The sun., 1879-02-23

cedcnce; the inhuman fathor who assisted at
the ceremony from a window OF the pnlace de-
cided tho controversy instantly and without the
slightest emotion.
The researches Of tiTe Italians are not wholly
OF u national character Prof Domenico Bsrt
nfter writing m excellent monograph on the
philosopher Gor,lnno Bruno. hna. in 1876
given n lucid nccount OF Copcrnicus.and his
Sysicm." " His bold learning. his wise, i'm
partial and unproiudiccd power OF criticism."
writes an eminent nuthor. have enabled Prof
Bcrti to collect materials for most wiso and
admirable biography occasionally animated by
the noblest flashes Of sentiment. In tracing the
| life of Coperncus in Italy and his relations
with our scientific men. the author. aided by
new and precious docum ents. throws much
liShteen ualileos career. M well as upon the
| history OF tho Italian universities. which had
boen long awaiting n faithful chroniclcr."
Ancient history docs not cngross nlono the
| iacultics OF Italy's best thinkers. The groat
probloms Of the day and contemporary evonts
receive due attention Mt their hands. wish
had sufficient spnce TO point out all that is done
in Italy in this line. AZ 1t IL, | am bound to
mention only two works Annghetti's Tho
Church and the State" nnd Massari's Life Of
Victor Emanuel" vouching that they are far
from being isolated productions Of thoir kind.
| Under the appearance OF grent simplicity. this
| problem of tho separation of Church and State
presents the greatest practical difficulties. not
only in reference to Italy. but to the whole OF
| Europe. How Church and State have 40 far
been united; how in the present condition OF
| Europe. and Of Italy especially. the union OF
the two no longer has sufficient reason for OK
| istence; how this separation may bo Effected;
its usefulness and thu unworthiness Of tho OBJ
! jections against It; the probable effects OF the
! All Ia II ilfnaya .fN md on thp
religious future of Europo-those are the chief
| Ave parts into which the eminent statesman
! divides his book. In their treatment. SignOr
| Minghctu reveals such n wonderful stock of
philosophical. juridical. and political knowl-
edge as to render the volume forever an au-
thority on tho subject. and very interesting
! even 10 those nations among which the princ-
/ pie OF fr 'edom and Independence of the Church
has fairly asserted itself. What tho future has
in store for such countries. nobody can foresee.
! Massars Lifo OF Victor Emanuel" Is moro
| than biography; II is tho history OF tho resur-
reation Of Italy. and we wonder that mono OF the
entcrprising publishers OF this country has un-
| dcrtakcn its publication in English. Indeed.
| the greatest political event OF tho nineteenth
! century ought TO be studied little more care
| fully by the Inhabitants Of tho New World. II
they do not care to justify TO a certain ex-
tent tho nickname they have received from
some European. that. we mean. OF inhabitants
OF another world" Massari has seemingly
shown that 1t is n prejudice. not n truth. Hs is
generally asserted that sober. impartial history
cannot be- written until the mist Of years has
quellcd the deceptive glow Of events. No less
important IA the " Biography OF Count Cayour"
which Mnssar published flve years ngo. The
careful study by Charles De Mazade the
/ character of the great Italian statesman which
! appeared In tho Reeus des Deur MondeS and
attracted so much attention in Europe. becomes
child's work II il be compared with tho colossal
monument that the Italian writer has raised 10
his memory. Germany. France and England
| have layshcd all sorts OF eulogics upon both
these books by Massari. and have admitted that
they are among tho few that will never fall into
oblivion.
Many OF my readers will perhaps disagree
with me. but l cannot forbear expressing my
candid opinion on the subject | believe that
no greater token OF progress may DO Afforded
by any literature than it's independence from
the letters Of ecclesiasticsm. believe that it is
every mans duty to employ his reason in his
enl,ayors TO solve the great problems Of his
destiny. Surely man can ofIer no higher
recognition Of the value Of tho gift no has rc-
/ cciycd than by constantly using It M his guide
Raiionalism is nearly as widely sprcnd in Italy
as in Germany. Dsavowal Of all mere authori-
ty recognition OF the results Of scientific inves-
tigation-these are tho principles by which tho
majority Of the young philosophers ara guided
in the land Of Calico and Campanea. aud tho
solid works in which they embody their
thoughts are too many TO bear enumeration.
In regard to religious questions, not n few
members OF the clergy express themselves quite
freely about the primacy OF tho Papacy
| about restoring 10 tho episcopate the
| independence il enjoyed in the primitive
| Church Tho most Jealous Of them de-
mand that the Scriptures be no longer sealed
in n learned tongue; that compulsory celibacy
aud irrevOcablo vows be abolished that aurcu-
lar confession be no longer imposed MS a duty
hut only encouraged US an incentive to virtue.
Some of these reformers have stouty refused
10 adopt the dogma OF the Immaculate Concep-
tion and 10 acknowledge tho authority OF the
syllabus. They have been accommodated
and thus almost deprived Of their bread; but
they have bravely stood by their convictions.
The books Of Passagla and LyeTani ap-
peared within tho last twenty years. and tho
ccho Of the stir recently created by
| Padre Curci's book has reached even
these distant shores. This light OF the
Order OF st. Ignatius became at last.
| convinced that the restoration of the temporal
power was an illusion. a dream. lie had por-
ceiyed that the movement by which Papacy had
! been overthr0wn WAS not mere episode Of a
transient political disturbance. but the conse-
qucnce OF a great moral revolution that had its
beginning with tho Reformation. and had
riDened slowly under the influences OF modern
civilization. Padre Curci does not by any
means approve OF tho dcspoliation TO which tho
| Pope has been victim. nor does he undertake
to defend the acts by which the now realm aims
at tsef-consolidaton but he denies tho exist
ence Of necessary connection between the
spiritual and the temporal power. Every Gov
ernment. says the great thcologian. may be-
come legitimate by fulfilling the Office Of q good
administrator and 10y furthcring the interests
| Of tho country. Tho Governments OF Cromwell
and OF William III. in England. of the two
empires and Of the republic in France. have in
this way become legitimated. and So has the new
| order OF things In Italy. Instead Of isolating
itself on the ground Of mere theological quar-
rel, the Papacy ought to recognize tho Italian
Government. II in no other way. ns the actual
possessor and ruler OF the country. Such are
Padre Curcs opinions; and 1t should bo borne
in mind that he has been q Jesuit all his life.
II this is no proof that Italy. in spite OF all the
Obstacles in her way. keeps abreast with tho