The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-11-19
2orr,ns Star and Catholic Messenger.
NEW OH EAyP, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 1t76.
DEATH OF CARDINAL ANToNELLI.
Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph.I

ed for many months on account of his fail
ing health and advanced years, is the most
important ecclesiastical news from Europe
since our last issue. No member Of the Sa-
cred College was more widely known in
life, or will occupy q moro prominent place
in the historical record of the Ponti6cate
of Plus TX. He will rank by his abilities
az statesman, if notify any other claim,
With the illustrious ecclesastics who, in
Catholic times, were intimately connected
with the administration of the Catholic
States of Europe. The most violent enc
-mies of the Holy See, who admitted that the
lately deceased Cardinal was the political
right arm of Pius TX, honored him with
remorseless hatred; but they never failed
to admit the greatness of his intellectual
powers, and his deep. unvaryipg devotion
to the welfare of Gods Church, amidst all
the craft and plotting of European diplc-
macy.
He owed the ecclesiastical honors which
made him, for thirty years, a conspicuous
figure in the world, to his own great
merits. He was undoubtedly born leader
of men. The great misfortunes which he
shared during his public career with the
Holy Father, who knew his sterling worth
and trusted him, in the days of his prospe-
rity, and during his long years OF sorrow;
with the most important positions, could
not obscure his master ability nor lessen
the admiration of men who ore won't to
make success tho criterion of mental great
nees. The relentless enmity of the most
Goddess revolution the world has ever wit
messed, was the homage which was paid to
the prince of the Church who knew no fear
in defending it's rights, and to the states
man whom the combined treachery OF
Cavour, Napoleon, and Bismarck could
not deceive.
Cardinal Antonelll was born in 1906, at
Tarracns. Sprung from the burgher class
of Italy, he entered at the age of thirteen
the Roman Seminary, where he hrst gave
H., XIn Nf
course, of the talents which afterwards
made him the chief counselor Of Plus IN.
He finished his education at the SaplenZa
His first distinction in the service OF the
Church was his elevation to the Prefecture
of Justice during the reign of Gregory WI.
His promotion was from that hour rapid
and eminently deserved. At the age OF 40
he held, under his first patron, the respon-
sible Office of Minister of Finance. Oa the
accession of Plus TX. he was elevated TO the
Cardinalitial dignity under the title of st.
Agatha, made President of the Council of
Ministers, and Project of the Apostolic
Palace.
When the Holy Father received tho tiara,
so soon to become a crown of thorns,
italian revolution, fed and strengthened by
the secret societies of all Europe, was
ready for it's destructive work. The social
ocean as heaying and foamiog-the anti
Christian spirit that in o few months drove
the gentle, liberty Glowing POntiH from his
throne into exile at Gaeta, was lurking and
moving beneath the troubled waters. Amid
the wild crime of reform, men of superior
intellect and patriotic forecast of thought,
Thought the period had come for the politi-
cal regeneration of Italy. Plus TX. had to
choose between two courses, widely diver
-geat-eOneeRsion that might be, and was,
abased by the Mazzinians, and coercion of
the diOeFdeFiy and vicious element that
threatened his life and the peace of Rome
and the Church. He held in bic hand both
cFszier ard seeptre; he was free TO lead
gently with the one, or punish contuma-
cious conspiracy with the other. By his
side, in this political dilemma, stood Car
diRal Aptonelli-and, be it said to his honor
and in vindication of his fair fame, that he
threw the weight of bis influence in favor
of the policy of mercy and pardon.
In the advocacy of his liberal views he
foUnd himNelf often in minority in the Sa
cred College Many of it's members did not
believe that it was possible to tame the
revolutionary tiger. Cardinal AntonellI
was willing to make the experiment, and
Plus IL. followed his counsel We know
the sbort-livsd joy of that hour, when am
,n0sty was granted to all political offenders,
thea organic changes were introduced into
the administration of Justice and finance
Bot this policy did not suit the purposes OF
the Revolutiouiete. They desired any thing
but Just and equitable reform. The enjoy
ment of true liberty blocked their plot &c
create anarchy and enthrone license Under
their plea of reform was concealed love I"
Dlunder; uuder the pretexe of right,
hatred Of order under the affectatiOn %
national independence, the convulsion o
society.
The generosity Of Pins IN. in dealing
with organized Italian ruffanlsm, had NJ
other effect than to sharpen their ven
eeauce, intensity their ingratitude, ant
hasten the attack of lawlessnes against
beae6gient,and benevolent sovereign. Tn
events of that conflict are remembered b!
this EeReratiDn-there is no need to dwell
long upon them. The Holy Father wa
inp9ltet, tainted by the ingrates uPO
whem he had heaped favors, menaced
cOnmanded to abdicate, Imprisoned by tn
Vory exiles whom he had recalled to Rome
by She civil guard to whose loyalty he ha
eleFussed the guardianship of the throne c
So Peer. Daring all this commotiou. i
ths d0nger that surrounded him in Rome
AID IN his lonely flight to Gaeta. barrel
saTan0 his liGo from the fapgs of the Carl
huT-1RSn wolves Cardinal Antonelli was tn