The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-23
Recent Events at Rome Discussed by an
Intimate Friend of His Holiness.
Thinks the Occupant of the Vatican Had GOr(
Reason for Saying He Was Hostage and
Threatened with Exile and Assassination.
Everything Ready for the Departure Of
the Pope from the Eternal City.
Outrages on French Pilgrims at the Pantheon
the elimination Of Conspiracy Hatched
by officials of the Government.

ROME. Oct. 22.-Interviews with eminent
cardinals. who are in q position 10 know
all the secrets of political opinion at the
Vatican. confirm the accuracy of the state
ments cabled in these dispatches q few days
ago in regard TO the feeling at the Vatican
touching the demonstration of French pill
grims at the Pantheon. An Associated
Press correspondent has had an important
interview upon the matters referred 10
with one of the most influential cardinals.
prelate who is an intimate friend of the
Pope. and in every way thoroughly qualified
TO express opinions on the subject. lie said
in substance:
"Our position in Rome has undergone q
radical change as result of the events and
of the disorders of Oct. . The lnvestiga-
tiOn which We have made into that Incl.
dent has proved that the demonstration,
justified under chimerical pretext, was
prepared and arranged in advance by the
government and Menotti Garibaldi against
the Radico-Republican demonstration of
Nice and against the Pope. The King. the
Ministers and the Liberal Monarchical
party were fearful of the consequences
which might arise from the alliance of tho
sides. we also know that the triple alliance
has been informed of this game, and that
it approved of this manifestation as a re-
ply to the fetes at Nice. and as direct at
tack upon the Pope and the pilgrims. 1t
was desired affirmation, premedIIated, of
monarchical right against the French re-
public and against the status quo at Rome.
1T was NJ De Lucca, the Under Secre-
tary of State of the Interior Department.,
and NJ. Menotti Garibaldi who arranged
the terms of this conspiracy. The Italian
government sent to all the mayors cIrcu-
lar letter in order to add weight TO the
manifestation. We have received the
most puDgent details IN regard to the re-
ception given to these letters. Many of
the mayors were embarrassed ana did not
know how to reply to this summons. We
are in possession of several exemplaries Of
these confidential letters"
but why has so large a part of the
monarchical and liberal world favored
these outrages upon French pilgrimsip
asked the correspondent.
ANIMUs OF THE ATTACK ON PILGRIMS.
"The answer Is that the government
wished to give to the world the impression
that Rome is opposed to the Pope and that
| Italy will not have any reconcilement with
France or any amicable understanding be-
tween the Vatican and the French repub-
lie. The demonstration was the prolonga-,
tion or the result of the republican and
democratic policy of the Pope.
"lou cannot imagine the anxieties and
the fears of our liberal and official world
in the face of the isolation of the Holy See.
Our liberals had expected that the religious
war waged in France would prevent all
rising of opinion In this country and that
it would result sooner or later in violent
rupture with the Holy See. since the fam
Gus toast of Cardinal Lavigerie and the
demonstrations of CrOnstadt all our official
world, monarchical. liberal and sectarian.
has been living in a state of trouble. It
| felt it's editice, so laboriOusly erected, to
| be cracking and threatening ruin. All
hopes. all illusions were vanishing, &, and then
| came the scandal of Oct. z.
"You may be astonished at the folly Of
| the government of the Liberals in driving
| away the pilgrimages and running this
source of revenue for Rome and Italy. but
| matter. Ii IS necessary 10 know that off,
cial Italy desired TO teach q lesson 10 show
that she has made mp her mind TO admit all
| excuses and to 90 TO all extremes and that,
far from adapting herself TO the new situa-
tion. she would prefer assassination. the
exiting of the Pope and the plllage Of the
"Such is the threat contained in that ori.
sis and in those blows from sticks be.
slowed upon the pilgrims. And. let it be
| added, Leo NH perfectly understood the
meaning it was intended TO convey TO him.
| AS have already told yon, and as cabled
| 10 the United States. the Pope said. refer.
| ring to these affairs: Il am no longer a pris-
oner; i am hostage. i am threatened
with exile and assassination if / will not
| capitulate before the enemy
TO BE KILLED OR EXILED.
THE Pope saw correctly. The manifesto
tions of Rome signify that official Italy de-
sires to place scandal between the Pope and
the faithful. Official Italy desires to Sc
| questrate him, to restrict his liberty. and
she declares. by this, that If the Pope does
| not yield that he will be killed or that ne
will be driven from Rome. Ii is Rome
closed to the pilgrims or the Pope expelled
| from Rome Official Italy sees with appre-
hension the progress which the Pope 10
I making. not only in the world at large. but
| in Rome itself Since the workingmens
| manifestations, on Feb. 3, 1859, and the ex-
| plosion of the powder magazine of Monte
Verbs. the inhabitants OF Rome have COM
menced TO draw positive parallels between
the consequences of the status quo and the
| policy of the Vatican. Public opinion has
transformed itself under the pressure OF
events. 1t is the new regime, which has
| brought my ystery to this city. when, in days
| gone by. Rome was continually en- fete.
Throughout the summer our populations
have been looking forward TO the pilgrim
ages as if they were the temporal Messiah,
-
| Liberal party felt this popular current
spreading, wDen they saw the people frat
ernizing with the pilgrims, when it found
| itself, above all, confronted by the incorl-
parable and uDmistakable manifestations
! of popularity exhibited towards the Holy
| Father II was afraid. 1t said TO itself that
an END must be put TO these instructive
| spectacles and 10 the compromising COM
| parisons made with IL. The scandals were
| not only acts OF violence; they were prin-
| cipally acts of weakness and of despair. The
| population of Rome Is In mourning. Every
! body regrets these Pantheon incidents:
| but nobody has the courage to brave the
anger of the government. The Italian peo-
pie are a fatalist people"
will the Pope accept this new situa-
tionw the Cardinal was asked.
Never" was the firm reply. "even though
his life Is threatened and the Vatican 10
denounced and placed IN q state of siege,
, The conscience of the Pope il incorruptibls
aud infexible. His energy IS indomitable,
Under the envelope so fraii, under thar
| diaphanous physiognomy, Is concealed
proud and ardent heart. He, the moderate
and harmonious man: he the passionate
! lover of peace aud OF appeasement. does not
recoil before any threat or before and re-
| spoDsbillty.
Upon his election TO the papacy, wheL
| interpellated by Cardinal Franchi In re-
gard TO the name he would take. lie re-
piled, Leone MIL
1.-The thirteenth exclaimed Cardinal
| Franchi. But that 10 IN unlucky number