The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-20
PLAN TO buy ROME FOR THE POPE.
Only n Billion Dollars Required-The
scheme RidicuIed by Roman Cath
From the New York Tribune.


OIics.
From the New York Tribune.
Publicity has been given in some of the
leading London newspapers to a PROPOSE
ton that has been submitted to wealthy
Roman Catholics in Europe to take ad-
vantage of the serious financial difficulties
OF Italy by raising a fund for the purpose
of purchasing Rome, and by this means
re-eStabliSh the temporal power of the
pope The proposition has been embodied
IN a circular, and THE London Daily
Telegraph, which printed it in full an
nounces that it received the document
through source amply guaranteeing its
serious inspiration and practical pur-
pose" The circular. after reviewing the
history of the enforcement of the House
OF Savoy, the virtual Imprisonment of the
pope, and the gradual bankruptcy of the
new Kingdom of Italy, continues as fol-
lows:
what if a scheme could be devised by
means of which each should supply to the
other what is lacking in such an hypo-
thesis2 1t may at first sight appear ex-
traVagant and impossible, but as a matter
of fact IT is under serious consideration.
Nothing less is proposed than that the
Catholic countries and people of the world
should combine to ransom Rome. The
Pontiif, with WO,OO0O00 pounds at his dis
posal, would have it in his power to deal
with the distracted and bankrupt govern
ment of the Italian king. 1t would rest
with the pope to meet the government
with proposals that might save the Ital-
ian Kingdom. reinstate its exchequer, and
thereby restore peace, unity and prosperity
to Italy"
The circular closes by declaring that the
question of raising the money has been
considered and found practicable.
Frederic II. Coudert, when asked yes
terday by a Tribune reporter for his opin-
ion as TO the feasibility of the scheme
said: This plan to restore the temporal
power of the pope is utterly absurd in all
it's features. Why, if the Italian govern
ment were really TO do such thing as to
sell Rome there would be a revolution
from one end of Italy to the other in TWEEN
ty-four hours on the face of it the scheme
is devoid of all practicabilty. Supposing,
for instance, it were possible for the
Roman Catholics to buy Rome, who is to
give them clear and per-
again, that the present admin
istraton, in order to raise money to meet
its present financial difficulties, consented
to sell the capital, what is to prevent the
next or some succeeding administration
from repudiating the sale? Then, where
is the money to come from? 1t might be
easy enough to raise f5O00,000 but to get
people to invest 200 000, 600, or in our money
billion dollars, upon such a himsy Sc
curity is beyond the range of all practical
belief"
Joseph Toron. who is one of the promi-
nent Roman Catholic laymen of this city,
was seen at his office, No. % South Will
lam street He said:
'"rhe scheme is perfectly untenab1e to
any practicable mind. For one thing
Rome could not be bought. However poor
it may be, the government dare not sell
the country's capital. 1t would bring
about a revolution Immediately. When
the temporal power of the pope is restor-
ed, it will be through the instrumentality
of some kind of diplomatic ARRANGEMENT
My conviction is that at some future time
the difficulty will be overcome by cediug
west bank of the Tiber, where the vati-
can stands, to the pope"