THE IMPRISONMENT OF LEO XIII.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 36, 5 January 1894, Page 20

THE IMPRISONMENT OF LEO XIII.

F. Mabion Crawford, the novelist, who was for many years a resident of Rome, writes as follows in the Cosmopolitan Magazine of the imprisonment of the Holy Father in the Eternal City : — " Outside of Italy the position of Leo XIII in Rome ia not generally understood. Most people suppose that the expression ' the prisoner in the VaticaD,' which he applies to himself, and which Is very generally applied to him by the more ardent of Italian Catholics, is a mere empty phrase, and that his confinement within his small dominion is purely a matter of choice. This is not tbe case. So far as the political theory of the question is concerned, it is probable that the Pope would not in any case be inclined to appear openly on Italian territory, unless he showed himself as the official guest of King Humbert, who would naturilly be expected to return tbe visit. To make such an official visit and sach an appearance would be in fact to accept the Italian domination in Rome, a course which, as I have already noticed, would be contrary to the adopted Catholic idea of the social basis necessary for the Papacy. It would not necessarily be an un-Catholic act, however, but it would certainly be an un-Papal ont. No one would expect the ex-Empresi of the French, for instance, to live openly in Paris, as though the Parisians had never been h6r subjects, and as though she accepted the Republic in a friendly and forgiving spirit. And the case is to all intents and purposes exactly identical. But this is not all. It is unfortunately true that there is another and much better reason why Leo XIII cannot show himself in the streets of Roma. It is quite certain that his life would not be safe The enthusiastic friends of Italy who read glowing accounts of tbe development of the new kingdom and write eloquent articles in the same strain will be utterly horr.fied at this statement, and will, moreover laugh to scorn the idea that the modern civilised Italian would conspire to take the life of a harmless and unoffending old man. They will be quite right. Tbe modern civilised Italians would treat the Pope with the greatest respect and consideration if he appeared amongst them. Moat of them would take off their hats and stand aside while he drove by, and a great many of them would probably go down upon their knees in the stieets to receive bis blessing. The king, who iB a gentleman, and tolerant of religious practices, would treat the Head of the Church with reßpect. The Queen, whoii not only religious but devout, would hail the re-app»ar-ance of the Pontiff with enthusiasm. But unfortunately for the realisation of any such thing, Rome is not peopled only by

modern Italians, nor Ita'y either. There is in the city a very large body of social democrats, anarchists, and the like, not to mention the small nonde3cript rabble which everywhere does its beßt to bring discredit upon socialistic principles — a mere handful, perhaps, but they are largely composed of fanatics and midmen, people half hysterical from failure, poverty, vice, and an indigestion of so-called " free thought." There have not been many sovereigns nowadays whose lives have not been attempted by such men at one time or another. Within our own memory an Emperor of Rußsia and two Presidents of the United States have been actually murdered by just such men. The King of Italy and the Emperor William 1., Napoleon 111., Queen Victoria, and Alexander 111. have all been assailed by such fanatics within our own recollection, and some of them have narrowly escaped death. Not one of them, with tbe exception of Alexander 11., has been so hated by a small and desperate body of men as Leo XIII. is hated by that little band which undoubtedly exists in Rome to-day. I will venture to say it is a matter of continual satisfaction to the royal family of Italy, and to the Italian Government, that the Pope should really continue to consider himself a prisoner within the precincts of the Vatican, since it is quite certa'n that if he were to appear openly in Rome the Ita'ian Authorities would not, in the long run, be able to protect his life. After all that has been said and preached upon the subject by tbe friends of Italy, it would be a serious matter indeed if the Pope, taking a practical advantage of his theoretic liberty, should be done to death in the streets of Rome by a se'f-styled Italian patriot. No one who thoroughly understands Rome at the present day is ignorant that such danger really exists, though it will no doubt be promptly denied by Italian ministers, newspaper correspondents, and other intelligent but enthusiastic persons.

Mr Tanner, M.P , who happened to be in Parip, was present at the funeral of Marshal MacMahon, and as an Irish representative was accor led special consideration by the authorities. The member tor Mid-Cork ssnt his c«*rd to General Saussier, ihe Governor of PariF, who was in supreme command at tbe function, and the general immediately sent an officer to him with a message to tbe effect that he was to take his place in the procession. Dr Tanner was then conducted into the Madeline, wt ere he got a seat among the repiesentatives of the Frencn Navy, with whom he subsequently marched to the Invalides. He was treated with the utmost courtesy and attention, and, with the exception of tbe Diplomatic Body, the Russian officers, and representatives of the Crowned heads, he was probably the ollv non-Frenchman who bad the good fortune to witoees the impressive scene in the Inv&lides when the remains of the gallant Marshal were laid with those of Napoleon and so many of hiß heroic officers.— Glasgow Olserver.