The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

THE UNFORTUNATE ROMANS AND THEIR RULER.

We make the following extract from an interesting letter written by a young Canadian Zouave to the editor of the Franco Canadian. Speaking of the Holy Father's return from Civita Vecchia, where he had gone to visit the new fortifications, the enthusiastic young soldier says:

"He had visited and admired the splendid fortifications erected by the sons of noble France. He had expressed his gratitude to the brave fellows, who, after building those works, are ready to die for their defence." But when the pious and loving Pontiff set foot in his beloved city, what he saw could only strengthen him in the belief that his throne is protected by stronger ramparts, by more impregnable fortifications than anything military genius can invent. Those ramparts, those fortifications, those impregnable walls, he finds them in the love of the Roman people for its Pontiff king. Cannon balls may tear down the ramparts of Civita, notwithstanding the bravery of its heroic defenders, but nothing can ever destroy the love of the people--the love which would cause the Romans to cry aloud to heaven and earth for the return of him who is their life, their pride and glory.

Ah, how gratifying it was to us Zouaves, defenders of the throne and the altar, to admire once more the people of Rome in their joy on seeing Pius IX. return after an absence of twelve hours. One would have thought our Holy Father had been away several years. The Roman people, the true people,--for the aristocracy, while the less faithful, does not know those simple and touching outpourings of filial love--crowded around their good Sovereign; they knelt on his passage, and rose only to rush forward and kneel again. Cries of 'Viva Pius IX., Pontiff and King!' repeated in accents of the purest enthusiasm, filled the air. You may think we were not the last to run after the Holy Father, nor the last to applaud. We mingled with the Romans, and cried with them, in our bad Italian, 'Viva il Santo Padre Pontifice et Re!' Is it possible after these eloquent protestations of the love of the Romans, that any one should have the audacity to deny their fidelity and devotion? Ah! those who have so often published that odious falsehood, begin now to discover their gross error. In spite of their efforts and promises, in spite of the threats used to influence this people and drag it into the ways of rebellion, they have barely succeeded in corrupting a few weak-minded fools without influence or authority. Convinced now that it is throwing away trouble and money, to persist in instigating the Romans to revolt, the recruiters are returning to the country that sent them to play the part of conspirators. The police are delighted to find how few rogues there remain in Rome since the Garibaldians have commenced emigrating."