The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-09

ftcicutouB passion Oh some 1SGhane 70 deefn
themselves first- class military power,
and predicts for Italy-if she persists in
putting out her ornaments In vain hope of
rivalliDg her neighbors-the fate Of the
frog in the fable. There is yet another
sign that the times are not about to be
altogether peaceful. The funds form q
political barometer not to be neglected.
When the funds of any country rise, it in :
dioates either peace or prosperity for that
country. When the funds fall then war
Is denoted or financial disaster. The Ita-
liam funds ought to have risen after the
visit to Vienna and Berlin, if peace was
actually intended by the triple alliance.
fell, and the premium on gold at the same
time became greater. So that at this mo-
ment, if the funds tell truth-and they
rarely err-Italy has to expect, instead of
peace and financial prosperity, war and col
lapse. But whence will come war Fra nee
unfairly on a mad contest with two nations
at once. We leave Austria out of the cal
cuiation, as it is now generally believed
that she has declined to enter into the
combination. But the allied nations, or
one Of them, confident of the support of
the other, may make war against France:
To pick quarrel is easy. Italy can at
any moment stir up strife in Nice and
claim restitution of Savoy. There is at
present dispute about boundaries near
the Apennines. Prussia may wish frou-
tier which may place Alsace and Lorraine
in a better position for government. Then
there is the Catholic question. Germany
is now bent on the subsection of Catholic
ism to tho civil power and might take UNI
bragg at the moral support which Catholic
France nnder Henry V. might give to the
Vicar of Christ. In fact war may he
waged openly, as it is now waged secret
ly, against the Catholic Faith and Ital-
ians, if they cannot otherwise put down
Catholicism, may have recourse to further
violence. The Pope has been stripped of
his dominions. The Church has been
plundered of her possessions. The minis
tiers Of religion have been turned from their
houses, and deprived of their properties
and told to go free, in poverty, to live
where and how they will. But more than
this, if that be true which is said openly by
some, and whispered privately BY others,
have been published without secret. His
opinion is that it is necessary to destroy
the Faith and destroy its ministers. AS
long as Christianity continues and until
we can get rid of the priests, Italy will be
in peril, according to Garibaldi. Let us
kill the priests and begin with the Pope
himself, is the language of the Republicans
in United Italy. And unfortunately for
the cause of peace, the Republicans are
numerous in Italy and may compel the
adoption of their views. But if it be certain
that perilous days-and perhaps days of
straightforward the ministers aud follow
ers of the Catholic Faith in Rome and
Italy, it is no less certain that the Church
will rise triumphant out of the bloody or
deal. "Thou art Peter"-said Christ to
the predecessor of Plus IX.-"and on this
rock will build My Church, aud the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it."-Lon-
don Tablet.