The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
r8s EVOLUTION OF rHB fArAcH
The Faf-resehing Eject OF the fonurs
Recent Letters and words.

tutes not only q CONTINUATION OF tho TOAST OF
Cardinal LaviRerie at Algiors. OF the letter OF
Cardinal Rampolla to the Bishop OF St Flour.
and OF the encyclical Of the 10th OF February.
but 10 also great doctrinal and historic act.
From this point OF view 1t exctes attention
and imposes meditation upon all those who
follow the general movement OF our epoch,
and tho tran sformation OF the old European
continent for the final triumph OF the democ-
racy. Here We have more than one brilliant
conservation OF the American regime by the
FIRST moral power OF the world. 1t ia both a
loan and q symptom Of tho outspreading OF
American ideas over the classic land OF
dynasties and monarchies.
Huxley says somewhere that there arc two
sorts OF great mon. those who are tho mir
rors OF their epoch. who master better than
others the ideas OF their century. and those
who fashion by their conceptions the form
OF the future. From the American point OF
Wow. Leo KILL reflects admirably tho polit-
ical concept Of tho United States. In the per-
spective Of tho reorganization Of tho general
life In Europe. the Pope belongs to that family
OF souls who shine. according to the express
sion OF Schopenhauer. like fixed stars upon
future worlds.
Tho Intervention OF Leo XIII. really puts an
end to the Gallican theology and the second
hand philosophy OF the great m onarchies which
welded together tho throne and the altar. In
Europe, statesmen. philosophers. and writer's
have lived since Louis XIV and Philip Ii. under
the Influence OF this conception. which has ac-
cumulated ruins around the lapacy and the
Church. Catholicism seemed like the appen-
dix. the GROWING OF a contingent form: and
this popularity made OF tho Church an insti-
tuition to be combatted and vanIuished. The
alliance OF tho throne and the altar seemed to
be something like Keystone OF public law
and OF tho ecclesiastical system. while In real
ity the Papacy scared above all relative
regimes and all forms of political life.
From tho very beginning OF his pontifcate
Loo XIII. saw tho evil and Its dangers. At
FIRST he taught the traditional doctrine OF the
Fathers. but whom tho situation became
troubled In France and the difficulties OF the
Church demanded decisive action. Leo NIL.
applied his ideal In tho famous interven-
ton. OF which the letter to the Cardinals Is the
Intellectual and political codillcation. Not
only ia Loo XIII. preaching obedience to the
republic but he is teaching the legitimacy OF
democracy and Of the republic. under the
sAme title as the Legitimacy OF monarchies.
He has replaced in the heart OF modern Europe
the beautiful and eternal doctrine OF the
Gospel and Of st. Thomas. who teaches In his
treatise Regin,ine lh.incipum that the chief
Of the state Is the Vicari,s Popui, the man.
datory uf the nation. 1t Is with a gentle In
sistencs and q delicate fexibility that tho
Popes expert pen accommodates these demo-
cratic principles to the new conditions OF old.
unbalanced Europe.
This Intervention has q universal reach.
Tho courts and the monarchies. especially the
Triple Alliance. felt tho power Of expansion In
this historic act. and they have endeavored in
Berlin. in Vienna. in Madrid. and in Lisbon
e.. enclose the Pope in q circle Of Intangible
opposition. The rcprese natives ofthe Emperor
William IL have exercised a formidable and
skilful pressure upon the high ecclesiastical
spheres. In order to terrify and drive back
the Vatican. they have caused it to be circu-
lated that the Teutonic sovereign unable to
block the Pontiilcal initiative. INN edately
after the appearance o: the encycical OF the
18th OF February. had determined to withdraw
the School law In Prussia This backward
movement would have been an act OF ven-
Geance. intended as q warning given to the
republication OF the Pope 1t amounted to
saying to tho Pope that his act in favor OF the
republican idea would bring about unfortu-
mate and deplorAble consequences in the
country whore the monarchy forms the po-
lit.cal and social bond OF the nation.
This legend or this fact WAS exploited with
Machlaye!inn art by all the old sticklers for
thc old school. and the legislators Of the mo-
narchical idea They hoped to kill tho evolu-
tion OF the Papacy. But these hopes were dis
appointed. Their pressure accelerated the do
velopment OF the Roman thought. Leo XIII.
belongs to the race OF the mildly firm and the
infexi5ly convinced When his viglant eye
saw their strategy his soul was thrilled. and
from this conviction his letter came forth like
the waters from spring OF the mountains
Those who are ignorant Of the inner depths OF
politics appeared surprised at the serene de-
Termination and the indomitnbe energy Of the
popo They asked themselves II the encyclical
OF tho 18th OF February was not sufficient. and
II there was really any necessity for such forci-
bic language. But competent judges reco.-
nzed In the new message OF peace tho revenge
OF the Pope's independence OF mind and char
acter. To be silent in the presence fsuch PROV
ocation would have been considered as halt.
~ not retreat. 1t was said at tho beginning
OF his reign that Leo NIL loved to display his
high relations with courts and monarchs. but
those who said this did not know his harmoni-
GUS and proudly apostolic nature. Like tho
prophets. no has q ful! appreciation of his mis-
sion. Historical men labor less for immediate
success than for tho lines of civilization to
come. Like Pcpin. Sixtus ", and lius VII. he
has resisted all coalitions to give to France ma
tional and political unity These hardy found
ers dashed across all barriers in order to fash
ion the future. Leo XIII. has iono tho sans.
Socrates said long ago that the damon aGitated
al lofty souls and forced them to speak. Such |
Is tho genius OF the Porc. Tho more his pol |
Icy Is thwarted. the more the secret inspiration |
which urges him on ovcrows in his acts and |
imprints upon them an indelble stamp
On the part OF the courts it was repeated |
under all forms in tho Vatican that his policy
was putting in danger all the monarchies OF
the Continent. Must not the conservation in
such an authentic manner OF the republican
Idea. givin: to 1t rcGoAbtable force. lie bound
to spread over neishboring countries? To
make republic honest. prosperous. and
stron: in q nation whore Bismarck had helpcd
to plant 1t and to consolidate it, In tho hone Of
weakening the nation and furnishing Frrono
with the model Of policy to be uynidnl w,u
the same as sounding the funeral ircll Of IN,
old dynastic idols. And they added that IN,
day when modern democracy would SEQ in mn
ideal type tho benefits and the vi,ulify If thn
republic. tho monarchi,s would fan hnoL
toward that tomb whore destiny awaits tbor,