Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-16
THE NEXT POPE.
He is Said to have Been Already
Appointed by a BUii of Plus TX.

n q IL HaI0 10 nave been AAEehuy
Appointed by B"ii of Plus TX.
From the New York Graphic.l
The letters and articles which have
recently appeared in the Graphic re-
specting the future of the Papscy and
Of the Roman Catholic church have Ra-
turally excited great deal of interest,
not only in Roman Catholic circles, but
among all sects of Christians. We have
received numerous letters upon the sub
ject, and among them one from an emf
nent Roman Catholic ecclesiastic, who,
while expressing great satisfaction with
the tone of the letter of our correspond
ent Cathcart and with the article
based thereupon, has favored US with
some very important information upon
this question. We are not allowed to
publish the whole of this letter, and he
wishes to remain behind the veil of an
onymity for very obvious reasons. The
discipline of the Roman Catholic church
is such that it is not proper for bishop or
priest to define the duties or even the
probable course of the church in any
given contingency. Here follow such
portions of the communication as we
are able to give to the public.
You have touched upon q
matter of very great interest to our Ro-
man Catholic people. . | don't
alude to the preponderance of Italians
in the Sacred College for that does not
affect us, being, from the nature OF the
case, inevitable, A far more vital mat
ter is that of which | shall take cogni-
zance. Your correspondent expresses
fear that the Emperers of Germany and
austria, and the King of Sardinia (never
will we recognize him as the sovereign
of Rome) may, upon the death OF His
Holiness Pope Plus TX, coerce the
Sacred College in its choice of the next
Head Of the Church, ard place man
afsef their own heart in the chair of
Peter. Catholics may as well dismiss
such fears from their minds.
The successor of Pope Plus TX has
already been practically appointed.
The reigning Pontiff, in anticipation of
this very contingency, has already des-
ignated his successor by formal but Sc
cret bull. We all suspect who the new
Pope is to be, but Of course
we are not permitted to indicate any
thing upon the subject to the world. 1t
may perhaps be objected that this is an
unusual course of procedure. Very
true. But unusual emergencies require
novel methods. Though. unusual it is
not without precedent If you will ex-
anime the history of Napoleon Bona
parte. you win find that when he had
H, Il. Pins VII prisoner at Fontaine-
hleau he rhreaicaed that Venerable and
Most Holy Father, that npon his death
he IN B. would coerce the Sacred Col
lege into appointing successor who
would act more in accordance with the
Corsicans wishes. My successor is al
ready appointed cried the holy Father,
and he thereupon notified the Emperor'
that bull had already been signed and
sealed nominating the next PontlH; aud
that his coercion Of the Sacred Col
lege would be utterly in vain. There
have been so many irregularities, so
many Eeriations connected with the
elections Of eli ths POpes during the
last 400 years, that the Roman CATHOLIC
hierarchy have learned much from the
lessons Of history. Hence the appoint
meut Of the Pope by the bull Of the
reignlng Pontiff is neither novel nor
strange, and it is Just the way to meet
the emergency indicated Ia the letter
OF your correspondent. The promulga-
ton of the dogma Of infallibility neces-
sarily carries with it some such power
as that which H. II. Plus TX will exer-
clio. / may add there is no
danger Of the church taking any new
ground with regard 70 socialism or
science. The logic of its histeFy will
prevent this. Any one who knows that
history mey be sure that no Red Repub-
liesH cardinal viii assume the triple
crown OF St. Peter, but one who will
faithfully carry out the ecclesiastical
policy and follow the holy traditions of
That noble, venerable, excellent Pontif,
who, iB spite of advancing years and
poignant sorrows, will, We hope, long be
spared To the Church Of Christ.