New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16

session Of parliamentary majority, voluntarily
resigned his office into the hands Of his Liberal
opponent, Senior Sagasta with the patriotic
object of strengthening the lettering Regency
and Of causing the Liberals to become the
guardians of the throne, instead of Joining the
Republicans. they at first thought Of doing
And II to-day the clergy Of Spain have ceased
TO act as agents of the Carlist Pietender. and
as the prncipa! supporters OF his cause; If. In
one word. the Church in Spain has become
thoroughly loyal TO the reigning dynasty, it Is
entirely due 10 Cardinal Rampola.
\ POLICY OF RECONCILIATION
Nor do these constitute the sum total of the
successes which he achieved while at Madrid
For 1t while acting as Nuncio there that he
began the policy that ultimately led TO a recon-
citation between the German Government and
the Papacy, and to the termination Of that con-
fiict which is known in contemporary history as
the Kuturkampf 1t was the occasion of
visit OF Emperor FREDERICK al that time Crown
Prince. 10 the late King Alphonso. "Unser Fritz"
had made all ais arrangements 20 return direct
L. from Madrid to Germany. by way Of Bar
celOna. Genoa and the st. Gothard. But. as the
result OF several long and confidential converse
tons with the Nuncio, TO whom Re seemed TO
take great fancy, he changed his itinerary II
the last moment, and. TO the aStOnlshnent OF
all Europe. proceeded straight TO Rene after
leaving Spain. Although he took UP his resi-
dence at the Qurinal as the guest of his old
friend, King Humbert. to whom he had OIL
catcd as best man or the occasion of the lat
ter's marriage to Queen Margherta. he Was
received with the utmost pomp and ceremony
al the Vatican, and with the most marked
distinction and cordially by the Holy Father.
who, to this day, is never tired Of eXpatiating
on the nobility OF mien. OF character, and OF
manner of his illustrious visitor And Leo XIII,
when talking about FREDERICK the Good never
fails to add. with just suspicion Of sarcasm.
and invariably after a little pause. that the
present Emperor does not resemble his father
YOUNG WILLIAMS INDISCRETION.
Young William. it may be remembered, on the
occasion Of his nrst visit to the Vatican treated
the venerable head OF the Catholic Church with
a brusquerie and discourtesy that shocked every
one. matter to what creed he belonged. 1t
rudeness that would have been considered
objectionable on the part OF any call"w youth
TO SO aged man as Leo Nil. but which, In
view of the august position occupied by the
Holy Father, discreditable 10 the last de-
gree, and was certainly not atoned for when.
the occasion OF another visit n few years later,
he took leave OF the venerable Pope with the,
under the circumstances. astounding words.
Que Dieu vouJ benisse" God bless YOU'D, words
probably uttered inadvertently and in a moment
of effusiveness. but which put the equanmty
of all presen: to a severe trial. For can any
thing more comcal be imagined than the idea
of young William imparting his benediction to
the aged Pontiff, instead Of bowling his head TO
receive the same at the hands OF the ruler OF
the Catholic Church?
1t was the interview between Emperor Fred
erlck ana the Pope that brought about the end
OF the contest between the Vatican and the
German Government. which is one Of the prin
cipal achievements of the reign of Leo XIII.
and for which His Holiness is in measure In
debted to his Secretary Of State. The latter.
ever since he assumed his present office. has
made special point OF attaching himself to
particular party. of which there are several
at the Vatican. He Is above everything
else the Pope's man, rather than the man OF any
particular faction. his most remarkable quality
being that Of implicit obedience. And while he
VIII occasionally, with tact that belongs 10
bygOne age, bring over the Holy Father. al
most without the latter's knowing II. to his
views. In the eyes of his master. of the outer
world. he appears TO be obeyirg orders with
out attempting TO give any color OF his own 10
the acts Of Leo XIII. Should he succeed him, as
there is considerable probability of his doing. he
may be relied upon more than any other prince
of the Church TO continue that policy which has
won for Leo NH the renOwr Of being the most
enlightened. sagacious liberal minded and
above all. successful priest who has ever occu-
pied in modern times the chair Of 81. Peter.
EN-ATTACfE,