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    ITALY. TVT QW that the projected Congres...

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    The Balance Of Religions. ''J^He Europea...

    and cassbcked' leaders ,, and nursing : their wrath against all and sundry the enemies of the Pope . Protestant sovereign ?! are menaced because they do not fight for the restoration of his revolted provinces Cathedrals echo with the war-whoop of religious strife ! In Morocco , Spain is actually waging a Crusade . She is kindling a flame in Africa , never meant , perhaps , to be confined to that quarter of the world , and at all events but too likely to spread to our own . Catholrc prelates , journalists , and pulpiteers are muttering between their teeth threats of a European war of creeds , and feverish Evangelicals and internreters of prophecy are croaking similar sinister

    forebodings . It is well , therefore , to examine our securities against such a tragedy ' s ever being enacted at our cost , to look calmly and steadily in the face the facts of our condition . The ghost walks abroad , and must be laid by letting daylight into the haunted chamber . Happily a very slight scrutiny shows the forces to-be , after all , so evenly balanced between the two hostile religions , that we may safely postpone preparation for Sraithfield . Either the Great Tribulation is not coming on the earth just yet : ^ or if Cardinal Antoneim does mean mischief , and should be fool and fiend enough to light up a conflagration , it is quite as likely to burn down the Vatican as St . Paul ' s . . ¦ _ ¦¦ . -1

    To begin with , it is not enough in order to beget concord and co-operation between the two great Catholic Powers , that they both acknowledge one spiritual Head . Whatever such a recognition , may be good for in securing unanimity in the belief of nonsense , it has never brought about to any very encouraging extent cpnsentane ousness of political action . If we think it ought to do so . History laughs at our a priori conjecture , and gives the lie to the theory . The everlasting antagonism between Prance and Austria is prqverbiaL Especially during the three centuries that have elapsed since the Reformation , they have always been at cross purposes . IiXrTHEE , in his day , saw them fighting in Italy , and only-six months ago they were fighting in Italy still . All this time there have never been wanting shoals of zealots in cowls and in lay garb , like Louis ¦ Veuixl 6 t , who have raked heaven , earth , and hell for influence to . cement amity between the Catholic Princes , and to coax them to unite for the chastisement of the heretic Powers . The saints above

    It would be an insult to Prussia to degrade her to the level of her moribund sister , and it is no reflection ^ on France to say ^ that England is in every . respect her peer ^ Our forty colonies count for soniethingias well as our Irish and other difficulties of the sort . In like manner , Prussia ' s vast military organisation , the chivalrous loyalty of her people , her troops more especially , and the support she commands in Germany , entitle her to something more than a mere arithmetical estimate of her power . If one third of her citizens are Catholics , she may , at least , congratulate herself tliat they are not fanatical to any dangerous extent . Nor must it be overlooked that the very existence of these not unimportant minorities on both sides constitutes one of the strongest and most reliable of bur guarantees against any such collision as a few maniacs-would , perhaps , be only too glad to provoke . Of course m Austria ' s present state of exhaustion , and whilst the relations between her and France—to say nothing of those between 1 ranee and this country—continue such as they are , the apprehension of anything of the kind is simply ridiculous . Th 6 UHramontamsts must be « in their Penelope ' s web again . It is only in their small newspapers that the Middle Ages have returned . A few weeks have destroyed the work of many laborious years and many ingenious brains . Public opinion is still a great power , especially when it assumes the form of laughter . Pius IX ., and his minion Antoneih , with all their black militia , may fret , and fume , and vapour to their hearts' content . Bigots may pray themselves hoarse , but there will be no red rain so long as the wind is in that quarter . ' . ¦ ¦ _

    have been plied with prayers , and the sinners below with most iionied persuasives , by bigots of both sexes . All has been hi vain . Often have England and Prussia stood side by side in the cabinet and on the field ; France and Austria scarcely ever . Rival candidates for the cluimpionship of the Church , Paris and Vienna have never been able to . ad just their relative claims . Co-ordination runscounter . to their Catholic and monarchical instincts ., and subordination neither will for long submit to . Hence their eternal bickerings , which , to the scandiil of many of the pious , the Holy Father is thought to have often fomented . Whether it is that he thinks his two dear sons can

    never agree except to rob him , certain it is that he' has seldom benefited from- any exceptional entente cordiale between them . The most miraculous instance of such an alliance was that patched up by Kaunitz , which lasted for forty years down to the French Revolution . That talented minister induced Maeia Thebesa to address Madame de Pompadour Ma chere Cousine , for which the empress afterwards begged God ' s forgiveness on her knees . The abolition of the Order of the Jesuits , and the establishment of Josephinism in Austria , were both , the work of this period . The latter immense reform , which the Concordat has completely reversed , was mainly carried through by Kaunitz , who used to be styled at Rome II Ministro JSretfco . On one occasion , when the Pope gavo him as a distinguishing mark of honour the inside of his hand to kiss , the Austrian gave it a hearty shake—a gaucherie of the most enormous character , which , however , admirably illustrates

    the unceremoniousness with which he was always wont' to treat Roman pretensions . H . ow the Pope fared after Napoleon I , had conciliated Austria , as the butcher conciliated the refractory sheep , by knocking her down and trampling upon her at Austerlitz , is well known ,- —us also how he is likely to fare now that Napoleon III . lias repeated the proqess at Magenta and Splferino . In short , the Papacy has always had far more to dread than Protestantism from the agreement of the two Catholic Protecting Powers . In like mannerthe assumed numerical preponderance of Catholicismoverwhelming as it seems at first , ceases to alarm ns the

