The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-09

influence ecclesiastical opinion In Rome
against the probability OF an exodus OF the
Sacred College
But will these combined efforts succeed II
the Quirinal has such a strong interest In
maintaining the present state OF affairs, ought
the Vatican to favor It's rival by remaining In
expectation and inaction7 Is It not evident to
every impartial observer that opposing inter-
ests must bring about diversity Of conduct3
II tho entire existence Of the italian State is
linked with tho status quo. ought the Pope to
fasten himself to q waiting policy2 II every
day. standing with folded arms. he finds HIM
self losing ground; and II the removal OF the
Sacred College puts in question all the work Of
tho italian revolution. is It possible to
hesitate and not have recourse to such
convenient weapon2 Objections arc
made on the difficulties OF removal. that
black cloud in the international horizon.
and the uncertainty OF return But what the
Vatican will not do at an opportune moment
and Of its own accord. 1t may be forced to do
the day when the revolution considers itself
strong enough to enter tho arena for the last
battle. Everything that Is great in history
has its thorns. Whatever has an influence
upon human destiny mny mako tho most
courageous tremble. and cause the most cre-
alive minds to falter. But extraordinary situ-
atoms demand extraordinary acts. The
lupuCy UuS lhltil III tuC LlNluo loICts IL EcSIS
upon tho Infinite and upon the moral miracle.
As an historical power. as human contingent
cy It has its modesty and its timidity. II
knows the calculations and the hesitations
OF political bodies. Il Is anxious and It Is
afraid. 1t takes refuge in worldly prudence.
But when It is not alone its human side
that Is at stake but all It's pastoral
ministry: when all It's religious mission
and all its social and amphictyonic arbi.
trage are threatened. how can We refuse
to admit that Leo XIII. and his oounsellors
should discuss the reasons in favor Of an exile
necessarily temporary Has not the Sacred
College several times been in session abroadr
And have not these extraordinary sessions
been followed by a marvellous rejuvenation Of
the moderating and pacifying power OF the
Holy Seer But do not wish to enter upon an
argument. My intention is simply to be the sim
cere Interpreter OF the reality witness OF facts.
And is 1t not strange that when one weighs the
reasons for and against. We are brought infal-
libby to the conclusion that an exodus alone
will bring about a solution tuorthv Of the Pope.
Of Ialv. and of the civilized ,oorld2
This moral completely Of the Triple Alliance
and Of the Spanish and Portuguese crowns Is
an important feature In the appreciation Of
this theme. II It was isolated. II Russia and
France did not bind their interests to those OF
the Triple Alliance. 1t would be reasonable to
suppose that the force OF things aided by cir
cumstances would bring about removal
Therefore the Vatican has its eyes fixed upon
the intentions OF these two Powers. whose in
fuence upon the situation has become singu-
larry enlarged since the Paris Exposition and
the splendid festivals at Cronstadt Loo XIII.
has been brought naturally by tho violence Of
NJ Crispi to interest himself in the friendship
OF these two nations. AS the Triple Alliance
means for the Vatican the maintenance OF the
status quo and the consolidation Of the italian
State against the Vatican. the Pope could not
resist the impulse to lean internationally on
Paris and St Petersburg. In an outra-
geous manner. tho Triple Alliance has
accused Leo KILL and Cardinal Ram
| polla OF maniiesting sympathies for schis-
| matio Russia and republican France. It
| is performing its part. Just as the Vatican
appreciates the Triple Alliance. the latter
breads a friendly understanding between the
| Holy See and France and Russia Where there
is community OF interests. doctrinairism
| loses its sway. The tyranny Of situations is
stronger than the tyranny Of political ideas.
It is not without reason that Cronstadt was
| coincident with the letter OF Cardinal Ram
| polln. and followed the republican orientation
of the Pope toward France. One produced the
| other There was triple ideal In the thought
OF Leo KILL: to make peace with France to
take his place in that future which belongs to
republican democracy. and to render radical
France. always ready for alliances. disposed
| to favor international marriages.. It Is only
this last point which interests US in this
study. There Is no doubt that between NJ.
Carnot, Leo KILL. and Alexander Ill there has
been an exchange Of views. a reciproc.
| ity OF services rendered The Cabinet
OF Paris must know the part Leo KILL has
taken in the union Of the two Powers. Alex
ander ILL.,. mysterious as sphinx and patient
as Pope. has long known the value Of q
French and Ponti1cal alliance: but his tradi-
| tons. his principles. his character as an auto
crat. forbade any sort Of promiscu.ty with
western radicalism. But whom. through an in
SEPARATION of genius and through knowledge Of
historical laws and international necessities.
Leo KILL called the Church and the Conserva-
tive party to place themselves upon repub-
lican ground. when the voice from Algiers was
| reechoed upon the banks OF tho Neva. the Gear
felt that a new period was opening up and that
| oil the old traditions must be changed and
made to conform with the metamorphoses OF
| the present. Jules Simon made a bright re-
mark when he said: II Pope offers his hand
to tho republic. why can't an Emperor do the
same? II a Cardinal orders the playing OF the
Marseillaise. how can Gear hesltate2"
This mysterious solidarity OF interests must
exercise considerable influence upon the
subject We are dealing with. 1t Is certain
that IL France and Russia. predisposed by the
| opposing attitude OF the Triple Alliance, should
favor an exodus OF the Sacred College. the last
remaining hesitation Of the Pope would disap-
pear at once. We are permitted to believe that
the Car has not yet manifested his Intimate
thought in this matter. One day this very win
| ter he called for the records Of the Conclaye,
He Is studying the question at the present
moment 1t is probable that he will remain
undecided. to say the least Russia. hanked
by France. has all the reasons In the world for
continuing the actual immobiity Of Europe.
But the immobility OF Europe cannot exist
without the immobility OF the Vatican,
Parliamentary corruption. the financial de.
cadence OF Italy. the difficulties with which
PRUSSIA and Austria are graphing. the moral
conquests which Russia continues to make
In the East and the advances which she is
gaining every day over her competitors: the
entire ensemble Of the general situation allows
the Car to favor the status quo up to tho day
when he shall feel that the East. without too