Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-07-25
PRISONERS OF THE VATICAN.

PRISONERS OF THE VATICAN.
Condition Of the Popss Since the Loss
of Their Temporal Power.
1t was the great Napoleon who broke
the temporal power Of the Papacy.
When he overturned the power of
nearly every government in Europe, he
did not allow the government Of the
church to escape. For centuries, until
the Corsican soldier came to desolate
Europe with fire and sword, the pope
had been the power above king and
emperor. No throne was secure that
he did not support and he even claim
ed, and sometimes exercised, the right
of comforting and taking away the
sceptre. The Pontiff was more than
imperial. He was the supreme power
Of Europe and every priest was a min
ion and executive Of his power. Ma
poleon took away the power Of the
kings of Europe. and then he took
away the power Of the pope. Thus 1t
Is that Pope Leo; was the first pope to
be spiritual ruler only.
In 1900 Napoleon declared the tenn
poral power Of Pope. Plus. VII, at an
end. Plus VII retaliated by placing the
ban Of accommodation upon the EN-
peror. Enraged. by. the act Of the
Pontiff, and determined to show his
power over the head Of the church, the
emperor had the Pontiff brought to
France prisoner, and kept him until
1913, when the pope was allowed TO
return to Rome, but without temporal
power. *,
One year later Napoleon's empire
fell. and the Papal States were restor-
ed to the pope. The restoration. how
ever, did not replace all the former
power of the Vatican. The pope held
all the central part OF Italy, but his
former power over the kings Of Eu-
rope had broken forever. The lPapal
yoke had been heavy one, and those
who had been relieved Of It would bow
their ,necks to it no more.
When Plus TX ascended the throne
Of Peter in 1916. the Papal dominions
consisted Of nineteen states. situated In
central Italy, covering 1900 square
miles and having a population OF 81
100000. The pope maintained stand
ing army-of which the noble guard
and other small companies. which now
guard the Vatican, comprise the exist
ing remnant-and collected revenue
that Is believed to have approached
81. 100000 annually.
The Pontifrs power In this large do
minion was absolute, both temporal
and spiritual, and 1t so continued until
thirty-three. years ago. since which
time the pope has been, as both Plus
TX and Leo XIII, expressed 1t, "The
Prisoner Of the Vatican" In the Papal
States all offices, both; spiritual and
temporal. were filled pby priests, and
to this day the Roman Catholic priests
are still educated as .if IN view, OF their
having at some time, to fill temporal Of
fees under the power of the Vatican.
Pope Leo, during the reign Of Gregory
AN1 Wd6 6oNCIuOt4O4 VI -SAG sPIoNAhNC0 VI
Benevento and Perugia, and filed the
office with marked success and ability,
his administration being chiefly mark
ed by the disappearance Of the ban
ditti, whom he routed out Of mountain
Businesses and imprisone6 or executed.
In 1850 the powers in Italy, besides
the Papal States, were the Kingdoms
Of Naples and Sardinia and. the prov
inces of Lombardy, Tuscany, Modena
and other provinces. all under the do
minion Of Austria. These provinces,
under Austria had for long time been
misgoverned and oppressed, and there
had been number Of rebellions. Final
| ly, an army under the Patriot sGarabaldt
and King tHumbert of Sardinia threw
off the Austrian yoke and then pro-
ceeded to Naples and Sicily. driving
out King Francis H.. whose reign over
that country had been remarkable for
tyranny. King Victor Emmanuel was
elected king OF the United Italy, and
only the; Papal States remained out Of
the United, Kingdom. These states,
extending across the kingdom and CUT
ting 1t in two, and having within them
the city Of Rome, the natural capital
of the country, were covetously regard
ed by King Victor Emmanuel and his
advisers. Since 1S49, however, France
had protected the pope in his domin-
ions, a French force having been
placed in Rome after a period Of prac-
tical anarchy, during which the Eter-
nal City was in,,the hands Of mob
that had driven out the pope.
When 1t became an open secret that
Victor Emmanuel only waited for
chance to seize the Papal States, EN-
peror Napoleon III, put large French
army in Rome and kept 1t there until
1870. The war with Prussia, then. COM
PEELED him to withdraw this force, and
the pope was left helpless. 1t Is doubt
full If, even with his opportunity, Vic
tor Emmanuel would have endeavored
to seize Rome by force had 1t not been
for the fact that powerful republican
spirit was growing In his kingdom.
France had again established repub-
| lie and Italy seemed ripe for IL. 1t
was partly to divert this growing SEN
timent that King Victor Emmanuel. In
September, 1870. marched on the Eter-
nal City. Pope Plus was a man Of
peace: he resolved, that no blood
should be shed to preserve his power,
and gave orders that as soon as the
walls were preached the city should be
surrendered. This last command OF
the pope, as a temporal ruler, having
been promulgated, the Pontiff retired
to the Vatican, self-immolated pris-
oner.
For four hours the cannon Of the in
vader thundered at the walls Of the
Eternal City until breach was made,