Year: 1871

The Situation in Rome-HealtL OF the


A special telegraph letter from Rome,
which reached US through the cable, appears
in our columns to-day. The communication
renders still more patent the fact that the re-
lations which exist between the Sovereign
PontiR and the lay power of Italy, as it is
represented by his Majesty King Victor
Emmanuel, remain in very delicate con-
dition, and are still tending toward
ulterior complications and agitation and
congregational grief and scandal. The
HERALD writer confirms the report that
the question of temporary retirement of the
Holy Father from the Eternal City in face Of
the Italian executive lay occupation of the
Vatican was at one time spoken Of; but at
the same moment he enables us to deny the
assertion that 1t was seriously entertained by
the Head Of the Church. Pope Plus the
Ninth determined to remain, a venerable nd
faithful sentinel on the watch tower of
Catholic Christianity. He will take measures,
however, to avoid the perpetration of insult
to religion and civilization by the commission
Of acts of indignity or violence to his per-
son. The Cardinal Secretary of State,
Antonelli, reviewed the circumstances which
attend the existing situation in council
with his Holiness previous to the adoption of
the Pontifical resolve. Rumor had it, as it
appears, that the chiefs of the Jesuit Order
in Rome recommended the Pope to quit the
ctu Tho eamo ontiuuo tod IA a p,r,on Ioc4
1t to be inferred by the outside world that the
disciples of Loyola advised the adoption of
this course with the intent of precipitating a
politico-feligious crisis, the results of which
would react against the Italian crown. Such
assertion must certainly be very difficult of
correctly credited with an exact observance of
that line Of prudent reticence for any adhe-
renee to which they have always obtained the
name, and which has sometimes been charged
against them, indeed, as a fault of discipline.
1t is made painfully evident, however, by
the contents Of our special cable report
from Rome that the tiara of the Papacy
and the crown of Savoy have not been
reconciled; that it is not likely, in
deed, that they can be made friendly
and mutually trusting in Rome. The
Pope appears to guard one centre
Of independent authority in Europe with
anxious care. 1t may be excellently well that
he does so, for Europe, in its political disso-
luton, may-and at no distant day-have
reason to be grateful to find rallying point at
which to reconstruct the shattered elements Of
it's social system and from which the peoples
may take new start both for governmental
and domestic rule and CONTROL Keeping these
considerations in view, our telegraph letter
from Rome comes as useful light by which
the American people may read the initial
letters of new era in history.


We regret to learn, by the same means Of
information, that the aged Pontiff Pic Nino is
becoming more feeble in his bodily health
every day. He suffers from general debility.
His weakened physical condition only affords
him an argument for remaining at his post,
for he asserts that If he took his departure from
Rome in such state the enemies of the Papacy
would assert that he fed discounted. A
brave resolution Of a brave mana man in
the seventy y-ninth year Of his age, and nearing
the close Of very eventful life.