ded
he had renounced all interference in the legations. But he added, "it is
an acknowledged fact, and which I have personally verified, that in those
provinces which, lately, were so unmanageable and dissatisfied with the
court of Rome, the ministers of worship are actually respected and
protected, and the temples of God more frequented than ever." Victor
Emmanuel surely now thought that the Pope would never think of disturbing
this happiness and self-satisfaction. "The interests of religion required
it not." He even hoped that the Holy Father, not satisfied with refraining
from a renewal of his claim on Romagna, would also hand over to him the
marches and Umbria, in order that they might enjoy the same prosperity.
And so he discoursed anew to Pius IX., about his "frank and loyal
concurrence, his sincere and devoted heart," and ended by craving the Holy
Father's apostolic blessing.

The King of Piedmont must have been sadly blinded by revolutionary
teachings not to see--if, indeed, he did not see--that such professions of
loyalty and devotedness were positively derisive. Pius IX. so viewed them,
and gave the intriguing monarch to understand that he did so. The
moderation of his language is but slightly indicative of the sorrow and
indignation which he must have experienced. "The idea which your majesty
has thought fit to lay before me is highly imprudent, unworthy, most
assuredly, of a king who is a Catholic and a member of the house of Savoy.
You may read my reply in an Encyclical which will soon appear. I am deeply
affected, not on my own account, but by the deplorable state of your
majesty's soul. You are already under the ban of censures, which, alas!
will be aggravated when the sacrilegious act which you and your
accomplices are meditating shall have been consummated. May the Lord
enlighten you and give you grace to understand and to bewail the scandals
which have occurred, and the fearful evils with which unfortunate Italy
has been visited through your co-operation."

(M69) About this time diplomatists discovered the convenient political
doctrine of non-intervention. It was, like most diplomatic devices, a
fallacy. But it served its purpose. The Catholic Powers, however friendly
to the Holy See, were unable to intervene. The greatest of them all,
Austria, was put _hors de combat_ at Solferino. Prussia had intervened, as
far as its policy required, when it forbade further hostilities after the
great battle which