The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-11
HIS HOLINESS EXTOLLED
Archbishop Ireland Writes of His In
teryiew with the Holy Father.
The Pope as the Greatest Statesman in Eu-
rope, Friend Of the United States and
the Champion Of Workingmen.

Associated
ROME, March 2S.-Archbishop Ireland, OF
ST. Paul. speaks as follows in regard to
Pope Leo XIII:
The letter of Leo XIII TO the presidents
of the European commission of the Chi
cag0 exhibition Is an unusual document
and has surprised churchmen OF the old
school tenacious of traditions and forms
The Pope is constantly giving new proofs
| that he is really the pontiff of his age.
derstanding thoroughly Its aspirations aud
| methods, while REFRESHING its evils. en-
couraging its healthful tbrobbings. bles-
sing its achievements. opening mp new
vistaS to its hopes. A few weeks ago ne
broke the time-honored custom which. IN
der plea of guarding his dignity. confirmed
his power. and. In an interview with Q
Partisan journalist. addressed himself.
through the public press. to the people OF
France upon gravest political and relig-
ious question. To-day he opens his mind
In most cordial letter to a non-Catholic.
and through him to nation LARGELY. non
Catholic. bidding q od-speed TO the gigantic
enterprises which, on the shore of Lake
Michigan. is to bring together as never be-
fore the fruits of the earth and the work of
the genius and industry of men.
LEO LOVES OUR COUNTRY.
1.-THE letter to the represen tatIve of our
exhibition is another manifestation of his
high esteem and warm love for the United
States. When promising to give the letter
In the audience accorded to Mr.. Thomas
b. Bryan. he had said that he wished
IT to be taken as token OF his most
friendly sentiments towards our country.
II could quote numerous instances" oon-
tinued Bishop Ireland" among which
numerous expressions which L had the
honor of listening to myself, as proofs that
| there Is no other European parsonage OF
| note so American in his thou ghts and sym m
| pathies as Leo XIII. He sees in the United
states the perfect blossoming of this
national liberty. TO which he knows the
nature of Christian, civilization must
assuredly belong. Indeed. l venture,
| without fear of being mistaken, the
| assertion that the Pope has de-
| rived from the United States. If not u
| good share of the democratic inspirations
w hich he has been sending out over the
world from the vatican, at least solid Gu
| cOuragement for them. In this We well
take honor TO ourselves American in
| fuences are reaching ont over all lands.
Whatever be the precise outward form &c
may wear. the government of all countries
| hencefOrth will be q government of the
| people. by the people and for the people.
| and America will have largely contributed
| to the transformation. 1t Is no wonder
| that the first statesman of Europe studies
us attentively and gives Us his love.
The Roman pontiiicate to-day Is en-
bodied In the greatest intellectual figure Of
with the person of Leo. or have persued
with any care his encyclicsls without be-
| ing struck with the acuteness of his mind
| and tho depth of his knowledge. He is I'M
| patient If mnde TO listen to verbisge or
lengthy discourses. Put before him ideas
| in u few concise sentences and lie grasps
at once the thought. His reply is equally
precise and pregnant with moaning. He
knows not himself what narrowness or
view Is, and detosts Ii in others.
HIS HOLINESS IN HISTORY.
"His name Will go down to history a.
hat nf hn ndars az nd
| had both the intelligence and courage to
put himself at the helm and guide it amidst
its stormiest seas. Ours is remarkable pc
Rod, such a one as appears only at rare IN
| tervals in the life of humanity. Ii 10 the
birtatime of q new order of things-soclal
| and political. A new spirit permeates the
world. The world of tomorrow will be
| very different from that of yesterday. Dur
| ing the years of transition clouds hang
above the horizon aud only the most acute
mind foresees what is coming The break,
too. with the old traditions is painful TO
many, and courage is required in him who.
with the Masters voice. must an.
for the church and for the whole
world that in this time of crisis
| the Waterman on the tower is Leo. He
secs across the darkening ocean spread out
| before him. and he speaks. His ency-
| clicais have dealt, one after the other,
| with the pressing questions Of tho age. and
/
significant In tone than the preceding.
| "Leo's historic personality has been from
| the beginning of his pontificate constantly
| growing In amplitude and in intellectual
| meaning. until to-day he Is saluted by all.
whether adherents of the faith or mere OBJ
servers of thought. as the first thinker and
teacher In the world. DespoIled of terri
torlal domination, his physical or
BIT reduced oi,a to tn the walls of his
sovereign. reigning by the power
| of intellect. He has lifted the
church high above all the shifting scenes
of the movable and the contingent; freed
| her from all hurtful alliances with polit-
zeal parties and transitory social forms-
lions, and landed Peters barque upon the
most advanced waters of all legitimate
| progress in modern times. His pontificnte
| will be historic. marking one of the bright
est pages in the annals of the church. pro-
| jecting its luminous rays far beyond it's
| own years. Indeed, he is the Pope of the
| future, even more than of the present
| time. in this sense: that bis work to-day is
the drawing out of large lines. the sowing
| of fruitful germinal ideas, the full growth
| of which cannot be seen for years to come.
| The future alone can judge Leo in plenary
| justice.
THE CHURCH ABOVE POLITICS.
| "Hisency clical will bring peace and union
to France. In their hearts the French are
republicans, and il angered them TO see
church officials separated from the coun-
| try's chosen government through an ALI.
| ance with monarchists. The latter re-
| joiced in the alliance which gave them
power and adhesiyeness. Leo has put the
| church totally above political parties. A
| few years ago he did as much for Spain.
| and, more recently yet.for Brazil. But the
| effect of an ency clical of this kind reaches
| out far beyond the confines of France.
| Americans cannot fail TO see in IL the otfi-
| clal confirmation of their own institutions
by the highest schoo. of thought IN Chris
tendon.
lin the same line of popular aud demo-
cratic ideas was the encyclical on labor,
| pu blished last year. While teaching in
the plainest nanner the rights of property
and of capital the Pope throws the full
weight of his mighty word into the scale IN
| favor of the toiling masses and gives notice
| to the guardians of nations and the pos
SCISSORS OF wealth that the hour of reckon
ing is nigh unless justice be done. He deals
| in no vague declarations. but goes at once
to the root of the question. declaring that
for his labor which shall permit
in Keeping with his dignity as
o man end a child of God and that organ
lied society must see that his rights TO life,
health and salutary surroundings be pro-
tected. Leo has been called the working
mans Pope, and few appellations more
| noble and more Christian could he thong ht
OF. He has had pity on the multitude. and
in this single fact there is more grandeur
and glory by far than to have been hailed
| by monarchs and served by the rich and
| poWerful of the earth