The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-12

cata, Jas. Cosgrove, John Kenny. A: B. Mcponald
A. McLoy, Thos. o'Bren i. Reey, .ntofn r moIa Ias
Armstrong, NJ. Cannon, Henry DAILY, =. r; SWee
gan, Captain F. w. Dawson, Wm. MatthleSsen
Alex. ST. Amaud, Major Dubois, T. Brady, VIM
Moran.
Jno B. o,Neill, Edward Laltte, D. 0'Neill, Cap
| tain Mulyaney, Edward DAILY, D. A. j. Sullivan
| Thos. Flynn, B. Solomon.
Bishop Lynch then briefly stated the object OIL
the meeting He said that since the recent oc
currences in Italy, all Catholics with whom he
had conyersed had expressed desire that steps
| should be taken to join In that expression ol
sympathy with thu head OF the church, and that
denunciatioa and condemnation OF the wrong
done by Victor Emanuel which had been heard
elsewhere The Catholic Institute had appointed
a committee to confer with him In the matter,
and it had been determined to invite the Citizens
OF Charleston to meet on the present occasion. BE
was glad to see 80 many present, aad he believed
that whatever was said, would be uttered in q
spirit of earnest conviction. The subject prope;
Of the evening would come up in the protest and
resolutions about to be read.
Hon. M. P. O,Connor then advanced to the front
and spoke as follows:
Rioht Reverend Bishop and FeLlo,1-cttizerS and
Catholics OF eSto1,-Under the auspices OF the
Invitation OF the Right Reverend Bishop OF Charles
ton, we have convened not for the purpose OF JUS
cusslng questions Of difference of religion; nor to
manifest any apprehensions or anxiety lor tne
| supremacy and prosperity OF Gods Church, amid
the trials and difficulties which now beset His holy
Vicar but to express eur sorrow and Indignation
at the blow which has been delivered against jus.
tice and International right, against law and pup.
lie morality, by king but OF yesterday, against
| the most ancient establishment OF Eur0pe-a dy
Ire rifptY1 ryit
fishermen OF Gaiee; which Is c9yal with
the destruction OF Paganism at Rome. and OF the
overthrow Of barbarism In Europe, Wnlcn carries
the mind back TO the "timeS when the smoke
OF sacrifice arose from the pantneon, ana came
leopards and tigers bDunded In the Flavian Am
! phitheatre."
Kingdom which is not in this world alone,
| but which is supported and sanctioned oy me
Court OF Heaven, has been sacriegiously invaded
and overturned by q neighboring power, the other
day set up By kings, the origin OF whose title Is
within the memory Of men now living.
This act OF spulation and wrong mas nor oeen
done au ebiddng or in the Interest OF the toll.
ing Millions nor has 1t been the result OF natu-
raj and general uprising OF the masses. 1t Is but
momenlary triumph OF might over right-a sud.
den change forcibly wrought, not to maintain or
extend the principles OF rational liberty, nor to
nut down tyrant and oppressor. but an unpro-
voked, caussless war, waged by an armed prince
against an unarmed olshop ana sovereign. As
the voice Of nations was heard aloud against the
ruthless dlsnemberment OF Poland. and In SYM
pathy with Greece fettered aud tramp!eu Dy
q Turk. so do we now lift our voice In unison
with two hundred millions Of Catholics through
out Christendom In denunciatton OF this Migrant
act OF fraud aud violence. We can suffer While
longer While cherishlng, as no deluslve pha antom
Of hope but rs q sober truth, OIL Wnich tlnie WIN
verify the prediction that there Will be Pope In
the chair OF Peter at the head OF Kome when VIC
Tor Emanuel has ceased TO be the King OF Italy.
Mr.. o,Connor in a distinct and handsome man
ner, then read the following
PROTEST.
We. the Catholics OF Charleston, have learned
with feeling OF sorrow and indignation that the
Government of the Kingdom OF Italy, during the
month OF September last, conSummatcu lle lDl'
uuitous course towards the Holy See which IL
entered on some years ago. Having at various
dates selzed by 70 ce OF arms, portion alter pot-
ton OF the territory OF the States OF tne Cnurcn'
lt was arrested for a time by the cry OF indigna'
ton from the Catholic world, cry whlch tle
Government OF France claimed the exclusive
honor OF upholding and making good by the lorce
arms. The Kingdom OF Italy. oy the solemn ool-
cations OF trealy with France, entered lnCo III
September, 1854, bound itself not TO attack the
Remaining territory OF the Holy See, and not to
connive at or insugate or allow any attack.
