ghter whom you love so
dearly, you will gain over souls more power than you can lose as a prince,
and from the Vatican, as you lift your hand to bless Rome and the world,
you will behold the nations, restored to their rights, bow down before
you, their defender and protector." The new minister, less wary than his
predecessor, immediately set about realizing his grand idea. With what
success will soon be seen.

(M86) The Piedmontese conquests had not been made without cost. Enormous
sums had been spent in corrupting the Neapolitan people. Large amounts
were still scattered throughout the annexed provinces, in order to
maintain their loyalty to the new power; and the press was liberally
subsidized, both in Italy and abroad. For such heavy expenditure money
must be had. _Rem! quomodocunque modo rem!_ An expedient which occurs so
readily to revolutions was had recourse to. The properties of the convents
and the treasures of the churches were seized. Members of religious
communities were expelled from their monasteries and reduced to mendicity.
The laws of the church were trampled under foot, together with the rights
of citizens. The Jesuits were banished and cruelly maltreated like so many
felons. Religious corporations were suppressed, the faithful clergy were
thrown into prison, and many dioceses and parishes deprived of their
pastors. Pius IX. deplored these calamities in his Allocution of 30th
November, 1861. In that of 18th March of the same year, he had replied to
those who conjured him to be reconciled with modern civilization: "The
Holy See," the Pontiff insisted, "is always consistent. It has never
ceased to promote and sustain civilization. History bears witness to this
fact. It shows most eloquently that, in every age, the Popes carried
civilization into barbarous nations, and even to the remotest lands. But
is that true civilization which enslaves the church, makes no account of
treaties, and recognizes not the rights of weaker parties? It is quite
certain that the church can never come to an understanding with such
civilization. What is there in common, says the apostle, between Christ
and Belial? As to making friendship with the usurpers of our provinces,
before they have shown repentance, let no such thing be hoped for. To make
such a proposition to us, is to ask this see, which has always been the
rampart of justice and truth, to sanction the principle that a stolen
object can be possessed in peace by the thi