The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-13
NOR. s1roLLrs MISSION.
Indications FROM lis Speech 70 tho Arch
bishops una His Personal Conduct.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Tho speech
OF Mgr. Satoli on the Settling Of the School
Question" has been so yariously inlerprcted
that the tito seems to be rather exquisite
irony. Some OF tho daily newspapers have de.
clared In their headlines that tho Pore has
abolished the parochal school system, while
others declare that lie has absolutely con-
demnedsthe public schools. While awaiting
the authentic report OF the Archhishops'
meeting. and while making due allowances
for the unsatisfactory nature OF the English
translation Of Mgr Satoli's speech lin which
there are Inconsistencies and even contra
dictions which could not have been in tho
original OF the learned professors discoursc,,
we think that correct idea OF tho nature aud
importance of the speech as pui lishei may
be gained from the following considerations:
]. So far as the public is aware the school
question ia not In the province assigned to
Mgr. Satoll's caro- by his Supporters In Home
lie was sent I'VE speak. of course. only from
public rerort) IN the first instance to repre-
sent the Holy Father in Chicago. and TO pre-.
sent TO the assembled Archbshors In New
York the greetings and fluctuations OF the
Pope. After his arrival in this country he was
named by the Propaganda as the indigo in ali
cases to lie decided lin case OF appeal bet cen
priests and Bishops. That tho Settling" OF the
scnooi question was rart of his mission hns
p'eH HsseItttl Dy any r0lltDie authority.
.. Mgr, Satolii had no authority to preside Mt
the meeting of tho Archii shors. aud no au-
thority to dictate to them the conclusions ut
which thoy should arrive. When he presented
to the hrchbishops tho greetings OF Rome he
probably took occasion to deliver his discourse
on the school question. this being the great
question o. tho hour rightly surprising that
the Archl ishops would rot be unwilling to
listen to his viows.
=, 3. That Mgr. Satolli was not appointed to
settle the school question" seems, further.
tho natural conclusion to lie drawn from the
fact that he has been hut II few wesks in
America that he does not understand "A word
OF English. that he has not examined persons
ally either the public. schools or the tarochial
schools Ia task for which his Ignorance Of the
language makes him at present unfit. that he
friends since his arrival. and that the Arch
bishops OF this country had been specially
Commanded by the Holy Father to consider
tho school question
:, 4. IT is MISC eyidcntfrom the res olutions pub
lished officially by tn. chlishops on tho
school question that they die. not consider
themselves bound to follow Mgr. Satoll's
tons. The resolutions OF the Archhsh"ps
diHer very noticeahly in many uoints from the
speech OF the celebrated lcman theolog ian
me Archbishors. while acknowledging the
gontus and respecting the learning Of Mgr
Satolli. fet. no doubt that they. hUinc more
ultimately acquainted with the stat" of the
church In this country and its practical needs,
school question"
W. are OF the opinion TINT tho inornortuns
add another tangla to the school question
and instead OF settling Will only awaken anew
the unproiitable controversy. s.