Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-06
CARDINAL GIBBONS


Alleged to Have Deceived the Pope-the
Letter Regarding the appointment OF
SatoIi.
CHICAGO, February 5.-The following
letter, addressed to Archbishop Dunis-
tss, has found its way ihto the hands OF
the United Press:
Cardinals Residence, 4Os N. Charles
street, Baltimore, Md, January 10,
ls93.-My Dear Archbishop: Cd the
morning of the fourth Of January last l
posted an official letter to His Holiness
ia the name of the Archbishops, in care
of DR.. O'Connell, in which set forth
the resolutions of the conference of
Archbishops at New York, relative to
the appointment OF a permanent Apos-
tolic Delegate for this country. IL has
now reached Rome and DR.. O'Connell
cables to know whether, in view OF the
recent action of the Holy Father, APP
pointing the delegate, the letter ought
TO be presented to His Holiness or with
held. / would be much obliged to your
grace il you would telegraph or write
me immediately what you think ought
to be done. l remain Of your grace,
the sincere friend,
j. CARDINAL GIBBONS.
The letter created sensation among
its recipients. In an interview dis
tinguished Catholic said:
The contents Of the letter are posi-
lively startling. 1t clearly indicates
conspiracy of the bOldest character.
The conference was held in New York
November Is, last year. Shortly after
ward DR.. OConnell left for Rome. AT
the same time, and presumably on the
same steamer, Archbishop ireland and
the authorities OF the Catholic college at
Washington, sent letters to Rome stat
ing that everybody in this country
would welcome with delight the APP
pointment of an Apostolic Delegate.
meantime, the report OF the confer
ence relative to the opposition OF the
Archbishops with regard to the appoint
ment of such Delegate still remained in
the hands OF it's Chairman, Cardinal
Gibbons, whose official duty it was to
communicate it to the Pope. Not until
January 4, as the above letter states
some six weeks after the meeting, was
that information forwarded to Rome,
in the care Of Dr. 0'COnnell, and pre-
sumably with instructions not to de-
liver it. to the Holy Father until he had
received advices from Cardinal CID
bons.
"In the meantime a dispatch comes
from Rome, from DR.. O'Connel himself,
announcing that Mgr. Satolli had re-
ceived the appointment OF permanent
Apostolic Delegate, and that two weeks
before the report of the New, YORK con-
ference came to his hands for delivery
to the Holy Father.
The inference is apparently clear
that the information in regard to the
opposition of the American hierarchy
was purposely withheld in order to give
the minority time TO represent to the
Pope that the sentiment was In favor OF
the appointment.
"Dr. O'Connell himself was the first
to announce the appointment OF Mgr.
Satoli, through cabegram to the
Catholic College at Washington.
"Now the fact becomes published
the Vatican remained in ignorance OF
the true state Of affairs-Cardinal Glib
bOnS announces that the report mas at
last reached Rome, and wishes to know
If it would be worth while, in the opin-
ion of his brother ArchbiShops, to let
His Holiness know of the true senti-
ment of the hierarchy in regard to the
appointment of an Apostolic Delegate.
Does that not smack strongly OF con-
spiracy? Mark my words, the ma
jority OF the Archbishops will
insist on the report being presented to
His Holmes, even at this late day: 1
believe the Holy Father will be sur
prised when he reads the report, and
will, without doubt, take some meas
ures to rebuke the people who have
misrepresented TO him the affairs of the
Church of the United States, and will
also censure Cardinal Gibbons for with
holding the report of the conference
until the Apostolic Delegate had been
appointed.
1t will be seen from the above that
the end of the controversy has not
been reached.