Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-04
Downfall of the Pope.

Downfall of the Pope.
We must not, amid the shock of arms,
the blaze of war and the political changes
which are taking place in Europe, lose
sight of the more astounding events which
are occurring in the history of Romanism.
To appreciate them fully, it is necessary to
look back few years. Comparing the
condition and prospects of Popery now with
what they were ten or fifteen years ago, no
christian can fail to exclaim "What hath
God wrought The record ofevents affect
ing the Man of Sin, which are now culmin-
ating in the loss of his last foothold, his
own little territory of Rome, are wonder
full.
Fifteen years ago the Pope was in firm
possession Of all the territory known as the
States of the Church, as well as the terri
tory of Rome itself Nearly all of Italy
was as subservient to his rule as if it were
incorporated with his own dominions The
King of Naples, the two Sicilies, was one
of the most bigoted of Romansts and
mere tool of the Pope. The Grand Duke
or Tuscany was but another agent of the
Man at Rome to assist him in keeping lib
erty and the light of divine truth out of
Italy. And so of the smaller Duchies.-
Only the kingdom of Sardinia, then pos
sessed of little territory, was an exception
to the iron despotism and spiritual tyranny
which oppressed the land. The curses of
the people against that tyranny were deep,
but not loud. In entering Austria from It.
ally at that time, the same rigid police reg
ulations existed-and for the same purpose,
the keeping out of all light and liberty, re-
ligious as well as civil-as in going into
Rome. We were then travelling in Europe
and were stopped at the frontier of Austria
with our travelling companions and were
examined for more than an hour as to origin,
birth, past life, purposes of travel, the
length of time we intended to stay in the
empire, whether we had books or manu-
scripts in our possession, which must be
shown. Austria was at that time in close
league with Rome, and if the sovereign of
France was "the eldest son" of the Pope,
the Emperor of Austria was his favorite
son. The whole matter Of education in
Austria was in the hands of the Jesuits by
special agreement. The press was subject
to the censorship of the Jesuits. The per
son of a bishop or a priest was sacred and
could not be touched by the hand of the
law
Spain, the home Of the Inquisition, wa,
then under the same rule as in the day
when the fires of the Inquisition were burn
ing, and when its dungeons were crowded
with victims although that rule was NOR,
prudently administered, out of regard t
the rights of man. The bible and tn
principles of civil and religious libert!
were under the same laws as in ages be
fore.
Of France, it is enough to say that sh
was maintaining the Pope on his thron
and keeping his triple crown from falling
by her bayonets The French army wa
then in strength at Rome and the Frencl
Emperor and the bigoted French Empires
were purchasing Roman favors by this mil
itary aid. No greater infamy belongs t
Napoleon than this subjugation Of the PEG
pie of Rome, and long continued suppress
sion of their aspirations after freedom, b,
absolute force There has not been al
hour within twenty-five years in which tn
yoke of the Pope was not Calling and hate
full to them.
What now are the prospects ofthe Pope
Italy has been for years almost unit un
der the comparatively liberal government
of Victor Emanuel, and almost as pe1feC
religious freedom has been enjoyed by tn
dwellers of Florence and Naples, whethe
foreigners or citizens, as in London or Ne'
York. Spain has passed through an unex
pected and marvellous change. She ha
extinguished the fires of the InquisitO
and kindled the fires of religious as well q
civil liberty. Austria, though still nomir
ally Roman Catholic. has cut loose entire
ly as an empire from Rome. She has di:
solved the concOrdat which bound her as
vassal to the car of the Pope, and gives {
the reason that she can not have any con
pact with a man who claims divine authO
ity-infallibility. She has established n
ligious liberty and free schools, and h;
taken the education of her children out
the hands of the Jesuits and taken it I'M
her own hands. In Austria today, prize
or bishop is nothing but man, and
liable to arrest and trial and punishmeI
like any other man. when he breaks IL
law. The Prime Minister of Austria, No
Beust, the ruling spirit of the government
is a thorough Protestant
France, as a consequence Of the impiol
claim of the Pope to infallibility, as muC
rs from her own necessities, withdrew Il
last soldier from Rome and left the old ma
to stand alone if he could. And now vi
tor Emanuel is relieving him Of his la
sign of power-is taking possession
Rome as his own capital. The last pre-
on which the Pope rested has been TAKE
away and he has fallen to the ground. WI
pities the Pope after his impious blasph
my in taking to himself the attributes
God. Whether all these calamities tn
have overtaken him are judgment fro
heaven or not how fully soever they mi
be the iulflment Of prophecy; witho
wishining him as a man any evil witho
repeating against him one Of the multitu
of curses which he claims divine right
hurl at others, the whole world must T
jolce at this tremendous downfall of Il
Pope as Pope, May he never rise again.
" Y Observer.
Idle Daughters.