Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-22
A NOTABLE PROGRAMME.

The wires within lew Gays nave
brought the really important news that
Cardinal Gibbon, of Baltimore, is named
seriously in high circles of the Roman
Catholic church in connection with the
papacy. His election to the seat OF st.
Peter would be a memorable event in
the annals OF the world. In all the
history of the church, as covered by
indisputable secular records, no man has
ever worn the triple crown, with sim
gle notable exception, who was not an
Italian by birth, education and inter
ests. The one exception was Adrian
", an Englishman, whose name
prior to his elevation to the
papacy was Nicholas Breakspeare.
His election took place in 1854, and the
next year he is said to have issued q
bull conferring the sovereignty of Ire
land on Henry II OF England. The ex-
istence OF this bull is questioned; and at
any rate Henry did not assert any rights
over Ireland until many years later.
That an Italian should have worn the
tiara as a rule, with but this excep-
ton, is not strange, when we recall the
absolute temporal rule of the pope over
the most important portions OF the pen
insula. He was an earthly sovereign in
all acceptations of the terms, with Rome
as his capital. 1t would have been diff
ficult for foreign cleric, ignorant of the
language, laws and customs of the coun-
try, perhaps, to have gone in there and
ruled with wisdom.
The proposition to elevate an Ameri-
can to the seat OF the immortal fisher
man Of the sea of Galilee, marks the
changed aspects of things in our day.
From whatever point of view one re-
CARDS the proposition it is full OF inter-
est. Let us look at it from the stand
point OF that large and influential por-
ton of our people who regard the
wearer of the tiara as Gods vice-gerent on
this earth. They no doubt will recog-
nize it as sound rule that the divine
head of their church has made that or
ganization living body with powers OF
adaptation to all the varying exigencies
OF all the ages to the end. Taking
that broad rule as guide they may
we'll see in such an event the shaping OF
the church to the needs of the present
day. As the scriptures themselves teach,
from time to time old things pass away
and all thing become new. The temporal
government OF the city OF Rome is but
an inconsiderable affair as compared
with the spiritual headship of so great 6
communion as the Roman Catholic
church. And the temporal sway which
Adrian and his successors exercised ovel
house of Hohenstaufen came to an end
must be regarded as secondary to the in
fluence such men as gentle Plus TX
or the most able and erudite Leo XIII
have upon the thought and action ol
millions of minds which yield assent to
their opinions in spiritual matters.
There is much fitness, too, in this
change of circumstance finding ex-
preston in the election OF an
! American, and of such an Ameri.
can as Cardinal Gibbon, to this high
Office. If old things pass away, and al
things become new in general sense
the proposition is particularly true in
relation to America. All the old feuds
of Europe, with all their bitterness o.
thousands of years of rancor, are un-
known here. Here the thought and
conscience of man are free from ali un.
necessary restraint, and with unbiased
mind he can investigate all systems O
belief and OF philosophy, and anchor his
soul wherever he thinks he has
discovered the solid ground of truth
And in the church of which We
speak, the cardinal archbishop of Balti
more is in the most advanced ranks O.
the men of this new era. Naturally
gifted beyond the lot of any but the
greatest among men, as regards intel
ect, and learned in all the knowledge
of this time as few men are, he is of {
calm and judicious turn OF mind. He is
full of charity for all men, patient witt
those who err. and liberal in his allow
ances for those who differ from him
Cardinal Gibbon would make really
worthy successor to the great men who
have sat in the seat of Peter, whether
one regard Gregory VII, Innocent III
Adrian ". Leo X, Plus TX or Leo XIII
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OLD Sol has taken his annual peeI
i