Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-07
CHURCH AND PEOPLE
CARDINAL LAWesRlE's TOAST THE
TALK OF EUROPE.
The Drift OF the Catholic system Toward
Modern Dcmocraey-Pope Leo's Admit
ration of American Institutions.

ROME, April 6.-Cardinal Lavlgerle toast
at Algiers and the events which rapidly
followed that striking utterance are sttil
much discussed in Church circles. Every
thing clearly indicates the decided DRIFT OF
the Catholic Church toward modern
democracy. But those who have enjoyed
the confdene of Pope Leo XIII. knew that
he has always considered 1t of prime i'm
poTtance for the Church to free itself from
Identification with the old dynastic par
ties. Such Identification. he has believed
was the great mistake of the Church In the
Latin countries. The clergy. instead OF
being national, has only been oihcialiy re-
preventative 6f the dynastic party, ana the
Church has therefore suffered WITH that
party az the victim of popular passions
and hatreds. Especially IN France mas the
Pope long been DESTROYS of bringing the
Church into harmony with the popular
party. But il was necessary TO move
slowly. so as 70 wound Royalist and aris-
tocratIc susceptibilitIes a. little as posi-
BILE. Preparations for the. new evolution
were carefully made, and when tne ge-
clslve hour came Cardinal Laylgerle ooldly
struck the new note.
THE PoPE's GENERAL STAFF.
Leo Kill, like all men Of force, desires 10
himself. All the most important subjects
he reserves for personal consideration ana
decision. For instance, he ls now making
n careful and systematic study OF the edu-
cational question in the United states, tor
whose democratic institutions he has great
admiration. In all countries the Pope mas
tavorite correspondents upon whose advice
be places special reliance and who are
charged with carrying out his personal
policy. In Englandit is Cardinal Manning
in Belgium, Cardinal Goossens; in the
United States. Cardinal Gibbons; in the
East, Cardinal Strossmeyer: IN Austria,
Cardinal Schonbern; in France, Cardinal
Lavigerie. This body Of chosen men might
be called the general s,af of the Pope, by
means of whom he obtains Information
and acts. Thus. when on October 9th last,
Cardinal Lavigerie arrived in Rome. Leo
XIII. charged him personally with the I'M
portant religious ana political mission OF
bringing the Church ~ rance III harmony
with the republic.
THE TOAST RALLY1Na CRY.
There has been and still ia much discus
sion az to whether the Cardinals toast at
Algier5 received its impulse from the pro-
phctic brain of the Pope or sprung un-
prompted from the ardent soul OF Law
gerie himself. But IL Is learned from alb
sOlutely Trustworthy sources that the Pope
had previously not only expressed strong
desire that the movement should be lnau-
Curated, but had definitely instructed the
Primate of Africa TO give TO France the
rallyiug cry.
Lavigerie's speech brought a storm Of
letters TO the Vatican. All France grew
excited. The bishops clamOred for advice,
the old parties protested, timid people
knew not what TO think. While the idea
Of the toast was suggested and approved
by the Vatican the form il took was not en-
tirely satisfactory. The ardent Primate of
Africa went somewhat beyond bounds.
He attacked the old parties and tainted
them with having been in alliance with
Boulangism.
Said Mr. Pion with regard 10 this point
THE Cardinal has not lived in alliance
with the old parties. He knows neither
their preiudlces nor their conditions. In
stead Of attacking them he ought to coax
| them"
But this vigorous language had its good
effect. IL made all France understand UNI
| mistakably that the Church intended to
| break with the past There was no more
| equiyOcal meaning. Leo XIII. SAID with
| regard 10 this The Cardinal has done
| right. II was necessary TO strike great
| blow IN order to get out of this condition
Of hesitancy and confusion"
THE BLOW STRIKES HOME.
The letter Of Cardinal Rampoila 10 the
| Bishop of Tours repeated IN a gentler form
| the advice given in Agiers. The African
| Cardinal bad spoken as a commander, as
| general The Roman Cardinal spoke az
| diploniatist They cOmplimented each
other. The Royalists praised the letter.
| Every one read in il what he liked 10 find.
A witty Cardinal said, apropos Of the many
contradictory commentaries: Cardinal
Bampolla's letter Is like the speech of the
Apostles at PentecOst. Every one thought
| he heard his own language"
But the blow had struck home.
PROTESTS, OF COURSE.
Protests. 10 be sure, continued to come
from France. MonslgnOr Freppel made
the last but useless attack. The Pope
oyerpOwered him with civilities, but re-
newed his order 90 cease oil opposition and
20 Join the new movement. In further
ance of this cause Leo XIII. composed the
lettor of Cardinal Richard on the social
duty Of Catholics. The support Of the
whole episcopal body shows that the work
has been successful. The evolution has re-
ceived its final conservation. IL will come
10 pass in spite Of the opposition and the
passion Of parties.
THE FUTURE DEMOCRATIC.
The Pope sees that the future belongs 10
democracy. He has, like all cultured
Italians, great admiration for American
| democracy, of which he IS a close student.
| He is convinced that the United States
will furnish the forum for the conclusion
of European social 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 in very
| high degree. He knows how 10 distin-
| tinguish between the intellectual and the
social currents. He believes sincerely that
Europe is marching towards democracy,
| with republican institutions as the pre-
| destined goal In his character as POntitf
he dare not say SO; nor can he make of
| this conviction an absolute doctrine,
| which no could force upon others. But
Cardinal Lavigerie's deliverance on the
future triumphs of republicanism is GER
tainly the echo of the close conversations
with which Leo XIII. has honored him.
The observations which have reached the
Vatican from the courts are a proof that
the prophetic voice has been heard and