New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-18

ING that before receiving the sacfaments OF the
Church he should dsowr and profess repent
ance for The things which he had done as sovereign
of Italy-the constant reply of Victor Emanuel on
his sick bed, to opportunities on the subject. was
that those were matters to be discussed WIN MS
Ministers and not with him ; that, however much he
might be responsible for the acts Of his Government
TO the nation and to the world of large those acts
being the acts not of despotjc monarch. but oil
constitutional sovereign, made no part OF the ac-
count to be settled between him, as an individual
man. and his God. In truth. of all the steps that
have been taken in Italy in opposition to the inter-
eats and the wishes of the Church. no one would In
all probability ever have been adopted had the
taking of it depended the personal will of victor
Emanuel! Doubtless Plus TX. is perfectly well
aware of this And for that reason the excOminuni-
cation so often threatened in the hope of terrifying
the nation has mover been published personally
against the sovereign.
For all these reasons am disposed to think that 1t
would not have suited tho wishes and views OF
either monarch that the interview between them
should have taken place at Rome. Both monaichS
are, no doubt, perfectly aware that the terrible
battle, in which both of them have been engaged
against the most dangerous enemy that any ruler
has ever had to struggle with. Is yet very far from
being at an end. And it can hardly be that thcir
meeting
all-mpor.mt topic. Nevertheless much as there
is in common between the position OF the Emperor
and that of the King it is not likely that any very
satisfactory understanding should be arrived at re-
specting the mode Of carrying on the FIGHT against
their common enemy. And il is probably the knowl-
edge of that fact that has induced Prince bismarck
10 decline being present at the interview IL seems
10 be still possible that he may yet be induced to he
present But it is none the less certain that his ir't
wish and intention was not to accompany the I'm
pcror to Italy. There has at no tmr been any truth
in those statements as to diplomatic " coldness"
between the Italian and German Governments,
which were 80 indusir.Ously circulated Oy many
European papers few months ago. speak ON TINS
point With knowledge of the facts, winch Jd3tillcs
me in asking your entire reliance on my assertion.
But it is true that the Government OF Berln-tnat Is
10 saw. Prince Bismarcs-woud fain have induced
the Italian Government TO adopt seyerer less TOT
Grant ard long-sufcring and more peremPtory lane
Of conduct toward the Church and their own clergy.
II is true also that the wishes of large portion OF
the ItaliaIso of the parliamentary opposition, and
all the more advanced section OF the Liberals
pointed in the same direction. But am disposed TO
think that The traditional acutencss and wary
caution of tho Italian statesmen viii he ionnd
not 20 have been at fault III TINS matter.
IT does not follow from that however, that
the line adopted by the German Government
has bee n q mistaken one. The problem before the two
Governments was "A very different one. Both. rs 1t
has been said again and again, had-and have-to
fight the same battle. But it has 10 be fought under
essentially different circumstances IN the two c0ui-
tres, and against very different aGveTsares. Tie
c!mrchmen indeed may be considered to be much
the same in both countries. But the force, when
clurchmcn can in these days bring TO bear against
| 81.
of the laity. whose minds they sway. And these
masses differ in the two countries widely tand III
no respect moro widely than in this matter of church
feencl that the problem to lie solved by the Gov
ernmcnt OF either OF them is "A very different one
Prince Bismarck is 30 able and well-inforncd man
that il may preSumptuous to suppose that he Is
no. perfectly oocnizant of all this. But my own
impression is thai nobody who does not know the
Italians with that knowledge which only long resi-
dence among them can give, can be aware OF the
amount of difference there is between the Catholicism
If German Catholic and that of an Italian For these
reasons similar as the position of Italy and Ger
many with respect TO the Church, | do not
think that any very satisfactory accord can
be arrived at between them respecting their
ecclesiastical p)licy AS TO the schemes
for interfering IN some undened manner
with the coming election OF new Pope which has
been so freely attributed to Prince Bismarck, can
with very perfect confidence assure you that less
than ever will the Italian Government consent 10
be party TO any such. Their business III the mat
Ter will Limit Itself strictly to the taking Gaze at
he Sacred College shall have every opportunity and
facility for proceeding 10 irce, independent, and
| can01ical election.
This subject. however, is one Of snch great inter
est and such prominent importance IN the Ne" as
well a. in the Old World that | shall no donbt find
an opportunity to write 10 you again upon 1t.
Of con,se you will have observed that His Emi-
uence Cardinal Met loskcy. has been made very mach
Of at the Vatican rs was f. have been expected But
those araonG your readers who take any interest III
such matters VIII probably have been aware that
the statements in some CT English papers about
Ills EHlinence having been asked to select the
church from which lac would take his title are alb
,ud Thee matters arc ~ fixed, and no Cardinal
can exercise any such choice.
r. ADOLPuUS TROILDPE.
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THE MI RDERFp NEGROES.