THE ANNEXATION OF THE ROMAGNA. I

occupation ceased, the government fell, without one arm to support or re-establish it When left a prey to themselves, the people of the Romagna, hitherto held to be ungovemable, showed by a conduct which won the applause of Europe how easy it would be to introduce among them the order and discipline, civil and military, by which other civilised peoples are ruled. But the uncertainty of their precarious state — already too prolonged — was a danger to Italy and to Europe,

The hope of a European congress before which the question of Central Italy was to hâve been brought being abandoned, no other solution seemed possible than that of putting once more to the populations the question of their future destinies.

The universal vote for annexation to the constitutional monarchy of Piedmont was reconfirmed with such solemnity that I had to accept it definitely for the sake of the peace and the welfare of Italy. And for the same end of peace I am always disposed to render homage to the high sovereignty of the Apostolic See.

As a Catholic prince I do not feel that I offend against the immutable principles of that religion which with filial and unalterable dévotion I glory to profess. But the changes now made regard the political interests of the nation, the order, moral and civil, of society, — regard the independence of Italy, for which my father lost his crown, and for which I should * be ready to lose my life.

14 LIFE or VICTOR EMMANUEL II.

The difficulties of the présent day overtum territorial dominions around us in a manner which the force of events has rendered necessary. To the necessity of the time all principalities hâve been obliged to yield, and the Holy See itself had to recognise it ’n ancient and modem days.

In such modifications of the sovereignty, justice and the civil reasons of state prescribe that every care should be taken to reconcile ancient rights with the new order of things ; and it is for this that, confiding 'n the benevolence and good sense of your holiness,

I pray you to facilitate the work for my government, which on its side will neglect no précaution, no effort, to arrive at the desired end. If your holiness receives with benignity the présent opening of negotiations, my government, ready to render homage to the high sovereignty of the Holy See, will also be disposed to supply in equal measure the diminution of its revenues, and to provide for the security and independence of the Pontiff.

Such are my sincere intentions, and such I believe the wishes of Europe. And now that I hâve candidly opened my mind to your holiness, I await your deliberations with the hope that, by means of the goodwill of governments, a satisfactory understanding may be arrived at, reposing on the agreement of the princes and on the contentment of the peoples, which will give a stable foundation to the relations of the two States.

From the gentleness of the Father of the faithful

VICTOR EXCOMMUNICATED. 15

I promise myself a benevolent réception which will give hope of extinguishing civil discord, pacify exasperated spirits, and relieve all of the grave responsibility of the evils that might arise from contrary counsels.

In this expectant confidence, I ask with reverence the Apostolic bénédiction.

Victor Emmanuel.

Turin, March 20, i86o.

Six days after this letter was written the bull of excommunication was issued. Pio Nono cursed Victor Emmanuel, and with him his councillors, soldiers, and subjects, old and new, were all throwm out of the Catholic Church without further ceremony, as abandoned and incorrigible sinners. This was Pio’s answer as Pope to the king’s appeal for a réconciliation ; but even when breathing anathemas he did not seem to be actuated by a Personal animus, and he never withheld the courtesy of an autographic reply to Victor’s letters. It is curious to observe in their correspondence how persistently the excommunicated monarch, after laying bare with the utmost unreserve his plans of spoliation, asks the Apostolic bénédiction ; and it is also curious and noteworthy to see that the irate Pontiff indirectly responds at the end of each letter to the demand by promising to pray for him. The Pope’s letters hâve the merit of being briefer than those of the king, but we must remember that Victor Emmanuel said all he wanted to say to the Pope himself, while Pio Nono made Christendom ring

with encyclicals, allocutions, and addresses of appalling length and wordiness.

Plus IX. to Victor Emmanuel.

Yorr Majesty, — The events that hâve taken place in some of the States of the Church impose on your majesty the duty, as you Write me, of giving me an account of your conduct in relation to them. I might stop to combat certain assertions contained in your letter, and tell you, for example, that the foreign occupation in the Légations was for some time confined to Bologna, which never formed part of the Romagna. I might tell you that the supposed universal suffrage was imposed, not spontaneous (I abstain from asking your majesty’s opinion of universal suffrage, and also from giving mine). I might tell you that the Pontifical troops were impeded from re-establishing the legitimate government in the insurgent provinces, for reasons well known to your majesty. These and other things I might tell you à propos. But that which above ail imposes on me the duty of not accepting your majesty’s plans, is the steady increase of immorality in those provinces, and the insults offered to religion and to her ministers, for which reason, even if I were not bound to hold intact the patrimony of the Church, by a solemn oath which hinders me from opening negotiations to diminish its extent, I should still find myself obliged to reject every Project, in order not to stain my conscience by an ac-