Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-03-01
AsHTABULA, OHIO, FRIDAY. MARCH 1, 1873

vaucement would he finally annulled.
Pecui pleaded unwilhngness 10 leave
mis- Archdiocese for Rome, and the
Pope withdrew his offer. 1t is
said that the post of Chamberlain
was next offered to Cardinal Pane
hianco then another candidate for
the succession to Pope Plus. Wheth-
CT this is true or not, Panebianco
was not called to the place, which
was left vacant until Sept. 81, 1877,
when. at a consistory in the Vatican,
the POntiff appointed Cardinal Pecci
Chamberlain Of the Sacred College.
From this order there was no APP
peal, and Pecci at once entered
upon the discharge of his duties.
He thus had daily intercourse with
the Pope in the last months of his
life, and it may wsll be questioned
whether he did not, by his adroit-
ness in that short period, counteract
the effect produced upon Plus mind
by The malice of Autonelli.
The rew Pope is 6S years of age,
but has few of the marks of old age.
in appearance he is said to resemble
the Cardinal Cousalvi, the celebrat-
ed Minister of Pope Plus VII. His
head is well shaped. The brow is
high, but somewhat narrow. He
has frank aud cheerful countenance,
and his features are clean-cut. His
mouth is large, chin prominent, and
ears shapeIy. His voice is usually
sonOrous, but at times becomes strid-
ent and disagreeable. In public the
new Pope is dignifed, even to aus
terity, but in private he Is quiet,
graceful in manner and speech, and
attractive i'll every sense.
No reproach has ever been
thrown upon him on account of his
private life. When not administer
ing to the needs of his Archdiocese
he has spent his time in studies, aud,
having written some poetry of whose
character the world has not been al
lowed to judge, he is reported to
have literary talent. As priest,
Bishop, and Cardinal, Pecci, was al
way as Moderate in political opinion.
Plus TX. began his Pontifoate as
Moderate, however, and ended 1t as
a Radical monarchiSt, in utter Oppo-
sition to the sentiment of his time.
1t remains to be seen whether Leo
Kill, the title the new Pope has
adopted, will stand firmly to the
opinions of his most vigorous man
hood. While at Perugia Cardinal
Pecci followed the policy recon-.
mended by the late Cardinal RiariO
Sforza, and while at Naples he ad-
vised good Catholics to act as good
citizens by taking part in the munich
pal and provisional elections. At
the same time the rabid clerical
press enjoined the policy of absten-
Iion from the polls, protesting to be
inspired directly from the Vatican.
When Pecci went to Rome to act as
Chamberlain of the Sacred College,
he placed himself at the head of the
party of Moderates, who believe
that the Holy See, while not re-
nouncing any of its rights, should ac-
cept as accomplished facts which are
the results of the DEGREES of Provi-
dence. In other words, the new Pope
and his associates believe that the
Church might well become recon-
ciled to the unifcation of Italy, and
condemn Pope Plus policy of shut
ting himself up in the Vatican and
calling himself a prisoner. Although
Cardinal Pecci never had intercourse
with the Italian Government, he is
said to be highly esteemed by its
members on account of his political
opinions, and that being so, they
will not be likely to do anything to
affect him disagreeably. And, more
than this, Pope Leo XIII. will un-
doubtedIy be acceptable to the Gov
ernment of Portugal, which enjoys
the right of voting the election of a
Pomtiff, and which has announced
that it desired the election of Pope
whose sentiments should be in ac-
cord with modern opinions, and in
opposition to the continuance of the
conflict between Church and State.