This obligation was avowed by the King, SlGGor
Emanuel, by the Ministry, by the Italian Parlia-
ment and by the Italian Ambassador at farls.
As late as August last 1t was reiterated and con-
armed. Yet, In September. Ia open AMI 1agrant
vocation Of this pllvhted faith, and OF TINS
solemn international obligation, an overwhelming
force OF the Italian army was marched luto tne
Ponti6cal territory. took town after town, anu,
finally assaulted bombarded and captured tile City
OF Rome; and the Italian government scarcely
needing the ridiculous farce OF pteoeSclle. Id
which Italian soldiers ana strangers that came IN
with them voted rs they pleased. While the re-
spectacle portion. In fact, over wo.thlrds OF the
citizens of Rome abstained in disgust from
the polls, has proceeded to annex 10 the
Kingdom OF Italy the City OF Rome and
the Small remnant OF his former territory, which,
since the previous seizures and until then, had
had remained 10 the Sovereign Pontilf. IL has
panied our hearts to know that the venerable AMI
SANITY Plus IN Is now virtually prisoner In the
Vat;csn. that Italian soldiers stand on guard be
fore the vcstibule that iu more than one ms ance
those who entered or came out have been ques-
toned and searched; that In the Qurinal Palace
the doors Of his private apartments nave been
forced. the rooms ransacked, and his personal
property seized; that rlotous crowds have been
gathered on the square to insult, by violence aud
coarse clamors his gray hairs and his sacred Char
acter that tre new officials In the poStofhce nave
tampered with, delayed, and, 1t Is believed, nave
suppressed letters reaching Rome, or TO be sent
from the city; that already the preliminary steps
are being taken for the suppression and destruc.
tion Of religious. charitable anu eduSatlona IN
stitutions, and the contscatiOl by the Italian
Government, or the robbery by individuals, OF the
accumulated treasures OF art. and OF the ecclesi-
astica and charitable property In r >me-a prop
eriy In some measure oeionsg 70 tIe Gntire eInire
L
| or Roman industry or Roman commei &C. IL
sprang from the donations. which. Tor so many
| Centuries, pious Catholics throughout the world
| have loved to give for the splendor and decora.
tion OF churches, and the dignity OF divine wor'
ship, for mundcent works Of charity, and Tor
highest education In city dear To all, because IL
was the See OF st. Peter and his successors the
| centre OF Catholic unity, and, In some measure
| the common patrimony OF all the latth1u!-the
more So that tU this character and to the loving
| care OF the whole church, and TO these alone
| Rome owes her escape from the fate which belel
Alba Longa, Tusculum, ana the nelgnDorlns cltleS
| OF the Campa2na, which have SO utterly perishec
| that In some cases their very sites are now mat
| tiers OF archaeological controversy.
Opr reverence for the venerable Pontln, our sense
| of Justice and right the conviction thaL Dy tnest
| acts our religion is assailed anu our rights are
| invaded, our fear OF the results that may lolloW.
| ali lead US to unite with our brethren IN the lalth
throughout the world, anil with all lovers or JUS
| tice and order, in publicly reprooatiuS tnls ln
louitous deed Especially in these United States
| where we can speak clearly aud plainly, Wltnou
| apy governmental influence or interference, " !:
| attinr that the Catholic heart should speak ou
| boldly and with no uncertain sound.
| We protest, therefore, against tnls attack ..
the States OF the Church. and the seizure and oc
cupation OF the city Of Rome and the EccleslaStl
cal territory, first, In the name OF JUSTICE. The
States OF the Church constituted o separate any
independent government, by lar the 0iuesI au'
most venerable in Europe. 1t had originally Deel
established, not by conquest or violence, Out, un
der Divine Providence, by the act OF the peOpl
escape from the evils that harassed and the dan
gers that menaced them, where alone It SCENE!
freedom and peace could be found. Neglected
left without suflc ent protection, at times pract
cally abandoned by the Emperors OF CONSTANT
nople, they were necessarily preyed on o
| ~ VQnhaIS