New-York tribune., 1870-08-05
FRANCE IND THE POPE.

IhANCE dND IHE A w b'
1t is reported from Paris that Italy has guar
anteed the integrity of the Popes territory,
and his Holiness, with the philosophical spirit
betting his age and station, "accepts the
"stuation." 1t is not easy to see how the
Holy Father can do anything else. There are
but four considerable Catholic powers in Eu-
rope, and none of them will help him. Aus
tria, not satisfied with standing alOOf, has for
mally broken off the intimate relations she
once maintained with the Roman See, and in
dicated her displeasure at the declaration of
infallibility by terminating the concordat.
Spain is strongly imbued with liberal heresies,
and governed by the opponents of the Church
party; and even if she were disposed to in
terfere, her own troubles would hardly leave
her opportunity. There remain only France
and Italy, and it is these two which have just
made bargain for the destruction Of the tenn
poral power.
Upon Victor Emanuel's guarantee we place
very little reliance. The possession of Rome is
the supreme object of his ambition, the crowning
of the edifce of reconstructed Italy. Even if
he cared nothing for it personally, the eager
ness of his people cannot be safely restrained
much longer. There has been of late an unu-
sual activity among the party of action, and
since the outbreak of the Franco-Geman
quarrel the hustle among the Garibaldians and
Mazzinians has been redoubled. Nothing will
prevent their making an attempt upon Rome
except the presence of an OverpOwering Italian
force on Roman territory, and after the Italian
army has once entered the city, the King will
risk his throne if he attempt to withdraw it.
On the 11th of July Chat is to say, as soon as
the situation between France and Prussia be-
came criticaD the question of the occupation
of Rome was brought up in the Italian PaTlia-
ment, Oh proposal of some of the Deputies
to make it the subject of an Interpolation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, S. Venosta,
replied that no steps had been taken in the mat
ter, "as the Cabinet had not deemed this fitting
"moment to abandon the policy of reserve and
Expectation which it has followed hitherto"
The answer was not accepted as satisfactory,
and in the midst of great confusion one of the
Deputies taunted the Ministers with cOwardice.
This scene fairly indicates the general senti-
ment of Italy, and Victor Emanuel cannot
disregard it. The people are bent upon ac
quiring Rome, and will give him no unneces-
sary delay. Nothing has stood in the way for
years past except the French army of Occupa
ton. That has now been withdrawn and un-
less it should return, the deposition of the
Pope, rs a temporal ruler seems inevitable.
And how is it with Napoleon9 Hitherto his
principal strength has been the support of that
powerful and enthusiastic party which makes
Rome the center of its affections and religious
aspirations. "To abandon Rome to-day" said
the ultramontane journal lie Monde when the
present course was first proposed, "would be
"tO repudiate the policy followed for twenty
"years, and TO sell the Vicar of Jesus Christ
Z" for a price scarcely above the thirty
"pieces of the Gospel. Those who believe
" the French Government capable of this infa-
my do injustice to its foresight as well as to its
"probity." And yet Napoleon has deliberately
chosen to do all this. He believes that he has
already secured the clerical party for his side.
He can afford to be infamous" dishonest"
and impoltic enough now to kick away the
supports which have held him up so long. If
he succeed in this war, he will be strong
enough to do without clerical support if he
fail, clerical support cannot save him. SO he
sells the Pope to Italy.
Now we should like TO know what the Cath
ole party will say. They have preached to
their followers, in France, in Great Britain, in
the United States that Napoleon is the de-
fender of the Church and Prussia the arch
enemy of the true faith. "0ne thing is GER
tain,o says the last number of leading
Catholic paper of the United States, that
every Catholic must sympathize and take
" sides with France. The cause of France is
81 the cause of Rome, and if this sad strife
"must come to divide the nations, the prayers
"and wishes of every Catholic, of every child
"Of Mary, will be thrown into the balance in
"bebslf of that great Christian power which
Stands between Plus *. and his infdel as
"sailants." This we have no doubt is a per-
fectly sincere and outspoken declaration. We
may not be able to appreciate fully the state
of spiritual exaltation in which it originated;
but we respect it's honesty. We feel all the
more keenly, therefore, tho chagrin and disap-