Roman Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 45, 28 February 1890, Page 2

Roman Notes.

Among the prize-winners of the year at the College of the Propaganda the Irish students have taken a dist nguished place, one of their number heading the list. This is honourable to old Ireland, especially when it is considered that among the competitors at the college referred to students are to be found from every part of ihe world .

The Capitale, an organ of the Liberal party, in describing recently the attitude of Signor Crispi towards the Parliament, marked, perhaps unconsciously, the meeting of extremes. The paper represents Signor Crispi as dealing very unceremoniously with the Cbamber, and, in effect, saying to it, "I am the country." The words remind us of those attributed to King Louis XIV. — " L'etat c'est moi." Of the two, however, the despot who has the Constitution aad precedent in his favour, and who plays his part without pretence, is probably to be preferred to the despot whose tyranny is a flagrant contradiction cf all the rights and all the professions of the times. The role of the grand monarqn-e, as played underhand by Signor Crispi, exchanges all vestiges ot splendour for a meanness more than contemptible.

The old saying that the wish is father to the thought still continues to be exemplified. The desire that the revolutionists have to see a Catholic people at variance with the Holy See has certainly been accountable for the irrepressible report that Mgr. Satolli, the Pope's envoy present at the opening of the Catholic University at Washington, was to visit Ireland on his return journey to Borne, for the purpose of completing in that country the mission of Mgr. Persico. It was vain to contradict the report, which was still repeated. Slgr. Satolli's departure, after a few days' stay, from Ireland where he disembarked has, however, shown the absurdity of the rumour. To see the country in passing and visit his friends there was the Monsignor's sole object. But the anxiety of the revolutionary preaa on the subject should be sufficient to give a warning to those who need it— and some such there undoubtedly are.

The expression cfi republican sympathies becomes every day more maiked throughout the country. It has been quite common this year for the ne wly-elected mayors and municipal councillors to refuse to tike the oath of allegianca to the King. In some instances, indeed, they have been otherwise outspoken in the extreme, The councillor for Spezzia, for example, oa being called on the other day by the President of tha Council at Genes to cheer for the King, protested that the word had no meaning for him, and that the monarchy had had its day. He was, moreover, supported by another councillor, who said that the King was nothing, and invited the President to register a declaration of Republicanism. Like sentiments, however, are heard on every side, and the fate of the monarchy is but little doubtful. The position occupied by the King is, indeed, an unenviable one. He bas sacrificed his conscience for a throne that it is impossible for him ultimately to retain. But as to what the republic in Italy will mean there is room for serious fears.

A spirit of emulation between France and Germany better than that which now for many years we have been wont to hear of, ia among the manifestations of the day. The pious zeal of German! Catholics has been stirred up by the sight of the recent French pilgrimage, and the privileges partaken of by the pilgrims. In consequence, a great German pilgrimage is announced, for which preparations are beinp energetically set on foot. But certainly some good effect must be produced in nations whose masses in large numbers with similar pious objects, visit a common centre, whence also peaceful influences emanate. How apparent, therefore, becomes the Pope's rightful position as arbitrator among the nations.

The latest robbery has been that of the religious fund known as the operepie, and consisting of money bequeathed or given for various religions purposes, as administered by the Ohurch. This fund, a very large one, testifying bounteously to Catholic charity, has now been taken over by the Government — which will distribute it through their own tools, and ia such a way as they please. It is a little to the credit of the Italian Parliament that the Bill introduced for the purpose of making this iniquity legal, although it has been passed, was carried in a very thin House. The members had at least the grace to be ashamed of what was required of them, and absented themselves from voting. In other Liberal quarters also the enormity of this confiscation has been condemned, fctignor Crispi alone seems to have had oo scruple about it, and through his insistance it has been carried. If fiignor Crispi is not, as the Capitals says, the country, he is certainly the Government.

