The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-26

the Pope, in his complaints Of the usage OF the
Italian government, has frequently looked toward
France as. q possible refuge and the Italian wits
have therefore undertaken TO show HIM that he Ia
better or where ne Is. They have put their argu-
ments In the form OF a letter from NJ THEIRS, aud The
authenticity OF The letter has been so widely credited
that the French government has officially denied 1t.
On this hoax. supposing it a genuine document, the
London Times had q lea 1er:--
VERY HOLY FArHER-Count d'Harcourt informs
me that YOU Intend to leave Rome and proceed to
France. need not state that, should 1t please Your
Holiness to carry out tins plan, you VIII meet, In
whatever .locanty you may select, with reception
winch would ne fresh and striking proof OF the
pro- ound anection OF all Frenchmen Tor your vene-
4 rabe person. and that everybody would be happy
TO maze the greatest sacrifices to insure respect
for lnat hospitality which We iee bound In honor to
accord to you. Nevertheless, before you form de-
termination when would DC an Inestlmable dis
tincton Tor us, but which would carry with 1t q
responsibility the extent OF which could not DC fore
seen, permit me To submit some considerations 10
the high intelligence OF Your Holiness which feel
compelled to offer.
the general state OF Europe and the dangers
which now threaten more tnan, ever the cause OF
order impose upon the governments the duty OF
avoiding everything which might cause fresh eX-
ploslon of ararcnlcal passions, and 1t Is on that
account that France, like the other Powers OF
Europe, has accepted the Italian Union, OF winch l
have been, Your Holiness is aware. one or the
most decided adversares. VIII not there.
fore, dwell upon the necessity, generally re.
cognized' OF not compromising the existing
state Of things. The considerations that /
entirely Of special character. France would be,
repeat IT, overJoyed to afford an asylum to the SUI
prens mead OF Catholicism. Every nation would
envy her such an honor. also thnk that Your Holt
ness would not, 10y leaving the Vatican. diminish the
reg GUS prestige which is your strength. Us such
Resolution coud only be interpreted protest
against the facts that, from sympathy or by force
al tne Euro. can Powers have accepted. But Italy
In the nrst place. and WITH some reason might look
VIVA an uniavoraole eye upon tne hospitality ac.
corded by France, and tho complications which
would ensre could only increase Stl l more the dii-
cuities winch press upon my unhappy country. |
feel bound In consequence, 90 submit with all SIN
cerity ana respect, purely personal consideration
to the appreciation OF Your Holiness. Tue mead Ol Ca
tholicsm would md Ia France all the consideration
due 10 his supreme dignity but would not have the
special position secured TO him by the guarantee
law sanctioned by The Italian Parliament. This law,
which IL Is not Tor me to crifclse recognizes i'll Your
Holiness all the prefOgatveS OF sovereignty Those
prerOgalves evidently could lind no application IN
France. ana Notwithstanding all the consideration
which would be dictated to us by our profound VEN
eratlon we should be unable to prevent Your Holi.
ness from percelv1ng at your entrance upon French
territory that you had placed yourself under the rue
OF the common law Should the considerations
which have had the honor TO submit to Your Holt
ness exercise any influence over your debera-
tons ana re,ard decision to which you might at
any time revert. l give you the most formal
assurance that France VIII exert all her influence
order 10 attempt reconciliation between The King
OF Italy and the Bead OF Catholicism; but Your Ho!i
ness VIII understand that those efforts Will nave
more chance OF success II the question Is not COM
pilcateo by a step OF nature 10 open an abyss be-
tween the Holy see and ltalv.
Very Holy Father, cannct allow the occasion to
pass without repeating my congratulations that, by
favor without example In The annals OF the Papacy,
you have celebrated the twentyiith anniversary OF
your accession 10 the POntitcai throne This crcun-
stance-recaling To our memory tlaC Your Holiness
Is, after the Queen OF England, the eldest Of the
soverelgns OF EurOpe-wil, II possible, augment
our confidence in the experience which you have
acquired during such long reign.
Ia these sentiments l knee at the feet OF Your
Holiness. y. THEIRS.