The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-29

Oh tnC lJAubn pONeTH"cht. tto CohhNHhSS
OF the Triple Alliance. tho attitude
OF the Powers less interested perhsps.
whose interest. however. IN aroused; the
current OF ideas In the Catholic world.
the sentiment Of the Sacred College, and the
conduct and preoccupations OF tho Pontiflcal
Chancellery. 1t will be necessary. also. to point
to the probable candidates to show the influence
OF the Roman question on the Conclave and
tho transformations. moral and political OF
tho Roman hierarchy: and. finally. TO discuss
tho hypothesis OF radical and profound changes
to DO brought about either by the possible
election OF q foreign Popo. or by the location
Of the Conclavo abroad. A whole world opens
up before us. and 1t is no exaggeratton to say
that among all the Continental questions OF
the moment not ono Is more interesting or
moro universally studied. because the interna-
tional grouping ofthe Powers depends upon 1t:
and perhaps, also. the political future OF Eu-
rope in the grave perspective OF probable In
ternational complications
What shows the importance OF this question
ia that. not being open, 1t engrosses the whole
diplomatic. ecclesiastical. and political world.
Leo XIII. Is hard man to bury; he Is an In
tellectual man. It was once said OF Joubert
that no was a soul that had by chance met
with body. Leo XIII. belongs to that sort OF
O family. He Is almost purely spirit He has
preserved all through his immense labors tho
full vigor OF his intelligence and Of his moral
and mental faculties. He is an oak or pine
from tho mountains OF his native country.
where the race has tenacious fibre. DR..
Ceccarelli. his medical attendant, said to mo
one day: LEO XIII. will die very late in life.
He has no infirmities. Time has had little In
fuence upon his nervous body. which is inhab-
tied by an indomitable soul. He will 90 out Ikea
flame unless some great misfortune or some
great emotion should carry him Oh In an in
slant" All who are familiar with Leo XIII.
share this conviction. which has become q sort
Of religion among the company OF his friends
Thoy love to speak Of the advanced age Of his
relatives. the almost indestructtble constitu-'
ton Of the Poccis. which astonfshos the
whole country by its freshness and
longevity. Living with the monastIo So
briefly Of the earlier days. his body has
the immateriality and the righteousness
Of a flower. He is transparent like soul COW
cred with thin veil. Those who have ap-
preached him in one Of his happy moments.
when his mind is full OF energy and elasticity.
have been amazed at his power. his facility OF
conception and his extraordinary memory. Mr..
Dana, the editor Of THE Sun. when speaking
upon Dante and literature with Loo. KILL.
had a chance to admire this Intellectual
power. for tho Pope. carried away BY the en-
thusiasm with which the Florentine inspired
iims ioCitcu Will opieuulu cuoCt bOu0 VI tH0
most beautiful passages in the Divine Com
edy. TWAS probably the first time since tho
days OF st. Peter that Pope displayed SO
much emotion before an American journalist.
The place for holding the next Conclave is
the first question. Where will 1t bep VIII it
be In Rome? Will it be abroad2 The tradi-
ton is In favor Of Rome. but the Pfedmontese
invasion Of tho city has modified the sftua-
ton. Immediately after the occupation.
Plus TX. drew up u bull indicating the new
conditions OF the future Concave. This bull.
ampliied in 1876 and later on in January.
1873. Immediately after the death OF Victor
Emmanuel. declares that the rule OF exclusion
OF States is suppressed. and leaves to tho
majority OF tho Cardinals present at Rome
the choice OF tho meeting place OF the
Conclave 1t Is entirely new legislation that
Leo KILL is perfectinG. we are told. at the
present time. Lator on will come back to the
attitude of the present Pope. 1t is, therefore.
the dawn OF a now epoch In the history OF the
Church and Of tho Papacy. In 1873 when
Plus TX. was reposing in st. Peters, tho great
majority Of tho Sacred College Of Rome.
that is to say. tho Cardinals of the
Curia. had at first an idea of carrying the
Conclave abroad but Leo KILL. then Cardinal
and Camerlengo. that is to say Charge
dc PInterieur. made q splendid speech. In
which no showed clearly that the situation
was not SO exceptional as to warrant such an
important decision. and that the Powers and
public opinion would not understand the mo-
tive Of such q proceeding. His argument was
decisive and won the victory. 1t Is said in the
ecclesiastical world OF Rome that to that pow
erful and highly politic address Leo XIII
owes the possession OF the tiara. But from
1873 to 1851 history has advanced: the
situation has changed under the action OF SOW
oral extraordinary and powerful agents. In
he past ten years the question OF tho Papacy
has made great progress. and the problem Of
he Conclave is naturally linked with II.
In the first place the PontiAcal cause has taken
IN another aspect From our initial supineness
We have reached paroxysm OF contention.
after Leo KILL mounted the
throne. no made the Pontlflcal question the
,entre Of his operations. the ideal OF his
Apostolical labors. Pamphlets upon the SUBJ
ect greeted the now Pontilcare as q display
II fireworks intended to show it's dominant
lin and supreme inspiration. From 1850 to
1855 Leo Kill thought that o reconciliation
With the King was possible upon the basis OF u
)ilateral understanding, Comprehensive gen-
us and ardent patriot rs he is. he hoped that
he Italians would understand Immediately
he benefits OF peace with the Holy See.
md that 1t would suffice for him to advance
Until tho contact Of conclliatory ideas would
orce the Government to sign treaty
Il alliance. While in the heart Of Italy
10 was seeking to create q patriotic move
nent, he was drawing line around the
luirinal in making. or endeavoring to make.
'eace with the sovereigns and tho Powers
sut alas! this generous idea was illusive.
)verawed. especially after the articles Of tho
ba and the double game Of Bismarck. ofacial
taly defended herself by the Triple Alliance.
because she did not believe in sincere pence.
hu Ar - l.. "
ubmit or to resign. II was on tho arrival of
'rispi In power that this disagreement before
atent. became inaamed. When truces end In
Diplomatic checks. the war passion flames with
more intensity. Crlspi embittered the battle.
nd Leo KILL increased his resistance and
multiplied his demands. This duel brings US
own to the events OF Oct. 2. which had this
iGnifcatjon for tho Vatican. that tho Quirinal.
ather than yield. was ready to go to any OK.
RENE, 1t Is n combat to the death Henca.