New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-26
TREACHERY IN THE VATICAN.
"A LETTER TO THE POPE MADE PUBLIC By
ITS CUSTODlANS
1T WAS WRITTEN BY CARDINAL GIBBONS, AND
WAS SENT HERE FROM THE SECRET
ARCHIVES AT ROME
ley TELEGRAM TO TIE TRIBUNE.1

BY Cardinal Gibbons to the ArchblshOpS OF INC
Catholic Church published three weeks ago In
a dispatch sent from Chicago and made the basis
for charging him with conspiracy against his coad-
tutors In the Catholic hierarchy lie was accused OF
unworthy motives In keeping back certain informa
ton from Rome. The falsi;y Of the charge was
promptly shown by the Joint statement OF Cardinal
Gibbons and Archbishop Coirgan, who were the
preates deputed to send the information referred 10
TO tho Pope.
startling as was the treachery this grave scandal
revealed, it appears a little thing compared with
the trcachery which now involves the most trusted
custodans OF confidential letters in the Vatican and
Propaganda in Rome. From this source a personal
letter Of Cardinal Gibbons 10 the Pope him,eli, wMch
was never written for the eve of any other person.
was recently furnished by the enemies of Archbishop
Irelands scholastic plan from the secret archives OF
the Pope, and the copy sent to a distinguished
Catholic prelac In the United States.
The letter the date OF March l, 1892. and was
prepared as appendix, IL was said 10 tho famous
ireland memorial" 1t failed to attract the slightest
notice when published few weeks ago, save among a
few who knew the text correctly given. until the
INQUIRY was made among ecccSiastics familiar win
the way business Is done in Rome, as TO what 'odd
have been the motive in furnishing leler rom 'he
private les OF the Iopc for publication nearly year
after 1t was written. The archbiShops and bishop" OF
tho Catholic Church In this country saw the document
70. the first time throagh dts publication In the
weekly Catholic papers. They were douby Nu'pi'S'o'
fnt that such letter should have bceh ma po''
lie even If olay OF personal character ana second
that il substantially forth that the ne'ropohaiS
In the United states favored Monsgnor lreiaho
pan for settling the school question
Recent events In the country. particularly the con
ference of arcllbshOpS In New 0rk last NoVempe''
showed what IL remarkable change had cone over inc
minds OF these pr2latcs In short year, II inc
assertions forth In Cardinal tiibbonSs letter "er'
true Save 10 those familiar with the course OF
events In this country the treaChcry OF the ropes
trusted friend would not reveal Itself on raulhS inc
text of tie letter. But he certainly understood u'c
dssenson II would lead to If IL once saw the llgh' oI
day .
The reason why the letter was written Is SET ioI'n
In the opening paragraph. which says;
Most Holy Father: Monscnor OConnen. rector OF the
American College writes your Holiness wishes me 10
detailed report OF what was done al une
of the Archbishops Louis the occasion OF do
sgnor Konricks episcopal jubilee In reference 10 ~c
schools st Faribault and saltwater.
The Cardinal then recalls TO the mind OF 'he
Pope that Monsgnor lrelands action has caused pas
sdonate attacks upon his address, and on the motives
Inspiring them. lie then says;
When we were met at 81. Louis it the wish Of all
the archbshops obtain explanation OF what had been
done and at my request Monsgnor ireland made an eN
PLANTATION simplicity and frankncss worthy OF his
high position and noble character lie went so far as 10
say that he happy submit his action to the cog
nzance OF and ready TO retrae his steps
II they thought he had passed the limit OF sight OF
prudence"
The agreement between Monsgnor Ireland and the
school commissioners of Faribault and saltwater are
next given at length. Then comes the following, 10
which, it Is understood, exception Is taken by
number of the Archbishops present at the ST. Louis
conference In 1891, which is doubtless The real
cause Of the copy Of the letter having been stolen
from the archives at the Vatican:
This. Holy Fates. is in substance the situation at
fsribault and saltwater After Monsignor lelands cN
PLANTATION and his not OF the Archbishops
offered a word of blame. Many were very explicit in
their approval; and Monsignor Williams, Archbishop OF
Boston whose authority with us IS very great cid not
hesitate say he congratulated his colleague on the
results obtained, that his wish would be TO submit
the schools Of his diocese TO similar arrange
ment he hoped succeed at least as to
In taking things they are, the objections
to this arrangement are none the advantages are 30
great that the opposition 10 it attributed to malice or
ignorance.
1t Is to this last the archbish0pS take the
Mveliest exception These same propositions. formu
lated In the address of Monsinor Sato and ,entcd
to Jhe conference held at Monsicnor Corrisan's
residence in New-York last November with the
solemn assurance that they represented the mind OF
the Pope were not acceptable to the prclates there
assembled Monsignor Ireland is said TO have been
the only who stood up for them. and Cardinal
Gibbons who the chairman took advantage Of
his position to remain silent. The advantages OF
ths ireland plan arc next elaborated and the
great gain TO the children in the community where
the system has been adopted are set forth In detail
In closing the Cardinal says that the Ireland plan
is and that many schools are under similar
rule In several doceses. namely New York the
diocese Of Archbishop COrrgan: Milwaukee, the
diocese Of Archbishop Katzer Albany, Buffalo. Erie
Harrisburg Peoria, Rochester and savannah.
The Cardinal, then OF the POpes personal
counsellors adds:
No one, had dreamed OF aIsing objections and
accusing tshops Onc priests Of these dioce-c Of
Tho
but the passions stirred up the instant Monsgnor
Ireland had acted. His enemies ore bitter 1t pains
me much 70 IL, Holy Father but they have wathmc
at Rome and stop nothing ruin his prestige and
his authority and tsat have written 10 you already
would be great blow 10 Church in the United States
The truth OF this last sentence Is fOrcibly con
frm.d by the fact that the "watcmcn at Rome
succeeded in getting copy Of this personal letter 10
the Pope to be used In the United states to tie dis
comfture of the writer and Of Archbishop Ireland
himself 1t will doubtless pain Cardinal iiampoa,
the Papal Secretary OF State, and Cardinal Ledo-
ch0wsk, Project Of the Propaganda, to have such
positive evidence before them OF the truth OF Car
dinal t;ibbons's assertion. The Pope himself VIII
probably be astoundcd when lie learns that bitter
enemies OF Monsignor Ireland and Cardinal Gibbons are
members OF the Papal household Itself.
The appeal OF the Cardinal TO save MonSgnor
Ireland from public condemnation was headed by III"
Pope who not long after the receipt OF the letter.
authorized the statement that he approved the sui
water and Faribault plan The most explicit ana
emphatic approval, however, was not made known
until Monsienor satolli was sent 10 this country
with the Pope's plan 10 end the school controversy
and the scholastic question formulated In the
fourteen propositions. These the definite answer
TO tho last paragraph of Cardinal Gibbons's letter TO
the PoIe which tells its own story:
Your Holiness will allow ~ In ending this letter
that the silence Holy See th';queson has been
ard viii be interpreted vtud condemnation of the
conduct and views the great Archbishop Of ST Paul
II opinion been shared by the American public as
It assuredly would be in time fear that the national
would he excited and that measures obnoxious
Catholics proposed in school matters There
n thi. directinn lncy have boon