The sun., 1893-06-08
OF HIGHEST INTEREST.
rnr ropE AND THE EMPEROR.

Tae Emperor william Deei-iveiy Foiied-The
church stand. By She Cause orDcmocracy.
ROME. May 25.-Now that the lights are out,
nnd tina. a calm has succeeded tho agitation
nftbe imperial festivals In Rome 1t becomes
mora yasy and moro instructive to gather In
tho lessons and the results connected with
Tho visit Of William II. to the Vatican. In win
tho Quirnal bcdizened itsclf in all its ilnery;
the public mind was concentrated upon that
httls modest chamber where the lamp which
Nights the labors Of Loo NH. burns until the
middle OF the night. 1nstlnetiveiy. and per-
1nrs without understanding the drama that
was going on there. the people had the con-
yi,tior that the Emperor and the Pope were
about to enter into n courteous struggle to de-
eide tho turn which events must take In Eu-
rome What happened? What did tho two
masters OF the political and tho religious idea
say to zach other?
During tho first quarter OF an hour. In the
rresence OF the Empress. the conversation was
necessarily OF n general character. Leo S111..
with the distinction OF gentleman. expressed
tho happiness which he felt in making the
personal acquaintance OF the Empress. and
apoogzed for tho necessarily limited extent
that he was able to give to the reception, an
nouncnC also his regret at not being ablo
personally to return tho courteous visit
raid him. When the two interlocutors were
left alone they began to touch upon political
questions. With incontestable skill the En-
peror. planting himself upon tho ground
where their views would most easily meet.
sad to the Pope that he was all tho
more happy to see the Ponti6 again, be-
cause he knew that his efforts were directed
toward the same object as ware his own.
namely. the internal and external peace OF
nations the cessation OF political. social. and
International conflicts. which mar the hsppi-
ness OF the peoples OF the globe
Idon't believe that the Pope then ordered
the reading to the Emperor OF tho project Of
an encyclical which he intends soon to ad-
dress to the workingmsn Of the Catholic
world. Leo XIII. merely affirmed once more
that he would be happy to be able to contrib
ute more efflcaciously to the peace Of nations
solicituds for which is one OF the first duties OF
his mission in this world.
Was there any question about general dis
armament and international arbitration? I
cannot soy. Nsithor should 1 like to sny
that the Eastern question was touched upon.
or the situation OF Alsace- Lorraine. although
the Pope received q few days before some
letters In which some unfortunate Alsa-
tians petitioned his Holiness to recon-
mend the fate Of their country to tho
beuevolence Of tho monarch. On the other
hand. place atte faith in the romance put
In circulation by Roman journal. according
to which the Emperor put forward tho idea
that Alsace-L Lorraine might be eventually
ceded to tho Holy See. to constitute new
Pontiflcnl State whose neutrality would be
guaranteed by all the interested powers.
lam assured on the best OF authority that
the Emperor confined himself to protesting
that his intentions were pacific. AMI he refer
red to the fact that Germany had already had
kn xhA upfh ikx,u nd tha ,Iay,
med alton OF the Holy See In tho affair OF the
Garoiinss He also regretted TINT all ques-
tions In dispute could not be settled by similar
simple methods. Finally he added that he
considered. not without painful emotion. the
peril and the grave consequences OF war;
but that unfortunately 1t was not possible for
him to hope that that terrible eventuality
would be put of to a distant future
1t was announced in advance that the En-
peror would endenvor to excite distrust In tho
Pores mind against revolutionary and social
istie France. and to draw him into the orbit Of
the triple alliance. William H. planted him
teli upon this ground with an ability full OF
tact and expediency. referring to the duty OF
sovercigns 10 occupy them selves with the So
rinl question, and tho condition OF the workers.
he pointed out the important part allotted to
the Church in this matter.
Tho Papacy." said he. is great conserv-
ative force. which certainly ought to lend its
aid to the monerchicaI cause. and to the pacific
Intentions of the triple alliance"
The Pope. with n great deal Of fnesse. un-
deTstooi the allusion. and replied that in tes-
siiying TO his interest in the legitimate aspira-
tions OF modern nations. he intended to raise
no political question. THE bead OF the
Church as such" said he. has no predilec-
tion in regard to political institutions and
must everywhere enjoin :he Catholics to place
themselves upon the constitutional ground OF
their respective countries" That is why the
Popo sympathlzes with the cause OF the mon
archy IN Spain. just as he believes 1t to 10 his
duty to recommend respect for republican in
Stitutions in France. Then his Holiness re-
marked that there wore certain monarchies
Just as hostile to the Church as certain repub-
lies for instance. the Italian m onarchy which
took advantage OF the strength derived from
the triple alliance. to make upon the Church
awar OF continual veXations and insults.
In this way the thrust was parried with
grace and skill But In turn the Emperor.
discovering the a7'iere pensSs Of tho PontiT.
assured him that the triple alliance had no in
tention to encourage Italy to adopt an anti
religious policy He intended. he said. to
speak to his friend Humbert upon this sub
>ect; and 1t appsars that he did the same
evening. But that was tho extent OF the initia-
Tive. which had been attributed to him. OF
precise project for concillation between the
vatican and the Quirinal.
without the slightest doubt. Leo XIII. will
continue without modification tho general
lines OF his policy: but at the same time he has
been tlattered 10y the significant Difference
with which he has been treated by tho headIof
tho German empire and OF tho triple alliancc
william H. was evidently intent upon dlssi.
pa'lng the painful recollectlons left in Rome
~ MS visit OF the llth Of October. 1888 So
lar he certainly succeeded: and. evon II bis
Visit and his language had only that one "a.
suit. that result must be important.
Certainly william III. did not como 70 tha
Vatican to negotiate any diplomatic arrange
ments The conjectures sct afoat regarding
this subject by tho reporters are all fanciful He
did not ask for the suppor. Of his Military bin.
for Nuncio at Berlin. or the retirement Of
Cardinal Rampola; but his visit to the Pope.
especially since Herbert Won Bismarck was no
longer there to interrupt it. has thrown oil