The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-02
Rome and Civil Society.
From the London Tablet. ]

the great liberal nations of Europe. The
triple alliance was formed-so 1T Is said
to ensure the peace of the world, and there
fore the first fruits of that alliance might
we'll be expected to show themselves in q
more placid tone of comment on the part
of those writers who pretend to shadow
forth the political feeling of the day. What
can be stronger than the combination just
formed between three military powers,
whose united forces arc numerically far
superior to those of the nation against
Which the league has been created Ought
not the strong to be merciful and confident,
without fear and without bitterness Ia
not peace the object of that alliance 7
What then can be the meaning of the angry
and threatening diatribes which issue from
the official and semi-official journals of
Germany, Italy, AID England 1t is but
natural that the newspapers in Paris
should display irritation. France has been
humbled and defeated, and the vanquished
may we'll be pardoned for petulence of Ian
guage. 1t is not wonderful that France
should display indignation at the menaces
of still further humiliation and loss launch
ed against her, upon the supposition that
she may seek at some time not distant to
ameliorate the condition of the Head of the
Catholic Church, and to demand from the
kingdom which she in great part created
the observance of q solemn treaty which
was shamefully broken. But what have
Prussia, Austria, and England to fear IL
it for moment to be imagined that
France, crippled and unsettled, will madly
e-eater upon war Or is it believed that
Plus TX. is meditating an armed crusade
for the recovery of his dominions7 Credaf
Judpus. And yet We find the German
newspapers encouraging the Italians and
saying "L Let France but raise q finger
against Victor Emmanuel and we will be
with you in a trice." And.t the Iimes-the or
gan ofsober truth loving Englishmen-is not
ashamed to write against Plus TX. in terms
which might be proper to use against an
armed and mighty despot who was accus
toned per Jas aut netas to work out the de-
in Rome, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and even
in London, are, it seems, proclaiming a
crusade against every creed and every
institution which is not altogether and
completely Catholic. They everywhere
boast to be superior to the law, to the
continue to insult the heart, the INTEL ect,
and the domestic feelings of those who
dare to think for themselves and who re-
fuse to believe the oracles of the mystic
sanctuaries." In no former period-so al
leges tue Iimes-was there ever in the his
tory of Rome a movement SO combined and
universal as the present, or one which was
so deeply stamped with the impress of one
central design. There is plenty of explo
sive material, and moreover there are
hands ready to apply the match at the
word of command. France is like colt,
which has thrown its rider to the ground
and runs wild until it finds another mas
ter. Society has thousand perils to fear.
Communism, the workman's question, the
International, simple anarchy, and thou
sand kinds of ambitions, which have no de-
finite form, but which await their oppor-
tunity as the seed awaits rain and sun
shine, surround us on every side. Rome
<le b. l.. =
used opposite means to attain her ends,
aud we'll knows how to employ means
which are far off to destroy and ruin that
which menaces her more nearly and
directly. There is at least one power
Rome of course-which will give vitality,
force and direction to the plots against
modern society. And those whose duty
it is to save civilization have need to
combine and confront the danger, and
to unite the entire forces of the civ
ilized world to preserve it from bar
barism. To this object--so the Times
gravely concludes-we must attribute the
visit Of Victor Emmanuel to Vienna and
Berlin. How much of falsehood, or how
little of truth, there may be contained in
such a diatribe as that of which we have
just given the substance, is known to
every Catholic, and might be known to
every Protestant not blinded by prejudice.
1t is doubtless true that at no time was
apparent among Catholics than at present.
And it is probable that the steadiness and
uniformity with which Catholic doctrines !
and principles are now maintained in every |
part o. Christendom are more conspicuous
and more evident in operation than at
former times. Both these phenomena, if
phenomena they are to be called, may be
explained by the increased facilities of
communication in modern times and by the |
Vatican Coun Gil.
Bat it is utterly untrue-the very sup
position is ridiculous-that the Pope
u editates, or will ever mediate, the en-
ployment of anarchists, Com munists, or
ncendiaries either in the propagation of the
Faith, or 10 the recovery of his temporal do
Plotters against peace there were
and perhaps are in Europe. But Plus TX.
was not among them nor did he abet them.
Crowned monarchs there were, and
perhaps are, who laid their plans and com
oined together to despoil . neighbor
sovereign. But Plus TX. was ever the
victim and was never the partner in such
1lots. The Holy Father was not present
a person or in deputy at Plombieres, or at !
|astein,, or at any of those friendly inter-