The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-08-05
JTALIAN REPUBLICANISM AND THE
a FUTURE OF ITALY.
tLondon Register, July i4.)

(London Register July l4)
Many of our readers will doubtless have re-
marked q cprions incident which occurred in
Rome on the Sd CT June-the day of the Papa
Jubilee. On that day both the Vatican and
& the Quiripal were en- tete, for while the Pope
the Romans, and the pilgrims were celebra-
sing the fftieth anniversary OF the Episcopate
aof Pins TX, Victor Emmanuel, the invaders of
Rome, and their friends were commemorating
kthe concession of the Statute. or Constitution
by Charles Albert to his PIedmentese subjects
sgoing TO the Vatican without let or hin draDoe
LIN the evening q deputation set out for the
Quirinal to cheer the King. AS they ap-
preached the palace they were stopped by.
line of bsyonets. In vain they begged to be
Allowed to proceed. They were dispersed and
went home, doubtless with no very friendly
Feelings towards the Piedmontese King. who
bad thus met their demonstrations of loyalty
Filth something like an insulting rebuff
n What was the meaning of this incidents 1t
Is hard to say what we're the exact motives of
&he King in acting as he did; bnt 1t is not
ificult to what Is the general sgni6c alton
81 the incident when we take it in connection
nth other signs of the times in Italy. Ihe
Simple fact is that the King afraid of his
Aubjects. He is never at his ease in Rome
Eighteen years ago he told the French Am
assador az Turin that he would never go to
Rome, that he would leave iS TO Humbert
Now he has Rome, but he staysin the Quiri nal
as little as possible. he remembers how Plus
5lX. was besieged in that palace by the Revo-
|lutionary mob in 1913. He is afraid of being
tDufTOQnQeU GDere Dy nlb own 6uDJ0CCSy anu
lBhus seeing Nemesis accomplished. No
wonder, then, that he does not care to have
noisy deputations coming to cheer outside his
Windows; but this exhibition of. mistrust to-
wards his people is hardly Politic What
would have been said of Plus TX if, before
1870, he had sent the Zouaves to bar the way
! of O deputation to the Vatican That his
&hrone was undermined, that he himself had
q no trust in his position. But Plus TX. never
did this. Victor Emmanuel has been forced
20 do lt, aud we can only apply the same
measure to his scts, and say the throne of the
Usurper is ready to fall.
It. has been undermined by the very men
Who made united Italy. That they would as
sail the King when they had finished their at
back on the Pope, everyone, except few
Fanatic Liberals, foresaw from the outset. The
present Ministry in Italy is essentially Revo.
utionary. Insurgents of 1S4S, Garibaldians
# 1860 and 1867, hold the chief places in it..
There is Nicotera, Garibaldan general !;
Aezzscapo, the leader of the revoted Toscans
b 1859 Depretis, the friend and colleague of
daZzini. Of course 1t is just possible that
9hese men have changed their opinions and be-
Bome Constitutional Royalists instead of MAJ
iDian Repu bcans but until they give some
proof of this change of front We shall not be-
eve in it. Mean " hI!e, we believe that we
Ian see some signs that they are, whether in
'sentiopally or otherwise, preparing the way
lor ON Italian Republic. The old Piedmontes9
Rarty has lost all its influence. Or its leading
zen, soldiers of good family, who heli high
Ank in the Italian army, nearly all are gona.
These were the men whom the King CoIld
44V6 OepenCSO inc defence Oh MIS- GDIODe,
lot some of them, like Cugis, are dead; !;
thers like Cialdini, on foreign embassies !;
md of those that remained on active service,
70 less than six were deprived of their com
sands on one day month ago. Amongst
Aem was Cadorna, who took Rome on the goth
8 September, 1870. NE zzacapo and Nicotera,
aving thus got rid of six generals devoted to
ne King, filled their places with six men of
ronounced Radical views. Every man in
ealy regards this very serious matter for
ictor Emmanuel, and more serious still for
Rts son. The prevailing impression is that
eough the Republicans are strong in numbers,
Nnd have virtually command of the Ministry
md the army, they will not move in earnest
turing Victor Emmanuers lifetime. OF course
events may lead them to act premsturely, but
t appears to be their intention to wait pa
tiently for the death of IL he GdLGntMonlo.
When that comes they will push Prince Hum
pert aside and proclaim the Republic Hum
pert has won for himself the position of the
post unpopular man in Italy. He has broken
own the last hope of the Monarchy, and his
hance of peacefully succeeding to his fathers
Grown is q very small one. We may look for
Eara to the proclamation of an italian Repub-
10 as oneo the certainties of the political fu-
'uLe-so far as anything is certain in politics.
We of course, have no affection for Victor
Emmanuels throne. We care not how
The monarchy of United Italy subsidies into
he foundation of mud on which it is built.
or ms the only question is how far such a rev.
olution in Italian affairs would be favorable or
nnfayorable to the position of Catholicism and
ne freedom of the Holy See. Doubtless, at
-, .Ouu.Ceeb5 bhere would be an ooGourst OF
sPcHaIon and persecution the part of the
new SeVernment. Bat could they do much
more tLan has already been done, or attempt
ca, Dy the various Ministeries that have sue
Geeded each other since 1867 We doubt il.
Bot, however this may be, the Proclamation of
the hepublIc would bring into immediate ac.
ZION strong counteractipg force. In the
south, undoubtedly the Catholic Roy alss
would. II they received the slightest aid from
abroad, rise and assert the rights of Fcancis IL
once this step was taken the freedom of Rome
you'd follow. The old cry of Unity would not
tand in the way. The new cry of Federalism,