Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-14

A Renewal of the Report That
He viii BE an American.
But Three Men Available for
the Position.

NdIuIiidlH uAhIlluS IA NOsStHs
of Belgium, and Gibbons of Baltimore
The Latter in Every Way the Fittest.
Archbishop ireland Would BE the
Power Behind the Papal Throne.
ST PAUL Dec. 14.-Information has
just been received in st. Paul that the
condition Of Pope Leo is growing daily
more serious, and that he can not be ex-
pected to live beyond few days. The
news came direct, and from a source
not to be questioned. Only those identi-
fed with the inside affairs Of the church
are aware of the full significance to
America, and particularly to the north
west, of the changes that will follow
the death Of the pope.
The United Press representative has
been successful in obtaining from high
authority in the church at st. Paul,
some inside facts regarding the future
as it will be, in case the telegraphic pre-
diction from Rome is fulfilled. This
authority gives it as almost certain that
Cardinal Gibbons will be the next pope.
The reasons given are many. 1t is
plainly recognized that the selection for
the papal chair to follow Pope Leo
must be for the interests of the church,
a man not in any way connected with
the factional disagreements disturbing
Europe. He must not be a German,
because such a selection would antag-
onize the French faction, nor French
man for a similar reason.
There are really only three available
men for the exalted position. They are
Cardinal Manning, Of England Cardinal
Gossens, of Belgium, and Cardinal Glib
bons. of Baltimore. Cardinal Manning
has the ability to fill the position, but is
too old. Cardinal Gossens has the youth,
but lacks the ability. Cardinal Gibbons
has both the youth and ability. He is
entirely out of the factional disturbances
and it is conceded that he is the man
who will be elected, being in every way
the fttest
If Cardinal Gibbons does become the
pope, the policy of the Catholic church
for the entire world will be largely
shaped from Minnesota. AS a matter Of
fact it will be a case of Pope Gibbons
and Chief Adviser Ireland. Archbishop
Ireland is the close friend and conn
Dental adviser of Cardinal Gibbons.
The latter is not an aggressive man nor
politician; the former is both, and it is
Archbishop ireland who has stood be-
hind Cardinal Gibbons in every step he
has undertaken.
Cardinal Gibbons has profound conf
dence in Ireland. and there is held to Je
no count of the action he will take if he
becomes the head of the church Arch
bishOp Ireland would at once assume
Cardinal Simoni's place, and the power
behind the throne would at once be
established But the United Press i'll
formant was certain that Archbishop
Ireland would never become a cardinal
while Leo lives. because of his position
on the temperance question and the
Cahaensly movement. His radical ut
terances on these matters had procured
him the enmity of German and Austrian.
elements, and they would defeat his
election.
This enmity was illustrated by the
way Ireland was studiously ignored dur
ing the recent Archbishop Kenrick jnbi-
lee in St. Louis. Besides, if a cardinal
were chosen in the northwest it would
be from the Chicago see. If Ireland
should chance to succeed Feehan in Chi
cago he might get a red hat, but it
would meet with stiff opposition in the
quarters indicated. This informant
further said that Ireland was working
too hard and his health is being i'm
Daired