The Portland daily press., 1870-09-20
IFrom the Providence Journal.I

IfaIy Going TO Rome.
[From the Providence Journal
Events have at last brought the time LONG
anticipated when the Pope must make his
election between fight and continuing in
Rome as subject OF the Italian government
The sub-Alpine kingdom, as with sene
hatred he has persisted in calling il, has at
last found its opportunity, and moves its cap
ital southwark into the ancient seat OF Italian
empire, with no power in the world to oppose.
The long aspiration and purpose of Italy is
about to be consummated in a single govern.
ment, extending from the Alps to the Adriat-
ic. Its one of the first fruits of the Franco
Prussian war; Both sides were ready to mr.
chase the neutrality or the help of Italy by
consenling to its occupation of Rome. And
so the Roman question ends, and ends in
peace.
And SO ends for the present, and probably
forever, the temporal power of the Pope. A
monarchy oxer twelve hundred years old ex-
pires, for it was before Cha. lemagne that this
power began. In 1910 Plus IX. fed from
Rome, and made way for republic. He was
restored by the arms of France and Austria
and has been kept there by the now fallen
Emperor. Ten years ago his so 5ereignty was
reduced to its present dimensions. All along
its total loss has been manifesty only ques-
ton of time. 1t has been inevitable that Italy
should possess the States of the church. and
plant its standard on the Capitoine hill
With an impatience hard to repress she has
waited for this turn of affairs, when Rome
could be taken without war. And once there.
1t will be hard to disod2e her. The popula-
ton will pretty surely accept the Italian rule.
The Pope will offer no arm ed resistance. If
the other European powers had any forcible
opposition to make, they would have moved
before this. So that we consider it an accom-.
plished fact that hencelorth Rome is the car.
-tal OF Italy, and the Pope holds dominion in
the church alone.
A power which has existed so long, surviv-
ing so many changes, may seem TO be endow
ed with vitality which will restore it again in
some new revolution. But there is some
thing more than the bayonets of Victor EN-
manuel forcing the Pope out of his throne. 1t
is civilization, it is Knowledge, it is
liberty, with the public opinion Great
ed thereby, and the new forces at work
IN European society, VIII ch press against
this weak and baseless sham of
power and oblige it to fall. Once removed
from European politics, and who is interested
it's restoration A NJ
Italy is pledge against it. 1t wi require
war and mighty force to compel her to re
linquish what she has desired so long, and will
hold so tenaciously.
Victor Emmanuel has been held back from
this step from lear of pro voking other powers,
and especially because he could not safely re-
sist the will of Napoleon Ill But now he is
obliged to take it that he may save his throne.
A mighty discomfort demands this move
ment. And even this may not appease it. 1t
may hasten the evil day instead of postponing
it. For the popular spirit infamed by this
success, and the causes which have led to it,
is very like to be uneasy and in some danger
Gus hoar proclaim a republic. And so great
change may after all be the very thing to
imperi her tenure of Rome, and shatter her
unity, nov about to be so gloriousy completed
and crowned.
1t was proud day when the King went
down the Grand Canal at Venice, and cele-
brated the reunion OF the Queen of the Adri-
attic to Italy. Before long he will probably
march up the Corso to the Capitol. 1t will be
great day for him and the Italian people,
and for poor Rome, SO long wilted under the
shade of the Papal throne.
II the Pope remains, the italian govern
ment will have it on their hands to guard and
to provide for him. As head of the Church. of
course he must retain palaces and villas and the
splendor which belongs to his ecclesiastical
primacy. He may prove a troublesome subject
especially as he has the right to insist on his
intallibiity. But the Italian government car
afford to keep HIM, if it can well rid Rome oil
the vicious system of government under which
1t has been smotheree. Strip him, his Car
dnals and ecclesiastics of all political power
and whatever spiritual control they NAV exer
else, the people will have a chance to breathe.
lt Is what many Catholics have desired, and
believe best even for the pr r,sperily OF the Ro
man Church, AT any rate, it is what we in
this country have long ago learned-that civil
power does not belong to the church or any
OF its officers. 1t is the aspiration of all liber-
al minds, that not only the Pope may cease
from all civil authority. but the church ITSELF
Let Italy remand the church to its own plov-
ince and realize the aim Of her great states.
man, "a free church in tree State" and she
will assure prosperous greatness worthy o.
her name, her position and her history.