The Irish standard., 1908-01-25

Rome, says "NOx UrDlS' Ill a. letter TO
the New York lTreeman's Journal:
The species of silent truce between
See during the first four years of the
Pontif1cate of Plus X has been broken
by the government of Italy. The Holy
Father had done everything in his
power to case the difficulties caused
for law and order in Italy by the SUBJ
versive elements; and his reward has
been to see religion and religious at
tackled by deluge Of obscene slander.
and the government acting as on ac-
complice of the slanderers.
The administration OF the Capital of
the Christian world has fallen into tho
hands Of the anticlerical clique who
took an active part in this Infamous
campaign. and this result, too is owing
to the favor of the government and the
Quirinal. The only two acts hitherto
accomplished by the anticlerical NUM-
cipality OF Rome have been two acts of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of them to de-
prive the Capuchins of paltry allow
ance hitherto granted them for ac-
companying. i'll the dead of night, the
dead bodies of the Roman poor to their
last home in San Lorenzo: the other.
the abolition Of Il holiday of obliga-
ton. They were not very important acts
in themselves, but they show how tho
wind blows.
The New Year opens with such bit
ter remembrance and with such inse
curity that the Holy Father has been
obliged to discourage pilgrimages dur
ing the year of his sacerdotal Jubilee.
He has not actually forbidden Pilgrim
ages, but he has stated through his
Major Domo that while he prefers thut
his spiritual children should celebrate
his jubilee among themselves in their
own countries by deepening and inten-
sfying their religious life. he will re-
ceive with a fathers welcome those
who come to him--yet that all such
must take the nescesary steps to en-
sure that they be respected during
their stay in Rome.
Another head of n Catholic state is
about to initiate the example set by
President Loubet in coming to Rome
despite the fact that this constitutes a
1nl a pff n u0),, Tn
fact the papers give it as certain that
the Prince of Monaco has accepted an
invitation to deliver conference In
the Eternal City in building stolen
from religious order. 1t is true that
this Prince is the most Insignificant
Of European rulers, that it was he who
in violation Of diplomatic usage and
honor communicated to the French
government a private note sent him by
tho Papal secretaries of State-but his
coming visit to Rome is none the less
deplorablc.
Finally, the monstrous growth
known as Modernism is still at work
dIIlOHk uS-you Iuu III IHS SOIuIuuS
of the Liberal newspapers most widely
read in Italy, in magazines specially
dedicated to it's propagation in private
conversations. Two months ago four
priests published q scandalously re-
bellious reply to the last Encyclical
Of Plus X, and in spite Of the fact that
they have been excommunicated they
continue to say Mass and to absolve
one another.
1t looks a gloomy picture. for the
beginning of the New Year-but hap
PLY there is also a bright side to it.
/ During almost every heresy or schism
which the Church has had to cncoun-
ter during the nineteen centuries Of
her existence some members of the hi
crarchy have been found unfaithful-
but not so with Modernism. Ever
since the publication Of the recent
Syllabus and Encyclical Plus x has
been receiving the loyal and enthusiast