The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-05
Tho Grievances of tho Vatican.

In the new number OF the Forum there Is
an article on the future Of the Papacy by
DR.. F. II. GEFFCKEN. whose book on the re-
lations Of Church and State has been widely
read In Germany. but who Is better known
In this country through the persecution
to which he was at one time subjected
by Prince BISMARCK. What particularly
strikes one in this article Is the fact that
tho author. while intending to prove that
the Pope is as well treated as could rea-
sonably be expected. yet admits that he
has serious grievances to complain OF.
These admissions rung from an unfriendly
witness. fortify the case made in the re-
markable letters Of our Roman corre-
spondent.
At the outbreak OF the Franco-G German
war the Pope in his capacity OF temporal
ruler still retained what was called the
Patrimonium Petri. about q third Of his
former possessions. DR.. GEFFCKEN dis
claims any thought Of denying that the
forcible annexation Of this remnant did not
square with the international obligations
into which Italy had entered. He does not
even try to explain away the fact that by
the convention concluded with France in
September, 1864. the italian Government
covenanted not to attack the Papal terri
tory; and. moreover, as late as Aug. 4. 1870.
the italian Minister Of Foreign Affairs de-
clared. In despatch to the French Ambassa-
dor, that Italy would continue to keep the
pledge given six years before. Yet only O
few weeks later the italian Government
repudiated its treaty obligations and took
forcible possession OF Rome under the pre-
text that the pressure Of the people was
irresistible. 1t was In order to palliate this
glazing breach ofinternational law. to allay
the alarm and resentment OF Catholics
throughout the world. and to prove that
tho italian Government had no wish to in
fringe on the free exercise OF the Pope's
spiritual authority. that the law OF guar
antees Of May 10. 1871. was passed.
1t Is further acknowledged by DR..
GEFFCKEN that this law OF guarantees was
fundamentally defective. 1t was obviously
unsuited to answer the purpose which it
purported to contemplate. Had it embodied
proposal previously made by CAvoUR. and
allotted to tho Pope certain landed estates,
whose revenues would have sufficed for the
maintenance Of the Papal court. these
might have been facility accepted by the
Pope without any explicit acquiescence in
tho spoliation OF his patrimony. But the
law OF 1871 simply made an annual appro-
prlation OF $645. 900 In the italian budget for
the Holy See. This appropriation. as DR..
GKFFcKEN admits. the Pope could not &C.
cept without becoming the pensioner OF
the State. a position entirely incompatible
with his dignity. But DR.. GEFFcKEN's adj
missions do not stop here. He acknowl-
edges that tho provisions OF the law
OF guarantees. relating to the security of
the Pontiflcal court and the inviolability OF
Papal property. have not been faithfully
carried out by the Italian Government. as
was shown by the insults Of the populace at
the funeral OF PIus TX. and by several
judgments OF the Italian courts. as. for In.
stance. in the case Of the estates OF the
Propaganda. In which the Government
upon a very doubtful title compelled that
corporation to exchange Its landed prop.
erty for Italian Government bonds. Nor
would he assuredly deny, though he does
not In terms admit. that the law of guaran-
toes. assuring. as 1t does. to foreign Cath.
oics free access to the person OF the Pom
tin. was tlagrantly violated by the riot,
Gus demonstrations OF the Roman pop.
ulace against the French pilgrims. Dr.
GEFFCkEN points out. however. that the
Italian Radicals. seeking to take advantage
OF their own wrongdoing. have availed
themselves Of the incident just mentioned