Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-07
TOWARD DEMOCRACY
The Liberal Views of the Pope Being
Made Apparent in Europe.
PRELATEs UPON WHOM HE RELIES.
Cardinal Lavigerie Causes Great Stir BY
His Recent Talk.
HIS IDEAS APPROVED AT THE VATICAN

ROME, April 6.-Cardinal Lavigerie's IS
toast at Algiers and the events which rapid
ly followed that striking utterance are still
much discussed in church circles. Every
thing clearly indicates the decided drilt of
the Catholic Church toward modern DEM
ocracy. But those who have enjoyed the
confidence of Pope Leo XIII. know that he
has always considered it OF prime impor-
tance for tine Church to free itself from
Identification with the old dynastic parties.
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 officially representa-
tive of the dynasty party. and the Church
has, therefofe, suffered with that party as
the vicrim Of popular passions and hatreds.
Especially in France the Pope has long
been desirous of bringing the Church into
harmony with the popular party. But it
was necessary to move slowly so as to wound
royalist and aristocratic susceptibilities as
little as possible. Preparations for the new
evolution were carefully made, and when
the decisive hour came Cardinal Lavigerie
boldly struck the new note. Leo XIII, like
all men of force. desires 10 rule directly. He
studies everything tor himself.
The Pope Has Mind of His Own.
All the most important subjects he re-
serves for personal consideration and de-
cision. For instance, he is now making a
care ul 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
favorite correspondents upon whose advices
he places special reliance, and who are charged
with carrying out his personal policy. In Eng
land il is Cardinal Manning; in Belgium, Cardi-
nal Goossens; in the United States. Cardinal
Gibbons; in the East, Cardinal StrosSmeyer; in
Australia, Cardinal Schonborn; in France, Car
dinal LayIgerie. This body of chosen men
might be called the general staff of the Pope
by means of whom he obtains information and
ants.
Thus, when on October 8 last Cardinal La
ygeIle arrived in Rome Leo XIII. charged him
personally 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 Cardinals toast at Algiers
ceived lis impulse from the prophetic brain of
the Pope or sprung impromptu from the ardent
soul of Lavigerle himself. But it is learned
from absolutely trustworthy sources that the
Pope had previously not only expressed
strong desire that the movement should be in
augurated, but had definitely instructed the
Primate of Africa to give to France the rally
ing cry.
Excitement Caused in France.
Lav1gerie's speech brought storm of letters
to the Vatican. All France grew excited. phe
Bishops clamored for advice, the old parties
protested, timid people knew not what to
think. While1he idea of the toast was sug-
gested and approved by the Vatican the form
il took was not entirely satisfactory. The ar
dent Prima te of Africa went somewhat beyond
bounds. He attacked the old parties and
tauhted them with having been in alliance
with Boulangism. Said Mr. Plon with regard
to this point: "Tae Cardinal has not lived in
alliance with the old parties. He knows nei-
ther their prejudices nor their conditions. In
stead of attacking them, he ought to have
coaxed them"
But this vigorous language has good side.
1t made all France understand Enthusiastically
that the church intended to break with the
past. There was more equivocal meaning.
Pope Leo XIII. said with regard to this: 1.-The
Cardinal has done right. 1t was necessary to
strike great blow in order TO get ont OF this
condition OF nesitancy and confusion"
The letter of Cardinal Rampolla to the Bishop
of Tours repeated in a gentlor form the advice
given in Algiers. The African Cardinal had
spoken as commander. as a general. The
Roman Cardinal spoke as a diplOmatist. Every
one read IN it what he liked to find. A witty
Cardinal said apropos of the many contradic-
tory commentaries: Cardinal RampolaS let
ter is like the speech Of the apostles at Pente-
cost, every one thought he heard his own Ian
guage."
The Work Has Been Successful.
But the blow has struck home: Protests to
be sure, continued to come from France. Mon
signor Freppel made last, but useless attack.
The Pope overpowered him with civiltles, but
renewed his order to cease all opposition, and
to Join the movement. In furtherance of this
cause Leo XIII. composed the letter of Car
dnal Richard on the social duty of Catholics.
The support of the whole Episcopal body shows
that the work has been successful. The evolu-
tion has reached its final conservation.
1t will come to pass in spite of the opposition
and the passion of parties. The Pope sees
that the future belongs to democracy He has,
like Messrs Caesar Cantis and Bonghi, like all
cultured Italians, great admiration for Amer
ican democracy, of which he is close student.
He is convinced that the United States will
furnish the form for the conclusions of Euro
pean society," as we'll as ecclesiastic questions.
He believes in the fertile and irresistible dis
persion of the ideas of the New World in the
Old World. Old cultured Italians have
strongly marked historic sense. Leo XIII.
possesses this in very high degree. He
knows how to distinguish between the intel
lectual and social currents.