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

POPES NOMINATE THE EMPERORS. 61in plain terms, and enforce by direct acts, a claim whichthey had put forth only infcrentially as yet. But to makegood this claim was the grand object of Rome from thebeginning ; and this object she steadily pursued through avariety of fortune and a succession of centuries. The vastnossof the object was equalled by the ability and perseverancewith which it was prosecuted. The policy of Romewas profound, subtle, patient, unscrupulous, and audacious.And as she has had no rival as respects the greatness of theprize and the qualities with which she has contended forso neither has she had a rival in the dazzlino- success withwhich at last her contest was crowned.With Charlemagne expired the military genius and politicalsagacity which had founded the empire. His powernow passed into hands too feeble to save the state fromconvulsions or the empire from dissolution. Quarrels anddisputes arose among the inheritors of his dominions. Thepopes were called in, and asked to employ their paternalauthority and ghostly wisdom in the settlement of thesediflPerences. With a well-feigned coyness, but real delightat having found so plausible a pretext for advancing theirown pretensions, they undertook the task, and executed it tosuch good purpose, that while they took care of the interestsof their clients,they very considerably promoted their own.Hitherto the pontiff had been raised to hisit,dignity by thesuffrages of the bishops, accompanied by the acclamation ofthe Roman people and the ratification of the emperor. Fortillthe imperial consent had been signified, the newly-electedpontiff could not be legally consecrated. But this badge ofsubordination, if not of servitude, the popes resolved nolonger to wear. Was it to be endured that the vicegerentof God should reign only by the sufferance of the Frenchemperor? Must that authority which came direct fromthe great apostle be countersigned by a mere dignitary ofearth ? These ambitious projects the popes had found itprudent to repress hitherto ; but now the sword of Charlemagnewas in the dust, and they could deal as they listed