The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-28

promoting the well-being of the people. On
this point it is interesting to hear the Pro-
testant Guizot. In his History of Civilization
in Europe he says: "From the nth century
the clergy had powerful means OF influence.
They had become the chief municipal magis-
trates.
THE municipal system was, strictly speak
ing, all that remained OF the Roman empire;
such were the vexations OF despotlsm and the
ruin of the cities that the curlales, or men,
bers of the city corporations, had fallen into
encouragement and apathy. The bishops, on
the contrary, and the priests, full OF life and
zeal, naturally offered themselves to superln-
tend and manage everything. 1t would be aO-
surd TO blame them for 1t, or tax them with
usurpation; the natural course OF things would
have it SO; the clergy alone were morally alive
and vigorous; it became powerful everywhere;
such is the law of the universe. And the
Christian church has powerfully contributed
since that time to the development OF modern
civilization"
In order to understand how the Popes rose
from the subordinate position of civil magis-
trates under the Emperor TO the eminence of
civil sovereignty in their own right it is nee
essary TO recall and place distinctly before our
minds few events in the history of Italy from
Constantine to Charlemagne.
Flrst-The most important fact we must note
is the transfer of the capital of the empire
from Rome TO ConStantinople. This was
effected by Constantine soon after he had en-
braced the Christian faith. l say this was i'm
Portant 1t was preparing the ground for the
rise OF the temporal power of the Pope. For,
as In Christianity, church and state are sepa-
rate. so by removing the capital OF the empire
to Constantinople Constantine separated the
capital of the empire from the capital of the
church. Thenceforth, by the Emperor's own
act, the one conspicuous figure in Rome and
Italy was the Pope.
Second-In consequence of the vast extent
OF the empire and OF the pressure of hostile
forces on its borders, upon the death of Con-
Stantlne two emperorS were appointed to rule
II, one in the east and the other in the ives t.
The empire was not divided into two-it re-
NAMED political unit; the government or
administration only became duality. Now,
II Is noteworthy that the emperors who rnled
IN the west respected the precedent set
by Constantine; they did not take up their
residence in old Rome. They, like him, left
Rome TO the Pope; but they selected for their
imperial dwelhng-place first Milan and after
ward Revenna.
Third-In the year 476, one hundred and
fifty years after Constantine had left Rome for
Consiantinopole Western Europe was lost ir-
retrievably TO the Roman empire and became
the prey OF barbarian invaders The last En-
peror of the West, Romulus Augustulus, a mere
child, was seized by the barbarian chief
Odoacer, and stripped of his title, and the i'm
perlal insignia were sent TO the Emperor at
Constanunopole. But as the empire was
always one undivided organization, when the
Emperor in the West had disappeared, the En-
peror in the East became de facto and de jure
the ruler OF the whole Roman world, and,
therefore, of such parts of the fallen West as he
was able TO save from the domination of the
barbar1ans. Thus il came TO pass that the EN-
peTOT Ol OUUS ndQ a representative
in Italy. This representative was called an
EXarch, or Governor. In the Emperor's name
he ruled over such portions of Italy as the bar
barians had failed TO conquer. Now the FIX
archs, too, made their home in Ravenua, not
IN Rome, for three hundred years, that is from
the fall OF the empire in the West in 476, until
the year 740, when the last Exarch fled to
Naples aid Rayenna was taken by the Lom-
bardS.
Fourth-Itis a singular fact that the bar
0arlanS, too, never encamped in Rome. They
nj irrl cfjh Nv
them saw 1t; some OF them spoiled and de-
stroyed it; but none of them settled within its
walls 1t seemed as if no secular power could
dwell at ease for any length of time in that
city, which had become and was destined to
remain through the ages the city of Peter.
l have referred to the barbarians. These
Europe from the East. Some of them gradually
adopted the elements of Christianity and
civilization; Others retained their native
character TO the last: Contining our retrospect
the Goths. the Huns, the Vandals, the Lom-
bards. The Pope was in Rome, the Emperor in
Constantinople, the Exarch-the Emperors
represen ta1ve-in Ravenna; the barbarians
were in Northern and Central Italy.
Now, what did the Emperor do for Rome,
what did his Exareh do during the long and
troubled period OF the invasions? Those EN-
perors OF Constantinople were a curious lot.
In their own eyes they were great theolo-
glans. They uSurped the right 10 defend the
faith; yet by a singular fatality they were
always on the wrong side. They invariably
embraced, abetted, fostered every heresy that
sprung from the subtle Greek mind from
Arianlsm 10 1eonoclasm, and they were more
intent on prosecuting the Popes and the Catho-
lies OF Italy than in protecting them against
the barbarian foe. In fact, the Emperors did
nothing TO protect Rome; on the contrary they
oppressed il. Il cannot tell you," writes ST
Gregory the Great, sail that we have to suffer
here from the Exarch. l will say in one
word that his tyranny does us more Injury
than the arms of the Lombards. We almost
prefer The enemies who kill us 10 the officers OF
the empire who consume us by their frauds
and eXtortons."
The real defenders of Rome were the Popes.
These Popes were OF Roman blood and had the
spirit OF ancient Rome. They were all great
men. They had IN their favor the prestige OF
their high office and of their glorious deeds.
Around them in the day of danger the people
gathered as children in fear around their
father. They became in spite OF themselves
and by the course OF events civil, as they were