Page:History of Freedom.djvu/411

 DÖLLINGER ON THE TEMPORAL POWER 3 6 7

shall fall on men in the prime of their years and their strength; in which the people shall be reconciled to their government by free institutions and a share in the conduct of their own concerns, and the upper classes satisfied - by the opening of a suitable career in public affairs. Justice publicly and speedily administered would obtain the confidence of the people; the public service would be sustained by an honourable esprit de corþs; the chasm between laity and priesthood \vould be closed by equality in rights and duties; the police would not rely on the help of religion, and religion would no longer drag itself along on the crutches of the police. The integrity of the Papal States would be under the joint guardianship of the Powers, who have guaranteed even the dominions of the Sultan; and the Pope would have no enemies to fear, and his subjects would be delivered from the burden of military service and of a military budget. Religious liberty is not, as the enemies of the Holy See declare, and some even of its friends believe, an insurmountable difficulty. Events often cut the knots I which appear insoluble to theory. Attempts at prosely- tising have not hitherto succeeded among the subjects I of the Pope; but if it had been othenvise, would it have been possible for the I nquisition to proceed against a Protestant? The agitation that must have ensued would be a welcome opportunity to put an end to what remains of the temporal power. It is true that the advance of Protestan tism in I tal y would raise up a barrier between the Pope and his subjects; but no such danger is to be apprehended. At the time \vhen the doctrines of the Reformation exercised an almost magical power over mankind, they never took root in Italy beyond a few I men of letters; and no\v that their power of attraction and expansion has long been exhausted, neither Sardinian policy nor English gold will succeed in seducing the I talians to them. The present position of helpless and humiliating dependence will not long endure The determination