The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28

heredtty must. in the courte OF = longer OF
shortsr period, dsvolvs upon him BY succession.
N. DE- 9.
TEE POPB hyD THE ENCTCLTCkL
TO TIM AHEBICLN PEOPLE.
q. th. Waited state. lee XIII. Leek, rsr
., Rzs-pie 20 the Wsris-Tne rsp-i
Reitestten y. f-etaest n fis Fciiey.
RosE. Oct. 14.-The United States Of America,
Il can be said without exaeuerstion. are the
chief thought Of Leo XIII. in the government Of
the Roman and Universal Catholic Church, for
he IL one Of the choice intsllects Of the Old
world who ere watching the starry flag Of
Washington rise to the zenith Of the heavens. A
few days ago. on receiving an eminent Ameri-
can, Leo Mil. said TO him: But the United
States are the future; we think Of them inces-
sanity" The inattentive politician, the superb
cial observer. in Europe as In America, is as
tonished at this persistent sympathy for the
American people and care for lie general inter-
ests. But those who know the ardent soul
Of the Pope, restless for what is good,
eager for all that Is great and fruit
full; the philosopher who sweeps over
the whole intellectual. social and religious
horizon; the statesman who Judges matters
by the light Of central and governing ideas,
these all read In the heart Of the Holy Father the
NV " hN1 Wv N'N h'
devotion to American ideas. This ever-ready
sympathy has its base In the fundamental inter
est OF the Holy See, In = peculiar conception OF
the part TO be- played and the position 10 be held
by the Church and the Papacy in the times 10
come. The interest IL the necessity In which
Rome finds she Is, to direct her general course
according 10 the signs OF the times and the trans
formations on the agitated surface OF the world.
The peculiar conception IL the deep-rooted feel
ing that the Church 81 Europe must renew its
instruments and It's method OF adapting I'M
changing principles to chanGesble surroundings
and new conditions.
From this point Of view Leo XIII. is eminentlv
what Emerson called "a representative man.
an historical character that abeorhs. reflects,
and utilities all the currents Of life Of his time.
Now TO the mind Of Leo XIII, so receptive to
the broad and fruitful ideas OF Cardinal Glib
bons. Of Mgrs. Ireland and Keane. Europe Is
going through the process Of casting OF Its
slough. There Is an awakening, q metamor-
phosis. uneasiness. and hope. The tradition Il
that In ancient Rome there were such strange
expectations while the tragedy on Col
gotha was being enacted, and even now
mysterious voices may be heard an
that Great Pan is dead. What
new order will arise2 WIN humanity
be once moro It's own dupe, and will the
ONu NNto ~" "knih uhaNh . hetAuos W
people the world once more with false eods1
Who knows? What we do know Is that q world
is In Its death agony. And that we are entering
the night which must inevitably precede
the dawn. In this evolution the Church. In the
eyes OF the Pope. "a a mission TO I'LL. To fulfl
this mission she must adapt herself To the
changes which have come about In the action NJ
universal forces. state Church, onlcial Catholi-
privileges, legal and close relations be-
tween two powers connection Of the clergy with
\ political party. feudal ecclesiastical organ
all the external framework Of the Church
must be transformed. renewed, perhaps be done
with entirely. That Is the central DOM
thought which marks the whole latter
half Of the present pontincate, from the time Of
The incident Of the knights Of Labor and the en-
ryclioal Rsrum Nop0rum TO that of the enoyc-
Ilcals 70 the French people. In the hrst half of
reign Leo XIII. had pacifed. appeased.
healed. He had been the Pope Of peace and
rest. After sealing that charter he became the
Pope OF action.
But hrw can this new type OF ecclesiastic be
From whom shall he be copied ? What
what country. what philosophy will
himf Would IL not be hazardous to
,reate him at one strokep Would It not be bet |
or 10 Join forces with . nation which has the
:ype IN part, where at least It exists in the
Would Il not be enough to mark the
outlines boldly. to finish It, and make use of it,
This type Is the American type; 1t Is Ameri-
democracy. with liberty, with common law,
full and exuberant life, without restraining
and without Q historic bureaucracy.
That Is why Leo XIII. turns all his soul, full Of
To what Is improperly called his Ameri-
policy. Il should be rightly called his Cath
lie universal policy. American parties, main
at Rome by the Triple Alliance, by the
ourts, the monArchies, and the combination of
II the old ideas. have hoped for . while that
tome would draw back In the face of the immen- |
ity of the task and Of the general resistance. At
ocular intervals this opposition broke out like .
rain OF powder lighted successfully at different
pots. But the Pontin. with steeled heart and
ron hand. has avoided no sacrifice TO unravel at
~ well - in the United States. the knot
Z these rebellions. The investigation has been
ntirely successful. One of the first effects OF
his inquiry has been the change Of atmosphere
i Rome. You may still meet here and there an
Id partisan Of the former American policy. but
UGH men are the will o. the wlsps that light up .
'raveyard or a battlefield on which the dead
been left TO moulder. All the intelligent
all tho active prelates. the Propa-
anda itself, In spite of Its bureaucracy,
Iavs followed in the glorious wake OF
he bold and enterprising .Pontin. When
loms sees the influence Of the Holy See at
take, passions, are suppressed with
o Us barbArians- The victory Il complete. Men
n the United States and elsewhere. where they
ream of know not what reaction. or enter:
ain guilty hope OF change In the event of
he Pops's death, must take this moral fact into
count; It Ia absolute, Irresistible. unchAnge-
BILE; II 10 established forever.
It Il In this perspective. wide as a great world
nd lasting as whole epoch. that the coming
american encyclical must DO viewed. To make
be delegation independent and sovereign, with
supreme eeclesiastical tribunal; u, support
satolli and make his mis-
Ut he mean. of iSeressinE inndsnSe
nd ,libertyi to, continue this policy
I moderation. and adAptability which has
rought peace TO the nation; to deal, In q word,
18th all the important questions OF the day and
. m for good the ecclesiastical type, the model
life. which Leo xiii. wishes. little BY little, TO
ring within the reach Of the weakening peoples
I the Old World: that u the sublime inspira-
on OF the encycllcAl TO the Americans. To say
would be indiscreet; let US wait for events.
he United States. after q century of civil
r~eAtness. will have the privilege. unequalled In
STORY, OF giving TO . whole continent exam
les and lessons. a nation full Of vigor and an
full OF lifesprinRs can alone be strong
lough TO carry out this historic task.