The New York herald., 1871-11-17
ROME AND ITALY.
A Pontifical Protest Expected
from Pho Mono.
Monastic Property and the Law
of Mortmain.
1lLEeRkE TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.

ROME. Nov. I6. 1871.
It is alleged In political circles here that HIS Ho-
ness the Pope intends To address communication
Vatican royal note, 10 the Cabinets OF the differ
ent European monarcnles, In which he Will protest
formally against certain acts o. the Italian govern
ment In Rome AMI at other points OF the domain Of
the Church violations OF international law and OF
the rights and dgnites OF the countries concerned
by the fact OF their maintaining relations with the
Holy See
POINTS OF TIE PAPAL INDICTMENT.
The Popes note will specify among other acts,
the expulsion OF nuns various nationalltes from
their converts and the forcible suppression and
closing OF certain International religious houses
British Opinion Of tho Italian P0sisiOr-1he
Inv o: EIorinin;n and aiOnastic Titics.
Should the Pope persevere In his intention OF n-
dieting the policy OF King Victor Emmanuel with
respect to tho seizure OF the property OF the monas-
tic orders In Rome, by the issuance OF formal royal
protest addressed In the name OF the Church TO the
mOnarchies aud Cabinets OF Europe outside OF Italy,
he will place highly important subject before the
different Ministers for direct consideration.
The London Times anticipated the advent OF q
diplomatic and public crisis from this cause some
time since by the publication or an editorial article
In which the writer said:-
The question OF the Roman converts threatens to
bring the Italian government into serious dinicul-
ties. In their eagerness TO go TO Rome, or rather
under the necessity Oi yielding TO the popular 0uCry
for the possession Of Rome, the statesmen ruling in
the name OF King Victor Emmanuel bound them
selves TO two dlstnct policies. which tncy now DO
not find It easy to reconcile. Tney proclaimed the
principle OF "a free Church In u free State" ana
vioiaSiiity Of his person anu dignity but also the
unlimited exercise Of his spiritual authority. 1t so
happens, however, that In Rome the Ponillfs splr.
itual authority was III great measure identified
with MIS- temporal power. Consequently IT was
not easy TO allow the Church freedom con-
o. mn
City. All That was connected with the religious
walls from the Pope and lis College OF Cardinals
70 the meanest lay brother in Capuchin convent,
Notwithstanding the local character Oi the Papal
prlncIpaity, was neither Roman nor Italian but
ons II the Unarc was to be perfectly tree
throughout the Italian kingdom. and yet to have
us seat IN It's capital clearly nothing Whatever tnat
vents, ami especially none OF those winch were
placed Under foreign protection, and none OF those
which have their qualifications all over the world;
Iesus and nare ber aaa
their numerous stais, are as integral
part Of the Papa! spiritual establishment as the
ernmcnt came into possession OF Rome as the ad-
mInIstraor OF the laws OF the Italian Kingdom, and
was obliged either to proceed to their immediate
application or so to modify them as to render them
compatible with the peculiar circumstances OF the
nant to the liberal aspirations OF the country. The
abolition OF monasllc orders In Italy was first v0ted
by the Piedmontesc Parliament in 1855. Four or
FIVE years later the so-called Ratazzi law was ex-
tended to all tue annexed provinces; but 1t was re-
vsed WIN important modincatons IN aSu,, a, ~ ~
hopes OF reconciliation with the Court OF Rome, ana
deemed \ possible to O. attain M nat object by an eMtea
ments mop astic establishments ceased 10 exist as
ana nsr WAS N
members during tier lifetime. The brotherhood or
PEELED to 20 Immediately asunder, and tile NUM-
cpal corporations which came into possession OF the
religious houses Were We're frequently induced to allow
their annuities and contrving 20 live pretty much
they dd AS all @ nosas was as
add to their number The extinction OF the orders.
s s aS o ON
throughout the country, and even In ITS late seat 0l
saered hardly any disturbance But in Rome laws
OF this nature however mltigated IN their practical
application, could not pass without violent cvnten.
tiOn. The JacOblns OF the French Convention OF
1892 and the Mendizabal Cabinet In Spain OF 1885
could annhate ali the monks and nuns within their
respective boundaries without affecting the general
interests OF monastc orders. There would still be
Capncnlns in the world, even though there
Capucnins. But Italy cannot introduce her laws
into Rome without striking monasticsm at the root.
mander-in-cnef OF the faithful, the Pope himself,
would have to go. Those heads or orders are rs
ministraii0n. Italy can no more suppress the Or
dcrs than she can suppress the Church throughout
the world. She can Danish both the orders and the
Church from Rome; but If she allows them TO re-
main there she must also grant them that peculiar
organization which Is TO them condition OF exist
ence. ".Sint NJ su1t an non sirt has at all times
been the rule with Roman Catholic establishments.
By variety OF subtle compromises the
Italian government Will endcavor to make the pro.
longed existence OF monks and nuns compatible
with the liberal Institutions which are 10 become
the birtright OF the Romans as OF all other Italians
But the task will be no easy One and Its success
Will In O great measure depend on the fitness OF the
Italian people for that religious and political ree-
dom 10 which they justly aspire.