The Irish standard., 1911-01-14
Italian Soldier Defends the Pope.

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it was and is highly desirable, in the
interests OF all Italians, that these
patriotic manifestations be held with
| the greatest order and tranquility.
| Now l ask: Can we hope for this
| when We consider that not one word
| of rebuke has come from him who
| ought to have uttered it after the
lamentable imprudences that have so
much alarmed not only the Catholics,
but all lovers of ORDER and all those
who do not wish, and would not per-
NIT that faction should be substituted
| for the government. For that reason
one word, dignified, authoritative,
and energetic, should have been heard
instantly to reassure peoples minds.
But your silence, obstinate and sug-
gestive of fear, cannot be otherwise
interpreted than as real weakness, an
absolute lack OF energy and civil cour-
age on the part of the government,
whose primary duty it is to duly main
tain its prestige and it's dignity. We
are, therefore, far from having gov
eminent strong and vigorous, though
its authority and dignity were cheap
ly extoiled in the speech of Alba.
| The Question of Responsibility.
Nov it is not to be supposed that
the government will dare to try and
decline its responsibility for the la
mentable facts that came to pass on
the recurrence Of the Goth OF Sep
TENDER. Therefore the miserable and
only too common subterfuge of say
ing that the mayor is not state
functionary can neither deceive nor
assist in any way. Whether the may
or of Rome is a state functionary or
not, it is not permitted to him, or to
any other mayor, TO lower his posi-
tion-although it is an elective one
to come out in such manifestations as
he did, so as to inflct grave injury on
the country and transgress, moreover
one of the principal laws of the state
The clear duty OF the government
was, accordingly, to at least repudi-
: ate him instantly and openly, to re-
prove him and call him to order. Hav-
ing done nothing of this kind, the
government is guilty of being a con-
nver at, would almost say, an ac-
complete in, all that happened, and
its direct responsibility remains full
and entire.
81 intend to affirm and establish
that the mayor of Rome, by his de-
plorable manifestation and the govern
ment by becoming an accomplice by
: tacit consent, have ignored the Law
OF Guarantees, have been faithless to
the solemn pledge made by Italy when
1t entered Rome, and have forgotten
the august words which the great
King addressed TO the Sovereign Pom
tiff in September, 1870. just as they
have forgotten the great and solemn
discussions that were held in the Ital-
ian Parliament in December, 1870,
. and 1871. They have therefore not
only offended the Catholic conscience,
but have also inflicted grave moral
loss on our country. Is To es-
: cape from the miserable position in
which dangerous friends have in so
short a time placed it, the govern
ment has but one means left, i. e., to
have the courage to free itself from
: them. If it will not have this courage
the country must only await the un-
) pleasant but inevitable consequences
of its conduct as in all sincerity moth
ing can save government which
finds 1t necessary to suffer the domi-
j, nation of its enemies through fear of
it's friends. l therefore ask the Pres.
, ident of the Council to reassure eX-
r puicity and without reserve, by word
l and facts, those who desire the gov
: eminent to be truly strong and vigor.
: Gus, and to rule the destinies of the
+ country really with dignity and all.
T thority."
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:, OVER THE NORTHWEST