The New York herald., 1871-01-22
THE PRISONER IN THE VATICAN.
Christmas Day at ST. Peters and
the Pope Absent.
The Natal Day In the Eternal City-The Pontif-
cal Mass-Wails Of the Religious Journals
The Churches-A Dali Christmas-Prepara-
tions to Receive King Victor Emanuel

ROME, Dec 27 1870
The following extract from the Liberia OF this day
Will serve to show the opinion Of the Roman liberals
upon the Pope's voluntary absence from st. Peters
ON Christmas day, the most magnificent festival oD-
served by the Roman Catholic Church:-"we wrote
one day that the partsans of the Pope did not
reclaim the temporal power TO be able to exercise
more worthily the spiritual but desired to make use
OF the latter TO reinforce the temporal They did not
desire that the throne should serve to increase the
decorum OF the Church, but that the Church should
act as a prop to the throne This truth has been
again confirmed by what happened yesterday In
Rome, and viii continue to be so whenever there Is
an opportunity. Plus TX. has not been willing TO
celebrate
THE PoNTIFICAL MASS,
nor TO fulfil any OF those acts which in past years.
when he was King OF Rome, were considered as
purely religious performances, and nseparable from
the Catholic worship. And oil this because he is
longer king; because he has no longer temporal
power. Indeed, we cannot imagine any greater
offence to religion than that offered by the Supreme
P0ntl6 making 1t subordinate 10 purely worldly
interests. All the invecves that the reactionary
papers pour out upon the Kingdom OF Italy may be
more reasonably turned against him who shows
himself little anxious about religion that he aban
dons its solemn functions only because he has lost
his rule scrap OF earth and few thousands OF
men. The founders OF the
CHRISTIAN RELIGION, Prosecuted,
driven out oppressed by every sort of vexation,
always endeavored in spite OF every danger to cele-
brate It's sacred ana revered mysteries. But Plus
TX, by the evil counses OF those who surround him.
because he ls now only Pope. although perfectly
free TO do as he pleases assumes attitude. one
hardly knows whether more disdainul or indiller.
ent. We Will not push any further our examination
OF this strange and unqualinaDle conduct OF the
Pontinrs counsellors. But we may affirm once more
that the true enemies OF religion are NOT those who
have overthrown the temporal power but those
who having lost It, far from initiating the ancient
and vigorous examples OF the fathers, withdraw
from those offices ana pracdces which, up to yester-
day, they considered indispensable for the decorum
and maintenance of the faith,
LAMENTATIONS OF THE CLERICAL PRESS.
OF course the clerical journals mold very different
language, and seek to JUSTIFY the policy of insula-
tion adopted by the court Of Rome A single phrase
from the OsserrdtOre Romano will suffice to demon
strae the spirit in which the Jesuit party Processes
To regard the present position Of the Church and tho
Ponliff.-"The entire Church dep0res IN mourning
and desolauon ner own woes and the Imprisonment
OF the Vicar OF Jesus Christ" We may be allowed
to cal the correctness OF this assertion into question:
as the entire Church has made no such demonstra-
uon by abstaining from the celebration OF Christ
mas, but only that limited portion OF the Church
which obeys the voice OF the Cardinal Vicar or
Rome. The same article winds up with assuring
the Romans that they will soon see the .'mracuouS
Pontif at their head again, I'm the day Of the In
There Is some clerical demonstration expected
this morning ST. Peters, II beng the festival OF
st. J0hn, and consequently the Pope's name-day;
but measures have been adopted by the police 10
prevent recurrence or anything ike the disorders
which took place on the Stn inst
THE NUMEROUS CHURCHES IN ROME
were, were as fun as usual on Christmas morning, the
faithful not feeling disposed to follow the example
OF their supreme pastor. The Pontifcal mass took
place, win second class sort OF solemnity, in the
by tickets, and Cardinal offlciated Instead OF the
Supreme PontiT.
CHRISTMAS IN ROME.
We have had as dull a Christmas In Rome as the
clerical party Could have possibly desired-no
Church Ceremonies, few social Festivities ana still
fewer foreign families, whose money usually gives
an impetus to the trade OF the Eternal City at this
season OF the year. In addition 70 these dis
60 Ss s se na has q nS ss o s %
tho people Rome wants lie sus HseS q e9
This Will be afforded by the approaching VISIT OF tie
King, which has been officially announced by the |
tlons for receiving hts Majesty are rather behind
hand, but Will be hurried on under the energetic |
direction Of the Chevaier 0ttin Last night, until |
late hour, hremen and masons employed, |
with two lofty escape ladders conveyed ON cars, |
liking hooks on the facades Of the house In the
rival
THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE KINGS RECEPTION
at the Capitol have commenced. The municipal |
council has voted sum OF 100000 francs for the |
erection Of grand monument in Rome to Victor
Emmanuel, and addressed a circular to the other |
principal cities OF the kingdom inviting them take
part III this patriotic demonstration by con- |
tributing 70 It's expense The leading sculp- |
tors and architects in the Peninsula will |
compete for the execution of the work and |
o competent committee OF artists will select the bSst
design General La MarmOra is desirous that the |
National Guard OF Rome shall be organized by the |
LIST of January. General Lopez. a Roman offcer |
IN the Italian army, has been appointed to COM
mand the citizen soldiers. The Cavalry squadron,
the crack corps, composed chieny Of young noble
men aud ambitious aspirants OF the middle class,
gave return dinner on the 22d, at the Braschi |
Palace to the officers OF The lancer regiments OF
Milan and AoSta, now In garrison III Rome.
THE DEFENCE OF THE STATE.
The permanent commission Tor the defence Of the |
STATE has decided that plan shall be studied and
drawn mp for the fortifcaton OF Rome, naming for
the preliminary work q sub-eOmmiSson, composed |
OF Generals Della Rocca, Rcci and Cerroti, which |
has already established itself in Rome and com. |
menced Its preparatory operations. although General
Csrroti s detained at Florence by his parliamentary
dutes
TAyn nD rnO YpY YHDS 7T