New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08

referred to above as having been elaborated by
Plus IN. and Cardinal Pecci in 1877. exactly one
half. plus one. of the members Of the Sacred
College sufficient TO constitute quorum.
while the vote of two-thi:ds of those present Is
requisite for the legal election of the Pontin.
When Leo NH breathes his last the Cardinal
Camerlingo WILL usual lock the doors and
gates OF the Vatican after having summoned all
the Cardinals who happen to I've in Rome at the
time: and after having taken their views on the
subject of the locality of the conclave. which.
OF course. will be held in the same place as 70:
centuries past, will proceed to erect the cells and
TO call upon his fellow members of the Sacred
College to decide upon the choice of successor.
1t is probable that little time will be lost. since
the arrival Of foreign Cardinals from abroad es-
pec!ally these from France. Austria and Ger
many, could only tend to increase the difficulties
Of election. In a manner equally dis2leasing to
the Italian Cardinals and to the Italian Govern
ment. Moreover. any delay might give both
France and Austria the time to raise the trouble
some claim to the right to veto which the Nati-
has always contested and which the ltal-
ian Government would certainly resent.
STRAINED RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE.
No matter how strongly marked may have
been the friendly relations between the Italian
Government and the Cardinal who Is chosen TO
succeed Leo XIII. no startling departure may be
looked for in the shape Of closer relations be-
tween Church and State at Rome. There will be
a continuance OF the same policy that has pre-
vailed throughout the reign Of the present
, PontiT: that is to say. bitter attacks between
the Vatican and the Quirnal. as far as the pub
lie Is concerned but secret "rapprochement
between the two. Any open reconciliation would
be at present as fatal to the Church as II would
to the State For instance the removal by the
Church Of the prohibition which Keeps gooa
Catholics away from the POLLS at Parliamentary
elections in Italy would have the effect of up
setting the present Government and result, under
present conditions. IN possible anarchy.
On the other hand the Papacy would suffer by
the probability of certain foreign Catholic ma
tons casting off their spiritual allegiance The
French Government. for instance has repeatedly
notified Leo XIII that any reconciliation be-
tween the Vatican and the Quir!nal would be
Immediately followed by an annulment OF the
Concordat. treaty governing the relations be-
tween the Papacy and the French Church; and
has been warned that the latter would not only
renounce its spiritual allegiance to the HOLY
Seat but would also declare itself as schisnauc
and entirely independent of the Church OF Rome
Foreseeing that in case OF an alliance between
the Italian Government and the Papacy the In
fuence of the former would In course OF time sue
coed in dominating that of the Natcan-since
the Italians most ardcntly patriotic no mat
ter whether priest or layman-the FIench au-
thorties are determined to avoid at all cost the
danger OF seeing the Pope exercise his vast splr-
itual power over the French Catholics for the
advancement of the purely secular interest or
Italian policy
And this danger has become all the more
urgent since the issue of the Papal encychcal
known as the "Siglo- Future which practically
elevates the formerly purely diplomatic Nuncios
and InternunCios to the rank OF Papal Legates
exercising spiritual jurisdiction in the name OF
faithful of the country TO which they are ac-
credited Were an alliance to be effected between
the Italian Government. and the Papacy, ana
were the Quirnals influence to predominant at
the Vatican these Nuncos would practically be-
come sort Of Italian pro-consuls. exercising
power in behalf of the secular policy of the
Italian Government the extent and importance
Of which It Is impossible to eXaggerate.
THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF THE CASE.
Then too there is the financial question. The
Of he pa nal Is derived
the Peters Pence. or voluntary contributions OF
the faithful and it has been observed that the
size Of these subscriptions is prOportionate to
the amount Of persecution to which the Church
Is asserted 10 be subjected by the italian Govern
ment Indeed. it has been noticed throughou.
the reign OF Leo XIII that whenever anything
has been done that appeared as tending TO rec
onciliaton between Church and state. there mas
ensued alarming decrease OF the Peters
Pence No blame can be attached to the Vat
lean for taking these circumstances into conslu-
Grafton: ii cannot afford to do otherwise IL would
be disastrous in every respect were the Pope
to touch one cent of the 5000 which has been
set aside for him every year since 1870 by the
Government under the terms OF the Law OF 1uai
antees For were he to become Whal Wouu
practically be dependent upon the ltallan treas
ury and consequently also upon the Italian Par.
lament he would render himsef-the head Of
the Catholic Church throughout the earth-suD-
servient to the irresponsible votes or some mere
chance and ephemeral majority Of the Parma
ment He is therefore 1ustned IN reyihe upon
the voluntary contributions of the faithful when
have never been so widely and so charitably ad-
ministered as during his Pontifcate
Leo will leave the Catholic Church at peace
with all foreign nations in lieu of the condition
Of war in which he found ii at the time OF ms
accession to the Papal throne And In spite OF the
numerous but somewhat platonic conflicts Whlch
have taken place between himself and the Italian
Government he leaves Church ard State far
nearer 70 another than when he was elected to the
tiara His reign one Of the most glorious In the
annals OF the Papacy. affords. as he probably
Intended that 1t should the most convincing
proof that temporal sovereignty is DRAWBACK
ra her than an advantage to the successor OF 81
Peter: for at no time since the Reformation mas
the prestige. the influence and the spiritual power
Of the Holy Seat been so great and Wlde-reachihg
As during the Pontfcate of the enlightened,
sagacious and, if one may be permitted TO use
the word progressive Pontiff, Leo Kill
EX-ATTACHE.