The Irish standard., 1889-10-05


and tried by eyerv means in his despO.lc
power to make him snbject TO his will.
All failed, though, and when the Bona
parIe star descended Plus VIII. was
again restored to Rome and welcomed
back by the people Of that CITY.
Lik the French dictator, the Italian
Government wants 10 be regarded as
sovereign in Rome. claiming that such
position is necessary for IL in order TO
rule all Italy, but now as then the
Pope's reply is that there are no En-
perors in the Eternal City, where the
Vatican admits no superior in temporal
matters to his own authority
One mora instance of a P0ntiff's
flight might suffice, that which occurred
when the predecessor of Leo XIII.
went to Gaeta and spent some time in
exile there. The events which led up
to Plus ms departure began shortly
after his elevation to the fapacy. One
of the Pope's first acts, after he had
entered on the duties of his office, was
to grant an amnesty to all political
offenders, and while the cIemency of
this pardon was unquestioned, the
policy that dictated it was open to
grave suspicious, and the men who pro-
fitted by the amnesty and regained their
liberty, repaid the Holy Father with
ingratitude. To promote the welfare
Of Italy, Pope Plus proposed a fedora
tion Of the Italian states, but this pre-
posal was rejected by Piedmont, and
the Pope had to content himself with
granting constitution to his provinces.
He appointed Rossi, one Of the most
liberal Of men, his prime minister. but
the appointment angered the secret
societies. and the result was that RosSi
was stabbed to death while ascending
the steps of the capital to attend a min
isterial meeting. Let Father Keller,
the author, tell in his own words what
followed: 1--WE will not rehearse the
fearful days when cannon were mount
ed before the Quirlnal Palace; we will
pass over the assassination OF Monsig-
nor Pulma, at the very side of the Pope,
and the other excesses which branded
this period as one of the bloodiest in
the annals of Italian history. On the
24th Of November Plus TX. was be
sieged in his own palace of the Quirinal.
He succeeded, however. with the assist
ance of the Bavarian minister, Count
Spaur, in making his escape, from the
hands OF those to whom but short
tiae before he had given liberty. The
fugitive received the most cordial re-
ception from Ferdinand IL, King of
Naples. Ills stay in Gaeta lasted until
the republic under MaZzini and Carl
baldi had sufficiently spent It's rage;
and on the 18th of April, 1850, he re-
turned home amid the repeated accla-
nations OF his people" Since that time
the Pope has always resided in Rome
uninteruptedly, though as everybody
knows he is no longer at liberty to dc
what he will in the city. By the war
between Italy and France in 1859 some
Of the best provinces were taken from
the church, and the storming of Ports
Pia in 1870, where Pope Plus was hold.
ing his mcumenical council, completed
the spoliation and sent the Holy Father
| to the Vatican, a virtual prisoner in the
CITY where his predecessors had ruled
rs soyereigns, and wherein he, too, haC
for many years exercised the supreme
authority. Neither Pius TX though
nor, his successor, has ever recognized
the right of the Italian Government il
Rome. Leo XIII. has been obliged tt
stay more closely in the Vatican thar
his predecessor did at all times, but tha'
either he or some following Pope will
again rule in Rome is something ever,
deyout adherent of the Catholic Church
believes.
II The sovereign pontiff, were he will
ing to accept peace with the Qairinal
might enjoy an annual income of 3 ,225,
600 lire flom the Italian Government
which, under the guarantee laws enact
ed in 1870, is set apart for the Holy See
The assignment of this sum the Law
says Shall be set down in the grea
book Of the national debt IN the form
of a perpetual and lnalieDable rente il
the name of the Holy See. and during
vacancy in the Holy See it will con
tinue to be paid. to supply for all th
incidental expenses proper to he Re
man church in that interval. 1t shal
remain EXEMPT from every species 0
tax or burden, whether impossible b
the state, the province or the commune
and it may not be diminished even il
case the Italian Government Sh0ul
subsequently, resolve to resume at it
own charge the expenses for the mt
seums and the libraries" !" As neithe
Plus *. nor Leo XIII. has ever accept
!, ed penny of this sum, which amount
to about G12s 900, or $3.50, 900, annually
and as the guarantee law order its al
signment apart every year, the funC
! now accommodating for nineteen years
{ amounts to a goodly sum, and it mus
A. Il 4 = - -