Year: 1877

LITTER FROM +. ADOLPHUS TRoLLOPE-A NLW LAW


AGAINST THE CLEEGY-OBSAcLEs TO lis EN-


FORCEMFNT--A MINISTER IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.


IFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TmHUNUl


ROME. Feb. 9-Ihe most important occur
renee which has rccenty-or, indeed, for a long time
taken place in Italy is the passing Of the law for
restraining clerical abuses, wbch was brought IN by
SIgior Maucini. the Minister Of Justice. The King,
III his speech at the beginning of tae session. had rs
YOU are aware sand il necessary TO prevent the
ecclesiastical liberties, which conceded to the
Church III d larger measure i'll this country than IN
any other Catholic State, from interfering with pub
lie liberties or offending the civil supremacy Of the
State This utcrance was introduced into the royal
speech by the radical Ministry, which succeeded
that of the "Alojcrates" of which Snor Miaehetti
was Premier III justification of the constant COM
plants made by them while in opposition TO the
effect that the Government pursued far too
indulgcnt a course toward the Church,
AID preferred to wink at many Ofcnscs and indig-
mites which the law, even as 1t then stood would
have enabled them TO repress. 1t is undehla5Ic that
they did 50. They suffered the clergy to do many
things which more rigorous application OF the law
would have prevented. 1t is undenable also that
TIE constant hope wish, and expectation OF the
clerical party is to undermine and eventually over
throw the present constitution and kingdom .Of



unity and independence of the peninsula accom-
plished. But it does not perhaps follow from all
this that the tcmporizing and foTboaIing policy Of
the late ministry was not the wises that could be
adopted None but those who have tried it know
how difficult and how dangerous an adversary
church. and an admirably well organized and un-
scrupulous one, is to contend against. bismarck
has found it out, and man OF iron as he IS would
perhaps have hesitatcd to enter on an ntemecine
fight with the Catholic Church in Germany, if he
had known when he began il all that he knows now


The line of conduct, however, which the present
Italian Ministry, with the lmprudence OF men who
have long been estranged from power, and III the
case OF the great majority OF them have never felt
the responsibilities of it, blamed when they were in
opposition. merely as means tor getting up a cry
against Their opponents they found 1t Impossible to
continue when they had succeeded 70 Office; and
hence the paragraph in the Kings speech which
have quoted and SignOr Mancinis bill in fuliilment
Of the promise held out in it.


The BILL which has just been passed in the Cham
Der bv majority of one hundred and fifty to q
hundred votes provides by the first clause that the
minister of any religion who shall abuse the func-
tons OF bis ministry to the troubling of tie public
Conscience or the disturbing of the peace OF
families" shall be liable TO imprisonment OF not
more than two years, and fine of not more than
five hundred francs. OF course anybody ~ all con-
versant with the work of legislation, and the apph-
cation of laws TO individual cases, will see at a
glance that such an enactment as tins must eltbcr
remain dead letter or become an engine OF the
most intolerabe tyranny. No doubt III tins country
the former fate awaits it. What is disturbing the
public conscience In one, and that the most obyous
sense any public preaching is disturbing OF the
public conscience. TO disturb the conscience is the
especial object o: all preaching. And how is the
troubling of the peace Of families to be deiEedf One
knows what il is that the legislator has got IN hls
head: but that knowledge will not suffice for the
application of the law. How is the crime TO be dc
fined in such sort as to enable jury to see their
way 10 conviction across all the niss and doubts
that an advocate can evoke from out the clrcum-
stances of such tralf Why moments consld-
Grafton of the sort of matter that would he brought
before court by couple of clever lawyers en-
Gagged in the attack and the defense in such case
is sufficient 10 have made prudent legislator shrink
from making such things possible. But as SAID,
il may be confidently predicted that this clause OF
the new law will be suffered to become dead letter.
The second clause in the bill is directed against
matter somewhat more tangible. Amy minister Oh