Year: 1870

n rrhupderhoIt In the eVnticnn-NapoIeon'sP Plea


Against tInfnIIibility-heplyo Of the jcsuits.


ROME Feb 15-Never was such an excite
ment produced here in the ecclesiastical circles
in the immediate interest of the Court as when
the AlgenCine Zettung made its appearance
with twenty one canons or Schendtd OF the
category De ecclesid. How in the world did
such a precious document slip out OF the pocket
of q bishop into that of German correspon-
dent? For we are not to suppose for moment
that any bishop could or would willingly com
municate what he had sworn to Keep secret TO
the topographic trumpet of fame.


1t is rumored that some venerable father, re-
posing for few minutes in one of the lateral
apartments adjoining the Council Hall, put
down his bundle OF schen.dtd inadvertently, and
on recollecting them subsequently found that
they had disappeared from the spot on WHICH
he had left them. 1t is said that Archbishop
Darboy complained OF having lost the manu-
script of his speech Immediately after com
pleting his Grafton: 1t ID hinted that there
NAV be such a contingency as q bishop letting
a bundle of papers fall designedly among
crowd Of curious spectators, and 1t ls sug-
gested that among 1900 theologians, who con-
stantly attend the fathers OF the council,
and know everything they think say, and do,
there may chance 10 be one or two who do not
so strictly adhere to the Obligations OF secrecy
as the Supreme Pontiff has inculcated. But the
fact is undeniable that documents relating to
the council have got abroad before they have
been vet decided on by that assembly, and as
the same indscretion was committed repeatedly,
and repeatedly complained of during the Council
of Trent, it is to be presumed that human nature
has not changed in the lapse of three hundred
years, and that the curiosity of the majority will
prevail over the retcence of the minority.


The great event here, in political sense, has
been the declaration of the French Ambassador
To Cardinal Antoneli of his Governments in
tention to withdraw the French troops from the
Pope's dominions in caec of the declaration of
his personal infallibility. This announcement
took place at the beginning oil this month, and
it was a singular coincidence that Immediately
afterwards, in its number for the 9Th of Febru-
ary the Cigild Cditoiicd published leading
article, entitled the ''Sham Politicians and the
Council." containing the following re-
markabie expressions: - "ViOlence is not
10 be resorted to by the State In Catholic coun-
tries to counteract any pretended injuries which
might be inflicted by the Gcumenical Council
with its dogmatic or disciplinarian definitions.
IL such means were to be adopted the State
would certainly damage the Church much but
il would destroy itself. The Church, however,
would soon recover its equilibrium, but the
State would plunge into a hopeless abyss This
fact we think that Governments understand
well, and therefore we are convinced that they
will not give ear to subtle counsellors OF eXpe-
dients which would conduct them to infallible
rain"


Directly after the publication OF this article
the epbemeral attempt at barrcade revolution
in Paris took place, as If to confirm the predic-
ton of the Jesuts periodical and the French
embassy was closed on Tuesday evening, the
weekly reception night. Perhaps this latter
circumstance was only indicative OF want OF
repose after the great ball on Saturday night
which was attended by eight hundred persons
but the friends of the Papal Government con
sidered the French Emperor and his ambassador
here as having incurred divine vengeance fol
insulting the Church.