New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-08

officers Of the Government, with the clergy and
the laity, with Romans and strangers, he talked
copiously, but never said anything. He at
tracted visitors by his well-trained tongue and
repealed them by his tcll-tale eye; If they
pushed him too hard toward dangerous ground,
he amused and dismissed them by exhibiting
the splendid collection of gems, In which it
was generally supposed that he took his chief
delight. That he was n believer in the policy
Of administrative reform, which made the first
two years of the present pOntiiicate Illus
tliOus is 10 doubt true, but the extent
of his liberalism was greatly exaggerated in
the popular estimation. So too, it is mis-
take to suppose that the Republic Of 1S4S
converted him to a policy Of stern and I'M
compromising repression His temper was al
ways conservatives that remained the same,
but tho circumstances changed. His natural
disposition was toward resistance wherever 1t
was possible. and toward the acceptance Of
accomplished facts wherever resistance was
imprudent. 1t was the Pope, and not
the Cardinal, who dictated the reforms of
1SiG-'4S and the conservative reaction of
1880. Antoncli approved of progress
little of tin the beginning, because
OF crying "haltr after the return from Gacta,
because he saw that "rcfOrm " was exhausted,
and that liberalism was leading straight to the
destruction OF the temporal power. Unless bis
associates belied him, he was never hearty
supporter OF the policy Of the Pope toward
Victor Emanuel and the kingdom of Italy
There was not the stuff in him for a reSOlute
and painful resistance, such as the staunch old
Pope opposed to the irresistible march Of the
Italian patton. He would have plotted and
negotiated. Some say that he did negotiate pri- /
vately La Morcicrc and MGrOde accused him /
of deliberate treason.
Between Antonelli and the other cardinals |
there was no cordial feeling. The Roman no. |
biity, which furnishes the lay element OF So |
ciety Oh the side Of the church party at Rome, !
looked askance at him, though cardinals of
humble origin are surely no novelties. He
had few friends at the Vatican except his
own appOintees. Above all, he was not a
favorite with the Pope. The two men were
entirely antipathctic,- one ailecucnate,
trusting, generous, stout-hearted, deyout
the other selfish, ambitious, cunning,
and worldly. Antonell was a valuable public
servant. particularly in the regulation Of imam
Justly. But he had little influence with the
Pontiff, except in matters Of mere admlnlstTa-
ton. He was for thirty years the minister OF
Plus X, yet, dying IN the Vatican, he left out
of his large fortune nothing to his august mas
ter but little cruciGx OF no particular worth;
and it las been remarked that the Pope never
alluded to his death in any of his allocutons.
Whatever obscurty there may be rs to his
political course, there was none as to his pri-
yatc ambition. Fare ma tttmig'id, " to found
81 a family" is always an object dear to the
Italian heart, and, from the day the young
entered Rome till the very end I
his aim was to make AntOnelh one Of the /
great names in the history of the city. His (
position gave him enormous opportunities
TO increase the small private fortune with
which he entered Office; and he took good
care Of his brothers, too. All the accumula
tons were destined for the male offspring OIL
these thrifty brothers. His extraordinary viii
left nothing to the Church, nothing to charity,
nothing out of his rich collections TO the Nati-'
can Museum. All went to enrich the family
which he had founded. We showed the other !
day. apr0pOs of another case, how futile !,
were almost all attempts to build distinc-
ton upon the weak, unstable basis of
money. The cruel irony Of fate turns to
disgrace the badges meant for honor. The plan
chosen by Cardinal Antonelh to make his
name illustrous has only served to throw
stronger light upon his faults, and drag Into
the sight Of the whole world the scandals
which would otherwise have died in obscure
corners of Rome. Whether the story of the
Countess Lambertni is false or true, ii would |
never have been told but for the attempt |
to make Il family with money.