Year: 1860

The hafsuppressed controversy between th,
pope and Napoleon is becoming interesting.
Napoleon would evidently leave the pope to biz
fate and treat him with the contempt he feel.
if he dared do it. and the pope would anathem
ize the emperor and doom him to the hottest
place known 10 his philosophy if he were not
conscious that he cannot very well get along
without his support. The formal politeness and
condescension on one side and the assumed hu-
mity and reverence on the other are edifying.
On New Years day Gen Goyon, commander Of
the French troops that protect the pope against
bis uneasy Romans, paid the customary address
to- the pope: The pope in his reply gave
queer conditional beuedctiou to the emperor
as follows


"In prostrqting ourselves to the feet Of
That GOD WHO was, is, an / will be to all
eternity, we beseech Him in the humility of
our heart to she'd abundantly His light and
blessing upon the august leader of that
army and of that nation SO that, guided
by such light, he may advance safely along
his difficult path, and admit again the false.
ness of certain principles laid down recent
ly in pamphlet WHICH may be styled a
monster monument of hypocrisy and a de-
Spicable jqmble of contradictions. We
hope that'by the aid of such light-nay,
more, we are persuaded that by such light
he will condemn the principles contained in
that pamphlet. We are the more convnc-
ed OF this as we have in our possession some
documents which his majesty some short
time since had the kindness to send us. and
which are full condemnation of those
principles. 1t is with this conviction that
we pray God to shed His blessing upon the
emperor and upon his august consort, up
ohthe prince imperial, and upon all France"


If not, not we presume is implied here, but
on the other hand quite the contrary This
diplomatic benediction was so offensive to the
emperor that the French papers were at first
ordered to suppress it. But after several days
1t was published, with the qualifying assertion
that the pope would not have said what he did
if he had received the letter Of Napoleon, writ
ten the previous day. Our own impression is
that tn e letter would have suited his holiness
little better than the pamphlet apd he would
have changed his negative curse to an Affirmative
one after reading ii, if he had dared to act as
he felt. 10 the letter the emperor reproaches
the pope because he did not take his advice iu
giving to the Remagna better government,
and tells them politely but plainly that he lost
his subjects by his OWn folly. Now, be tells
him. the powers will not approve his using force
to regain the Romagna, aud if he does he will
be obliged 10 bold it by military occupation for
a long time Hence Napoeons advice is that
the pope shall give up all attempts to regain
his lost possessions, whicn he puts in this plain
way


"What remains, then, to be done, for this
state of uncertainty. cannot be lost forever?
After a serious consideration of the diff
cultieS and dangers which the different
combinations present. say it with sin |
cere regret, and painful as the conclusion
may be that the solution which appears to
me most conformable to the true interests
Of the holy see will be to surrender the re-
volted provinces If the holy father, for
the sake of the peace of Europe, should |
give up these provinces, which for fifty |
years haYe been great embarrassment to |
his government, aud if, in exchange, be |
should request the great powers to guar
antee to him the possession of the remain
der, | do not doubt Of the immediate re-
Storation Of tranquility. Then the holy
father would insure to grateful Italy peace
for many years, and to the holy see the
peaceful possession of the States of the
Church"


We do not believe this plain talk was any
better received by the pope because the emper- |
Or concluded his letter in this reverential style:


81 am sure your Holiness will no miscon-
itrue the sentiments which animate me-
Eou will understand the difficulty of nv
position you will give kind interpreta.
lion to my frank language, remembering
Ill that l have done for the Catholic reli,
gion and for its august Head. / have ex-
pressed without reserve my full mind, aud !
thought it Indispensable to do so before !
The congress But beg cf your Holiness,
whatever decision you may come TO, to be- |
eve that it will in no respect change the
line of conduct which have always ob- |
served in respect of you Thanking your
Holiness for the Apostolic blessing which
you have sent to the empress, to the prince
imperial, and to myself, | renew to you the
assurance Of my profound EeReration.
am, of your Holiness, your devoted son,


NAPOLEON"


When Mr.. Seward, in 1919, went to