The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-28

Petto, in spite of the good Offices OF the
King of the Belgians, who solicited the
new Pope Plus TX TO fulfill the benevo-
lent intention of his predecessor. Seven
years elapsed before Plus K came to the
resolutions to do justice to the candidate
OF Gregory's choice, aud this delay was
owing to the i'll will OF Cardinal An.
tonelli, who dreaded the influence Of an
able man over the Popes mind. At last,
on the 10Th of December, 1853, Pecci re-
ceiyed the hat, but for many years he
was LEFT in the cold at his see Of Perugia,
the cardinal Secretary Of State standing
in the way Of any preferment, which
might bring dreaded rival too near the
Vatican. In 1874, we are told, upon the
death Of Cardinal Barnabo, Prefect OF
the Propaganda, an English prelate sug-
gested Pecci to tho Pope as q man COM
petent 70 fill the vacant place. "Pccci," ,"
pleaded the Englishman, sis SO learned
man and so good bishop" Gust SC" j"
broke In tho Pope, ian excellent bishop,
gid We will leave him to take care of his
diocese" More recently another open.
ing occurred upon the Office of Prodatsrio
becoming vacant by the death Of Cardi-
nal Vanncell Casoni. Pccci relied on
his appointment, and leaving Pcrugia he
took up his quarters in Rome, in the
Falconieri Palace, but he was again un-
successful, tine palace being given to Car
dinai SaccoDi, and it is only now, since
the removal Of Antonelli by death, that
Pecci obtained free access To tho Pope,
who chose him. -; Cardinal Carmerlingo.
Regarding the successor of Pope Plus
TX interesting questions now arise, such
as who may he be, who elect him, and
when end how does the election take
place?
10 the fret two of these it may be an
swered, the cardiYals by two-thirds vote
elect one of their own number, though
this Limitation is matter of custom, not
OF law, votes having been given for men
who were not members of the Sacred
College: The cardinals are seventy in
number, but there are now some vacan-
cles in their ranks, and not all will be
able to reach Rome within the nine days
which must elapse before the assembling
OF tho conclave, but such is the prepon-
derance of Italians that threc-quarters or
more of tho whole may be expected 10
be in attendance. There is nothing to
prevent the election of Cardinal Nc
CiOskey, OF New York, or Cardinal Man
ming, of London, but it is in every way
probable that an Italian will be the re-
cipient Of the honor. Among those who
have been prominently named are Car;i;-
nal Billie, one Of the three who have had
the greatest Influence with Plus TX, and
who has furnished much Of the inspira-
ton for the later part of the deceased
Pontiff's career, and Cardinal Monaco La
Valletta. Others have ambition, but it
is as impossible to predict the result of q
Papal election now, as it was in 1846,
when Mastai Ferrctti, now dead, was
chosen, to his own surprise and that of
the whole world. There is one Limitation
on the power of the conclave-the veto
power possessed by France, Austria and
Spain. This power is supposed to be
absolute, and has actually been used to
defeat candidate, in this century. But
1t must be exercised before the election
takes place, and it 10 curious fact that
only the suddenness with which the late
Pope was agreed upon saved him from
being defeated by the interposition of
Austria. But it is notewr thy that, in
spite of the formality which surrounds
all the proceedings of the conclave, the
system contains q vast amount of elastic.
ity, as an English writer has observed,
and it is doubtful if the protest of the
Republican Government of France would
hn N rflnI On vposDI,t,, - Ill
a choice upon which the cardinals were
agreed.
This elasticity is illustrated in the time
oi the election. 1t has often been hinted
that bull may have been provided, not
to be disclosed until the Pope's death,
which would absolve the cardinals from
all the preliminary observarces and reg.
ular forms. This he could have done, as
has been done before, and as is said to
have been done by Gregory XVI. But
when the ordinary routine is followed, o
general meeting of the cardinals is held
on the day following the Pope's uca.h.
The funeral ceremonies occupy three
days, aid the nix which follow are devo-
ted to preparation &C. The ccnc!:=e. Tie
whole of the first floor os the Vatican, it
may be presumed, will be set apart for its
purposes in the vast halls of this pal
ace will be erected wooden booths. tech
nicaliy called cells, one for each cardinal,
and similar accommodations for their
confidential attendants, of wnon. each
cardinal may have two. There are ply
sicians, BARRIERS, carpenters, sweepers, in
fact every preparation Is made for meet
ing the wants of the cardinals during
their imprisonment, for from the time
they enter the conclave until they agrea
upon Pope they are practically prison.
ers, being isolated from the world, and
forbidden communication with it. In
the Pauline chapel are erected additional
altars, 20 that each may say his accus-
toned daily mass; in the Sist:ne the vot-
ing takes place, and one large hall has
always been used rs q sort of exchange
or place of general resort. 1t should Be
noted that the elections since 1928 have
been held in the Quirinal, which affords
superior facilities, but since Plus TX
made the Vatican his dwelling place it
is generally supposed to have been his
wish that there, as of old, the choice of
his successor should be made. Ali these
efforts for secrecy, it may be noted, often
prove unavailing. Like q cabinet coun-
eli or IN executive session of tho Senate,
the conclave rarely succeeds in keeping
its doings to itself. Or :,no ninth day
after the Pope's death, after attending
mass together and hearing sermon, tho
cardinals enter the cJnclaye, and BY
evening strangers withdraw, and every
door but one is walled up and communi-
cation with the world is supposed to cease
until the work in hand is accomplished.
The election ia hv heltot THE vn.e- .-.