case of the inspired writers, to weaken the eloquence of the text and the power of its imagery. We have in the History of France an incident that is even more imposing, more wonderful, and quite à propos in reference to current French and Italian Politics; we think it may be put before the consideration of men who profess to be drawing their rule of doctrine and practice, as from a well pure and undefiled, from the living power of truth and justice: "No glory can rival that of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne, establishing the Temporal Kingdom or Power of the Papacy, to secure the liberty of the Popes, of the Church, and of Christians." Constitutionally and wisely the destinies of the Papacy and of France have been from that time forward indissolubly joined. The Throne of France ever reflected the brilliancy of the Pope's triple crown; but on the other hand History forcibly shows that the shadows of the Vatican darkened the sunshine of the Tuileries.
We are writing History; we do not seek to pretend to the mantle of the prophet. But if any one can point to a single page in French History in which the prosperity of France coincides with the oppression of the Holy See, we will throw up our thesis: German unity and Italian unity achieved simultaneously, to the prejudice of European Powers and the Papacy; the captivity of Pope Pius IX. and the final spoliation of the Papal States, consummated on the very day when France lay stricken in her capital; the disastrous phases of the rule of the two Bonapartes and the demagogic Republicans, tallying day for day with the outrages inflicted on Rome; such a collection of facts is too striking, too full of instruction, too eloquent, to require further words of ours.
Henry IV. imagined that he could violate the Catholic Laws of his Kingdom, and separate himself from the Church of France: France would not accept him as a King. Henry asked to be instructed in the truths of the Cathchc religion, and on July 25th, 1593, kneeling in the Basillca of Saint Denis, his hand on the Holy Bible, he declared: "I swear as did my forefathers, in presence of the Most Holy One, to live and die for the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion;—to defend it and protect it everywhere, at the peril of my blood and of my life." We do not discuss Theology here: we merely prove the intimate and necessary
