504
ESSAYS ON LIBERTY
grounds to impute political objects to the Council) and that repression and not prevention was the only policy compatible with free institutions. After the refusal of Austria) the idea of a conference was dismissed by the other Po\vers; and the first of the storm clouds that darkened the horizon of infallibilty passed without breaking. Although united action was abandoned) the idea of sending ambassadors to the Council still offered the most inoffensive and amicable means of preventing the danger of subsequent conflict. Its policy or impolicy was a question to be decided by France. Several bishops, and Cardinal Bonnechose among the rest, urged the Govern- ment to resume its ancient privilege) and send a re- presentative. But two powerful parties) united in nothing else, agreed in demanding absolute neutrality. The democracy wished that no impediment should be put in the way of an enterprise which promised to sever the connection of the State with the Church. M. Ollivier set forth this opinion in July 1868) in a speech which was to serve him in his candidature for office; and in the autumn of 1869 it was certain that he would soon be in power. The ministers could not insist on being admitted to the Council) where they ,vere not invited, without making a violent demonstration in a direction they knew would not be followed. The ultramontanes were even more eager than their enemies to exclude an influence that might embarrass their policy. The Archbishop of Paris, by giving the same advice, settled the question. He probably reckoned on his o,vn power of mediating between France and Rome. The French Court long imagined that the dogma would be set aside, and that the mass of the French bishops opposed it. At last they perceived that they ,vere mistaken, and the Emperor said to Cardinal Bonnechose) " You are going to give your signature to decrees already made." He ascertained the names of the bishops who would resist; and it was known that he was anxious for their success. But he was resolved that it should be gained by them) and not by the pressure of his
