The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-17


The Pope Prfsoner-Reported In.
terview with Archbishop spaIdfng.
The "interviewers !" Of Washington are
getting to be notorious. We find one of
them talking with the venerable Arch
bishop OF Baltimore, the matter OF which Is
published IN the Washington Republican.
me Archbishop Is represented to have
spoken lii regard to the Pope, the Vatican
council, Italian unity, &C., as follows:
Why, sir, the Pope is a prisoner to all
intents and purposes. The guards outside
his palace belong to the italian King. The
Few inside are the Pope's, but they are
| powcrless for anything.
The outside world has no idea of the state
! OF things in Rome at this moment. Those
who write from there to the papers are car
ried away by the ,snis fdtuus they call lib
erty, and can speak of nothing but the glo-
rlous dawn of freedom and the unifcation
OF Italy. Those who shout loudest about
liberty have no more idea Of the true mean
| ing OF the term than our own Indians. If
1t be liberty to murder priests, outrage
! nuns, set religion and the head OF the church
at defiance, desecrate the affairs of God, and
reVile the things and the traditions which
have been held sacred for eighteen centu-
ries, then there is an abundance of it. But
] as for any true conception Of the thing-as
| for understanding that freedom In its best
and broadest sense is perfectly compatible
with reverence for law, the established
usages of society, the forms Of religion, and
| all else that enters into the necessary COM
pact between scientific and political pro-
gress and Christian moraljty-there is an
utter want.
| As to the invasion of the Papal territory
by King Victor Emanuel, it was an act
that transcends in guilt any outrage of the
century. 1t was done in violation Of the
solemn treaties guaranteeing the indepen-
dence Of the Pope. Advantage was taken
| of the difficulty in which France was in.
volved to steal away the territory which
| the PopeS have had for centuries. No rea-
sons were assigned, no proyocation COM
| planned of even, no declaration of war
| made but troops were set in motion and
| marched down upon Rome like gang of
trained brigands. This was done on the
| tlmsy preteXt of political necessity, as if
any necessity could justify robbery and
| spolation. There was more than injustice
! in the crime. To violate the sanctity of
| territory which all the world agreed to hold
sacred, and belonging not to the Pope, but
| to the millions Of Catholics throughout the
world, was fragrant sacrilege.
! This territory was essential to the free
exercise of the Papal power. It bore to
! the Christian world the relative position
| that the District of Columbia holds to the
United States. 1t was considered that q
small territory, like that of Rome, enjoy
ing independence of all The neighboring
States, would guarantee the pontiffs an
immunity from embarrassment in the exc
cution of the duties pertaining to their sa-
cred otlice--aS the District OF Columbia was
| found essential to give to the Congress and
Government of the United States place Of
meeting and transacting the business of the
nation untrammeled by the influence of
any particular State or section. The de-
| sign of the Papal territory was similar. 1t
| was wise in conception, and conducive to
| the strength and independence of the Pa
! pacy.
The plebiscite submitted to the people
| was deception. At least fifteen thousand
strangers TO Rome were allowed to vote,
and moncy was freely distributed to insure
vote in favor of the invaders. Ten Napo-
Icons bought as many votes. Children were
made electors, and the vilest characters let
loose from the jails had voice in the pie
! biscite. The respectable element Of society
in Rome set their faces against the act and
| the prctensions Of the Italian Government.
The whole project was conceived and car
| interests of Rome and saving it from some
suppositiOuS enemy. The King knew that
the outrage he was about TO commit would
arouse the Indignation Of all Christendom,
and hence the strenuous efforts he made
to cover up the intamy he was about to per-
petrate by assuming to take upon himself
The protection of the Holy See and submit
ting plebiscite to the people for his own
creatures to vote upon.
Il have
lasted a year or so longer If it had not been
tor this trcachcrolis invasion. The bishops
had to fly for their lives. An Oriental pre-.
late who happened to wear d long beard
was set upon in the streets one day and
nearly killed. Several priests were assassi-
mated, ana murder at this moment stalks
| through the streets of Rome unchallenged.
! During the hot summer Il number OF bishops
lift Rome, leaving about two hundred,
what might be called a quorum, behind.
All would have returned in the winter, and
the Council would proceed with its business.
We had great deal to do before we could
have adjourned. Thee were forty impor-
| tant questions left untouched on the break
ing up of the Council. The dogma of infal
li6ilily WAS disposed Of, but that was not the
most important matter we had to consider.
We did not meet specially to define and
settle the dogma of iniallbility, for that
was virtually decided before we met. The
final vote, taken in the fourth public ses-
sion, held on the 18th OF July, stood ::
| Placet, 533 non-placet, .. 1t was an error
| to call il an Ecumcnical Council. 1t was Il
| similar council to those which have pre-
yiouslv been held to consider all matters
directly or indirectly affecting the Church.
| Cbe doctrine of infallibility was one of the
questions which needed a fxeI status.
| This has been given to it, and it is now set
lied forever. Subjects on Church discip-
line, on filing Of vacant sees, oriental
orders, and foreign missions, had to be left
untouched.
| In regard to Papal infallibility, the Arch
bishop states the proposition clearly and
terselS. The Pope is, Of course, not infal-
little us regards his temporal powers or
| decisions, or it may be even as regards his
private morals, although Ito man living is
| personally purcr than Plus lA.; but he is
infallible as the head of the Church, which
is intallble. The intallibality question was
settled by the Ecumenical G ouncil finally
and beyond appeal, and it was decided by
an overwhelming vote after full discus
sion."
DISTRESSING ACcIDENT-Ihree Per sons
| Dro,uned in the Ioughlogheny Ruer:-A
distressing accident, says the PlttSburg
Comm ercidl of Yesterday, resulting in the