Page:History of Freedom.djvu/551

 THE V A'rICAN COUNCIL


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Ministers so utopian as to give up solid goods for an imaginary righteousness seemed, as practical advisers, open to grave suspicion. Mr. Gladstone was feared as the apostle of those doctrines to which Rome owes many losses. Public opinion in England was not prepared to look on papal infallibility as a matter of national concern, more than other dogmas which make enemies to Catholi- cism. Even if the Government could have admitted the Prussian maxim of keeping in line ,vith the bishops, it would have accomplished nothing. The English bishops were divided; but the Irish bishops) \vho are the natural foes of the Fenian plot, were by an immense majority on the ultramontane side. There ,vas almost an ostentation of care on the part of the Government to avoid the appear- ance of wishing to influence the bishops or the Court of Rome. When at length England publicly concurred in the remonstrances of France, events had happened which showed that the Council was raising up dangers for both Catholic and liberal interests. I t was a result so easy to foresee, that the Government had made it clear from the beginning that its extreme reserve was not due to in- difference. The lesser Catholic Po\vers were almost unrepresented in Rome. The government of the Regent of Spain possessed no moral authority over bishops appointed by the Queen; and the revolution had proved so hostile to the clergy that they ,vere forced to depend on the Pope. Diplomatic relations being interrupted, there was nothing to restrain them from seeking favour by unqualified obedience. Portugal had appointed the Count de Lavradio ambas- sador to the Council; but \vhen he found that he was alone he retained only the character of envoy to the Holy See. He had weight with the small group of Portuguese bishops; but he died before he could be of use, and they drifted into submission. Belgium was governed by M. Frère Orban, one of the most anxious and laborious enemies of the hierarchy, \vho had no inducement to interfere with an event vlhich justified his enmity, and was, moreover, the unanimous