. AT
this time the Pope assumed temporal
sovereignty, and his successors have
held 1t to the present time. The Papal
States were enlarged by Charlemagne,
the Pope ruling not only Rome, but a
great part Of Italy. Occasionally the
Pope has temporarily retired, owing
to the fortunes Of war, but never for Il
long time. He has been reinstated,
and welded the tem~poralities BY gen
eral consent until 1850, when he gave
I'D a portion to Italy. At that time
he was advised by Napoleon III to
cede everything but Rome; he refused,
q chung to the strip heretofore described,
and accommodated King Victor
Emanuel. Again the political ex-
igencies of Europe have forced another
change, and from present appearances
the State Of the Church will soon be
merged In Italy, Rome will be its
capital, and the Pope, il he remains,
be Invested Of everything save his
spiritual functions.