St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-24
THE POPEs RESIDENCE.
Why Leaving the Vatican Might
Prove Dangerous.

F. Marion Crawford in Cosmopolitan.
Outside of Italy the position of Leo
XIII. In Rome is not generally under
stood. Most people suppose that the
expression, "the prisoner in the Vat
ican," which he applies to himself, and
which is very generally applied to MIN
by the more ardent of Italian Catholics,
is mere empty phrase, and that his
confinement within his small dominion
is purely matter of choice.
This is not the case. So far
as the political theory of the
question is concerned. it is probable
that the pope would not in any case be
territory, unless he showed himself as
the official guest of King Humbert, who
would naturally be expected to return
the visit. To make such an official
visit and sucn an appearance would be.
in fact, to accept the Italian domination
in Rome, which, as | have already
noticed, would be contrary to the
accepted Catholic idea of the
social basis necessary for the
papacy. 1t would not necessarily be All
un-Catholic act, however, but it would
certainly be an unpapal one. No one
would expect the ex-empress of the
lUI W live OpCUly III
Paris as though the Parisiaus had never
copied the republic in friendly and
forglving spirit. And the case is. to all
lntents and purposes, exactly identical.
But this is not all. 1t is unfortunately
true that there is another and much bet
ter reason why Leo XIII. can not show
himself in the streets of Rome. 1t is
quite certain that his life would not be
safe. The enthusiastic friends of Italy
who read glowing accounts Of the de
velopment of the new kingdom and
write eloquent articles in the same
strain, will be utterly Mortified at this
statement, and will. moreover, laugh
ern civilized Italian would con-
spire to take the life of harmless and
unotfending old man. They will be
quite right. The modern civilized
Italians would treat the pope with the
greatest respect and consideration if he
appeared among them. Most o. them
would take off their hats and stand
aside while he drove by, and great
many of them would probably 90 down
upon their knees in the streets
to receive his blessing. The king.
who is gentleman and tolerant of re-
ligious practices. would treat the head
who is not only religious. but devout,
would hail the temperance of the
pOntiff with enthusiasm. But, unfortu-
nately for the realization of any such
thing. Rome is moi peopled only by
modern civilized Italians, nor Italy
either.
There is in the city very large body
of Social Democrats anarchists and the
like, not to mention the small monde
script rabble which everywhere does its
best to bring discredit upon socialistic
pIinciples-a mere handful, perhaps,
but they are largely composed of fanat-
cal from failure, poverty. vice and
an indigestion of so-cal!ed free
thought" There have not been many
sovereigns nowadays whose lives have
not been attempted by such men at one
time or another. Within our own men,
DRY an emperor of Russia and two
presidents of tine United States have
been &C tually murdered by Just such
men. The king of Italy and theEmperor
William l., Napoleon I'LL. Queen Vic
toria and Alexander Ill. have all been
aSsailed by such fanatics within our
own recollection, and some of them
have narrowly escaped death. Not
one of them, with the exception
of Alexander IL. has been so
hated by small and desperate
body of men as Leo XIII. is hated by
that little band which undoubtedly eX-
lists in Rome today. l will venture to
say that it is matter of continual sat
isfaction to the royal family of Italy,
and to the Italian government, that the
pope should really continue to consider
himself a prisoner within the precincts
of the Vatican, since it is quite certain
that if he were to appear openly in
Rome the Italian authorities would not,
in the long run, be able to protect his
life.
After all that has been said and
preached upon the subject by the
friends of Italy, 1t would be serious
matter indeed if the pope, taking prac-
teal advantage of his theoretic liberty,
should be done to death in the streets
of Rome by self-styled Italian patriot.
No one who thoroughly understands
Rome at the present day is ignorant that
such danger really exists, though it will
no doubt be promptly denied by Italian
ministers, newspaper correspondents
and other intelligent but enthusiastic
persons.