The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-02-29
Who Will SUCCEED LB0?!
Parties Struggle to Control the
Coming Conclave, Says
Innominato.
Names of Italian Cardinals Who
Are Recognized as Prom
inent Candidates.
Cardinal Gibbons, 1t Is Believed, is
the Only Foreigner
Possible.

Since I explained in the New York
Sun, says Innominato, the novel condi-
tions under which the coming conclave
will be held time has hastened on, IDEAS
have budded and blossomed. a Whole
literature has grown up around this ques-
tion Of the future. But if the broad lines
are marked and will remain so until the
dawn Of another period of history, certain
currents have been set in motion, and at
a moment when states. and thoughtful
men have their eyes fixed on the cupola
of st. Peters it will not seem presunlp ptu-
Gus or indiscreet to note the concrete con-
ditions, the surroundings, as it were, Of
the conclave whence will come the sue
cessor of Leo XIII. The Holy See I may
say at the start, has followed with in
terest the diplomatic and intellectual
movements around the questions relating
to the conclave.
Leo XIII. has given the watchword:
"Watch everything in order to know
everything"-the ambitions Of the quiri-
nal, the schemes Of the triple alliance,
the throwing up Of advanced works by
parties and groups opposed to the pres
ent tendencies. King Humbert has
marked out to the Triple Alliance Cardi-
nal Monaco della Valletta, but Francis
Joseph would not consent to this bar
gain. Advised by Cardinal Schoenborn,
Archbishop of Prague, he has made
choice of Cardinal Serafno Vannutelli,
but the former Nuncio at Vienna, far
from wishing to raise his standard
against that OF Leo XIII, follows in the
glorious track OF the reigning Pontiff. At
Berlin, Prince Hohenlohe, brother Of the
cardinal of the same name, has received
high honors from the emperor, in order
that, being a son OF Catholicism, and
powerful at Rome, he may dominate the
Roman senate when the papacy becomes
a widow. Feudal and conservative Ger
many, reactionary and onarchial Ger
many, even the Germany Of certain
Catholic groups, hates the "republican-
ism and the democracy" of Leo XIII.
An American, sound, strong, practical,
and thoughtful, can form no idea of this
aversion. 1t is the sacred malady of
caste hatreds and interests which de-
sort of school of revolution History
will call these hysterical reactionaries
mad men, over whom the bloody pail of
events will be thrown
The Germans, united OIL this point with
the party Of the Quirinal and the mon
archical Italians, hope for All alliance,
collaboration between Cardinal Kopp,
Prince of Breslau. and Cardinal Calm
berti, Bismarck's S old friend, and at pres
ent the favorite of Francis Joseph. I'm
der their direction it is believed that a
pretty large number OF cardinals can be
drawn together to play the indiscreet
part of the Holy Ghost. These intrigues.
exposed by the boldness of publications
and the wild hopes OF friends, threaten
to come to naught. The more intelligence
and tact, Machiavellian skill and weight
from the support of the powers this group
has the less effective and widespresn
sympathy does it meet These cardinals
who hope for a return to the past are
brilliant units. Representatives of gov
e1nments that have fallen or are about 10
fall, opposed to the new currents of his
tory they resemble those prelates Of the
sixteenth century who wished to stop the
progress OF humanity, the restoration Of
Catholicism, by internal reforms. The
mobiles of the restoration have been called
emigres from within These dignitaries
seem to me to be the emigres Of the
church. They will roll their b0ulders in
to the path of men, but the logic of facts,
the power of the new historical circum-
stances, will pass over their vain efforts
like torrent. The legend of Sjsyphus
is one often called into Elay; it typifes
above all. the powerlessness. the weak
ness and paralysis OF old parties
I The great Pan Of these people is dead ::
he will not come to life again. France
has her natural candidate, Cardinal Ram
polla. He is the Father Joseph of Leo
XIII, his tried confdant, his wise and
incorruptible assistant. We must go
very far back in history to find in Rome
elaboration as faithful and sagacious
What marks out Cardinal Rampolla is
his lack Of personality: he is like those
sweet, proud, mystical faces of the mid
die ages which adorn the stained glass
windows Of mOnasteries with their as
cetic features. A mystic belonging to
the class of men who devote themselves,
performing his diplomatic duty as he
would a priestly service, out of a sense
of duty, out of affectionate submission to
the pope, the secretary of state has hard
ly any will Of his own; he effacss him
self behind the tall figure Of Leo XIII.
But the more attached he is to the Pontiff,
the more infexible and immovable he is
in his perseverance and knightly sery-
ice He says to all those who wish to
deceive and tight against the pope, "You
cannot pass here. Intrigues and at
tacks have no effect on him; he has made
of his breast a bronze breastplate for all
the great ideas Of Leo XIII, democracy,
the social question. American policy. the
union of the churches. the Instructions
tothe French people. the hostilitysto the
Trinle Alliance people and the rejection
of all arrangements invented to keep the.
nloi,arcny forever encamped at the gates
Of the vatican.
Such is his portrait. It is natural that
the friend of Leo XIII. should be his
friends. as also that the enemies Of Leo
yIII. should be his enemies, and that
those who are Indifferent to the Pope
should be Indifferent to the Crad adinal It.
IS natural that all the states and parties
that wish for the success Of Pope Leo's;
ideas should group around him, should
rely on him and take him into account
So his calculation Opposed by the