The sun., 1890-01-12
Some Noteworthy Reports from Rome,

there are some remarkable statements n
gardlng the views, wishes. and intentions G
LEO XIII. We cannot assume that thes
assertions are made without any authority
for he who makes them is known to be
conscientious man. He must, however. hav
expected some Of them TO be received Il
many quarters with surprise and incredulity
Mr. STEAD says, for instance, that he 1
"oflcially authorized to declare In the mos
authoritative manner possible that tn
Pope is utterly and absolutely opposed II
any attack being made upon Italy for th'
purpose OF restoring his temporal power b.
force Of arms. He would" adds Mr.. STEAD
regard any appeal to the sword on his be
half as a crime" Does not Mr.. STEAD per
| ceive that the present Ponti6 cannot avov
| such opinions without severely rejecting or
| the conduct OF innumerable predecessors In
the Papal chair from the time OF PEPN tc
that OF NAPOLEON uL2 Can that be a crime
to-day which was not crime in 1S49; and is
1t conceivable that LEO XIII. would by Inn
plication set stigma on the memory OF
PIUs IX.2 To invoke the armed assistance
OF faithful children Of the Church for the
purpose OF restoring tho Popes temporal
authority may under the present circum-
stances be highly inexpedient, but 1t cannot
be described as wrongful without involving
the bi-millennial history Of the Papacy In
wholesale condemnation.
Entirely credible Is Mr.. STEAD's next aver
ment that tho Pope will not quit Rome as
long as he can cling to the Vatican. But
astonishment and doubt are again awaken
ed when he proceeds to say that II the
Pope should be driven from Italy he will
find his Avignon on the banks OF the
Thames" 1t Is true, as Mr.. STEAD main
tains, that the choice Of any Catholic state
except Italy as the place Of soiourn would
be viewed with jealousy by other Catholic
nationalihes. Conclusive on that point is
the history of the fourteenth century, when
the experiment was tried. But the distrust
with which medieval Englishmen and Ger
mans regarded French Pope whose seat
was encompassed by the territories Of the
French King, was tri6ing source Of mis-
chief compared with the profound uneasiness
and even poignant apprehension with which
Catholic Christendom would view the In
stallation Of It's head in an heretical country
whose traditional hatred for the Papacy,
although just now dormant, Is by no means
extinguished. Mr.. STEAD seems to have
forgotten what Catholics too well remem-
Der, that 1t Is but century since the mo
Popery" riots instigated by Lord GEORGE
GORDON made a furnace and q shambles OF
the streets Of London. Should the Pope be
driven to seek refuge In Protestant coun-
try, he would do moro wisely to select Prus-
sia, although the memory Of the Kuifatrkampf
is fresh, than England, where men are still
living who saw Catholics freed from the
civil disabilities which had practically made
them aliens and outcasts In their native
land. The choice of Malta, on the other
hand, which is now looked upon with some
ravor at the Vatican, would be open
TO none Of the objections which put LON
don entirely out OF the question. The island
q endeared to Catholics by its age-long as
,ociations with the half-religious. half-mili-
:ary order Of the Knights Hospitaller. and 1t
has q ferventiy Catholic population. Yet
,ven with regard to Malta 1t has always
oeen assumed that as O condition precedent |
II its occupation by the Papal court, the |
sland would, by sale or otherwise. be made |
,ver by England to the Pope In full sov- |
'reignty. Either Malta or one of the |
3alearic Islands would offer to the Papacy |
N asylum free from all drawbacks except |
inconvenience Of access, which In these days |
4 steam would soon be minimized.
1t will be remembered that some years ago
dr. ST. GEORGE MTvART, who Is at once q
scientist and sincere Cath
lie, advocated in an interesting essay the
brogation by the Papacy Of its traditional
lliance with monarchy. He evidently con-
idered Plus TX. well inspired when, In 1S4S,
@ expressed sympathy with the italian
and his successor would in
Ir. ST. GEORGE MIvART's opinion, do well
D place himself at the head Of the socialistic
lovement In Europe. According to Mr..
TKAD, the present Pontiff while vehemently
pposed to Anarchists and also to the Col
ctivists, who would deal with capital on
10 principles of KARL MARX, Is disposed
go a long way on the path Of social re-
'rm. He Is aiming, We are told more or
ss unconsciously at establishing the Holy
ee as "the founder Of new International"
y this somewhat enigmatical assertion Mr..
rEAD means that the Pope is vigorously
lshing on the organization of industrial
relies. taking In the Catholic trades unions
France, Spain, and Belgium" He is,
seems, for developing the principle OF
ctory legislation 30 as to secure for child
ood exemption from labor and liberty to
arn." He wishes to shorten tho hours of
Dor and to secure for the workingman one
" OF rest In seven. We may also. MIR.
rRAD says, expect him to encourage the
ergy to favor the adoption of arbitration as
means of settling trade disputes. Unques-
onably LEO XIII. would rank among great |
clal benefactors should he cause the
hole body OF the Catholic priesthood to I
nulate the good work performed by Car &
nal MANNING In the adjustment OF the I
controversy between labor and 9
pital known as the East London strike.
The Pope has not yet declared for woman's
ffrage, but Mr.. STEAD assures US that
any Of his best advisers deem that the I
Ipacy should energeticalIy support wom- 1
Is claim to vote. For two reasons; first, t
cause woman In EuroDe Ia the main DPono