Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-28
DEpEW AND THE POPE.
His Holiness Gives the Great New
Yorker a Private Audience.

The Popo's Personal Views Clearly Stated
ON the Great Social and Economic Cues
lions of the Day--LabOr and Capital and
Their Mutual Obligattons--They Should
Work HarmouiousIy to Mitigate and Re-
lieve Differences Of Ability or Station.
Dr. Chauncey NJ Depew arrived home
in New York Sunday last from his
European holiday. Among the many
interesting subjects he talked to the re-
porters upon was his audience with the
Pope, which the Herd6 tells as follows:
81 spent only four days in Rome"
DR.. Depew said, 81 wanted to see the
Pope. l presented my letters, but was
told that he gave no private audiences,
nor had he done 50 to laymen or private
persons. But the morning after sent
in my letter the bishop of northern New
York called upon me at my hotel.
ale said the Pope would grant me
private interview the following day. |
requested the bishop to accompany me,
as did not feel equal TO carrying on a
prolonged conversation with my limited
knowledge of the language.
Nothing could be more impressive
than the approaches in the vatican to the
pontifcal audience room. An attendant
announced that / would be admitted in
few minutes. l then asked the mon
signor what would be the ceremony for
me. He explained that the universal
rule was for those presented TO fall on
their knees and kiss the Pope's hand on
the papal ring, but as my appointment
was unusual and l was Protestant he
would inquire.
"The answer showed the exquisite tact
of the Pope. 'The holy father said
the monsignor, directs that in your
case the ceremony shall be precisely the
same as if you had private audience
with the President of the United
States
GAS l entered the audience room the
shook me cordially by the hand, re-
quested me to be seated and then re-
sumed the papal chair.
"Ie is very spare and thin. His face
is keen as well as highly intellectual.
He has brilliant and expressive eyes,
and voice whose meditation as he
talks indicates his feelings. Heexpresscd
great pleasure at seeing me and hoped
that l would so enjoy the sights and
treasures of the Eternal City as to carry
away pleasant memories and visit 1t
again soon.
"We were, in few moments, in the
midst of an earnest and instructive dis
cussion of property, its rights and duties,
of capital and labor and employers and
employees.
81 said to him that America differed
from all other countries in the opportu-
mites which it offered for men to rise.
The fact that there was opportunity for
brains, enterprise, energy and character
and that its rewards were safe and
secure under our institutions and laws
was the incentive of our marvellous
national progress and greatness. | also
referred to his recent encyclical as a
marvel of compactness and truth as re-
CARDS mans obligation to man and his
rights in his own possessions.
THE P0PE's VIEWS.
ain reply the Pope spoke with clear
ness, directness, force and fervor. He
said IN part:
"'In my encyclical / stated nothing
new. The principles laid down had
always been the doctrines of the church
The times, however, with the troubles
existing and becoming more acute every.
whefe, demanded that they be again
taught and enforced.
"'The right of u man to his lawfully
acquired property had always been
recognized. 1t was the basis of the
social system. The possession of wealth
imposes corresponding obligations. The
rich man fails In the administration of a
trust who does not recognize his duty tc
his poorer neighbor. All should worn
harmoniously TO mitigate and relieve
differences of ability or station.
"'Labor and capital are indispensable
to each other. Labor has rights which
capital must not ignore, and when
equitably treated labor must also recog.
nize the rights of capital. Society is {
failure and the church comes short Of
| its mission unless there is the sulles
exercise and most unquestionable sub
mission to the fatherhood of God and
the brotherhood of man.
again taking up thread of CONVEX.
satlon, said:
est is very fortunate that at New
York, which stands in the same posi-
ton to America as London to England
and Paris to France, you have as the
representative of yourself and the
church so able and scholarly prelate
and so public spirited citizen as Arch.
bishop Corrigan.'
"As he arose to take my hand, pre-
paratory to closing the interview, he
said:
"'I have the profoundest respect, ad,
miration and love for the United States
and its people. l wish you would so tell
the American people Thus ended the
most remarkable event in my life"