The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-05
BISHOP KEANE'S WITHDRAWAL



mcnt concerning his withdrawal from
the head Of the institution:
since my withdrawal from the rector.
ship OF the Catholic University OF Amer
lea VIII probably h- regarded by Il con-
siderable portion OF the American pub
lie as matter Of some interest 10 them,
and since unauthorized statements are
apt TO be misleading. deem Il my duty
TO state briefly and clearly the facts or
the case.
"On September 2S, received through
lliS Emlncncc Cardinal Gibbons, n letter
from our Holy Father Leo Nil. Of
which the following iS Il translation:
""ro our Venerable Brother John
Joseph keane. Bishop OF AJRSs0.
Venerable Brother. Health and
Apostolic RAncdlctIon-lt IL customary
that they who are appointed To preside
over Catholic universities should not
hold the Office In pcrpgtuIty. Thla Gus
tom has grown up through wise rca-
sons, and the Roman pontlhs have ever
been careful that II should be adhered
to. Since. therefore venerable brother.
you have presided Tor several years over
the university at Washington. In the
first establishment and subsequent ,le-
velOpment Of which yuu have shown
laudable zeal aud diligence. Il has seem
I'd best that the above mentioned GUS
tom should not be departed from, and
that another whose name IL tn be pro-
posed 10 Us by the bishops, should be
appointed u succeed you IN this honor
able position. In order. however. that
In your rcSignlnE this office. due regard
may be- had 10 your person and your
dignity. we have determined 10 elevate
you to the rank ~ archbishop.
being s0licitolls for your future
welfare. we leave Il to your own choice
either 10 remain in your own country ur.
II you prefer II. 10 come tO R0m-. II
you ChoOEe the former. we Will dcStlnc
you 10 some archrpiscOpal see, by vote
Of the bishops of lhr United States. II
you prefer the latter. We will welcome
you most lovingly. and Will place you
among the COnSultOrs Of the COnGrsgh-
tiOn OF studies and the congregation of
the propaganda. in both of which you
could do much for the interests Of relg-
ion In the United States. In this latter
case We would also assign you suitable
revenue for your honorable mainten-
anc-.
Confidently trusting, venerable
brother. that You will accept this. our
administrative act with hearty good Will,
we m0at lovingly bestOw upon you the
apostolic bencdlCtion, as a pledge OF our
paternal Affection.
"'GIven at Rome. from ST Peters,
this 18th day OF September. 1896. in the
nineteenth year OF our pontiiiCat-,
(S!Cned.) LEO NH, POpe."
The next day l mailed to the holy
father IL reply. of which the following is
translation:
1.-THE Catholic University of America,
Washington, September 29. 1896.
"'MO5t holy father:-filS 1:miuence
Cardinal Gibbons yesterday handed Me
the letter In which your holiness has
made known 20 me that my ndm!nIStra-
tion OF this university now comes to an
end and that another rector Is TO be Ap-
pointed.
Without a moment Of hesitation |
accept the will OF your holiness in the
matter as a manifestation OF, the provi-
dence OF God. and from this instant I
resign into the hands OF his emInence.
the chancellor. the Office OF rector with
all rights thereto attaching.
" Thanking your koliness for the
freedom OF choice granted me. choose
10 remain In my avn country. and more
over. without any official position what
snev-r, In tranquility and peace.
Your holincSs's most humble son In
Christ.
(Signed) JOHN ]. KEANE.
Bishop OF Ajasso."
Supplemcn;lng the letters, Bishop
keane says:
II welcome my release from Office OF
rector Of the university with profound
gratitude both to divine providence and
to the pope. While ! always regarded
its duties ms a labor OF love. they had
grown to be far beyond MY strength
oh u,,I In. 4
the burden II n response TO many pray
ers. was too loyal soldier to ask to
be relieved from my post no matter
what its difficulties: but feeling that
my nine years Of strain and s0llcitudc
In the work Ind brought me close "a the
end Of my brain and nerve powers. |
was fully ready to welcome what has
been done. | shall now enjoy some
mnnthS of greatly needed rest on the
Pacific coast. leaving all plans for the
future to later date.
"Of course no one needs TO be assured
that the action OF the holy father Ia
prompted not only by personal kindness
toward myself. but also by cqrncst soil
citude for the best interests OF the uni
ycrsity. lic believes in rotation In
Office as all sensible men must. lie
knows the evils OF allowing any Official,
and especially the head Of n university.
to foSElIzc at hts post aud In this all
must acknowledge his wisdom. His en-
liGhtencd prudence, and that Of the
Trustees who have to present tho nOml-
nations, will he sure to select q rector In
every way fitted 10 guide the work To
fuller and fuller success. From the
peaceful retirement which ! trust
have somewhat earned, | shall ever
watch It's progress with unabatrd inter-
est And ! appeal Ia all whom my cf-
forts In behalf Of the university have
ever reached. TO rcdOublc their interest.
their zeal. their generosity in this new
chapter OF the univcrslty's existence,
and to mako II what 1t by right must be,
the crOwnInG glory Of Christian cduca-
tlOn In America"
Ths currcn. belief hy some of the
prominent Catholics Of Washington Is
that one OF the reasons for Rishnp
kcnnc'S resignation may be found In
hIs corporation with Archbishop Ire
land in fostering the liberal spirit
against the old regime. These same
persons say TINT the German Catholics
Of the country are antagOnising the
archbishop and everybody having any
thing to do with him For his attitude on
the pnrochial school question, |, IA a.
serted that MOnslrnOr O'Conncll, for
mcrly the rector Nr the American col.
lrgc. lost his position because Of his
hostility to those who are opposed to
Archbishop Ireland, and that the re-
tIrCmcnt OF bishop kcanc ~ another
evidence Of their hostility. Bishop
IicanG IL said to have been warm sun
porter Of Archbishop ireland aud his
official actT, and that the latter sup
ported Bishop ECanc IN nll hc did
The officials at tho Catholic legation
here and Cardinal SNtollI dcCIur to
make amy statement In regard to the rc-
sIgnaiion. and declare that the news was
a tnni or nf surnrlsn tn thnm