The Irish standard., 1916-06-03

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Count Rossi became prime minister.
He threw himself into the work of
and government with
zeal, ability and success-with a sue
cess, indeed, which was his own UNI
doing. The revolutionaries saw that |
he was likely to create public conf
dence, and to sustain law and order
and pilot safely the cause of disci-
plined reform. They therefore in.
voked the aid of the assassin At one
O'Clock in the afternoon of November
Is the count alighted from his car
riage to enter the Chamber of Depu-
ties. A man stepped forward, stabbed
him in the throat and disappeared.
The victim died Immediately. The gen.
darmes and national guards had been
corrupted. They made no effort to
seize the assassin. With difficulty the
counts servant found anyone to help
in carrying the body of his master to
an adjacent apartment. The assem-
bly, within doors did not make the
slightest reference to the foul deed
done on it's doorstep. The revolution
aries assembled in the evening and
fraternizeed with the soldiers. The
chief Of police refused to interfere A
frenzied mod marched to the home of
the murdered statesman and made an
indecent demonstration before the
house of mourning. Long live the
hand that stabbed Rossi," was called
out. Rossi's colleagues resigned, and
the mob determined to force new
ministry upon the sovereign On No
vember 16, at two o'clock, big crowd,
carrying a program from the Popular
club, marched to the Quirinal The
program was what anyone would have
expected. 1t asked for war, con-
stitutional assembly, and what not. A
collection of such documents would
make funny and piteous reading. There
were only 100 Swiss guards and a few
gardes du corps in the Quirinal and
when the hostile rabble approached,
the Swiss closed the doors and pre-
pared for defense. The diplomatic
corps had had time to enter the palace
and offer the Pope it's moral support.
The crowd, seeing their way barred,
tried to burn down the principal door.
The Swiss fired few musket shots
and the rabble fell back and were be-
ginning to dispense. But the drums
were now beating through the city,
and the mob was reinforced by groups
of regular troops, carbineers, civic
guards, gendarmerie. They all march
ed to the square of the Quirinal and
formed up as in line of battle Shots
were fired at the windows of the pal
ace and were answered. A neighbor-
ing belfry was occupied, and from be-
hind the equestrian statues of Castor
and POlluX-the twin gods of the class
ical myth-sharpshoot took aim.
About four In the afternoon the POpe's
private secretary, MOnsignor Palma,
was shot in the forehead and killed.
The Swiss guards never faltered, and
now the assailants-6,OO0 troops
amongst them-brOught two six
Founders to the scene and pointed
them against the main gate. Earlier
in the day the Pope had seen and
spoken with the deputies who had
been compelled by the mob to accom-
pany them, and had declared that "he
! would not grant anything to violence.
His Holiness throughout this terrify-
ing scene preserved his composure
Showed much sang froid and firm
ness" said the French Ambassador.
But further resistance was useless,
and, in any case, he was totally indis-
posed to the shedding of blood. Nego-
tiations were entered into. A deputa-
tion entered the Palace. The ultima
tum was the petition already indicat-
ed One hour was allowed the Pope
for consideration, "after which. If not
adopted, they announced their firm
purpose to break into the Quirinal,
and put to death every inmate thereof,
with the sole and single exception of
his Holiness himself" THE author
ity of the Pope" wrote the French
Ambassador, lis now absolutely null.
1t exists only in name and none of his
acts will be free and voluntary" 1t
was an accurate statement of the case.
| A list of Ministers was handed to him.
He accepted, protesting against the
violence practiced, and declared that
he would refer to the Chambers the
other measures demanded. But in
point of fact the situation was not
one that could be resolved by Parlia-
mentary debate. The revolutionaries
and the secret societies had corrupted
| the masses. The hour OF frenzy had
paralyZed those of moderate views.
There was now nothing for it but
flight. The world was to be afforded
the unhappy chance of seeing what
Rome would be like without the Sow
ereign Pontiff. That part of the nara.
tive, however. is too interesting and
important to be CURLY dismissed. and
we will resume it next week.