The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-02-20
Plus TX.

The news which millions have
been hourly expecting for days and
weeks past has finally come. The
most conspicuous figure upon the
worlds stage has disappeared. The
man who for more than a third of a ]
century has enjoyed more absolute
homage than any temporal monarch
the world has known, who governed
not only the outward but the internal
man in every nation on the globe,
who has been the solicitude and
the dread, the hope and the menace
of all the courts and cabinets on
earth, whose lightest breath was felt
as strongly here as in the shadow Of
the Vatican, who has set at defiance
the traditions Of his predecessors
and almost overridden the laws of
nature herself-thls wonderful man
is dead. His lifetime includes the
most tremendous episodes of modern
times, his Pontifcate was contempt
rary with the greatest spiritual revo
lutions the history Of man will re
cord. Coming upon the scene at a
time when the Papal establishment
was tottering beneath the rude hand
of Napoleon I, he has lived to see
that peerless soldier perish in help
less exile, and the growth Of new
things hide from sight and memory
the proudest of his works. Plus TX
found the monarchy of the church
imperiled, and, though he has seen
it's physical power stripped from it
shred by shred until naught remains,
his death marks the period of the
church's widest and most absolute
authority over the faith, the reve.
renee and the obedience of mankind.
Defeated by Italy, betrayed by
France and oppressed by Germany.
tho Pope has nevertheless solidifed
and strengthened and perpetuated
an influence which no temporal ruler
can ever WELD and which he trans
mits to his successor unimpaired ir
the present and, go far as human
foresight can discern, unthreatenet
in the future.
With the struggles Of the Papa
government against the encroach
ments of Italy, we need have notbin!
to do. They have enterei into his
'orv and form q chapter which mel
will Judge according to their lights
In 1871, Victor Emmanuel entered
Rome and the Pope's temporal powe
: came to an end. Whether that con
summation be good or otherwise TO
the progress and the development
and the happiness of mankind, it i
too soon to determine. There vii
, always be more than one opinion o.
that point, however, while the low
: of the Church remains in its preser
l place among mems sentiments an
passions. One fact, however, is col
3 spicuous now; that through all til
bitternesses and animosities whic
! have flonrished upon the great col
fict, Plus TX retained the respe,
and generation of his most dete
u mined opponents. No honest voit
can be raised to-day in any quartz
Z Of the globe to reproach him wit
= selfshness or insincerity. Not OF
u will withhold from his memory Il
u tribute which his gentleness at
q goodness have 80 richly and abu
'e dainty earned.
- The life of the late Holy Father
:. already familiar to all thought
:, and intelligent people. Giovanni
- Maria Giovanni Bapt;sta Pietro l:
- dore Mastia-F erriti was born {
Sinigaglia, on the western coast
20 Italy, 18th Of May, 1892. His fam
- ly was noble. The then reigni
" pope, Plus W., was his kinsms
!, =, and it is doubtless true that t
~ misfortunes and trials of that Pa
- tiff, so wildly impressed upon /
"' young mind by the circumstances
their relationship, prepared him
the grand idea of erecting in t
u hearts Of men a kingdom which
80 envious or tyrannicai king could
err after overthrow. Historians dis
'' gree as to the Pope's having be
=, in early youth intended for mill
~ ry career. Father O'Reilly, WHIT
u history seems to be tho most ac'
'e rate and careful, asserts and ma
VI tains the negative. Certain it is Il
u whatever may have been the purpt
- originally entertained by his FAM
nnn Eaxnatt;,a a. dnatinr maa Oh Z