Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-29
OUR DEMOCRACY.
The Mould of the Future So
ciety and Politics of Europe.
POPE LEO KILLS ENCYCLICAL.
1t Will Deal Impartaly with All the Great
Problems of the Present Day.
Tome Idea of the Importance Attached
to the Forthcoming synthesis-His Aim
to Unite the Catholics, Make Them
Social Leaders.

ROME, April 2S.-A representative of the
New York Associated Press has inter
viewed prominent dignitary of the Roman
Catholic church regarding the Forthcoming
encyclical letter Of Pope Leo XIII on So
cial questions. This gentleman is specially
well qualified TO give an opinion
on the subject, rs he not only
holds a high ecclesiastical rank, but
gave the pope much assistance in drawing
up the long-expected document In reply
to the question: rs the encyclical letter
ready2" the ecclesiastic said, Yes, the
pope has finished it, but he has decided TO
wait until the 1st of May is past before Civ
ing it to the public
THE WORK OF TRANSMITTING IT
Into French, Italian and German is almost
completed, although it will not be absolutely
ended till the day on which the date of its
publication is definitely fixed, as the pope
has the habit of modifying his writings by
omissions and additions up to the very
moment of publication.
what do you think of this encyclical?"
ut is the principal work of the present
pontiticate, a synthetic resume of the whole
political and social teachings of the pope.
He has worked at it for many years, some
times for long periods without intermisSion.
He has condensed the doctorines Of the
greatest doctors and theolOgianS on these
matters and adapted them to the require
ultulS VI JllG CODulIlcUS Vi Vic pItStiib
time. He has also brought into request the
leading intellects of the United States and
Europe incident to the Knights of Labor,
and the generous interyentionS of Arch
bishop Gibbons have contributed in no
small degree to establish and fix in the mind
of Pope Leo Mi. the definite form OF his
document, which
WILL MARK AN EPOCH
in the history of our times. This aim has
been to define the true doctrine ana Soothe
the minds of those who have been hitherto
undecided as to what side to take in the
present Democratic movements, and he will
succeed above all with the Catholics, who IN
some countries, especially in France and
Belgium. are far from being in unison in re-
gard to these points SO important 10 DEM
ocratic life. The pope has aimed at finding
a superior synthesis, fruitful of unity OF all
the various doctrines. He insists with
thing and of all, of capital, of labor, Of the
state ond of the individual. He Is
UTTERLY IMPARTIAL.
He is neither for nor against any interest
or any school. He gives the truth and pro-
claims justice upon all and for all. One of
the principal ends that the pope has in
view is to furnish Catholics of all coun-
tries with common ground of action.
He greatly deplores any divisions in the
influence and moral action of the church.
He desires to deprive his adversaries of the
slightest pretext for pretending that the
church has only charity as her programme,
and nothing definite or precise to offer to
society. The schisms which manifested
themselves at the congress of Beige and
also in France, have profoundly
GRIEvED THE HOLY FATHER,
for they have diminished the prestige of
4 ! -. -
wrought by the church. ! cannot tell YOU
all that is in the present encyclical, but l
can say that it will make very considera-
BILE impression for its enlightened work,
aiming solely at unity and Cancellation.
During his labors OF specifying the respec-
tive position of capital and labor, of the
state and individual, of bringing into relief
strict Justice and the infiexible rights of all
these factors that go to make up society,
industry and work, Leo Mi. has seen
conflict between all phases of human
passions. desDOtiSm and revolution. His
encyclical Will not be a protest against all
the elements which form modern life. He
seeks to conciliate them by the acceptance
of all legitimate interests and by reciprocal
respect of all rights"
Does not the pope speak Of charity in
this encyclical2'
YES; but he delineates q sphere Of
action. He has devoted much space to set
forth its claims, but his object, above all
things, has been the teaching of social
JUSTICE
What are the pope's views in regard to
state intervention2"
THAT is delicate point. 1t is incontest-
able that the church cannot give upon these
purely historical contingencies absolutely
definite instructions. The social problems
are continually changing and modifying.
Each period has its particular needs, its
own economic conditions Things that
are good and equitable to-day are
old and inapplicable tomorrow. There
fore Leo Kill will be found from doc