Untitled article

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, January 21, 1868

ALL violent pastimes are evil, or, in other words, produce or tend to produce unhappiness; for evil and unhappiness are only commutable terms.

The Roman Question in France.—Our latest French papers bring a full account of the discussion of the Roman question in the French Corps Legislatif. Brilliant speeches were made on the part of the opposition by Jules Favre and Jules Simon, and on the side of the Government by M. Thiers and M. Rouher, the Minister of State. The attitude assumed by the latter, with regard to the Temporal power, was much more definite and emphatic than was expressed two weeks ago in the brief Cable dispatch. He clearly stated that France would not allow Italy to enter Rome, and on that account advised Italy to give up all idea of making Rome its capital. The declaration at once put an end to the Conference scheme.

A remarkable speech was made by M. Thiers. He entirely separated, in this question, from his friends of the Liberal Opposition. In point of style, his speech is pronounced, even by the Liberal organs, one of the greatest he has ever made; but as regards its sentiments, it professes the most shocking cynicism that ever any prominent statesman has dared to express. States, according to him, are, as regards their international relations, in a state of nature. It is force, not principle, which must regulate all conflicts. There are no international rights which have to be respected. The weaker States group themselves around the stronger, and ask their protection. The chief principle of their political system is the balance of power. The principle of nationalities is radically and totally false. The right policy for every strong power is to keep its neighbors down. France, therefore, ought to have prevented the consolidation of Italy and of Germany. Having failed to do this, she ought at least to prevent Italy from completing her national unity by the annexation of Rome. Thiers makes no profession of being a Catholic; he expressly states that he does not adopt the Pope’s late Encyclical against the errors of modern civilization; but as the majority of Frenchmen happen to be nominal Catholics, he claims for the French Government the right to interfere in behalf of the independence of the Head of the Church.

That Berryer, who is a Legitimist and practical Catholic, should declare his adhesion to the conduct of the Government, was generally expected. When the vote was taken, only seventeen members, out of two hundred and fifty-four, voted against the pure and simple order of the day. Thus the Corps Legislatif, by a commanding majority, has approved the intention of the government to assume the perpetual patronage of the Holy See.

The Italian Parliament is as unanimous in asking for the annexation of Rome as the French Corps Legislatif is in opposing it. The overwhelming majority in all foreign countries profoundly sympathizes in this question with Italy.