The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-24
THE POPE PRISONER.
Reported Interview with Archbishop
spnIding-A Talk About Rome, the
Pope, the Council nnd Italian Unity
&c.

The "interVleWerS" OF washington are GET
ting to be as notorious as those OF New York.
We published some talk reported by one OF these
enterprslng individuals with Mr.. Creswell on
politics. Now We find one OF them talking with
the venerable Archbishop OF Baltimore, the mat
ter OF which ls published In the Washing ton Re-
publican In this conversation tie Archbishop is
represented to have spoken In regard 10 the Pope,
the Vatican Council, italian unity, &c, as follows:
Why. sir, the Pope is prisoner to all intents
and purposes The guards outside his palace
belong to the italian King. The few inside are
the p0pe's, but they are powerless for anything.
The outside world las no Idea OF the state OF
things iu Rome at this moment. Those who write
from there to the papers are carried away by the
f1nts JatuttS they call liberty, and can speak or
nothing but The glorious dawn OF freedom and the
unncition OF Italy. Those VINO shons loudest
about liberty have no more idea Of the true mean
ing orthe term thu our own Indians. III IL be
liberty to murder priests, outrage nuns. set re.
liglon and the head OF the church at de1ance,
desecrate the altars OF God, and reVle Ine thlngs
and the traditions which have been held sacred
for eighteen centuries, then there Is an aoun.
dance OF 1t. But as for any true conception OF
the thing, as for understanding that freedom ID
Its best aud broadcast sense Is perfectly compatl'
Bile with reverence for law the established uSages
of society, the forms Of religion and oil else that
enters Into the necessary compact between scien'
tfc and political progress and Christian inorali-
ty, there Is an utter want.
AS to the invasion OF the Papal territory by
King Victor Emanuel 1t was an act that tran
scends In guilt any outrage'of the century. It
was done In violation Of solemn treaties guaran-
teeiug the independence OF the Pope. Advantage
was taken OF the difficulty In which France was
involved to steal away the territory which the
Popes have had for centuries. No reasons were
assigned. no provocatfon complained OF even, no
declaration OF war male; but troops were set In
motion and marched down upon Rome IKE
hr{1
nimsy pretext OF political necessity. as II any
necessity could Justify robbery and spolation.
There was more than injustice 10 the crime: 10
Violate the sancIity OF q territory which all the
world agreed t. hold sacred, and belonging not
to the Pope, but to the millions OF Catholics
throughout the world, was nagrant sacrllege.
This territory was essential to the free exercise
OF the Papal power. 1t bore to the Cnristian
Columbia holds to the United States. II was
considered that small territory, like that or
Rome, enjoying independence OF all the neigh
boring States, would guarantee tne pont,ns an I'M
the duties pertaining to their sacred once-as the
District OF Columbia was found essential to give
TO the Congress and Government OF the United
State place OF meeting and transactlng the
ence Of any particular State or section. The ue.
Sign OF the Papal territory was Similar IL was
wise In conception and conducive TO the strength
and Independence OF tile Papacy.
The plebisctte submitted TO the people was de-
oention. At least fifteen thousand strangers to
Rome were allowed to vote, and money was Tree.
" distributed to insure vote 10 favor OF the In
yaders. Ten Napoleons bought as many votes.
Children were made electors, and the vllest char
acters let loose from the jais had voice In the
plebscIte. The respectable element OF society IN
Rome set their faces against the act and lhe pre-
tensions OF the Italian Government. The whole
project was conceived aud carried out with Willy
pretence OF serving the Interests OF Rome and
saving 1t from some suDpositl0us enemy. Tne
King knew that the outrage he was about 10 COM
NIT would arouse the indignation OF oil Ohristen-
dom, and hence the strenuous Efforts he made TO.
cover up the inralny he was about to perpetrate
by assuming TO take upon himself the projection
OF the Holy See and submitting pebisclte to the
people for his own o. eatnres to vote upon.
The Ecumenlcal Council would have lasted
year or so longer II It had not been for this reaeh
erous invasion. The bishops mad to ny Tor their
lives. An Oriental prelate, who happened TO
wear long beard was set upon IN tne streets
one day and nearly Killed. Several priests were
assassinated, and murder at this moment stalks
through the streets OF Rome unchellenged. Dur
ing the hot summer number or bishops lelt
Rome, leaving about two hundred what might DC
called n quorum behind. All would have re-
turned In the winter, and the Council would pro-
ceea with It's business. We had great deal 10
do before we could have adjourned. There were
forty Important questions left untouched on tne
breaking up Of the Council The dogma OF MALL
billty was disposed OF, but that was not tEs most
Inn nortant matter we had 10 consider.
We did not meet specially. to denne and settle
the dogma Of infallbty. for that was virtually
decided before we met. The fnal vote taken IN
the fourth public session. held on the 18TH Of July
stoed-placet 533. non pacet g.. 1t was an error
to call It an Ecumenical Council. 1t was simi
lar council to thuse which have previously been
hrld to consider all matters directly or indirectly
affecting the church. the doctrine OF lnlailolIlty
Was one OF the questions which needed 13ed
status. This has been given to IL, and II ls now
settled forever. Subjects on church discipline, on
filling OF vacant spes oriental orders and foreign
missions, had to be left untouched.
In regard to Papal hfalllblllty, the Archbishop
states the proposition clearly and tersely. The
pope Is, OF course, not infalble as regards his
temporal powers or decisions, or it may be even
as regards his private morals, although no man
living is personally purer than Plus TX; but ne Is
Inrallble as the head Of the Church, which Is In
falIlble. The lnfalIbilty questlo was settled by
the Gcumenlcal Council finally and beyond ap-
neal, and It was decided by an overwhelming vote
after a full discussion.