Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-12-19
s@TRANsIENT BILLs-eAsn.
THE DEATH oF ANTONELLI.

The GGseHa a. lal.a gives the following
detail Of Cardinal AntOnelli's last moments:
:. Cardinal Antouelli did not return 20 his
bod Immediately after his last visit 10 the
Pope. 1t is true that the attack with which
he was taken in his holiness study was
brought on By the inprudent effort he made
TO descend the marble stairs on foot, aud thEt
he had to be carried back in the pOpe's ehairS
but the first faintiug 6t having passed, tho
cardinal refused to go to bed.
. He would not yield, he would not give
up to death, but struggled against il with
that extraordinary force of will, that indOmit-
able energy of which he had given proof dur>
ing the course Of his painful malady, when,
in spite of tho GtrociOus pain he suffered, he
dressed as usual aud seated in his armchair,
received the members Of the diplomatic corps.
Rolled up in fanncl-fOr no suffered from
cold even during the hottest days of last sum-
mer-he dominated the acute pangs By which
he was tortured, and with the pallOr of death
on his face, with smile on his coIOrless lips,
discussed the affairs of the east with the reps
resentatives of the foreign powers.
''lIr. PelagnllO, after having visited the
cardinal by the pOpe's orders, told his holi.
ness that his emiueuOe had not iS ,houps to
live. At this announcement the pope sent
for his pOTtGWfiRG, aud had himself carried
up stairs. The cardinal was dressed aud seat>
ed in his arm chair whom he suddenly saw
the pOpC appear before him. Tho unexpect.
ed visit Immediately after tho doctors opened
eyes he understood at once that his sentences
was written. and that he must die. Poio,
emaciated, agitated, and no longer master Of
himself, hO rose suddenly TO his fcot. aud
then falling on his knees before Plus TX ex.
ola TnR1hsa R1,a
vicar OF Christ, aud can ahsolve me for char.
ity hear me > and here commenced solemn
scene.
' The pope acted the part of the supreme
judge, whose representative he is, and tho
once formidable secretary of ststO, now be-
como an humble penitcnt faco to iaco with
death, confessed his sins. At last the penis
tent became silent, and the hand which binds
aud Losses on earth and 10 Heaven was raised
TO abs0Ve him IN 0rticUlO SROrtis. Tho 50.
preme pontitf tho vicar Of Jesus Christ, was
called TO judge tho government of the pope,
king. and. the temporal power destroyed, to
call down tho heavenly pardon ON the man
who had been its head, and who had commit-
ted 30 many ini9uties IN tho name of the
representative OF tho Lamb OF God Tho
moment in which tho temporal dominion,
personitied in the dying cardinal, knelt bo.
fore the spiritual power incarnutG in the pope,
was certaiRly ono Of tho grandcst aud most
solemn in the history of tho papacy.
We cannot tell if this dominion viii one
day return under anothcriorm all that wS
know is that the ancient pontificinl kovOrns
sasstl=siSls stsIl on rbs 1ih -s6S sltBtembOF,
1870. aud was confessed aud absolvod By tho
pope ou the 4th Of November. 1876, is dead
forever with Giaeomo Autonolli On the
other hand, the spiritual power lives, strong-
or and grnndcr than ever. When the holy
father returned tho second timo TO visit the
dying cardinal he was delirious."