The fictitious nature of the enlargement of Borne, made among ■uoh Vandalic surroundings, has become evident again by a failure of contractors and a stoppage of works. To prevent rioting on the part of the workmen dismissed, these unfortunates, to the number of several hundreds, have been sent by the Government back to their country communes. How they are to fare there, whence they were driven by want to seek for work in Rome, is not hi a g to the purpose . The Government postpones the evil day and that is all they can do , The time, nevertheless, is apprpachiog at which postponement will be no longer possible, but an impoverished country and a starving population must be dealt with once for all.

To excite the jealousy and alarm of the commercial world against the Papacy seems now to enter into the plans of the revolutionary Press. A report has been circulated to the effect that the Pope was about to grant to a German firm, a monopoly of publishing Church music throughout the world. The report which was of the nature of that recently published by the New York Herald, respecting a great Catholic bank, and had not a word of truth in it, has been officially contradicted by the Sacred Congregation of Ri f es, The device alluded to, nevertheless, is ingenious. We know generally how interference with their temporal interests is likely to influence mankind. We know particularly to what breaches of friendship and enmities commercial rivalry has led. The revolutionists have certainly had a bappy idea, and we have probably not seen the last of their attempt to carry it out.

Among the new educational institutions of the day the Catholic University of Fribourg takes an important place. The erection of the University may be chiefly attributed to Dr. de Curtms, a distinguished statesman of the Swiss Federation, who exerted himself unsparingly, both in Parliament and elsewhere, to set the undertaking going and make it a success. The Pope has recently given his consent to have the theological faculty of the University placed in the hands of the Dominican fathers, who are especially enjoined by His Holiness to instruct their students in the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas, the great philosopher and theologian of their order. Dr. de Curtins, who is deeply engaged in the social questions of the day, especially as they affect the working classes, to whose interests he is devoted, looks upon the spread and perfection of Catholic education as the great source whence ultimately the true solution is to be found. On. the union of religion and science he base? his hopes for the future. He has been in Rome making arrangemeuts for the opening of the theological school.

Among recent more interesting visitors to Rome have been two American gentlemen named respectively Betz and Biber, who are owners of rich mines in Nevada. They were very kindly received by the Holy Father, to whom they presented generous proofs of the productiveness of their industry, in the shape of Peter's Pence, and who was particularly attracted to them as extensive employers of Italian immigrants— to whose welfare they are especially attentive.

A charming Btory is told about Mr. Lockwood and the Parnell Commission. Meeting Mr. Justice Smith at dinner the other night — the p«riod of the publication of the report being mentioned— Mr. Lockwood paid, " 1 think your lordships are missing a great opportunity. You should by all meanß manage to get the report out so as to run with the other Christmas numbers. It would be a dangerous competitor for them ; whilst if it stands over to January or February it will have lost its market."

The sudden and violent epidemic of fatal accidents with electric wires has spread from New York, in which it has been raging for some weeks, to Toledo, in the State of Ohio. A workman in that city was perched on a roof measuring a skylight when his sleeve, which was wet with rain, touched the wires which fed the incandescent lamps with an alternating current. The man was killed instantly, and, when his body was found, was burned out of recognition. It is always impolite to raise the incredulous eyebrow, especially about anything which has happened in America ; but we do not understand why these dreadful accidents were never beard of until lately, or why there have been so many of them during the last month or two. Is there any subtle connection between the epidemic and the anxiety of some American municipalities to get the electric wires put underground ? However that may be, it|seems to be beyond doubt that there are deadly and hitherto almost unsuspected dangers in electric lighting Even the electricians thought that the incandescent system was safe; but supposing the veracities have been given their due place in these reports from America, it is clear that the current on the external wires will kill at the merest touch. And how are we to know that the wires which run through the interior of bouses and public buildingß are not equally dangerous ? So long as there is the possibility of such accidents, gas shares are exceedingly unlikely to become unsaleable. Before the electric light is made cheap and popular it must be rendered na.fe.-St, James's Gazette.