The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-26

tpspa1o the Ponu6 u absolutely supreme. tho
Kings writ to use the FAMILIAR Angio-saxon
term, does not run there or births or deaths that
may take place within the circuit OF that sealed
city the civil authority has no cognixanco. The
plans and Vaccinations for the overthrow OF the
Italian State and government-and to assume
that such plans and Vaccinations are busily en-
gagged In IA to do the clerical party no wrong; OF
course they are continuously moving heaven and
earth (earth cheiny) for the undoing OF Gil
that has been done during the last nf-
teen years IN Italy, and do not anect to say OF
themselves that they are not doing so-may be
carried on with perfect immunity from disturb
ance, spying or interruption OF any kind within
those silent walls. All the conspirators from
every cline under heaven may assemble within
those silent walls. and all the conspiracies that
busy brains can hatch may be matured there, In
the very centre of Victor Emmanueis realm. In
complete security. Postal and telegraphic SER
vices OF his own have been secured to the POntl1.
And these things have been accepted. Of course,
In the words. and doubtless also In the thoughts.
OF the Pope and his counsellors, all these
things are his own, and the usurping governments
has Tor its own end not ~ yet seen 1t to despoil
him OF them as IL has done OF all the rest. But It
must be admitted, ON tho other hand. that the
Italian government ana Parliament stretched
md the position made for 1t not too hard or intOl
cradle one.
HOPE AND FAITH IN ANTAGONIST.
Once again 1t Ii and must be all In vain. But
Italy win not yet abandon the hope that matters
may be changed In chs respect under that success
sor to Plus the Ninth whom the Conclave Will give
to the Church AZ period which In the course Of
nature cannot be remote. purpose in future
letter discussing the prospects and probabilities
OF this coming Conclaye and the issue which may
be expected from 1t, as judged from an examina-
ton OF the component members OF the college. And
the chances Of any such result. as have said, the
Italian government will still nope for will be most
conveniently considered in connect ton with that
subject. The remainder Of my pr esent letter must
be employed In very brief review OF the dealings
Of Italy with the Churcn since she has made her
sell at home in her new capital.
CABINET LEGISLATION AND MoNAsTIC PROPERTY.
One Of the first acts of Unconstitutional Italy TO
abolish monasteries and nunneries and to take
possession on behalf OF the nation OF conventual
property. Your readers would probably not thank
me for making any attempt however briefly, to
resume the masses Of argument which have been
put forth on either side as to the lawfuness and
the expediency Of this measure. or the recrimtna-
tory statements as to the manner in which it was
carried out. Suf1ce 1t that as matter OF course
the Italian government were eager on coming to
Rome to assim.late the laws which should regulate
the fate OF such establishments In Rome and the
surrounding province with the legislation on the
subject prevailing In the rest OF the country. This.
say was matter OF course and inevitable. Had
the government wished to halt on the path on
which 1t had started so far as to spare these
institutions, they would have been driven from
power by the tempest OF the national wrath The
Ministers were the same as those who would
fain have at least deferred the coming to Rome.
But the nation would not permit them to do so.
They would also fatn have mltigated, In every
possible way, the new blow which was to fell on
the Papacy in the destruction OF the Roman
monasteries The whole OF the long debates on
the subject in the Chamber last spring indicated
this. 1t was long struggle between the Ministers
and their adherentH, who were anxious to spare
the monasteries as far as possible and the men Of
the cleft" who, representing In this respect the
undoubted feelings OF the country, were driving
them on In the work Of destruction and abolition.
The question was not contained altogether in the
same terms at Rome as had comprised the whole
OF 1t in the other parts Of the Kingdom There
were peculiar circumstances which admitted OF
line OF augmentation that was not applicable to
the Of other parts OF Italy. The monastic
orders are, as everybody knows, governed In
monarchc fashion, each by its own superior, called
the General or the Order" Few Professionals
however, and, perhaps. few Catholics, save those
who have visited the headquarters of their faith
| are aware how numerous these orders are The
world has heard OF Benedictines, Dominicans
Flancscans, Jesuits and q few Others But in
the course OF centuries these great institutions
have been subjected to variety Of reforms
which have produced separate and distinct
societies in great numbers and each OF these has
ina
OF the world despotcslly. Now for the purpose Of
this general government and surveillance the
most natural and evidently fitting place for the
residence Of the General Is Rome. And in Rome
the evidently appropriate residence Of the General
was the chief convent OF the Order to which he
lOnged. He was not the special superior OF the
convent In which he so resided. But the house
honored by his residence had come to be known as
| casa Generalizid-a generals house. Now Q
| vigorous and obstinate attempt was made to es-
| tablish the proposition that these case general
| fze were altogether exceptional from the rest OF
| the converts of the Order that, inasmuch as the
| establishments OF the order all over the world
| were governed from thence, the converts in
foreign countries, and, pro tantO, those foreign
| countries themselves had an interest and sort
OF prescrlptlve right to the provision for the
government Of those institutions. 1t was further
insisted on, that to destroy these case general
! TIE would be contrary H. not to the worlds, ut
least to the spirit OF the law the guarantees -
| inasmuch as very important part or the gov
| eminent Of the universal Church was carried on
| by means OF the monastic orders throughout the
world; that the only means Of communication with
and action on these orders which the Pope could
avail himself of consisted In his having the 'gen-
erals" always at hand; and that, consequently. to
! deprive him OF these counsenors and lieutenants
was to interfere very seriously with his means
OF spiritual government and action with regard to
the Church. TO this reasoning answer was
made utterly declining to recognize any
sort OF right that any foreign country
could pretend to have In the maintenance Of these
case generalizie uor in truth no foreign govern
ment ever attempted to allege any sucn right !;
and iurther, BY showing that the abolition OF the