Roman Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 5, 30 May 1890, Page 3

Roman Notes.

The freedom of the Press in Italy may be calculated from the manner in which the Government subsidises the organs that support it. The sum so expended by Signor Crispi last year amounted to somewhere about £40,000. The inducement thus held out is evident. But under the circumstances the independence of the newspapers may very well be called in question.

A sign of the timeß which shows that the Catholic faith still holds its ground in Spain has been giveu in the decree issued by the Holy Father in response to the prayer of Spanish Catholics that the Feast of St. Joseph should be made a holiday of obligation in their country. A national request of the kind is particularly cheering at a time when in so many countries religion seems to be more lightly regarded.

At a recent meeting of the Conference oE Christian Archceology Count de Rossi announced the discovery in Algeria of an ancient altar bearing an inscription which dates from A. D. 359, and which among other relics venerated there mentions apiece of the wood of the true cross. The discovery of the cross was made at Jerusalem by St. Helena mother of Constantine the Great in the year 326. This mention of the relic found in Algeria is, therefore, a matter of great interest.

Deep interest is attached to the approaching celebration to be held this year at Rome of the 13th centenary of Pope St. Gregory the Great. For EDghsh Catholics the anniversary must have an especial interest considering the debt due by their country to the memory of the great and glorious Pope.

A pilgrimage of French students expected to arrive in Eome during the course of the spring, is one to which much hope is attached. With the class in general very little, respect for religion is associated' as a rule. A change for the better among them would ceitainly pioduce excellent icsults in France, and it may be hoped that the undeitaking referred to has at least some slight bearing on such a movement. At any rate the students as a body seem to have grown, t-red of mere materialism and numbers of them are turning their atttntion towards various mystic systems?. It may rationa ly ba believed that the claims of the Catholic Church will not escape their inquiry, and that a reformation, truly so-called, among them will be the consequence. This contemplated pilgrimage to Rome also poiata in suca a direction.

A calumny attributed to the late Dr. Dollinger and published in a German newspaper since his death has received an authoritative contradiction from German meant*. It was to the effect that impediments were offered to all but certain chosen scholars in their attempt to study the Vatican Archives A number of learned Germans actually engaged in the study referred to have, however, given the statement an unqualified, denial. What gives additional weight to their denial is the fact thai tney are, most of them, Protestants. Their testimony is :— -" The administration has the merit of rendering the treasures of the Archives accessible to historical researches, without difference of nationality or religion." TDis, however, is not the first emphatic and conclusive contradiction with which the statements of the unfortunate Dolhnger were met.

A member of the Senate has just offered to the Italian Government some advice which it would be piudent on their part to take. He predicts the meeting of an European Congress into whose discussions will enter the independence of the Holy tfee, The result will be, says Signor Jacini, the Senator in question, a settlement that the Government will be forced to accept. Would it not how be better for them, he asks, while there is still time, to act of their own accord and seek of their own free will to come to an agreement with the Holy See ? Such wholesome advice as this, howevei' is not according to the taste of Signor Crispi. Compulsion only would bring him to his Benses in the matter, But compulsion, soouer or later, and of one kind or another, he will probably have.

That, notwithstanding its boasted secreay, Freemasonry has also its tnjants ttrnbhs has lately been once more proved by the publicatiou of a cncular in which the sect take ciedit to themselves for nil the legislation that baa been carried out in Italy hurtful to the interests of the Catholic Cburcb. The circular speaks in high terms of Signor Crispi, whom it especially commends for his boldness in '■ defying the God of the Catholics," as its blasphemous expression is. Snrely such an exposure of the tiue mind of Freemasonry should have an effect on those well. meaning but falsely-judging Christians who give it the support of their sympathy and membership.

Quite in accordance with the defiance of the God of the Catholics made by the leading statesman of the country is the record of crime for laßt year, The number of people guilty of ordinary

offences had steadily increased year by year from 3,947 in 1883 to 17,429 m 1889. The results of fighting against the Church and defying God are, therefore, palpable.

