The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-02-18
Pope Plus the Ninth.

attack, he resolved, on recovering, to devot,
himself to the service of the Church.
After studying at the College of Volterra
he was ordained priest, and despatched OF
a mission to Chill in 1923. In 1929 h,
became Archbishop of Spoleto, and in 1874
he received Cardinals hat In 1916
upon the death of Gregory XVI. he wa
made Pope. At first he was very popu
lar sovereign; he diSbanded the Swis,
Guards amnestied the political prisoners
and llShtened the taxes. But when tn,
Revolution of 1s4S burst out in Europe
the Roman people rose against their ruler
and Plus IN, after remaining a prisone,
for some time in his palace, fled in disguise
to Gaeta. In 1S49 French army marched
upon Rome and restored the Pope to hi.
throne. All his liberal tendency had dis
appeared under his terror of republican
violence, and, aided by the great Catholic
Powers, he entered on a reactionary course.
In 1850, during the Garibaldian invasion
the Pope lost the greater part of his domin.
ions, which were annexed to the new king
dom of Italy.
Among other leading incidents of the
reign Of Pope Plus IN. may be mentioned
the establishment of the Roman Cath.
olic hierarchy in England the authorita-
i've announcement of the doctrine of the
immaculate Conception the PRONUNCIATION
OF the Encyclical Letter and the Syllabus
OF Errors, denouncing the whole fabric OF
modern civilization; and the assemblage
OF the great Ecumenical Council for the
purpose of declaring the personal Infalli-
bllity of the Pope. But the greatest event
of all was yet to come. Pope Plus IX. had
nearly completed his twenty-five years OF
sovereignty-the fated term which no Pope
has ever yet eXceeded-when his tempora]
Importance of this Revolution can hardly
be realized at the present time, when the
attention of the world is engaged in watch
ing the desperate struggle between France
and Germany. Hereafter, when that strife
IS hushed, the true significance of the
change which has recently come over the
Seven-hilled City will be more fully appre-
ciatcd.
| Numerous events had gradually been
preparing the way for this signal catastro-
phe. Eleven years ago Italy was still.
according to Prince Metternich's famous
phrase, "merey geographical expires
slon.' Since then, aided by the genius of
Cavour, the Sallantry of the little Pied
montese Kingdom, the enterprise of Carl
| baIdi, and last, but not least, the blood and
treasure Of France, she has been welded
| into unity. For a long time, however. the
Patrimony of st. Peter held out, like
another Strashourg. But by degrees the
Papacy was losing its most powerful allies.
Austria became liberal and constitutional :
Spain deposed Queen Isabella, the recipient
OF the Golden Rose; and at last, in spite
of NJ. Rouher's famous .sJamais,'' Napo-
leon I'LL, under the stress of war, removed
his garrison from Rome. Swiftly on this
followed the fall of the French Empire,
the Italian Republicans began to stir, and
SO, to save the Holy Father from an newt
able and violent deposition, Victor Emman-
uel sent his soldiers to the gates of Rome.
1t Is much to be regretted that there was
any blood shed, but the Papal troops re-
fused to obey their infalliblc MASTER and a
brisk engagement took place before an
entry was effected. The hearts of the
Romans, however, were with the besiegers.
everywhere the green, red, and white ban
her of Italy was displayed, and the p1ebis-
ethan which succeeded showed an almost
unanimous desire for Italian unity.
What will the end bco Will the Roman
Catholic religion be stronger or weaker for
the abrosation Of the temporal power >
On the one hand, the elaborate ecclesiasti-
cal organization which radiated from Rome
will almost certainly be deprived of its
former potency but on the other hand, it
is not impossible that the Chief of the
Church now that he is freed from the
shachleS Of political sovereignty, may
become spiritually more powerful than
ever Those who conceive that the Roman
Church is doomed merely because her tenn
poral sway was abolished can have little
knowledge of human nature. Modern dis
coveries have thrown 10 light on the mvs-
teries Of the invisible world; and this is
the realm where priestly influence has its
true dominion. Steam teaches us to fly on
eagles wings; telegraphy carries our mes
sages to the end of the earth but these
inventions are powerless to remove the
sting Of sin, or to lesson the terrors of
future penalty. Such being the case. the
doctrines of Confession, of Absolution, of
Pnrgatory, and of Invocation of Saints,
admirably adapted to the weaknesses of
human nature, will probably, as long as
the present dispensation lasts continue to
command the respect of large masses of
mankind. But we may justly hope that
the Roman Catholicism of the future will
rather approximate towards the large
minded and liberal views entertained by
such men as Dollinger and Froschhammer.
than be restricted within the iron limits
detNed in such documents as the famous
Syllabus of Errors. -Esery SATURDAY.
MI,Nr 7