The herald., 1893-01-17
THE DEMOCRATIC TENDENCIES OF THE
POPE.

dreat changes are taking place in the
United States in the line of religious
federation. Thirty years ago if the pope
had ventured to appoint an apostolic
delegate in this country there would
nave been NJ ond of excitone-t- L. :.
not an extreme case to suppose there
would have been a riot, or, rather,
series of riots, and yet the appointment
of Mnnsignnr Satolli has passed without
special comment in any quarter. The
people of the United States have come
to the highly common .vnse conclusion
that the pope may be safely left free to
counsel with his own spiritual children.
1t is his affair and theirs, and there an
end. How different is this from the
spectacle which would have been pre-
sented ten years after Bakers pistol had
laid Bill Poole in his grave. Strange as
the assertion may appear, the odi,tm
heologicum appears to have died out
altogether in this country. What it
took thirty years war to accomplish
in Germany some centuries ago has been
done peaceably here. No Wallensteins
or Gustavuses have been needed to bring
about the auspicious change. 1t has
come about naturally.
Undoubtedly it has been largely in
fuenced by the peculiar character of
the present pontiff and that of his pre-
decessor. Plus the Ninth was one OF the
most romantic and interesting men that
have figured in the long line of the
Roman pontiffs. Origipallya captain of
the Noble Guard, disappointment in
love is said to have resulted in his voca-
ton to enter the church. During the
first years of his pontifcate his demo-
cratic tendencies were such as to alarm
the more conservative element of the
Catholic church. 1t was only when the
cannon balls of Garibaldi and Mazzini
ratified around his ears in 1S4S that the
troopers instinct was aroused in Pho
Mono that caused him to drop into the
ranks of the conservatives. But he al
ways retained the charm of his indi-
viduality, ard never failed to unite in
his own person the courtly grace of the
soldier and the benisnity OF the priest.
Pope Leo, his immediate successor, in
some respects intensified the personally
favorable impression which had been
made by Pho Mono. His character was
not understood at first outside of his
own immediate circle. But, as his reign
progressed, the world discovered to ite
surprise that this ascetic prelate. whose
spirituality of physique was akin to that
of Cardinal Newman, was in truth one
of the most democratic of men. As fal
as his poLtifcate has progressed, he ii
essentially representative of the
masses. He has disgusted the royalists
of France by his sympathy with the
cause of the republic. From the very
day OF his advent to the pontifcate ht
has shown his cordial sympathy witt
the people and the institutions of tn,
United States.
, His latest interpretations in this coun
try have all been in the line Of genu
, inc democracy. His insistence upoi
! the restoration Of DR.. McGlynn to hi
priestly functions was most offeneiv
to Archbishop Corrigan and his entour
age. McGlynn was a pronounced dis
ciple of Henry George and his peculia
political theories. This was probably
/ in the opinion of most persons, yer
I foolish departure, but it was nobody
! business but DR.. McGlynn's. Arch
, bishop Corrigan thought differently, an
undertook to silence the high spirite