The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1874. THE STATE OF EUROPE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 78, 24 October 1874, Page 5

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1874. THE STATE OF EUROPE.

It is not long since we gave a resum6 of news in reference to the state of Europe. "We return to this subject thus early, because events in the Old World are hurrying on rapidly to a crisis of portentous import, and because here at home there are just now, fortunately, no stirring topics to arrest our attention. Whatever affects Europe reacts on the world, and a blow given there is also felt eVen here. This is our excuse, if excuse be needed, for again, within a short time, directing attention to European affairs. With us, Italy naturally holds the first place of interest. This historic, and in many ways glorious country is the seat of the Papacy, Rome its capital the See of the Vicar of Christ. When, therefore, our minds reveit to the Old World, the first spot to which our thoughts wing their way is that city which is the centre of Catholic Unity, the dwelling place of the Sovereign Pontiff, the Heart of piety, and which has been hallowed by the footprints and martyrdom of the Prince of the Apostles, and of the Apostle of the Gentiles. Pope Pius IX. is still closely imprisoned in the Vatican. His Holiness cannot venture beyond its precincts, it is unsafe for him to show himself even at the windows. On one occasion when he did so accidentally, some people who happened to see him from the Piazza of St. Peter, and cheered him were taken prisoners by Yictob, Emmanuel's troops, and put iD. prison, where they remain to this day closely confined for no crime, except the crime of loyalty to the Head of their Church. Even ladies were not spared by the chivalrous officers of the revolutionary and usurping Government. These, however, happened to be foreigners, and on appealing for protection to the Ambas-

sadors of their respective Nations, they succeeded i' 1 obtaining their discharge from arrest. The Roman people continue to manifest in the most significant manner, their intense abhorrence of Piedmontese rule. They keep at as great a distance as possible from Victob Emmanuel and renew almost daily their indignant protest against his usurpation, by studiously abstaining from all participation in public affairs. The Municipal Elections held in Rome during last July afforded a striking illustration of this. The number of persons qualified to vote amounted to 14,608, and of these no less than 10,236 abstained from voting. But of these, 3,420 were officials in the employment of the Government and of the Municipality. The Capitale asserts that with the exception of 925 persons, all who voted were recipients of Government pay. ISov is this all. Whilst failing to secure the support of any considerable portion of the people, the Government which unhappily rules the country through the instrumentality of the Army alone, has not only failed to economise the public revenues, but has succeeded wonderfully in gaining an unenviable notoriety for extravagance and plunder. Church property has been largely confiscated, the private property of religious persons has been transferred to the coffers of the State, seats of learning have been deprived of their resources, and now as a laßt resource Hospitals, Orphanages, Asylums and other Institutions of Charity are designated for plunder. All their real property is to be sold, and the Government purposes to compensate them in paper money. This real property will bring gold into the exhausted Italian treasury, whilst the paper given in exchange is worthless. The Charitable Institutions of Italy — the pride and glory of the country — are consequently doomed to destruction, so far as the Government can destroy them, So great are the plunder and mismanagement of the Italian Government, and so great have they been since the Secret Societies succeeded in revolutionising the country, that the Oazetta di Torino asks, " How comes it to pass that under the tyrants the cost of government was less than it is under freedom ? " Before the revolution, in the Seven Independent States of Italy, the total expenses of government — general, provincial, and municipal — amounted to seven hundred and fifty millions of lire. But under liberty ! these expenses have mounted up till last year they reached the enormous sum of two thousand millions of lire. If these figures be divided by the twenty-seven millions of inhabitants in Italy, it will be seen that whilst under the tyrants, every Italian paid twenty-four lire, he now under Victor Emmanuel and liberty ! pays seventy-four. The number of persons receiving pensions is 101,000, and the total number of government employes is 600,000. And the result — What is it ? Brigandage on the increase, education neglected, poverty stalking through the land, discontent and insurrection even in the most favoured provinces. So much for Italy and revolution ; such the result of the intrigues of the Secret Societies ! Let us now cross the Alps and look at the condition of the German Empire. A war, a successful war with France is her only hope. The large war indemnity is gone, the taxes are overwhelming, trade is declining, poverty and discontent are becoming general, and revolutionary and antisocial doctrines are gaining ground amongst the masses. To these must be added the danger arising from the unprovoked and cruel persecution of the Catholic citizens of the Empire. France is still unsettled, but notwithstanding, she is carefully organising a mighty military force, and seems to be possessed of a fixed idea — a war with Germany at no distant period. Prussia is arming, Austria is arming, and everybody is aware of the state of things in Spain, once so glorious, now so tried. The Carlists, however, are making steady progress, and everything indicates that before long the entire nation will join the standard of Don Carlos. The Ger man Chancellor out of his hatred of Catholicity and legitimate government would, if he dared, help the .Republicans of the Peninsula. But such a step on his part would only have the effect of more speedily uniting all Spain in favor of Don Carlos, and of evoking the opposition of some of the most powerful European States. There is a probability that Spain is destined, after all, to give the first fatal blow to revolutions and sects. For ages her role'vo. history was a glorious one, and it may be so again. 'The reaction has certainly commenced in Spain, and gives promise of becoming a great success. May it be so.