New-York tribune., 1895-09-18
Plan TO BUY ROME FOR THE POPE.
ONLY BILLION DOLLARS REQUlRED-THE
scuvNE RIDICI,LED BY ROMAN CATHOLICS

ONLY BILLION DOLLARS REoUIRED-THE
SCHEME RIDICULED BY ROMAN CATHOLICS.
Publicity has been given in some OF the leading
London newspapers to a proposition that mas peeh
submitted to wealthy Roman Cathohcs IN ruiope
20 take advantage of the serious financial dncui'eS
OF Italy by raising a fund for the purpose OF pur
chasing Rome and by this means re-estabhsh the
,eronorsl mower OF the Pope The proposition has
heen embodied In a circular. and The London Daily
Telegraph" which printed 1t in full. announces that
II received the document through source amply
guaranteeing its serious inspiration and pracucal
pu-pose" The circular after reviewing the history
Of the enthronement Of the House OF Savoy, the
virtual Imprisonment of the Pope, and the gradual
bankruptcy of the new Kingdom Of Italy, continues
follows:
what II a scheme could be devised by means OF
With each should supply TO the other what IL lack
ing In such an hypothesis? II may at rst sight APP
pear extravagant and impossible. but as matter OF
fact IL is under serious consideration Nothing less
is proposed than that the Catholic countries ana
peoples OF the world should combine 10 ransom
Rome. The Pontin. with f2oOoooON at his
disposal would have 1t in his power TO deal with
the distracted and bankrupt Government OF the lta-
ian King 1t would rest with the Pope to meet the
Government with proposals that might save the
Italian Kingdom reinstate Its exchequer' ana ,here-
by restore peace, unity and prosperity to italy.
The circu! lar closes by declaring tha lhe qnesuoi
Of Tasns the money mas Dee" anu 'O'
Frederic Il. CouCert, Wnen asked EeslerudN Dl
Tribune reporter for his opinion as to the Feasibility
OF the scheme. said This pan 70 restore me tenn
pora power OF the Pope is utterly absurd in all its
features. Why II the Italian Government were
really to do such thing as to sell Rome there r
would be revolution from one end Of Italy to ne
other in twenty-four hours. on the face OF II the
scheme is devoid OF all practcability. Supposing for
Instance, 1t possible FOR the Roman Catholics
TO buy Rome, who Is 10 give them clear and
permanent title to 1t? Supposing. again. that the
present administration In order 10 raise money 70
meet Its present financial difficulties. consented to
sell the capital what is 10 prevent the next or some
succeeding administration from repudia ting the sale?
Then. where is the money to come from? IL might
be easy enough TO raise e. 10000 but to get people
10 invest 1900 0O00c in money billion dollars.
upon such fimsy security Is beyond the range OF
all practical beliefI
Joseph Thoron who Is OF the prominent Roman
Catholic laymen OF this city, seen at his office.
No q South William-st. He said:
The scheme is perfectly unenabe to any prac-
,ical mind For one thing Rome could not be
bought However poor II may be- the Government
dare not sell the country's capital. II would bring
about a revolution Immediately. When the tenn
pora, power Of the Pope s restored, II vii be
through the fundamentally Of some kind OF dplo-
matte arrangement. My conviction is that al some
future time the difficulty will be overcome by ceding
Ieonine City, that part OF Rome on the west bank
OF the Tber where the Vatican stands. 10 the Pope"