The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

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II. Official Handbills Reveal Facts of Overthrow

About fifty official handbills and circulars, many in paralleling French and Italian columns, were printed and posted in Rome during the papal overthrow and the establishment of the republic under Berthier in 1798. These constitute about the highest source evidence obtainable, and are not commonly accessible. They are therefore summarized here, the more important being quoted from. 29 Nos. 1 and 2 assure respect for public worship and its ministers and for ambassadors, and warn French officers of violation. 30 No. 5, dated Year 1, Pluviose 27 (Feb. 15, 1798), announces that Berthier has appointed civil authorities in the six territories of the republic. No. 7 gives a pompous speech of Berthier in which he says that at the capitol, bearing an olive branch, free Frenchmen have re-established the altars of liberty, erected by the first Brutus. 31 PFF2 756.1

1. PAPAL GOVERNMENT SUPPRESSED, REVERTING TO PEOPLE

The famous Bill No. 8, in parallel French and Italian, dated Pluviose 27 (February 15), is a formal declaration by “Citizen Alexander Berthier, General in Chief.” In this he makes the announcement: PFF2 756.2

“The Roman people are now again entered into the rights of sovereignty, declaring their independence, possessing the government o£ ancient Rome, constituting a Roman Republic. PFF2 756.3

“The General-in-chief of the French army in Italy declares, in the name of the French Republic, that he acknowledges the Roman Republic independent, and that the same is under the special protection of the French army. PFF2 756.4

“The General-in-chief of the army acknowledges, in the name of the French Republic, the provisional government which has been proposed by the sovereign people. PFF2 756.5

“In consequence, every other temporal authority emanating from the old government of the Pope, is suppressed, and it shall no more exercise any function.... PFF2 756.6

“The Roman Republic, acknowledged by the French Republic, comprehends all the country that remained under the temporal authority of the Pope, after the treaty of Campo-Formio. PFF2 756.7

“ALEXANDRE BERTHIER.” PFF2 756.8

“Rome, the 15th of February, 1798; first year of Liberty, proclaimed in the Roman Forum, and ratified on the Capitol, with free voice, and subscribed to by innumerable Citizens.” 32 PFF2 757.1

2. ROMAN POPULACE CASTS OFF PAPAL YOKE

Bill No. 9, likewise of the same date (February 15), titled “Acte du Pepule [peuple] Souverain” (An Act of the Sovereign People)-certified and signed by three notaries, and confirmed by General Berthier—makes this clear-cut declaration: PFF2 757.2

“The people of Rome, long tired of the monstrous despotism under which they groaned have on various occasions tried to shake off this yoke. The magic of public opinion and political interests combined into a mighty force have not allowed their efforts to succeed. And a despotism of that nature becomes the more insulting the more its weakness and arrogance corresponds to its misery. But at last, the people, fearing to be exposed to an hideous anarchy and in despair to fall under even a worse tyranny have mustered all their courage in order to evade these sinister consequences and to reclaim the primitive rights of their sovereignty. PFF2 757.3

“Assembled in the presence of the Eternal and the whole universe, they solemnly and unanimously declare to have had no part whatever in the crimes and assassinations committed by the government against the French Republic and her nation. They disapprove of these crimes and detest their originators and invoke upon them (vow them) eternal shame. PFF2 757.4

“They further have suppressed, abolished and crushed the political, economic, and civil authorities of the former Roman government and have constituted themselves a free and independent sovereignty in taking up all executive and legislative powers which its legitimate representatives shall exercise according to the immortal rights of man based on the principles of truth, justice, liberty, and equality. PFF2 757.5

“They have declared that their desire is that no attack against religion or the spiritual authority of the pope should be made and that they reserve to themselves the right by their representatives to provide for the comfort able sustenance [of the Pope] and to ensure the safety of his person by a national guard. PFF2 757.6

“These representatives shall present themselves in the name of the Roman people. The government has also asked the following citizens [names follow] to approach the citizen Alexander Berthier, general-in-chief of the French army in Italy, imploring the powerful protection and the friendship of the generous French nation, whose gallant examples serve them as a lesson in the task of their own regeneration. PFF2 757.7

“The present act has been signed by several thousand persons who, with many others, have read, approved and confirmed it by their acclamations on the Capitol. On the 27. Pluviose in the 6. year of the Re public.” PFF2 758.1

3. COLOSSUS OF IMPOSTURE DESTROYED

Bill No. 17, dated February 21 (Ventose 3)—the day following the pope’s departure from Rome—is a violent charge against the old government, and is signed by five consuls, the secretary general of the consulate, General Berthier, and the minister of war. It reads: PFF2 758.2

“The provisional consuls of the Roman Republic to the soldiers of the former government: ‘Soldiers: The despotism which was afflicting humanity and which was weighing so heavily upon the descendants of the illustrious Romans; this colossus of imposture and immorality which was governing this beautiful land has just been destroyed by a sublime movement of the Roman people. Soldiers, you will wish to have a part in this grand event.” PFF2 758.3

4. UNION OF SACRED AND PROFANE DISSOLVED

Bill No. 28 gives an extract from a speech by Citizen Gagliuffi on February 23. He says: PFF2 758.4

“Already has proud and penurious hypocrisy fallen to the ground. Al ready is this grotesque union of the sacred and the profane being dissolved. At last, are the sweet maxims of gospel morality allowing us to seek and propagate righteousness and truth. The ministers of the sanctuary may henceforth—according to the duties of their sublime institution—bring peace and consolation into homes and hearts. The representatives of the Republic will ever keep the trust which the people of Rome have committed to us with such piety and universal joy.-Thanks be therefore rendered unto thee, O supreme and immortal Being, on whom the destiny of all creatures depends. Touched, at last, by the woes which pressed upon us so heavily: Monopoly, Favoritism, Privilege, and alas! perhaps Religion itself, a Religion honored by the lips only and denied by the hearts,—do graciously sanctify our Liberty, bless our Equality, and preserve our Republic!” PFF2 758.5

5. RELIGIOUS INTERESTS SEPARATE FROM POLITICS

Bill No. 34, addressed to the Roman people and clergy, signed by the president of the republic and five consuls, and dated February26, stating that the government is “based on the gospel,” and declaring, “God has established a gospel of peace and pardon, “commends good priests and warns the evil, and admonishes: PFF2 758.6

“In the pulpit, at the altar, at the confessional, give the people of both sexes to understand that religious interests are separate from politics. O thou, benignant and generous people of Rome, be no longer led astray by infernal wolves disguised as heavenly lambs. Shun and denounce the fanatic who betrays both religion and the Republic, and who, therefore, is the implacable enemy of thy present and future felicity. Hail with open arms the righteous man, the brother or magistrate who would thee en lighten, protect and save.” PFF2 758.7

6. FRANCE FORMALLY NOTIFIED OF CHANGE

A fourteen-page tract, bound in with the bills, published in French and Italian, includes a letter from the minister of foreign affairs in Rome to Talleyrand, minister of foreign affairs in Paris, dated February 28 (Ventose 10), giving notice that the Roman people have chosen a new government comprising all the territory for merely under the temporal power of the pope after the treaty of Campo-Formio. It is signed “Corona.” Talleyrand’s answer fol lows, expressing the great satisfaction of the French Directory, and is dated Ventose 25. PFF2 759.1