The next monument erected in Rome is to be a statue of Mazzini, which will be close to that of St. Paul in the Piazza Colonna. The joke of the matter,— its especial indecency being its neighbourhood to the •tatue of the Apostle— is that King Humbert is patron of the erection, and the chief subscriber to it, It is, neverthelebs, doubtful whether the revolutionist whose memory is about to be honoured would have excepted hii Majesty from the common lot of assassination which he advocated for kings. Humbert is certainly false in his admiration for the worthies whom he is continually called on to honour or else he ib inconsistent in still submitting hiß head to the weight of the crown. As the president of a republic he might be an honest man. As a king he is acting dishonestly towards one side or the other.

The mißeion of Sir John Linton Simmons *o the Vatican has come to a conclusion, satisfactorily, it is said, so far as an agreement with the British Government on religious arrangements ia Malta is concerned. Sir John was present at the banquet in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, given at the Irish College, on which occasion he was quietly but plainly given to understand by Archbishop Kirby that no English representative at the Vatican must interfere between the Holy See and the Irish people. The Envoy is believed to have hoped to make a point in the direction referred to by his visit to the College. If so, he found himself completely checkmited. Archbishop Kirby, by his admirable remarks on this occasion, has once more earned the gratitude of Irish Catholics— already frequently deserved by him.

A German mission has been appointed to the Cameioons, a district in the country recently annexed by Germany in Africa. The missionaries are to be German Fathers of the Pious Society of Missions, and it is stipulated by the German Government that they areito be under the immediate direction of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda.

On St. Patrick's Day the Pope wore a spray of shamrock which bad been presented to his Holiness by Prior Glynn— the Augustinian Father whose association with tha building of the Irish national church has made him so famous. It is a remarkable fact, meantime, that the Irish emblem is better known at Rome than that of any other nation. Indeed its spiritual origin deserves for it such a distinction. The Pope's wearing it will certainly not render it more obscure. St. Patrick himself might have rejoiced to foresee the occasion.

The retirement of Prince Bismarcc has occasioned a good deal of discussion as to what is to be the fate of the triple alliance. Signor Crispi especially loses the advantage undoubtedly derived by him from his association with the German Chancellor. How Italy will be affected by thecharjge ia naturally a subject of anxiety.

The Emperor William has written a respectful letter to the Pope acquainting his Holiness with his project for the international labour conference at Berlin, and asking for nis sympathy and co-operation. The Holy Father's reply aii3ured the Emperor of trie interest he t >ok in the matter, and of his determination to do everything to further the amelioration of the working men's condition. The letter of his Majesty is very favourably regarded by the Catholic world. It is felt that, even supposing him to have been influenced in some decree by a desire to conciliate Herr Windthorst and his following, he'has nevertheless acted in a becoming Manner, and one showing a praiseworthy frame of mind.

The disposition of the secret societies has just been illustrated at Leghorn by the murder, in tha open street, of a young priest who was quietly and inoffensively pursuing his way. He was, nevertheless, followed and stabbed to death— no motive except that of hhreasoning hatred being assignable for the deed. The victim waß only 23 years of age, and had only been a few weeks ordained.

The Marquis of Lome and his wife, the Princess Louiee, have paid an incognito visit, under the title of Lord and Lady Sundridge, to Rome. They, nevertheless called on King Humbert and the Queen and received a visit from their Majesties in return— not, however, at their hotel, which was quite an ordinary one, but at the British Embassy. They had also an audience of the Pope. Her Royal Highness seemed to take especial pleasure in going about without ceremony, and would even call her own cab, without betraying any particular shame or trepidation. The Marquis also had about him the look of being out of school.

A Roman audience acted rather shabbily towards Colonel Cody, otherwise known as Buffalo Bill, in connection with the defeat of the buttari, famous riders of the Campagna, by his cowbys. They hissed and hooted the Colonel, and generally showed themselves ill-humoured and ill mannered. Cody was further accused of acting dishonestly respecting & wager arising out of the affair, although, for hia part, he had done even more than he had undertaken. Only one of the Italian riders succeeded in riding a buck jumper, and that only for a ruinate or two.

On 27th March, at Tipperary, a young lad named Mornan was sent to gaol for one month for alleged intimidation of a fish-hawker named Ellen Keys to prevent her from selling fish to the servant of one of tbe police. The intimidation consisted in the defendant's having remarked to another boy, in the hearing of Mrs. Keys that the purchaser was buying fish for the police, and that she was boycotted, J