The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-08-15
municipal Elections in Italy.

Municipal Elections In Italy. i
A,tbonob Catholics in Italy take no part
in returning members to the Parliament,
on the principle that true Catholics cannot
by their presence sanction the laws WHICH
have been passed against the Churcn, yeU
they have not given over attenoine "
local affairs, and whenever there ID an op
portunity of interfering for the GOOD OF
religion they exert themselves with enect'
Thus at Genoa, the country OF Mazzlni,
the Liberals made attempts to oanish the
Catechism from the schools and to secniar-
ize eduation. The Government system
works badly enough, and might fairly sat
isfv the Italian Freemasops, for the teach
| ers are selected aud promoted without
| much reference to their religious or moral
| qualities But the Liberals in Genoa
wanted a special triumph, and they got
special defeat. They fret got the ofhciais
to omit the religious teaching in certain
schools i; they proclaimed that the feeling
of majority of the par nts was against
| religious instruction and when an IN
ouiry was instituted, and the voting proved
that their calculations were false, they pre-
vailed ON the Government to dissolve the
municipal corporation at Genoa, In order 10
| elect more plant and more Liberal mem
bers. But the result has shown that Cath
olic feelings are strong in Genoa, for the
Catholic candidates were elected In con
siderable majority. In other cities ana q
towns of Italy the Catholics save succeeaeI
in electing good men to the chief muhiclpal
offices, and as the control and manage
ment of the funds and endowments Tor
charitable purposes are mostly in the hands
Of the local corporations, 1t Is greas
% oint gained to place the administration OF
these important institutions In srustWoIsny
hands. It is known that the Government
intends at the earliest opportunity to re-
new the attempts made to subject these
charitable endo wment s to the liquidatlng OF
J conversion process which has already been
, applied to ecclesiastical foundations. But
the local authorities have hitherto protes'
, ted so vigorously against this fresh spolia.
ton that Government had TO give away ant
suspend the measure prepared for c0Rrert
ina the charitable foundations into State
! dependencies. The opposition between
. the local corporations and the Governmen
i is looked upon as serious matter, aud one
, likely to hullify the effects of the revoiu
t ton which united the several states int
g one kingdom. The leading Government
b organs say some severe measures must o.
J, introduced to remove this antagonism II
y principle' between the Central Adminlstra
3. ton in Rome and the local administrations II
It the provinces. The Government, of cuurse
y employs every means to secure the cleo
tion to municipal offices of men favorabi
is to themselves. Private circulars are is
30 sued by the Government Projects to to
D. Municipal Syndics, urging the latter to far
a One Of these "private" circulars has jus
I'd been made public. 1t was addressed b
is the Project of Venice to the Syndlc of tina
lie province. After reminding the Syndic
ne the duty of promoting the attendance
1t electors at the urns the circular proceede
Id -"It was the Constitutional regime whlc
a chiefly made Italy, and it is the same r.
rs oime which must consolidate its indepei
n, dence aud unity, and increase Its pIospe
ed ity and greatness. 1t must not be forgo
en ten that this regime is based upon the ele
g toral sy stem, which it is duty of the hig
ty est Importance for patricia to preser,
ne aud strengthen in its prestige. Tbs WI
nd take place whenever the number OF ele
rk tors W no go IT, the poll is conspicuous
ng large, and when the victory OF the eie
be toral contests remains with the Cover
,g ment- Liberal Party ,partito liberale gorer
'he a -iuo." Tue circular then expresses
er- hope that '.the clerical reactionary par
will be defeated in the administrative e'e
for tions," and charges the Catholic Congrs
10 at Venice with the design of overthrow
rly the government by procuring the return
ny clerical candidates to municipal ono
1g- When all the municipal Offices in ltt
OF shall be 10 the hands of the ciericals, It W
The be easy for them to get possession OF t
do kipc6Hm nv means of their III aioritiea,
OF tue circular asserts, in the local corpo
ND tions. Against this circular strong p
mt, test was drawn up, and signed by mn
Ism leading electors who were indignant
sh- the open interference with their indep'
EEL danca "a alectors. 1t ia satisfactory
ure find that in Venice the Government CT
to didates were defeated, and that two-thi
ain. of the administrative elections were carr
Ill Nv th. CATHOLICS
'tu
icer ,.- Q. Gov, IN tho ef.b mao
| Sri will he