    , instant wo begin to analyse and weigh these imposing manses of figures . There are , so . we nre told , thirty millions and more ioyal Papists in France—* -z , e . counting all the Deists and Atheists in and out of orders , together with all who , though neither Voltiityeans or Protestants , laugh most heretically at the Charivari's incessant fa kes on M . VEtri'LfcOT , and think the brochure one of the cleverest ) hits the Emperor linn made . Even of Austria ' s priest-viddon thirty millions more , how many are there whp do not gnash their toeth at the Concordat P How mnny who do wot curse from morn to dewy eve the Jesuit clunarilln with which his Bavarian mothor has

    surrounded Francis Joseph ? Is there no disaffection in the church of Sfc . Stephen , whoso Primate lately . presented the Protestants with a site for a cemetery and chapel ? Or , porlinps , Bohemia , after centuries of fire and sword from the Husuita njid Triborite , and Thirty Years'Wars downwards , is now at last quito Btaunuh . Ye , t , it is only ft year or two ago since ft whisper voftt'hed us of hundreds of Bohemian priests petitioning to bo released from celibacy . The Vionnu statesmen themselves , such as they nro , nil knew very well from the first that the Concordat was a measure of the " kill or euro" class . It has certainly not healed the putienfc , A . 8 to the alternative , Austria , like the other " siulcinan" in tho next bed , may take a good deal of killing . On the ; other humdl , ib must not bo forgotten that the Jesuit medicines are proverbially Irastie .

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    Italy. Tvt Qw That The Projected Congres...

    ITALY . TVT QW that the projected Congress seems to have vanished into J _ Y thin air—to have collapsed , and left disenchanted diplomatists standing , metaphorically , with staring eyes and mouths agape , out of breath with the sudden check placed upon their political movements—the . world is anxiously awaiting the next move of the I talnm game of chess which lias been going on now for twelve months . It is high time that the present confessedly temporary state of things in Central Italy should give place to something of a more stable and permanent character . Hitherto , perhaps , few or no ill results . hare followed from the anomalous position in which the people and their rulers have stood to each-other , as subjects and agents of a sovereign afraid to own or countenance their adhesion to his standard . But various hints and rumours of disaffection and impatience at the delay

    still interposed between the professed annexation of Loinbardy with Piedmont , and the actual union of the one with the other by means Qf parliamentary suffrage ^ meet the eye and ear of those : who examine somewhat below the surface . In the JEinilian States , too , the waiting attitude now so long observed begins to be felt as somewhat irritating and irksome . Nor can it be wondered that the Italian * should long for the moment when , their political choice shall be ratified by the general consent of the governing powers of Kurope , and they be left to pursue their onward course to freedom and prosperity under the guidance of their spontaneously chosen sovereign . Slight differences between the party adherents oICavour and Ratazzi ; the military followers of Gakibaldi , Pabokmida , and La Makmoha ; the modest , unobtrusive Evangelicals , and the haughty , overschool

    bearing zealots of the Giobacc ] b : ino , Archbishop of Florence , , make the friends of Italy somewhat anxious to see the end of the present abnormal condition of the Peninsula . True , in the main , the cause of order , freedom , and truth continues to gain ground . Inuring the past twelve months qualities which deservedly -ennoble a nation have been triumphantly conspicuous in both the rulers and the ruled . Nothing short of the test to which Italy has been compelled to submit could have made the world believe that aho was rich in the very qualities and perfections of which she was supposed to be least susceptible . Yet human patience , forbearance , atul compliance have their limits ; and it will bo well when the wand of tho magician who evoked the storm is ' stretched . forth in token that the Imperial " idea , " though somewhat modified , is realized ; and that , in accordance with it , freedom of action is at length recognised in

    the Peninsula . . A general feeling of relief seems to be the prevailing sentiment , as day after day passes over and confirms tho notion that no Congress will be held . Owing to the opposing interests and wishes of the ! powers which would have been represented in it , it seemed utterly impossible that any adequate advantage could have been tho result . Each , state had a theory and practice of its own , utterly at variance with those of all tho rest ; and to have entered Congress under such circumstances would have been to violate tho rules which have hitherto been held as inherent in the nature of Congresses ,. Tho mooting of envoys or plenipotentiaries to settle an extensive plan of political arrangements and reorganization , implies

    something 1 approaching unanimity , or at least- the d 6 * uro to practise mutual concession and forbearance * Tho contemplated Congress ofi 1860 , so far from promising to realize tho objects hitherto kept in view in suph solemn assemblages , seemed likely to prove a mere battlefield for tho encounter of antagonistic principles of action and tho strife of conflicting 1 interests . Though th « position of England na a first class Power . rendered it inoumbont upon her to tako horphteo as such , and acocpt the invitation given to her . t , o share in tho contemplated deliberations , she has no reason to regret tha ^ . tho ^ aru deferred sine file . Recent appearances seem to indioato that Napoleon III . is willing 1 to adopt tho principle which England hna all along held , that the Italians have a right to choose thoir own ruler . But such was not the cane when the invitations ) to the Congress were issued . Ib thon seemed likely ( hat Great Britain

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 21, 1860, page 12, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21011860/page/12/