SOVEREIGNTY. 55 



important to (Icfino. In that direction lies, imuiirally, tlio future 

 of the world's liberty.] 



Tlie despotism oi' r('|)iil)lic's is as IVcf^iu-nt, ami iiKjre 

 terrible tliaii tliat of monarchies. Nothing equals tlie 

 excesses of poi)ular sovereignty when it begins to tamper 

 with men's rights. The maxim of Lycurgus — ïor that 

 matter, it was the common sentiment of all antiquity — 

 was this: ''that each citizen is the property of the 

 country, and that as against the country he has no 

 riglits over himself.'' It is the identical doctrine which 

 was enunciated in our day by the revolutionary Ruault, 

 in the clean-cut and ferocious phrase, " All belongs to 

 the State, body and goods." 



To oppose itself to the encroachments of positive 

 law, in tlie name of the unwritten law of human 

 nature and of everlasting justice, has ever been the 

 glorious mission of the Church, in Christian common- 

 v/-ealths. I am astounded, Gentlemen — I say it out of 

 the fullness of my heart — I am astounded and grieved 

 when I hear it said that the pope has preached sedition, 

 l)ecause he has protested against the legal violation of 

 the rights of the Church, which arc also the natural 

 rights of property. Such words as these affect to be 

 liberal, but they are as much opposed to liberty as to 

 reverence, and it is my duty to protest against them. 



No, no I the Catholic Cliurch, the liomau pontiff, do 

 not commit an act of sedition when they say to the 

 State, '' You have no right to interfere Vv-ith right." On 

 the contrary, they perform an act of the most brave 

 and loyal respect both to the State and to liberty. To 

 speak and act thus is to glorify the State, for it is to 

 maintain it in its noble frontiers, which arc righteous- 

 ness. It is to glorify us all ; for it is to settle us upon 

 our legitimate ground, which is liberty. 



