The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-01-06
king william and tho Pope. 20

ming Willhon and tho Pope,
So many strange things have happen
ed, and SO many ssgacious calculations
been defeated by the course Of events in
the present war, that even statements
which seem upon the face of them i'm
probable are not as promptly rejected as
they might be under the circumstances.
Of this character is the intelligence com
munioated by despatch to the New York
W0rtd, December 16, that the Papal
envoy at Versailles has received from
Aing William !he assurance that SO soon
as the present war is ended he will re-
store the Popo to his temporal power.
That the Protestant King of Prussia.
representing the Protestants of the
North, should make such q promise.
seems strange enough, though before we
regard it as incredible we must bear in
mind that he expects toecome out of this
war not simply as King of Prussia, but
as Emperor OF United Germany, large
proportion OF whose popuiatiau are at
tached to the Roman Catholic Church.
10 propitiate this population, md secure
to Germany the good wishes of other
Roman Catholic nations in Europe, and
even to conciliate France, the Emperor
OF Germany might consider it policy to
restore to the Pope his temporal power.
What the feeling in France is may be
inferred from the statement published
By the Pail Mall Gazette, of London,
which comes almost simultaneously with
the above announcement, that General
Trochu has written to the Pope lament
ing that the present condition of France
prevents her from coming to his assist
ance. aud that as soon as he has accom-
plished his mission ut Paris, he will make
it his next duty to restore the Pope his
triple crown. When, amidst her own
tribulations, France evinces such SYM
pathy with the Pope, it is easy to see
that Bismarck might suppose he could
improve the French feeling towards Ger
many by giving aid and comfort to the
Pope ip his trouble It will be remem-
6ered that, oven as King of Prussia,
William, In the correspondence between
himself and the Pope, in August last,
assured his holiness that he was "united
to him in bonds of Christian charity and
true friendship"
Supposlng these words to be prompted
simply by desire to conciIiate tho
Roman Catholic element, it is conceiva.
BILE that, in order to mike Germany 4
unit, the same motive might leud to
such action as is attributed to him in the
late despatch. So many marvels are
HaPpenlnB tnaC we may we'll cease to
wonder ut anything. William, from
present appearances, will be in condition
to do as he pleases when tho present war
IS ended. His Protestant subjects NAV
forgive him. on account of the glory be
has acquired for Prussia, for an act
which many of them will look npnn as
OF no practical Importance, either in a
religious or temporal point of view,
whilst the Catholic population of the
new Empire will become his active
friends. In this country, 80 remote
from tho scene of action, and where the
Roman Catholic element does not pre-
dominate. we are perhaps. not inclined
to appreciate the force of motives which
may be supposed to operate upon Eu-
ropean Governments in matters connect
ed with religion which prevuils long
so many millions Of people
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