The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-25
ROME, March 8, 1872.

ROME, March g. 1872.
Why Was this book wrltten9 10 throw light. the
author declares. upon the relations between the
Holy See and the French republic, from september 4,
1870 July % 1871. far different motive we fear
must be assigned for not one single additional ray OF
light was needed to prove that NJ. Favre, the King
OF Italy, the Chevalier Nigra, Count Beust and
Prince Bismarck, with all their cabinets, colleagues
and followers were the declared enemies OF Pope
Plus TX. 1t had become subject or mrthful inte-
rest to some, of painful apprehension TO others to
watch the tortuous and subtle dexterity with which
all the Powers Of Europe played the game OF Pagan
upon the whlte-haired Pontif That he had no
rights except the right to feel hurt was conceded
on all hands; therefore they particular that his
feelings were to be respected" while they took
from him every vestige of the patrimony OF his See
In the four hundred and odd pages OF
CABINET REVELATIONS
which make up the volume before MS. NJ. Favre
shows talent which no political Pagan can do with.
out; and, beyond that, reveals the motive which
inspired the book, too clearly to be mistaken.
Alter having worked diligently during ten weary
and most eventful months at endeavoring TO
abstract without being detected, he was subjected
to the humiliation OF seeing the National Assembly
condemn his lefty and disin erested lab0rs and
sweep away their fruits by vote OF 431 to paltry
81 This vote, from which the traditional and
'rriendy" Left abstained, was given on July 49,
and-by 1t the entire question OF the conduct to be
pursued By France concerning the temporal pos.
sessions OF the Papacy, was reegated to the Min
,stry TOR Foreign Affairs. Up to that trying day the
composition OF the book before US had not in all
probability, been imagined. The most splendid
burst Of indignant eloquence OF which NJ Favre
may be capable would rail to convey an adequate
idea Of how deeply the vote OF the Assembly
wounded him. The next day he handed to M.
Theirs his resignation as Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ten days later, the acceptance Of that resignation
restored him. he tells u.s. ITO liberty" He was Ger.
tainly enabled to wash his hands OF the Theirs gov
eminent, and to exhibit his profound contempt BY
throwing open to the world those secrets Of the
cabinet which the 0d-fashioned honor Of other
times had always regarded as o sacred trust.
WHAT THE BOOK SHOWS.
But the book Is providentia 1t shows that facts
jusnned the vote Of the Assembly, and would justify
that respectable Legislature in passing vote Of GEN.
sure which would be but very slight penalty after all
upon the ex. Minister for the undigni1ed manner In
which he conducted the business Of his bureau,
and thls irrespective OF the merits OF the ques-
ton intrinscally considered We Will not discuss
its intrinsic merits But II Is worth while noting that
there never century since the birth OF Chris
tanity which many thousand persons Of all classes
and among all nations were not found ready 10 de-
prive eccesastics of their property, whether acqur
ed by gilt purchase Though congresses of social
science might well occupy themselves with the
question, yet it Is not precisely an chronological
, phenomenon, for it is common TO all races and
limited in It's action to one particular class Of
eccesastics At any rate, history IN thisrespect is
| constantly repeating ITSELF
| THE PArRIMoNY OF THE HOLY SEE
has been appropriated" no fewer than ten times In
| as many different centuries; and though the idea
with which M. Favre STARTS as from fixed principle
immovaby rveted to his elmer sense, is that the
| Pope has no rights which any one is bound to re-.
| spect in the matter Of the Papal patrlmony Yet as
has been said, 1t Is upon grounds of totally differ.
ent nature that M. Favre merits the sharpest cen.
| ture OF the Assembly.
THE STATUS QUO or THE ROMAN 90 EsrIoN.
| On the 9th OF September, 1870, not more. and
probably less than forty-eignt hours after the au
thor had become ne Mtrtstre arm eraeute," the
Italian envoy. NJ. Nlgra, presented himself to the sell
| appointed government" OF France He told M. Favre
that he was charged oftlcally by his government
to declare that the status quo OF the Roman question
''could no longer be supported" He declared that
"our interest and our honor command us' to take
Rome lie even says "the safety OF the Papaoy de.
mand 1t no less imperiously." What touching so.
liciiudel He reminds M. Favre OF his past political
liie and appeals to him to be consistent and de-
| nounce the Convention OF September is, 1864, by
| which the King and government Of Italy mad
pledged their honor TO France to protect the Papa
| doInnions from all spectators The King and gov.
| erDment OF Italy In choosing that particular mo-
ment to declare their q xed purpose to violate thai
Convention, showed no respect for tho Papacy, FOL
| France, or for their own solemn pledge.
| No sooner was France prostrare at Sedan
than they telegraphed to M. Nigra what to say
|
country's digni y, protest against the Italian mes
sage9 Quite the contrary 81 feel" he SAID, in re
ply to NJ. Nlgra how much there is that is rretuta
able In your observations The Convention Of Sep
| TENDER ID Is quite dead However, 1 will not de-
nounce 1t. II quite dead there was necessity sc
to do, and then TO whom could he denoHnce t9 tt
Cremieux, Gais. Bizoin and Gambettas NJ. Favrel
sense OF the ridiculous would prevent that
| France, he went on to say, was unfortunate JUS
then, and ne himself "too unhappy to have tn,
l courage to afiict venerable old man, Unde
| other circumstances he would be most happy
And then he did mot wish to sadden his Catholic
| Fellow countrymenl" This was ale point q.
cannot nor do wish to hinder anything,n and 81
on. II would be dinlcult to say which of the two
diplomats played the more gnoble role. Four
teen days later Victor Emmanueps cannon had
battered down the Roman gate OF Porta Pa spite
anu IN contempt of the September Conventions II
TACT, we may say with the appreciation Of the man
who had proposed to the world to represent France
and see to the execution OF her contracts.
THE ITALIAN GQYERNMEsX COULD DO AS II
| =, PLEASED.
"Thc Incident which have just related" says NJ.
Favre In the opening Of his third chapter, "was tht
point OF departure Of the policy from which never
deviated.n That incident was the conversation
with NJ. Nigra. The "policy" was "a system OF loya
neutrality which he tells us OH the same page he
would not have adopted II he Could have seen the
| slightest prospect "eyen eSentual,u of obtaining
armed assistance nom Italy, The CONVEX
ton ne Declared was "quite dead" lie
| would 1n6ither Invoke nor JenOunce it.o lie Coulc
not and would not ''ninder anytn,ngn that the
government OF Italy might choose 10 DO That Ger
fanny was neutrality with vengeance on the one
hand and on the other a tact Cooperation. Wha