"As true liberty diffuses around it peace and grace and calm,
so does false liberty disseminate, wherever it is implanted, terror,
dismay and horror. The brows of one are illuminated with the splendid halo
of order, and those of the other are covered with the red cap of anarchy.
One holds in her hand the olive-branch of peace; the other waves the torch
of discord. One is arrayed in robes white as those of innocence, and the
other is enveloped in the dark, blood-stained mantle of guilt. One is the
prop of thrones; the other a yawning abyss beneath them. One is the glory
and the happiness of nations; the other their disgrace and their
punishment. The latter bursts out of hell as if it were a poisonous blast
issuing from the jaws of the devil himself; whilst true liberty descends
sweetly and gently upon the earth, as if the spirit of God had sent it
down to us a holy and blessed thing from heaven. _Ubi spiritus Domini ibi
Libertas._"

None will be surprised to learn that on hearing these singularly eloquent
words, the immense auditory could no longer control their emotions. A
general murmur of approbation was heard throughout the vast temple and was
breaking out into loud applause, when the preacher, mindful of the
reverence due to the holy place, made haste to repress it.

This great demonstration may well be considered as the best testimony that
could be given as to the real sentiments of the Italian people. They were
not ignorant of the nature of that liberty for which O'Connell had so long
and successfully contended. Nor were they under any erroneous impression
as to what the gifted preacher meant when he extolled in such glowing
terms that true liberty which is the glory, at once, and the best security
of nations. If, a little later, they pursued the phantom instead of the
reality, it must be considered that, as yet, they had no political
education or experience, and that no high-principled Tribune, like
O'Connell, stood forward to lead them. All who aspired to guide them, and
who won their confidence, were tainted with the doctrines of the Socialist
party, whose ideas of government and liberty were utterly utopian.

If it could be said that public rejoicings afforded any assistance to the
Pope, in his labors as the head of the Roman State, he was not left
without aid in his great undertakings. Such things, however, rather
hindered than promoted his endeavors. His people had, so to say,
commenced, under his auspices