Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-12-14
Open Forum
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REPLY TO MR.. LESLIE.
Salem, Ore, Nov. IL, 1918.

In "The Case of the Hun and Its
Connection, and the accusation tnnt
history has been made $50 rapidly that
few persons have read up on the gener-
al history of the times before our own +"
it is just little amusing and reminds
us of the "kettle calling tho pot
black"
Let us turn back few pages of his
tory; not only so years or 10, but to
the very beginning of Christianity. For
nearly the first three hundred years
the Christians worshiped for the most
part in the catacombs-the subteran-
can chambers and passages under the
city of Rome. Then Constantine tie
Great brought peace to the church and
gave her donations of both money and
real estate. This wealth was used as
Voltaire himself tells us, by the p.ps,
not IN satisfying their own avarice and
ambition, but in the most laudablo
works of charity and religion. "'They
extended their patrimony," he says,
in ending missionaries to evangelize
pagan Europe, in giving hospitality to
exiled bishops at Rome and in feeding
the pool"
At this time an event occurred which
paved the way for the partial iurisdic.
ton which the popes commenced to en-.
jov over Rome and which they eontin-
ued to exercise till they obtained full
sovereignty in the days of King Pepin
of France.
In 1927 A. D. the emperor transferred
the scat Of empire from Rome to Con.
stantinople in Turkey. A subsequent
lcmperor appointed governor, or ex.
arch, to rule Italy, who resided in the
city of Ravenna. This new system, al
is manifest, did not work we'll. Tho
emperor Of Constantinople referred all
matters to his deputy in Ravenna, and
the deputy was more anxious to concil-
late the emperor than to satisfy the peo
Iple Of Rome.
Thus left to itself, Rome became
tempting prey to the numerous herds
of Barbarians of the north that then
devastated ITALY. The city was first
attacked by the Boths under Alario,
then by the Vandals under Genseric
and was then threatened by the Huns
under Attila. Unable to obtain help
from the emperor in Turkey Or the gov
crnor at Ravenna, the citizens of Rome
looked to the popes as their only gov
ernors and protectors, and the only sal.
vation in their extremity.
When Attila, "the Scourge of God,'
approached the city with an army of
100000 men, Pope Leo the Great went
out 70 meet hiin unattended by troops,
His mild eloquence won the day, saved
the city from pillage and the people
from destruction. Genserio was also
met by the same Pope, and while he
was unable to protect Rome from the
plunder of the Vandals, he nevertheless
saved the lives of the inhabitants.
Such acts as these bound the Roman
people more and more strongly to the
popes 10 whom they looked for protec-
ton and help.
In the eighth century, 754, Astolphus,
king of the Lombards, invaded Italy,
captured some Italian cities and threat
ened to advance on Rome. Pope Steph-
en- III sent an urgent appeal to Emper-
or Constantine Copronymus of Constan-
tinople, imploring him to come to the
relief of Rome and his italian prvin-
ces. The emperor was indifferent and
received the message in coldness and
neglect.
In the emergency Stephen crossed the
Alps in person and begged King Pepin
of France to protect the italian people
in their helplessness. Pepin defeated
the invading Lombards and placed the
pope at the head Of the conquered land.
Charlemagne, the successor of Pepin,
not only confirmed the grant of his
father, but increased the temporal do
main Of the pope by donating him some
additional provinces.
This small piece Of territory, scarcely
as large as one of our small eastern
states the Roman pontiffs continued 90
govern from that time till 1870 with
the exception of brief usurpation by
foreigners at various times.
As the popes were not actuated by
. love of gain in possessing temporal
dominion, neither had they any desire
to challenge their territory, small as it'll
was, The authority of the popes in
the Middle Ages was almost unbound
cd. Had they wished then, they could
easily have increased their territory;
yet they have always been content with
what Providence has placed In their
hands. 1t was too small to provoke
the fear and jealousy of foreign pow
crs, yet it is necessary that the pope,
as tic head aid ruler in spiritual mat.
ters of approximately 3OO,OOO,OO0 souls
should not be hampered by any gov
|ernment or country. The Church is
Catholic, or universal, and is spread ov-
er the entire known world.
1t is true, as the article states, that
in 1870 Victor Emmanuel stole this ter
Iritory-the word is exactly that-and
the Roman people voted it away. In
the plebisticum, or popular vote, they
expressed their desire to be annexed to
the Piedmontese government. But this
plebistieum was undertaken by the au
thority and guided by the inspiration
of the Italian troops. 1t is like man
held up by robber at the point of
revolver, and commanded to hand over
his valuables. He dare not resist. SO
it was with the plebisticum.
But even had ii been the sincere dc.
sire of the Roman people to be annex
ed to Italy, they could not give what
did not belong to them. The papal
fnrrifnrr was rrantnd =. A. - ;: