ipain.—The Spanish Government has replied to M. Thouvenel's despatch on
the Roman question, by another, of which the following is the important paragraph :
"The Queen's Government well knows that ideas have been modi- fied by time, and that new relations have been established between sovereigns and peoples; but its conviction is that to satisfy the exigencies of the epoch the use of force and the seductions of error must not be substituted for the sway of reason and of right. By sacrificing her principles and interests in the Italian question, Spain would not aid the Holy Father; she would not induce the Revolu- tion to show more respect for the rights of the Holy See, or persuade ambition to abandon its projects. Order and peace would not be restored in Italy. Europe would still remain agitated by the serious alarms caused by the mere rumour of projects for making Rome the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy. Spain will not be induced to follow any other course until she acquires the conviction that by modifying her attitude she may promote the solution of the question which most deeply concerns her sentiments, and may exercise great influence on her welfare and repose.
"In presence of this situation, your Excellency will see the evident necessity of appealing to the Catholic Powers, as Spain has already proposed, to concert means of ameliorating the situation of the Holy .Father. The postponement of this plan does not, perhaps, present any great danger just now, but it must be adopted, if it is wished not to leave the great questions raised by the Italian Revolution to be solved by brute force placed at the service of passions:
"Meanwhile the Government of her Catholic Majesty too well knows the sentiments ..which animate that of his Imperial Majesty not to be assured that it Csannot adhere to any combination incompatible with the respect it professes for the independence and dignity of the Holy See."
There seems to be some dread of revolutionary movements in Spain, and the Ministry order all local officials to exercise great severity.
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