New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-13
EROM T[RER TO THA YVES.

FROM TIER TO THAMES
A series Of anonymous revelations respect
ing the future Of the Papacy has attracted con-
siderable attention in England. The current
number Of 1.-The Contemporary Review has
an unsigned article aimed against the suprem-
acy Of Italian ideas in the control of the des-
TIMES of Latin Christianity. Leo NIL is de-
scribed Is statesmanlie pontif, who is help
Jessly clingng to two ideals hOpeleSSy antag-
onistic one to the other; the older and smaller
conception Of temporal sovereignty oi Rome
and a higher and nObler provision OF the Soyer-
eighty of really universal church. 1t Is con-
tended that the atmosphere Of the Vatican, its
traditions and associations, and the all-peryad-
ing presence Cf Italian Cardinals and officials
render it impossible for him to rise to the
height Of his conception Of a wider sovereignty
than any which the greatest Of his predecessors
has ever realized In order to do this he must
rid himself Of the desire to reestabsh tenn
puia authority in a second-rate European city
As it was the supreme merit of the Catholic
Church that amid the crash and destruction
Of the Roman imperial system it discerned
with unerring provision that the future of the
world lay with the fortunes Of the triumphant
warriors from the north, 50 it will be its SUI
preme privilege in the dawn Of the new epoch,
in which the EngliSh-s speaking races are des-
tined to sway the moral forces of civilization,
to forecast the coming transformation Of mod
ern society aud to establish itself on the banks
Of the Thames in order to cOnsummate its d-
vine mission.
The premises on which these large and
elastic conclusions are based are exceedingly
narrow The mission of MonSign0r PersicO to
Ireland and the premature issue Of the Papal
Rescript are considered in detail, the con
illusions of the writer being that Leo Mi
acted under pressure from the English Gov
eminent and his Italian advisers, and against
the urgent entreaty of his own representative,
who had conducted a partial Investigation Of
the land controversy. and that he made fatal
mistake in airaying himself against the Irish
people Even if il be admitted that Monsignor
Persico declared that it would be detrimental
to the influence Of the Church that the Pope's
action should be in any way suspected Of be-
ing prompted by England, and also that the
Rescript was based ON the erroneous aSSump-
ton that freedom Of contract existed In Ire
land, there is nothing in the anonymous writ
ers review Of these transactions which fur
nishes support for his conclusion that the Vat
lean under Italian direction and advice has
grown narrow and provincial in its aims, and
that the seat of the Papacy must be removed
from the Tiber to the Thames. The fact that
the Cardinals. at the instigaton of the Eng
ish Government and the Duke Of Norfolk, in
telyened in Irish affairs on the broad moral
r In of
contracts. Indicated that the Vatican. even if
its headquarters be in "A SecOnd-rate European
city.n situated in an out-of-theway corner
of small inland sea" is singuarly h0Spitable
TO common sense ideas Of the English speak
ing world.
Larger ground than the Vatican's lack Of
familiarity with the details Of Irish land agita-
ton will have t. be discovered before even
the shreWdcst observer Of the tendencies Of
the age can be justified in forecasting the
transfer of the Papal seat from Rome to Lon
don. The English speaking race undoubtedly
has the promise Of the potency of future SUI
premacy in the modern world but Latin
Christianity with its vast accumulated reserves
Of conservatism will not abandon its ancient
capital until it is driven ont by force Of arms.
EuropeaE war in which Italy shall be IN
yaded, and the Popes position in Rome under
the protection of Il Government garrison shall
become intoleIable. may bring on temporary
exile To Spain: but even in that event the
Pope would undoubtedly return rs soon as
peace were concluded. If either Austria,
Germany or France be destined to furnish the
invading host, with their millions of Catholic
subjects. the POpe'S restoration to st. Peters
would inevitably follow; and the contingency
Of campaign between either England or
Russia against Italy is too remote to be selt
ously considered 1t is hardly conceivable
that the stronghold Of English Professionalism
will be deliberately chosen under existing cir
cumStances rs the seat Of the Papacy. Prophecy
j. asking importunate aims at the door OF con
lecture when it assumes that " there may be
no more than Il niche in Roman museum for
the successor Of llildebrand"