The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-25

ton Of orr readers to the very reprehensi-3
BILE nature Of much that is published in the
secular journals, and the consequent neces-5
sity ofhaving q Catholic paper, in order to
counterbalance,t TO some extent, the per-
nicious effects which such reading might
naturally have upon members of their
families. A fragrant instance of the evil
referred t0may be found in tho issue of the
New Orleans Times Of last "Wednesday.
The article is not, indeed, editorial, but it
carries ito own weight of SANDER, bigotryss
and falsehood. These qualities even without
logic sometimes make a very harmful inn
preston. Besides this the article is pre-
faced with a sensational resume or index to
it's contents, showing its estimated impor-
lance, and no word of comment signifies to-
the reader that it is a tissue of malignity
and lies. The piece which the Times
thus impudently haunts in the face of its
Catholic patrons and introduces to- the
notice of their children, is entitled the
Italian Situation" and purports to be
taken from the New York World.
1t treats ofItalian unity as being rendered
utterly impracticable by the existence of
Papal states, and speaks most enthusias
tically of Mazzini and Garibaldi. Z" Imme-
diately upon the withdrawal Of the French
troops" it says, Z" it was known that Rome
must be the seat of government-capita
Of Italy" It continues
/ The whisper of o people rising was heard in
the air, and soon the italian Government
| showed, by the arrest of Mazzini, that it knew
of the coming movement, but had not nerve or
self-confidence enough to leave it in the hands
of the high priests of ultra-liberalism. The
French Provisional Government has come. The
more audible, and the name of Garibaldi flies
throughout the peninsula, and word is brought
that the Pope and Cardinals are melting away,
and that soon their place will be known no
more.
After going on to say, upon the authority
of an Italian gentleman, as reported by a
liberal American traveller" that 'Italian
and German antipathy is the legacy of
ages" and that "every Italian is bound to
| hate the Austrian, it adds: h
| Rome, upheld by Austrian Arms, was inclu-
ded in this instinct of detestation, and the
joint rule was answerable for the inglorions-
ness of Italian national life, the low condition
| of Italian national welfare, and her want OF
power or Significance in all national relations.
i Foreign rule and priest government We're held
to be one and tho same, blight and curse.
Now how will that paragraph do to pass
among the little ones as truth and history
How will they blush to hear that their re-
spected priests could do such evil things
and that the Pope himself should be the
cause of SO much misery and degradation
We were under the impression that
. from foreign domination for many centurie:
, and that the Papa, States comprised q
) small portion, comparatively, of the PENN
, sula: how, then, was there any 'joint rule
/ of Italy by Rome upheld by Austrian
arms q"s Rome certainly did not rule Italy
f and # the Papal states were ill-governed
: how should that entail national insignifi
. canoe on the rest of Italy, Look at tn
r honorable position of Belgium with
population not more than one-fifth that O
, Italy. This is all, then, sheer nonsense
l though malignant nonsense. Where is tn
glorious nationality achieved by unite
Italy under Victor Emmanuel Surel
the paltry remainder of territory left to til
e Pope of late years could not weigh upon til
: national vitality with such effect as to sin
e the country still more deeply in debt, law
h lessness and insignifcance.
u 1t is easy to say that "prlest rule is
n blight and CURSE" and it is easy to al
,e tribute national degradation to it. 1t
& well to have a scape goat upon which
=; lay the public sins, and such a plea may d
is as an ingenious diversion while talkin
to with " liberal American traveller" BIT
:, history will not be blinded by such CLAY
n trap. 1t will not attribute national insie
Mt nificance to a priest rule which does M
Is exist, especially where facts point SO IN
y erringly, as in Italy, to other causes.
We all know the in genious dodge of til
10 light-fingered gentry in crying "stop thiei
ch when anxious to divert attention fro
' themselves. In the same way the real III
to thors of Italy's troubles come to light
is this clamor against priest raised
N, the Italian gentleman. He pirates of ii
ed Carbonari and swears they are patri
re- while pointing to priest-rule as the Gu
NJ. prit.
~. The Carbonari and the secret patriotic
"' cieties kept alive the sacred fire of Italian Il
am tional faith. These were the dread and hatr
ch of prince, priests and foreign legitimists; a
be to this is attributable the anathema of the Ii
too man pontff against all secret societies, and
dread even of mechanical improvements, su
as the railroad and the telegraph, lest wi
in the diffusion of ideas should come the grow
es of liberalism.