The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-24
Leo XIII.

Cardinal Pecci has been raised to the
NChair of Peter under circumstances of ex
Ntraordinary interest. First, he finds the
Church more prosperous, more powerful
moro victorious than it has ever been be-
fore it is for him by the energy and wis
dom of his administration to promote the
contin uance of 80 happy a condition. This
Responsibility is in itself enough to awaken
thoughts of grave misgiviDg. But in ad-
dition to this he finds several momentous
problems awaiting solution in the imme-
4. reignty What Of the mighty clash of arms
apparently impending, with its opportnni-
8tios for wrongs to right themselves What
of dissoving Professionalism which is leav
ing it's legacy of Infidelity and Communism|
on his handsf
The first indication which greets usk
His Mr.. Bismsrck's smile. That astute states /
man would hardly like to carry out his +
Falk laws in the midst of an invasion :
{ by the allied hosts of Austria, France and E
! England. For him the death of Plus bas :
occurred most opportunely, as it gisesS
him occasion of retiring gracefully
from the awkward situation. The new
|Popo is just the man for him (; very muci 3
pleased with him could not have been
better suited in the whole college of Car
|dinals, etc. Well, if Mr.. Bismarck is deter
mined to be pleased we can't help it, though
certainly we muet marvel at his amiability,
considering that Leo. XIII is understoodE
to be strictly identified with the policy of
Plus IX and to have been chosen avowed-
ly for its perpetuation. AS we understand
it, then, the Pope will not yield, and Bis
marck will. Bsrbarossa must como to
Rome again.
Then, wrongs that need righting. The
present Pope finds opening out before him
ct least four great Christian opportunities
for the outcome of which he cannot escape
The immense war in pros. 81
pective will give an opportunity to the
Papal States, to Ireland, to Poland, to
Eastern Christians under Mahometan rule 81
The Chnrch looks to him to assert and
secure the total absolute independence OF
Peters Chair from the civil control of any
man or any power.
And Ireland! 1t is false that Adrian
betrayed her, but it is fitting that another
Pope should at least say so, and should
say to her children Your time has come II
be united be free. ri
Poor Poland L! Have you been waiting
FOR Lion to tear away the double headed r.
Eagle that has been so long preying on 81
your vitals Behold, one, at least in name. u
has come. God grant to him the spirit ofN
his title, and that he may be true Lion
IF the fold of Judah. "a;
And what IF the East, beautiful land o,
song and sunshinef For many centuryE
t has slept under the dread spell of schiem, H.
ts sleep dominated by the nightmare of
iussulman empire. Is the bideous dream
about to know a wakeningf Is the bane Il
al light of the Crescent about sinking un-
Ter the horizon foreverR
Truly, great aud momentous eventsS
oom up before US. History seems 94
Fastening to crisis. And for that
risis Catholics are told that a strong, @i
eady hand is at the helm. Genius, ,!sweet-
less, austerity-such is the combination of
,reat qualities with which fame credits the
lew leader of Christendom, and which
characterize him as one of those rare men&
hat seem to have the power of shaping
lestiny.