The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-07
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WEEKLY, Sl.25A YEAR
NEW POLICY OF THE POPE
THE CATHOLIC CaURCH DRIFTING
TOWARD DEMO RACY.

Cardinal Lavigerie's Toast at Algiera
Still Much D scussed in Church Cir.
cles-A Storm of Letters Poured Into
the Vatican From France-Ihe Ad.
visers of the Pope.
ROME, April 6.-CardinaI Lavigerie's
toast at Algiers and the events which rapidly
followed that striking utterance are stu
much discussed in church circles. Every
thing indicates the decided DRIFT OF the
Catholic church toward modern democracy.
But those who have enjoyed the conhdencs
Of Pope Leo XIII. know that be has always
considered ii of prime importance for the
church to free itself from Identification
with the old dynastic parties. Such identi-
tication, he has believed, was the great mis-
take OF the church in the Latin countries
POSITION OF THE CLERGY.
The clergy, instead Of being national, has
only been officially the representative Of
tho dynastic party, ana the church has
therefore ffered with that party as a vic-
tim Of popular passions aud hatreds. Es-
pecially in France the pope has long been
desirous Of bringing he church into har-
nony with the popular party. But 10 was
necessary to move slowly so as to wound
royalist and aristocratic susceptibilities as
little as possible. The preparations for the
| new evolutions were carefully made, and
when The decisive hour came Cardinal
Lavigerie boldly struck the ne~ note
THE POPE THINKS FOR HIMsELF.
Leo XIII. like all men of force, desires 20
rule directly. He studies everything for
himself All the most important subjects
he reserves for personal consideration and
| decision. For instance he is now making
| careful and systematic study OF the educa-
tional question in the United States for
whose democratic Institutions he has great
admiration. In all countries the
pope has favorte correspondents
| upon whrse advice he places
special reliance, and who are charged
with carrying out his personal policy. In
J Eugland 1t Is Cardinal Manning; IN Bel
| gium, Cardinal Goossens; In the United
| States, Cardinal Gibbons; in the east, Cardi-
nal Strossmeyer; in Austria, Cardinal
Schonhern; in France, Cardinal Lavigerie.
This body OF chosen mo- might be called
the general staff of the pope, by means Of
whom he obtains information and acts.
LAvIGERIE's INSPIRATION.
Thus when on Oct last Cardinal
Lavigerie arrived in Rome, Leo XIII.
charged him person ally with the important
religious and political mission of bringing
the church in France into harmony with
the republic. There has been and still Is
much discussion as TO whether the cardi-
nails toast at Algiers received its impulse
| from the prophetic brain Of tue
pope, or sprung unprompted from the
ardent soul of Cardinal Lavlgerie himself.
But 1t Is learned from absolutely trust
worthy sources that the pope had pre-
viously not only expressed strong de-
| sire that the movement should bo inaugu-
rated, but had definitely instructed the
primate Of Africa to give to France rally
| ing cry.
ALL FRANCE EXCITED.
Cardinal Lavigeries speech brought a
storm of letters to the vatican. All France
grew excited. Bishops clamored for advice,
| old parties protested, and umid people
knew not what to think. While the
idea Of the toast was suggested and
approved by the vatican, the form 10
took was not entirely satisfactory. The
ardent primate OF Africa went somewhat
beyond the bounds. He attacked the old
parties and taunted them with having been
In alliance with Boulangism. Said Mr..
Pion, with regard to this point: "The
cardinal has not lived in alliance with the
old parties. He knows neither their preju-
dices nor their conditions. Instead of at.
tackipg them he ought TO coax them"
HAD ITS GOOD SIDE.
But this vigorous language had its good
side. II made all France understand un-
break with the past There was no more
equivocal meaning Leo Kill said with
regard to this: 1.-THE cardinal has done
right 1t was necessary to strike great
blow in order to get out OF THE condition Of
hesitancy and confusion
The letter Of Cardinal Rampolla to the
bishop of Tours repeated in gentler form the
advice given in Algiers. The African car
dinal had spoken as commander, as general.
The Roman cardinal spoke as diplomatist.
They conplimen ed each other. Royalists
praised the letter. Every one read it in the
way he liked to find. The witty cardinal
said apropos Of the ma y contradictory
commentaries: Cardinal Rampolla's letter
is like the speech OF the apostles at Pente-
cost. Every ono thought he heard his own
language"
THE BLOW STRUCK HOME.
But the blow has struck home. Protests
70 be sure, continued 10 como from France
Monsigneur Freppel made the last, bnt USE
less. attack. The pope overpowered him
with civilities, but re ewed his order to
cease all opposition and join the new move
ment. In fnrtherance OF this cause Leo
XIII. composed a letter to Cardinal Rich
ard, on the social duty of Catholics. The
support OF the episcopal body shows
that the work has been success
full The evolution has received its final
conservation. 1t will come to pass in spite
Oh the opposition and passion or the parties.
POPE LEo's INTUITION.
The pope sees that the future belongs TO
the democracy He has. like Caesar. Cantis
and Bonghi, like all cultured Italians, great
admiration for the American democracy, of
which he is a close student. He is convinced
that the United States will furnish a form
for the conclusions Of European society,
as well as ecclesiastical questions.
He believes in the fertile and irresistible
dispersion OF the ideas Of the new world in
the old world. All cultured Italians have q
strongly marked historic sense. Leo XIII.
possesses this ia very high degree. He
knows how to distinguish between intel.
lectual and social currents.
EURoPE's FUTURE.
He believes sincerely that Europe is
marching toward democracy with republi
can institutions as a predestined goal. In
his character as pontiR he dare not say so
nor can he make on this conviction an abso-
Lutte doctrine. which he could force UPON
others. But Cardinal Lavigerie's develop
ment on the future triumphs Of tna repub-
lies is certainly the echo Of the close con-
versations with which Leo XIII. has
honored him. Observations which reached
the vatican from the courts are proof that
the prophetic voice has been heard, and that
statesmen are warned.
a ETTICIDAI, SHOT.