The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-07
THE POPE AS A PROPHET.
Triumph Of Democracy Foreseen by tn
keman CathOlie Church.

Triumph OF Democracy FOreseen by tho
Reman Catholie Church.
ALGIERs, April 6.-At Bismarck, in the
presence of concourse of Europeans and
natives and large number Of bishops,
Cardinal Lavigerie consecrated the Freres
Arms du Sahara. The aim of the band is
to combat slavery. When slavery is abol-
ished the brothers will devote themselves
to protecting the feeble, establishing in
Sahara centers for the care of the sick, and
opening the interior to the civilized world.
The pope has already promised to devote
his jubilee offerings to the work Of abolish
ing slavery.
ROME. April cardinal .Lavigcrie's
toast at Algiers and the events which rap
idly followed those striking uttcrances are
still much discussed in church circles.
Everything clearly indicates the decided
drift OF the Catholic church toward modern
democracy, but those who have enjoyed
the confidence of Pope Leo know that he
has always considered it of prime import.
ance for the church to free itself from
Identification with the old dynastic parties,
but 1T is necessary to move slowly,
SO as to wound royalist and aristocratic
susceptibilities as little as possible.
In all countries the pope has favorite cor
respondents upon whose advice he places
special reliance, and who are charged with
carrying out his personal policy. The car.
dinal is one of these, and when, on October
8 last. Cardinal Lavigerie arrived in Rome,
Pope Leo pledged him personally with the
important religious and political mission
OF bringing the church in France into har.
mony with the republic. Iavigerie's
speech brought a flood of letters to the
Vatican. All France grew excited.
While the idea Of the text was suggested
and approved by the Vatican. the form il
took was not satisfactory. The ardent
primate of Africa went somewhat beyond
bounds. He attacked the old parties and
taunted them with having been in alli.
ance with Boulangism, but this vigorous
language had good side. 1t made all
France understand Enthusiastically that the
church intended to break with the past,
There was no more equivocal meaning.
The pope said with regard to this: sThe
cardinal has done right. 1t was necessary
to strike great blow in order to get out OF
this condition of hesitancy and confusion. u
The letter of Cardinal Rampole to the
Bishop Of Tours repeated in gentler form
the advice given in Algiers The support
of the whole episcopal body shows that
the work has been successful. 1t will come
to pass in spite of the opposition and pas.
sion Of parties.
The pope sees that the future belongs ia
the democracy. He is convinced that the
United States will furnish a solution of the
problems of European society, as well as
ecclesiastical questions He haliayc. .;r
cerely that Europe is marching towards
democracy, with republican institutions as
the predestined goal. In his character a.
pontiff he dare hot say so, but Cardinal
Lavigerie's address was an echo of close
conversation with Leo. Observations
which have reached the Vatican from the
courts are proof that the prophetic voice
has been heard and statesmen are warned.