Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-08
LINCOLN AND POPE Plus.
Biary showing how RE American
Cardinal Game 60 b. Appointed.

Biary Showing how nm American
Cardinal Came 90 be Appointed.
ROME Letter to New Yo;k Eco d. Italia.l
His eminence. John McCloskey, Arch
bishop Of New York, created Cardinal BY
Plus TX, March %, 1875, arrived in
Rome when the conelave had already
elected the new pope. He is the FIRST
and only American Cardinal. One day
during the time Of President Lincoln
there arrived in Rome an envoy extraor
binary from the White House. he was
presented to Cardinal Antonelli, aud
said that President Lincoln had directed
him to salute the pope, and to request
him to appoint some American cardi'
mails. Cardinal Antonelli, who did not
understand English, said in q low voice
to the prelate who acted as interpreter,
THE man is crazy" Then turning to
the envoy, he said: 1T is impossible; it
is a thing that can never be done"
There is the best reason tor doing it."
answered the envoy. But America is
too far Of" Perhaps your eminence
may go there some day" 81 go to
American Never, never" well, said
the envoy, this is my eighth visit to
Europe. Nine days from New York to
Southampton, aud five from Southamp.
ton to Rome. / know it is lot O short
trip, but in a while it will be made in less
time" "As you please, dear sir; but
the cardinals are the pope's councillors,
and the pope cannot take his councillors
from the ~antipodes. Then there are the
eonclaves. Do you think we can look
for the arrival Of the American
cardinals2' "Shall l speak Of the
eonclRves. your eminence2 l know
all about them. Formerly, when
your cardinals selected a pope, it took
several weeks to come from London or
Seville, and they ran the risk of being
robbed on the way. Do not tell me,
then, that America is too distant. Now.
sdsys distance exists no longer. Be
good enough, for special reasons, to re.
spsct the proposition Of President Lin
coin"
Antonelli would not p%rotract the
strange conversation. He went to the
pope and communicated TO him the re.
quest of President Lincoln, treating both
tie President and his envoy as two crazy
men,
do you know, cardinal" said his
holiness, II think the President shows
much intelligence and good sense, aud
that his envoy is a brave man. You
forget a circumstance Of my own life.
Among the successors of the Apostles |
alone have trod the soil of that great
country, America, aud / expect to have
the honor Of creating some American
cardinals" Then, in a good.humored
way, and looking fxedly at the cardinal,
he said: For my part, l should like to
see in the Sacred College men of all
races and ell languages. l would even
invest a Moor with the purple. | beg
you to introduce the ambassador OF
President Lincoln Immediately"
Quick and astute, the cardinal hast.
ened to the proud Yankee, took him
warmly by the hand, and said: "All is
settled. Come, come, the Pope wants to
see you Immediately"
Plus TX showed himself most friendly,
and the envoy departed very well salts.
fed with his work. But soon alterward
President Lincoln was assassiuated like
a simple ear or q poor Csliph, and his
successor never renewed the negotia.
ten with the court of Rome. But eventu.
ally the wish of President Lincoln was
granted.