Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-20
DISCUSSING Papa po11r1cs.


When all other far-away subjects are
exhausted and domestic affairs are at
lulI, the news gatherers and journalists
find never failing source for speculation
in the politics of the Vatican The very
latest phase of speculationin that direction
concerns the rumor that syndicate is to
be formed to purchase Jerusalem to pre-
sent it to the Pope as place where he
may set up temporal power. There is not
sufficient detail at hand to warrant belief
that there is such scheme seriously in
contemplation. Yet a new crusade to the
Holy Land with stout purse as the
engine Of warfare is not SO improbable as
may at first appear. Jerusalem is
burden, not source of revenue to the
Ottoman Empire, nor will it ever be, occu-
pied as it is 10y the devotees of four dis
tinct religions, besides the remnants of the
Jews who still cling to the desolation of
the city. But that Turkish Pasha should
there have his seat, is repulsive alike to
Greek, Jew, Catholic and Protestant. It
is easy to understand therefore that
spirit might be kindied into fame for the
taking of the city out of Moslem hands by
the peaceful method of gold coin, repre-
sentative of value of which the Ottoman
Government has chronic need. On the
other hand, Jerusalem is one of the three
holy cities of the Mohammedans next in
rank to Mecca, and the idea of the six
thousand Mohammedans in the city repre-
senting the millions of their creed yielding
the holy city utterly to the Pope. can
scarcely be thought Of But their resi-
dence and the pilgrimages of the followers
of the Prophet would not be inconsistent
with the place being made Papal seat.
and their claims might will be recognized
and guaranteed in the treaty Of purchase,
supposiDg for a moment that such thing
is probable. If such proposition as the
transference of the Papal seat to Jerusalem
is ever advanced, it is impossible to fore.
cast what reception it will have by the
European powers. 1t may be conjectured,
however, that there will be hot opposition
on the part of Germany. 1t is more prob.
able than any other speculation, that the
Pope will not leave Rome except by COM
pulsion, and it is unlikely that such force
will ever be employed. The temptation of
temporal state andlrecognition as poIiti-
cal ruler are certainly strong inducements
for change of Papal residence, but the
moral effect of abandoning the Vatican
and yielding the seat that is inseparable in
name from the church itself, will retain
the head of the most powerful of Christian
churches from contemplating faYorably
any permanent removal.
Another story that has currency in the
press, runs that the Vatican has been look
TO transfer of the Papal seat from the
banks of the Tiber to the banks of the
Thames. This is even less probable than
the romance about Jerusalem. Sufficient
importance has, however, attached to the
story to justify the treatment Of the ques-
ton in prominent English review in a
series of so-called Revelations" and to
give the story place in the leading English
press. The argument is advanced that the
dominance of Italian ideas in the matter
of the control OF Latin Christianity is in
tolerable; that while Leo XIII. clings
tenaciously TO the idea Of temporal rule
at the ancient seat Of the Chdrch, the
wisdom OF his council and his own admit
ted craftsmanship suggest far nobler
scheme, attachment of the destinies of the
Church 10 the spirit of the race that will
eventually be the chief in the world, and
which uses the English tongue, thereby
giving the Pope better opportunity to more
easily crafty his ambition, the exercise Of
sovereignty over universal church. NOV
ing abreast with the race that will fashion
the moral and social forces that are TO con-
troll men; that to such an end the poll
iticians of the Vatican have soberly con-
sidered the possibility of transference OF
the Papal seat to England, and that the
Eoglish have really suggested the idea.
In support, it is cited that the Pope took
position in opposition to the advice of
Msgr. Persico, his representative, against
the Irish people in their agitation of the
land question. This is absurd. The wis
dom of the Vatican could not be led into
the blunder of acting in any such matter
under promptings from England. On the
English side of the question it is to be
considered as nothing short OF absurdity to
suppose that English statesmen would en-
ter into any compact to secure temporary
advantage in the Irish question by which
they would be placed in the attitude of I'M
wiling the Papacy to establish itself on the
Thames. An intelligent writer in the
New York Tribune referring to the matter,
says:
gLsre Is nolI:rg in the ANONYMOUS writer's
review lin the Contemporary Ra seu] OF these
transactions which furnish support for his con-