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German Confederation is formed
under Prussia's leade rship; the
south German states remain inde–
pendent and are permitted to form
a separate confederation.
Bismarck's goa l to eliminate
Austria from the affairs of Germany
has been achieved. Protestan!
Prussia has now become the leader
of the Germanic peoples. The
twenty-one states of northern Ger–
many recognize Prussia as the self–
chosen leader.
Bismarck brings the four south
German states into the
Zollverein
(customs union) and once more uses
economics to political advantage.
The new Reichstag is really a parlia–
ment for all Germany. In the south,
however, there is still much opposi–
tion to Prussia due to cultural and
religious reasons.
Bismarck realizes that one final
step is necessary. He must raise the
specter of French domination in the
Rhineland. This, Bismarck hopes ,
will drive the South German states
into the final union.
The stage is now set for the deci–
sive events to occur in 1870-1871.
These events will reshuffle the po1it–
ical constella tions of the continent
and result in the reunification of
both lta1y and Gerrnany, resurrect–
ing a new Ottonian German-Italian
axis, but in modern political ap–
parel.
Years 1859-1870: The Unification
of Italy. The struggle for German
unification has its mirror image in
ltaly. There the kingdom of Sar–
dinia , under the leadership of tbe
famous ltalian sta tesman Cavour
( 1810-186 1). is playing the same
part in lta lian affairs as Prussia is in
Germany. Again , it is Austrian
hegemony in ltaly which is under
direct a ttack.
Cavour's single purpose. as is Bis–
marck's in Germany, is to eject
Austria from ltalian affairs. The
next step is to establish a united
Kingdom of Italy.
On Apri1 15, 1860, the first step of
the unification process is sealed.
Panna, Modena, Tuscany and the
Romagna are united with the King-
PLAIN TRUTH
January
1975
dom of Sardinia (composed of Sar–
dinia and Piedmont) under the
name Kingdom of Italy. Víctor Em–
manuel becomes king. Meanwhile,
Garíbaldi ís sweeping through
southern Italy.
t~king
Naples on
September 7. The two Sicilies are
now his. Garibaldi is prepared to
march on Rome.
To forestall an international
cri sis, Cavour directs the Piedmon–
tese army to march into the papal
states where insurrections had be–
gun the year before. The two Sicilies
and the liberated parts of the papal
states vote to join themselves to the
kingdom of Italy. In March 1861,
Víctor Emmanuel becomes the first
king of Italy. Italy is independent
and free, except for Rome and Ven–
ice. for the first time in fifteen hun–
dred years.
The problem now centers on
Rome. Mos t agree that Rome ,
whích has been the ancient mother
of the Roman Empire, must become
the capital of the new united Italy.
But there is a French army
in
Rome
which is sympathetic to the pope
because of his anti-union feel–
ing.
Cavour, meanwhile, is developing
a philosophy of "a free church in a
free state." Cavour would guarantee
complete religious freedom for the
church and the individual. At the
same time, the pope would not have
temporal power; tbis would be re–
served for the state. lt would thus
free the papacy from matters which
on ly have enslaved it. Cavour rea–
sons.
Events are leading up to the
crus hin g defeat of Austria by
Prussia at Koniggratz (Sadowa) in
1866. The victor's terms include a
concession to Italy: Venice will be
ceded to Ttaly. This is accomplished,
and on November 7, 1867, Victor
Emmanuel. makes his entrance into
the city. After a plebiscite where
650,000 people vote for and 49
against union, tbe city is annexed
to th e Kingdom of ltaly. Now, only
Rome remains apart.
The French continue to guard the
interests of the pope a t Rome.
Meanwhile. the pope is
ready to make a histo–
rie declaration.
Year 1870: The Pope
+
Declares Himself lnfallible. On De-
cember 8, 1869, Pius IX convenes an
ecumenical council at Rome.
Known as the first Vatican Council,
it is the first to meet since the Coun–
cil of Trent began in 1545. The
council promulga tes the doctrine of
papal infallibility.
It declares that "when the Roman
Pontiff, in the fulfiUment of his mis–
sion, as the first teacher of all Chris–
tians, defined that which ought to be
observed in matters of faith and
morals, he cannot err."
The pope has been exalted to a
height of spiritual power to which
no previous pontiff had risen.
But at the same time a great para–
dox occurs. Before the council mem–
bers are dispersed
in
October 1870,
the troops of the Kingdom of Italy
invade the pontifical territory and
strip Pius of all his tempora l power.
The pope has never been stronger in
the religious realm, but he has uever
been so weak in the temporal
sphere.
Once more, it is Bismarck and his
Prussians who settle the Roman
question. In July 1870, war breaks
out between France and Germany.
Napoleon
lil
and
his
second empire
are decisively defeated at the battle
of Sedan.
As a result. French troops with–
draw from Rome. With no protec–
tion, it is a matler ofsimply walking
in and taking over Rome. A plebis–
cite ís held and the Romans vote
overwhelmingly (133 ,681 to 1,507)
to become part of Italy.
In
June
1871 , the seat of government is for–
mally removed from Florence to
Rome; after 1,500 years Rome is
once more the capital of ltaly.
Year 1871: The Law of Guaran–
tees for the Papacy. In May 187 1, a
remarkable document is adopted.
The complete spiritual indepen–
dence of the pope is guaranteed.
The person of the pope is declared
sacred and inviolable. Any attack
on him is regarded as an attack on
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