GOVERNMENTS DOING THE WORK OF THE COMMUNE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 47, 21 March 1874, Page 11

GOVERNMENTS DOING THE WORK OF THE COMMUNE.

It is almost hoping beyond hope to expect that this Encyclical letter of the Holy Father will have any effect on the consciences of the people and the Governments of Europe. And yet the subjects which he writes on are of equal interest to Catholic and Protestant, to King and people. The things which happened, and are happening, in Borne, in Germany, in Switzerland, are something betides attacks on the liberties of the Catholic Church. They are attacks on human liberty, on national right, on freedom of conscience, on property, on every principle which holds society together. The King of Italy, and the Emperor of Germany, and the Government of Geneva no doubt hate and detest the Socialists and their programme. But they are, nevertheless, doing the work of the Commune ; they arc, nevertheless, carrying out its programme. The Socialists are the enemies of property. In robbing the Churches and Convents of Rome, the I tali in Government is doing the work of the SociJists. The Socialists are the enemies of all religion. In attempting to destroy a branch of the greatest of Christian Churches, the Geneva Government is doing the work of the Socialists. The Socialists are the enemies of freedom of thought and freedom of worship. In endeavoring to strangle both within his wide dominion, the Emperor of Germany is doing their work. In a word, the Governments of the Continent, blinded by folly are playing the game of the vast Red conspiracy which they at once hate and serve. From the summit of the Vatican the solemn voice of one of the greatest of the successors of Peter warns the world of its madness ; but his voice is drowned by the cries of passion and bigotry, and Europe rushes on downwards towards the abyss.—" Freemrn."