The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-13
Ghe 1ailg Arg,ts.
Rock IsEAND,....ELL1NoIs
Eleesio,. Of the Next pope.
From the chicago.Times.

Election OF the Next Pope
From the chicago.T Times.
The cable story that Cardinal Simeoni,
the pope's secretary of state, is summoning
cardinals from abroad to assist him in
bringing about the election of foreigner
to the papal chair, is, of course, mere non-
sense. Cardinal Simeoni is himself an
Italian; large majority of the Sacred
College is Italian; and. as Italian human
nature is very like human nature in every
other part of the world, it is exceedingly
probable that CARDINAL Simeoni and his
countrymen will prefer one of themselves
to any foreigner. The cable statement
that the pope's secretary of state was
'summoning poSsunaus cardinals with a
view to a concifiatory policy in the next
ponti6cate," is equally nonsensical' 1t
means it it means anything hat eudiE-
ais are being summoned who are willing,
while Plus TX, still declares with living lips
non poSsaBaats. to accept a compromise
withVictor Emmanuel by which the admin
Istration of the church should be brought
into harmony with the present civil regime
10 Rome. The manifest indeeency Of such
a proceeding during the life of the present
pontlH is enough TO expose the worthless
ness of the news. 1t may fairly be doubt
ed, too, whether there be dozen cardinals
who hold the 'poSSstIlsaS" opinion; but it
would certainly be surprising to find halt
Of that number who. SO inclining, would be
willing to acknowledge it under existing
circumstances There may be many who
will advise the successor of Plus TX. to
accept accomplished facts; Cardinal
Simeoai would not hold the portfolio of
A1tonelli were be capable of Offering such
advice to Plus TX
When Plus TX. became pope, only nine
of the sixty-one cardinals then living were
| of other than Italian nationality. He
permitted fourteen vacancies to arise be-
fore filling any, and then gave but tour Of
| the titles to Italians, the others being
German, Spanish, Portuguese, and English,
| Cardinal Wiseman. He also has given
beretta to an Irish prelate, Paul Cullen,
rehbishop of Dublin,-to an American,
Cardinal McCloskey, of New York; to the
West Indies one, and to Guatemala one.
Cardinal Manning, archbishop of West
| minister, successor of Nicholas WIseman,
will be the only English representative 10
the conclave.
Some doubt has been raised as to where
| the conclave will meet. 1t will not neces-
| sarily be at Rome In 1899, on the death
of Plus VI, Rome was so disturbed that
freedom and independence of action seem
ed improbable, and the cardinals met in a
| Benedlctlle convent at Venice, under the
protection of Austria. They balloted daily
for several months before decision was
reached. Cardinal Chiraramouti, whom
they at length agreed upon, took the name
Of Plus VII. He died in The Quirinal pal
ace in 1928, and the conclaye which elected
his successor, Leo XII, was held there
| Gregory XVI. succeeded Plus VIII, whe
followed Leo MI, and be, too, was elected
in the Qairinal. After his body had lair
in state in St Peters for nine days it was
inferred, and on the following day the
cardinals. to the number of ffty-four, me;
in the Quirinal, and after one days ballot
| ing Mastai Ferretti was elected In 1871
the Italian government took possession OF
all the church property in Rome, and turn.
ed the Quifinal into residence for the
family of Victor Emmanuel.
Ii the next pope be elected 10 Rome, the
conclave will, therefore. be held IN the
Vatican. The ceremonial of the election
Is very simple. AS soon as Plus *, ex-
pires the cardinal eamerlengo, chief officer
of the papal household, the apostolic notar.
les, and other witnesses, will attest the
event, and break the seal OF the fisher
man used by the deceased pontif. I'M
/ der ordinary circumstances the body
should lie in state nine days, but it is likely
that, IN view OF surrounding Conditions
the eonclave will assemble Immediately
| The bull regulating the election Of the pope
will be read, and each cardinal will swear
to observe its terms. All approaches tC
the apartment will then be closed, except
lone, which can be opened to admit tardy
cardinal, or to permit the retirement Of d
sick one. The windows will be walled up
and the food Of the conclave will be passed
in through small aperture. Ballotins
will continue until the majority agree upon
one name, and until this is accomplished
no cardinal is permitted to have any com
munication, oral or written, with any per
. son outside the conclave The ballots arr
deposited In chaice, the name beins
written, the paper folded, and as each car
dinal steps forward to deposit his vote, b
will make the following OATH Il call Il
witness God, who viii be my judge, that
choose the person whom, in the presenc,
of God, judge should be elected, and tina
| will do the same in acceding" in accept
ing the choice Of the majority shonld it b,
another person. After the ballots are al
deposited, teller is appointed to reat
: them aloud The same form is continues
until dehnitive result is mplished
The pope elect will be clothed at once il
the white pontificai habit. the fisherman
rims" will be placed upon his finger, an
after the chanting Of the Ecce Sdcerdo
MdgRuS. the first cardinal deacon vii
make public announcement of the famll,
name of the elected cardinal and the ponti
tical title chosen by him. After his install
Iation. bunch of fax will be lighted pub
| licly in his presence, and the master O
ceremonies will say, as it flickers and dies
Holy father. thus passeth the glory of tn
world. The tiara, or triple crown, wi
then be placed upon his head. 1t is
high cap or hat of cloth of gold, encircle
with three coronets, terminating in COL
] ball surmounted by cross pwo em
broidered and fringed pendants. hang fron
it, like those from bishops mitre
The law OF guarantees, passed BY th
Italian parliament 10 1871, declares th
person of the pontif sacred and lnviolable
and provides half million dollars a yea
for his support(the sum accrued to th
+! credit of Plus IX.-nearly $4,000, 600 b
has not drawn. Freedom to discharge b!
spiritual functions is assured. Were vi,
tor Emmanuel a man of better person;
7 character, he might, perhaps, have graG
ualy won the forgiveness of the pope, an
effected reconciliation; but his shameless
debau3hery and the want of tact among b