Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-23
THE PRESIDENTS OFFERING.
RECEPTION OF MIR. ClEvELAND'S
 GIFT BY POPE LEO.

Benediction-The Gift Placed Ex-
 hibition with Those of Other Rulers.
 BALTIMORE Jan. 23.-The following cable gram was received from Rome, dated yester- day:
 The gift of President Cleveland to Pope Leo XIII was presented to him Saturday after noon in the throne room of the Vatican by the American delegation. There were also pres ent members of the Noble guard, ill their bright, showy uniforms, and attaches of the papal court Archbishop Ryan, of Philadel- phia in presenting the bound copy of the Constitution of the United States, said:
 Holy father, we feel most honored and happy in being selected to present to your holiness this
 rift, expressive of the veneration and felicita- ton of his excelency the president of the United Btates of America upon the occasion of the aus picious jubilee of your holiness entrance to the
 acred priesthood. It is tribute paid your holi- ness by the ruler of sixty millions of freemen, ruler elected by them, who feels deeply the su-
 reme responsibility of his exalted station. his
 dependence upon Gods providence, and who has
 lad the wisdom and fortitude to discharge faith fully and conscentiously all the important du- ties 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 moral
 conquest over the greatest nations of the earth.
 This conquest your holiness, which received respectful recognition from the kings of the
 world, receives through the most worthy presi- lent the tribute of a free and independent peo- ple 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 tie nation. Remember too, father that the shepherds of Judea representing the body of the people, came to the manager at the angelic invitation before kings; that he
 whose vicar yod are was not only the king of
 kings, but the reputed son of a carpenter, man
 of the people, living and sympathizing with the
 people. In the American republic the Catho-
 lie church is free to act and to carry out its sacred and beneficial mission for the human race
 by the fundamental right of constitutional guar
 antee, as demonstrated in this volume, the ap-
 propriate gift of the president. In the United
 States the Catholic church is entirely free from
 state dominion. The liberty is all she requires.
 In her history the United States has clearly proved
 that ignorance of the real doctrines of the church
 md hereditary prejudice, that great obstacle
 to progress, are gradually disappearing, and that
 Catholics and non-Catholics coming to un-
 ierstand each other We beg of you, then, holy
 father, bless the young Republic that has achieved so much in q single century; bless the and discovered by your saintly compatriot, Col ,mbus; bless the wise and manly president of the United StateS.''
 The members of the delegation, knceling
 efore the pope, received the apostolic bene- fiction for themselves and for their people Dr. O'Connell, rector of the American college, presented the album to the pope and translated ihe presidents dedication. The pope listened with the utmost satisfaction, examined the lift carefully, and expressed his admiration or the exquisite taste and neatness of its exc ,ution. It was an especial pleasure, he sail ? receive copy of the constitution of the United States
 Dr. O'Connell then read Cardinal Gibbons etter to his holiness, to which the pope read lis reply ill Latin, expressing the pleasure he cit in receiving a jubilee gift from the presi-
 lent of the United States. He continued: II have received offerings from all parts of the word-from Italy, Francs. Germany, Hungary Spain, England a.id fl om the president of the United States, most Tleasing one. AS arch. >shop.' he added, you ehjoy there perfect free lom. That freedom admit is highly beneficial the spread of religion. As the head of the ,hurch owe my duty. love and solictude to very part of the church. but toward America pear especial love. The care of your nation is great; your, government is free, your future full If hope. Your president commands my highest admiration: hence this offering which I have re ceived to-day has truly touched my heart. Ii affords me pleasure to pour forth through you tc your president, and to your great country, my most profound sense of appreciation and grati tude. In conclusion, I grant you my blessing and ask that of yourself and of the president oi your country
 Turning to Dr. O'Connell the pope said: 't] l desire you to make this known to your peo pie. Describe the solemn manner in which have received the gift of their president Afterward the pope received the delegation l privately. The prelates present brough, l jubilee offerings amounting to SS0OOO. The l pope ordered that the presidents gift be l placed on exhibition among those of the kings