The Irish standard., 1911-01-14

The insulting speech of Mayor Ma |
than of Rome delivered on the occa-
sion of the fortieth anniversary of
the attack on the Eternal City by the
forces of Victor Emmanuel reused a
storm OF protest from Catholics
throughout the world. In Italy itself
the speech has raised question
about the "Law of Guarantees" to
which General Pelloux is insisting the
government give a definite reply.
The letter of General Pelloux on
he Law of Guarantees forms the
theme of general conversation in
Italy. That the soldier who ordered
the cannonade, which battered in the
Porta Pia should raise his voice in
favor of simple honesty has ELECTED
a good deal of admiration. The Sen
ator, strong though his words are
against men like Syndic Nathan and
the weakness OF the Italian govern
ment, declares he is very far from
being CLERICAL AS the opening of
the Chamber OF Deputies before that
of the Senate led Senator Peloux to
believe the discussion which he in
tended bringing on in the upper house
would be anticipated in the lower
chamber, he elected to unfold in the
following letter all he would have
said, if not anticipated:
"Hon. President OF the Council
our Excellency is perhaps not aware
of the demand which l presented from
September 25' last, asking the govern
ment about the manner in which the
Law of Guarantees is to be inter-
preted; and this on the occasion Of
the serious incidents to which the re-
curence of the Goth of September
gave rise recently at Rome. y it
Really, l cannot understand how dur
ing the months that have passed, the
government has been willing or able
to utter one word capable of reassur-
ing the minds of those-and they con-
stitute the great majority-who are
justly alarmed by the novelties that
have been heard this year on Septem-
Der 20. l must therefore argue that
the government has not understood
the gravity of what has happened.
1.-THE Law of Guarantees"
Meanwhile, it is we'll to. recall
some historical facts which Italy, and
in special way the government,
should never lose sight of. In the
month of October, 1870, on the day
following the Roman plebiscite, the
Italian government, for the purpose
of giving assurance to the Catholic
world with regard to the consequence
es of that memorable historical fact
that marked the downfall of the Tenn
pOral Power, fastened to make known
to foreign powers the fundamental
criterion by which the "Prerogatives
Of the Supreme Pontff and the Holy
See" We're defined And upon the fol-
lowing May, on the same basis, the
law that is commonly known as "The
Law OF Guarantees was sanctioned.
Both the end and the spirit that die
tated that law are evident, viz, to
assure the greatest reverence, the
greatest respect for the Supreme Pom
tiff, leaving him all the authority, all
the independence, and all the liberty
necessary for the exercise of his high
spiritual mission, which mission could
be developed with all the greater eff
cacy once the Papacy were liberated
from the burdens of civil power This
being promised, come to question
that has not been suggested by any
preconception hostile either to the
government or to the mayor. of Rome
AS in every act of my life, my object
has been the good Of my country, Ia
which am bound by so many dear
and unforgettable memories, and
amongst these-without any equivo
cation-that OF the Goth Of Septem
Der, 1870, on which day the duty OF
making the breach in the walls OF
Porta Pia fell to me. Therefore, con
WINGED as am of doing a good work
Thought of nothing else, and came
forward with my question. They are
greatly mistaken who attribute to me
desires of persecution towards any
one whatever, and they err still more
who, by insults and threats, fancied
they could induce me to keep silent
The Duty of the Government.
II understand perfectly we'll tina,
after the mayor of Rome delivered
his unfortunate speech before the
breach of Porta Pia, repressive meas
ures to cancel the disastrous impress
sion would have been of little avail:
and there may have been reasons
against taking that course. But the
omission of repressive measures and
the fact of the government HAVING
lyYno ife