Year: 1870




Tho Pops and HIS Tenperaiities.
This morning. dispatches from Rome inform
as that his Holiness Plus TX. Is detected at
the present withdrawal Of his temporal power
over the civic affairs of the Holy See, which
for 80 many ages had been the recognized
appanage of his predecessors in the chair OF
St. Peter. We are told that he will not stir
beyond the gardens of the Vatican, and that
he refuses to sanction the customary religious
festivals Of October.


Whether these accounts, coming from such
distance and through SO many channels, be
strictly true or not, it cannot be denied that
the present Supreme Pontin and large body
Of bis adherents cling with unrelaxing tenacity
to the prerogatives Of the temporal power,
and that In this fact . most delicate and even
dangerous question ID involved. Any opinion
which Is part Of the earnest creed Of intelligent
men Of nearly every nationality, and in nearly
every nook and corner Of the world, 10 something
that rises far above hasty speculation or fip-
pant remark, and the man who INDUCES In
either singularly fails to appreciate the great



forcing upon our attention In time remarks
BILE for it, moral and its material phsnomena
alike. Thinking thus, wc shall not ourselves
be guilty Of such mistakes, II we can help 1t.


But, at an epoch when brotherly concilia-
tion between men and nations is so greatly
needed when Christianity and liberty, strug-
Cling against thousand ever-recurring forms
Of unbelief and oppression, have need Of all
their resources to shut out the rain of fire and
blood which rampant passions are bringing
upon the earth, it is lamentable that the wis
dom which guides an ecclesiastical control
that touches the hearts Of SO vast portion OF
mankind as does the Church claiming to be
Apostolic and universal should not find q
glorious compensation for the temporal and
imperfect authority over petty province in
the augmented opportunity and facility of
spiritual influence and progress.


In spite of all partisan denunciation and
perverted facts the history of Rome since the
accession Of Plus TX. to the throne, after the
death of Gregory XVI, show him to be at
heart an enlightened and benevolent prince.
He began his reign by proclaimiug general
amnesty, and at once set about adopting
reforms that would have elevated and enriched
his people. In this he was thwarted by pre-
cisely those invading powers who found in the
temporal sway their continual pretext for inter-
ference and for that kind of protection"
(which the wolf gives to the lamb by covering
and devouring it," It was against an Austrian
and Bourbon conspiracy to involve Plus, Rome
and Italy in one common ruin that the Italian
people arose with such splendid enthusiasm
10 1916, and it was over the young Roman
volunteers of l848 marching to Ferrara and
vicenza that the Pontiff uplifted his hands in
benediction in l848. Bufeted about in turn
by French, Austrian and even by British diplo-
macy in the sorrowful years that succeeded, the
temporal power has been the nnseaworthy
bark Of day long gone by that has, again
aud again, nearly carried down with it his for
tunes and the interests Of his Church. This
period seems now to have closed, and
assuredly the attachment, respect and support
Of whole nation and the free sway OF reli-
gion must more than outweigh the uncertain
ties of decrepit province and barren
sceptre. Statesmanship and duty both would
seem to impose this reading of the lesson as
the sternest command uttered from source
on high. The light that is set upon hill
shines further than when it is hid under
bushel. Christ on Calvary was greater than
all the powers and principalities Of men. The
transcendant work Of a spiritual power
released from the cares and trammels Of tenn
poral responsibility, in time like this, is to
break down all barriers that keep brethren
apart; to burst asunder all bonds that imprison
them; to preach pity and peace, humility and
the pardon of wrongs dealt one to another,
unity between men and nations, and the lifting
up of the heart to God. This is the hour and
this the occasion for such "Kyrie Eleison"
from the Consecrated City and the holy hill.


THE PEACE CONFERENCE Of the Spanish
American roDuhlica of South Amnrica Parn