The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-01-27
ACCEPTED BY THE POPE.
Tho Presidents Gift Of o Copy OF
the Constitution Delivered
bY
Archbishop Ryan, Of Philadelphia, to
the POpe-FelicitatiOns on the
Event.
The Pope Mindful of the Especial Love
BE Bears Toward the United
States.


States.
| RoMB, Jan. 23.-The gift OF President
| Cleveland to Pope Leo XIII. was presented
to him Saturday afternoon In the throne
| room OF the Vatican by tho American dele
| cation. Archbishop Ryan, OF Philadel-
phia, in presenting the bound copy OF the
Constitution of tho United States, said:
"HoLY FATHER: We feel most honOred
| and happy in being selected to present to
your Holiness this gift, expressive Of the
generation and felicitation OF his Excel
lency, the President OF the United States
Of America. upon the occasion OF the
| suspicious jubilee OF your Holiness en-
| trance into the sacred priesthood. 1t Is
| tribute paid your Holiness by the ruler OF
| 61,00O,0O of freemen; ruler selected by
them who feels deeply the supreme
| responsibility of his exalted station, his
dependence upon Gods providence, and
who has had the wisdom aud fortitude to
discharge faithfully and conscientiously all
the important duties devolving upon him.
He is a ruler respected by the people, and
one who has publicly declared his solemn
conviction that Christianity furnishes the
true, permanent basis of real civilization
and perfect social order, representing at
| once u moral conquest over the greatest
nations of the earth. This conquest, your
Holiness, which received respectful recog
| milton from the kings OF the world receives
through the most worthy President the
tribute OF a free and Independent people, Of
the freest. largest and most progressive
people. They are naturally Christian,
brave. Just and generous, and will be in
the future as in the past history Of the
Nation. In the American republic, the
Catholic Church is free to act and to carry
out its sacred and beneficial miss on for the
human race by the fundamental right Of
constitutional guarantee, as demonstrated
IN this volume, the appropriate gift of the
President. In the United States the
Catholic Church is entirely free from State
domination. This liberty is all it requires.
In her history the United States has clearly
proved that ignorance Of the real doctrines
of the Church and hereditary prejudice,
that great obstacle to progress, are gradu-
ally disappearing. and that Catholics and
nome athOlics are coming to understand
each other. We beg OF you, then, Holy
Father, bless the young republic that has
achieved much in a single century: bless
the land discovered by your sanity COM
patriot, Christopher Columbus; bless the
wise and manly President of the United
States"
The members OF the delegation kneeliPg
before the Pope received the Apostolic
beneiction for themselves and for their
people. Dr.. OConnell, rector of the Amer
icsn College. presented the album to the
Pope and translated the Presidents dic:a-
ton The Pope listened with the utmost
satisfaction, examined the gift carefully,
and exp r.ssed his admiration for the ex-
Quisite taste and nea: ness of Its execution.
1t was an especial pleasure, he said, 10 re-
ceive copy of the Constitution of the
United States.
DR.. OConnell then read to the Pope the
following letter, written in French:
HOLY FATHER: experience a peculiar salts
faction in transmitting to your Holiness the per-
scnal congra;uation which his Excellency,
Grover Cleveland President OF the United
States by his letter of November Il. spec
tally requested re to present to you on the &C.
cssion OF your golden jubilee.
had the honor to see the President shortly
after my return from Rome. when l CONF
municated to him The kind sentiments your
Holiness was pleased to express TO ne
in his regard. Highly approaching the
friendly message Of your Holiness, h. de-
sired me to convey to you his respectful ho-
images and his sincere wishes for your welfare.
The President subsequently wrote me second
letter desiring me to transmit TO your Holiness
with the least possible delay this specially pre-
pared copy Of the Constitution OF the United
States, as a testimonial OF the generation for
your august person, and as an expression Of
mis- fluctuations upon the approaching solemnity.
Deign. Holy Father. once more to bless with
al! the affection Of your parental heart our be-
loved country. in whose prosperity you manifest
SO lively an interest. Invoking your benedic- |
ton on myself, am your devoted son, James
Cardinal Gibbons. Archbishop Of Baltimore,
Baltimore, December !, 1887.
Tue Pope then read his reply to Arch |
bishop Ryan in Latin, expressing the pleas
ure he felt in receiving juLice gif. from
the President # the United States. He |
continued:
Il have received oEerings from all parts
OF the world-from Italy, France, Ger
many, Hungary, Spain, England. and one |
from the President Of the United S,atcs-;l |
mos: pleasing one. AS Archbishop" he |
added, You eujoy their perfect freedom. |
That freedom, we admit, is highly bene-
fetal TO the spread OF religion. As the |
head OF the Church, / owe my duty, love
and solicitude to every part OF the |
Church, but toward America l bear
an especial love. The care of your
Nation Is great. Your Government is free,
your future full OF hope. Your President
commands my highest admiration. Hence
this Offering which have received today
has truly touched my heart. 1t affords me
pleasure to pour forth through you to your
President and to your great country my
most profound sense OF appreciation ami
gratitude. In conclusion, grant you my
blessing, and ask that of yourself AMI Of
the President OF your country"
Turning to DIR. O'Connell, the Pope said:
Il desire you to make this known to your
people. Describe the solemn manner in
which nave received the gift OF the Pres
ident."
Afterwards the Pope received the dele
CATION privately. He WIS delighted with
President Cleveland's Gift, and engaged IN
conversation with the delegates for neIrly
an hour. The prelates present brought
jubilee offerings amounting to SSU,-
001.
"A bill was recently introduced into the
Senate 10 amend the record OF an army
officer thas covers q romance. During the
war young ci1icer was put under arrest
for some trivial oifcnse, tried and acquitted,
but while waiting for q verdict WAS in
technical confinement ut the fort at Mobile.
In the meantime he received \ telegram
that young lady, to whom he was en-
gagged, and her father were to arrive, and
he was ask d 20 meet them. He stated the cir
cumstances to the commapdant, aud asked
permission TO go 20 the station which was