The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-22
THE ADMINISTRATIVE ELECTIONS IN
ROME.

Tho elections for Communal and Provin-
cial Councillors were held in Rome on Sun
day, June 10. An attempt was made by
the Catholic voters to return men of prop
erty and position to manage the affairs of
Rome, and put check upon the extrava-
gahce and corruption which prevailed un-
der the Liberal and anti Catholic regime.
A society was formed under the presidency
of Prince Borgheee, to select and recon-
mend candidates, and the list put forward
by this society, the Unione Romano, was
composed of persons whose rank, wealth,
and virtues eminently entitled them to the
confidence of their fellow citizens. In this
list figure the names of Prince Borghese,
De Roasi, Giustiniani Bandini, Aldobran-
dini, Campello, Vespignani, and Vlsconti.
The number of electors on the lists is
stated to be 2O,3l7, and of the 80 but 8, $40
cessful. The highest number of votes was
5 S7y for Signor Ferrari, sculptor, the
Liberal candidate, who came out frat on
the winning side. The last of the Liberals
returned had SIG votes. The defeated
Catholic candidates obtained 3 Az votes,
the highest number given to Prince Mar
cantonic Borghese, while the lowest CathO-
lie candidate had 3, 1877 votes. The cleo
tors who abstained from voting were over
ten thousand in number. Both Liberal
aud Catholic Journals concur in opinion
that this election is O matter OF grave mo-
ment to Italy. Hitherto Italian Catholics
have RETAINED from seeking any part 10
tie management of their country, and nader
obedience to orders have taken no share in
political elections of any kind. But re-
Gently, permission has been granted to
! Catholics TO interfere in administrative
elections for municipal and provincial
| councillors, whose functions are not polit-
ical, and cons at chiefly in managing the
pccupiary affairs of the municipal corpora
| liuus. They have also power over TIE
public ecuo0!s and over some parnchidl
1T stitutes The Catholic defeat in Rome
- locked On as a sign of coming triumph
Scarcely two per cent. of the clergy voted
and the majority of electors did not vote
at all, probably from timidIty and despair
uf success. Yet the clelicalS formed =
compact body of j. 500 voters, and, it the,
take courage, may next year command ter
or twelve thousand voters The Liberia
newspapers confess that three or fou
thousand voteTs arc Government officers
such as.clelks in public offices, and guard
in the customs, police, postal, and othe
departments. Against this body of q cia
voters 1t will be difficult for tho clerical
10 conteud but the task is not impossible
. The Diritt0. a government organ, says
q In Rome the seat of government, wher
: ono third the electors voting ha!o0g I
public departments, we have this result
I namely, That three .fftbs Of the aetna
voters obey with marvellous scipline til
, commands of the Vatican, and these tire
Thousand voters. out of five thousand, ap
. pertain for the greater part to the classe
il which possess landed and other property
high social influence, and Consciences unde
o | religious control" 1t is to be noted that
4 band of persons, said to be university stu
g dents, were permitted to march through th
. streets of Rome to celebrate the Liher;
victory. They visited the B0rghese Pa!aC
to hiss the Prince, and in the Piazza Colon
!. called for tho Garibaldian HMM.