The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

;THE GALLEYS OP NAPLES, 513the dogmas of Liguori applied to the science of government.The tragedy now in progress in Naples commenced in dissimulationand Jesuitism. In 1848 the king inauguratedconstitutional government, by swearing, " in the awful nameof the Most Holy and Almighty God, to whom alone it appertainsto read the depths of the heart, and whom we loudlyinvoke asthe judge of the simplicity of our intentions."Promises and oaths were speedily followed by perfidies andperjuries. The constitution, so solemnly inaugurated, andwhich included a limited monarchy and two houses, with aguarantee for personal liberty, and the legality of impostsonly when imposed by parliament, has been abrogatedevery particular. But this crime is small compared with theatrocious maxim which has been unblushingly put forwardto justify it, that the king's right is divine, that his powersare unlimited, and that no oaths which restrict his prerogativecan bind him.Right orthodox doctrine, accordingto Liguori. A " Philosophical Catechism " has beencompiled by a priest, who acts, of course, under his superiors,and is now, in virtue of a government order, used in all theschools,— " a work, one of the most singular and detestable,"says Mr Gladstone, " I have ever seen." The doctrine ofthis catechism is, that all who hold liberal opinions will beeternally damned ;they please in the cause of papalthat kings may violate as many oaths asinand monarchical absolutism; and that " the Head of the Church has authorityfrom God to release consciences from oaths, when he judgesthat there is suitable cause for it."*In the history of the Papacy demoralizing doctrines haveinvariably been the prelude to dreadful tragedies :so has itbeen at Naples. A Jeffries redivlvus, ferocious, cowardly,blood-thirsty, and as thoroughly the creature of the court* Two Letters to the Earl of Aberdeen on the State Prosecutions of theNeapolitan Government ; by the Right Honourable W. E. GladstoneLoud. 1851.2l