Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-23
cLERICs AND ANTl-cLERIcs BlTlEI
Bomb at st. Peters May Have Been
Inspired by Writers
1ALY sDEsTEPs CONGO SCANDAL
Army Omcers Ordered to Return In
Time to Prevent Them Being
Affected by Sensational
Disclosures,

ROME, Dec 22-(special. THE idea is |
being advanced here that the pope will in /
the end submit to the power Of France in !
the question Of the formation of religious
associations Just as he has submitted In !
practice, II not in theory, to the loss Of |
temporal power in Italy 1t may be many |
years before things resume even a work
able situation, just as a conflict has been
going ON between the Italian government
and the Vatican for many years. but this
does not prevent most of the people Of
Italy from remaining Catholics, and II is
not believed that the dissolution of the
relations existing between the church and
state in France will cost the Catholic
church a single member Of the faith. This
Is not to say that the question is not a
serious one. It Is everywhere recognized
by the ecclesiastical authorities here that
It is decidedly serious. But though the
pope Is far more likely to be forced to
yield, Just the pope was forced to yield
in the matter Of the surrender of the tenn
poral rights and temporal authority over
the states of the church, nevertheless the
clericals here believe that the situation
IS fraught with more danger to France
than to the pope. Things might roll TO
such shape even that another revolution
could be forced upon France by some po-
litical adventurer as the result of the aGt-
taton now going on, but person With
any range of vision believes that any COM
bination Of circumstances can for genera
tions make France anything except
Catholic country. Even though many Of
the men are at times likely to break away
from the old faith, the women are likely
70 remain loyal.
Attacks on CIemenceau.
a. IL Nl TNoI
are printing the most violent attacks
against NJ. Clemenceau and. in fact, against
the entire French government. OF M.
Clemenceau it is alleged that he has vio-
lated the laws Of God and man and that
in any civilized country he would long
ago have been driven from public life. This
will show how bitter the fight has become
IN a personal sense. though, as the old
saying goes. Hard words break no bones"
and Il Is difficult 70 see what church pa
pers IN country like Italy hope to gain
by attacks leveled against foreign coun-
try like France where another language is
spoken.
Speaking Of the attacks made upon the
French government by the Catholic papers
in Italy It should not be forgotten that
the anti-clerical press OF Italy is equally
bitter. This fact has been recalled by the
recent explosion of the bomb and and the
attempt to blow up St Peters, the greatest
church I'm the world, an event which sent
sympathetic thrill throughout Christen-
dom; and yet it is recalled that for years
the anti-Catholic press has been doing its
level best TO bring about just such an
event. The possibility Of such an OUT
rageous wreck being committed in this
great shrine OF Christendom has been be-
fore the minds Of the people of Rome for
many years past. A monarchial journal
discussing the possibility OF case aris-
ing IN Europe In which either by force
of arms or by force of diplomacy Italy
should be obliged to remove from Rome
declared that in such case the Italians
would blow up st. Peters. The malignant
Eavagery OF the threat was so startling
that people would not believe II possible
that anything OF the sort would occur, yet
in the light of recent events It must be
admitted that the attempt really was
made
Threat Against Vatican.
We will blow up the Vatican and all Il
contains at the first threat Of war, as we
will not leave an enemy behind us when We
ny TO the frontier" was the declaration
made in 1891 by the party Of action In
Rome. as reported IN the Journal de Geneve
and quoted In the Moniteur de Rome, al
the beginning OF November in that year
In the November OF 1882 the Rassegna. q
Journal OF the liberal party in Rome, reply
ing to the Monlteur de Rome, on the Ro-
man question, published the following lines
Italy may find itself in presence OF this
dilemma either to succumb or TO blow uI
the Vatican. II is possible that Il mas
SefSHs'gs SefSTe ssuceumbing ecu il win demolsh IN,
Vatican. Such Is today the true, ineXorabl'
teur de Rome would do we'll to consider 4
as we consider Il. and IL viii then see tina
We are not employing rhetoric When W.
mite '''''' ''' 80
That was the expression Of the liberia
Rassegna OF 1852 then under the direction
OF signor TorIaca. Nine years later Tor
raca was director OF the Oplonione, tn,
Journal Of the government I'm Rome. 1t 1
rot probable that the ideas thus sprea,
broadcast a quarter Of century ago ma!
have blossomed into action now, and tina
the unknown Individual who kindled tn
bomb in st. Peters a few Sundays ago ma,
have desired TO show how easy Il would b
20 carry out effectively the threat OF n
Rassegna.
Italy Not smiFehed in COnkO.
Before the end OF this year the last tw
OF some seventy Italian officers. who tool
service I'm the employment OF the Cong
Free State, win have returned TO their ow
country. With their departure from Bonn
Is closed an episode upon which the Italia
government has little reason 70 look bac
with satisfaction; except what can be de
rived from the honorable course Il pursue
IN severing connection which might hav
compromised the reputation OF the Italia
army. In the fuller light, which has re
Gently been thrown upon the conduct an
the adminirtration OF the Congo Free Stat,
one cannot but suspect that a deliberat
attempt was made 10 entrap Italy int
giving support to a system which woul
sooner or later be arraigned before n
Judgment OF the civilized world. The al
tempt failed and Italy stands today absS
luteiy uncompromisod In the melanchol
tale OF misgovernment which has been T,
vealed.
The Inducements held out to Italy TO pla
q mart In the "oivillzatlOn OF the Congo