The New York herald., 1870-10-05


The people Of the ssEsernal City" and Of
the Papal States, by acclamation, have ratified
the annexation Of the city and its surrounding
dependencies to the kingdom of Italy. Rome
is emancipated from the temporal government
Of the Pope, and the Pope-for which, If he is
not, he ought to be devoutly thankful-is
emancipated from the temporal government OF
Rome. The temporal kingdom Of the Pope is
absorbed in the Italian kingdom, of which
Rome now becomes the capital. 1t is great
thing for Rome, glorious achievement for
Italy and blessed thing for the Pope.
In the year Of our Lord 756, or over eleven
hundred years ago, Pope Stephen was in
vested with the temporal dominion of Rome.
That was the beginning. His successors, half
q century later, became, through the conces-
sons of territory from Charlemagne, and his
recognition Of Papal authority, . political
balance of power in Europe. In 1854 the
Pope first strengthened himself with stand
ing army. In 1O77 his political supremacy
had become 80 widely acknowledged that he
Gregory VII. obliged Henry w., Emperor of
Germany, to stand three days, in the depth OF
winter, barefooted, at his castle gate to implore
his pardon for having dared to disobey the gu
preme commands of Rome In 1l9l the Pope
(Celestine III.) kicked the Emperor Henry
vi. g crown off his head, while kneeling, to
show the Holy Fathers prerogative Of making
and unmaking kings.
Appeals to Rome from England were con-
tinued till 1853, when they were abolished.
and from that time, under various vicissitudes.
the political power of the Pope, as one Of the
sQyeroigns Of Europe, declined, down to the
crssat French revolution Of 1889, when his in
fluence in political affairs was reduced to a
mere shadow Of authority. In l796 he made
his submission to the French republic; in
1898 he was expelled from Rome; in 1909 he
was dethroned and held as prisoner at Fon-
tainebleau by Napoleon the First, and 80 re-
manned till Napoleon's first overthrow, 1914,
when he was restored by the Holy Alliance,
as a sort of political balance in their
European reorganization. In 1848 the Pope
PiQ NQno), after being held some time 9
prisoner in Rome, escaped from the revolu-
tionary republican authorities and remained
an exile in the kingdom Of Naples till 1850,
when he was restored to the Vatican. Since
that restoration, maintained in his temporal
authority by protecting French army and by
the diplomacy of Louis Napoleon, the Pope
has had comparatively good time down tc
the proclamation of his infallibility by the
late learned and imposing Ecumenical Coun.
Gil. Since that famous proclamation we have
had the astounding events that have resulted
in relieving him of his temporal power, and iu
making Rome once more, as it was made in
476, the capital of the kingdom of Italy.
Such are few of the remarkable incidents
and vicissitudes which mark the history Of
the Papacy as temporal Power through a
period of eleven hundred years. 1t is all over
now, and from the abundant lessons Of this
impressive history we are fully convinced that
in relieving Rome of the temporal government
Of the Pope, and the Pope from the tempora
government of Rome, the Italians and tn,
Romans have done glorious work for them
selves, for Rome, for Italy and for the Pop
and the Church.