The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17
AMERICAN cAruoIIcIss..
whT Many AGED Theorists OF csthoiioity
Dislike II and wouId Resist II.

near the tombs of the Apostles. marked a date
in the history OF the Papacy and OF Gaul. II
was the sniancing OF two powers: II was the
starting point OF the union between the North
and tho south. between tho two submits Of
civilization. The arrival OF Mgr. Keane In
Rome. whore a vigorous and active collabora-
tlon was awaiting him In the central govern
ment OF the Church. Is considered by disinter-
eated observers as n historical event. both from
on American point OF view and from n universal
point OF view. lie Is tho first Prelate. the FIRST
citizen Of the great American democracy. that
mas come among US as a permanent Afnbassa-
dor. lie will be the bond between Washington
and Rome. the two poles Of tho future. Attn
moment whom the Church Of the United States
is playing n prcponderant part In general af-
fairs. and when II forms the objsc Of n vast In.
quIry and OF a high intellectual curiosity, Mgr.
Ksane will DO Internationally q symbol. n ban
nor. a force. n representative man. to borrow n
phrase from yonr philosopher Emerson.
Rome is not Ike uthcr cities. Rome possesses
n charm that Is difficult to define which
belongs TO hsr alone. TAose who appreciate
that charm understand each other lmmcdi lately.
For the others II Is a ruzs;r. Some frankly
admit hnt they cannot uEderstan6 that mysts.
rioos attraction which attaches one to n city as
to n person; bat n greater mum DER e1cct the ale
OF Approaching the attraction. VIII 10 tho true
wv pb'r rCNbEHlGo 'S'C VuNNib
false 2~cyotees. and they smile while they lis
ten to them. just as persons who really love
painting and music smilc when certain
connoisscurs. standing in the wrong light.
commence to praiso the picture that
they admire, or beat the wrong measure
Of the air that delights them. History"
said Goethe. tho lover OF Rome. is read here
differently from the way that It ia read In any
other part of the universe. Elsewhere 1t 10 read
from tho outside to the inside; but here one
!maGines that II must be read from the inside
TO the outside" But how keen Is this attrao-
tion. this supreme comprehension OF affairs,
with n man OF energy! How much more pro-
found nnd durable Is the stamp which affairs
here print upon his mind His forces are in-
creased one hundred fold. and they become like
q link in that mysterious chain which still binds
tho entire world to the granite OF the Vatican.
One would imagine that God had chosen q
solemn ROVER In history to bring about the con-
catenation OF circumstances which has given to
tho Pope n faithful cooperative. to the United
States a representative with the ideas Of which
Mgr. Kcane Is the defender. patron. and
cosmopolitan partisan. One OF the most pathetic
historians OF the "City Of the Soul" q
sincere ana convinced admirer Of tho mctropo-
lis OF the world, Gregorovius, gives an inef-
faceable description Of the Transformation that
= foreigner undergoes on coming In contact with
that classic soil by giving to 1t a superior and
international character. Rome 10 the nrst OBJ
servatory of the universe, and Mt the same time
the most marvellous motor OF life and Of civili-
zatlon. There has Just come into tho current Of
the universal and mysterious action Of the
Eternal City a new element.
The Holy Father and tho Cardinals gave .
most cordial and fattering welcome 70 Mgr.
Keane. Discretion obliges me to DO reserved
and impersonal. Leo XIII. did not conceal from
the American Prelate his affection for Cardinal
Gibbons. Mgr. Ireland, and the Church Of the
United States. Those who. from "a wrong posi-
tion, welcomed the revocation Of the form or rec.
tor OF the University rs an unexpected return
to old European conservatism. seem To have
very incomplete ideas Of tho aim OF the Pope
and the intentions of the PontiHcate. Tho
Vatican listened with It's own serene impassi-
b!lity and its %untiring patience to the passionate
accusations made against the young and -four
isbing Church. This Catholicism sans phrase ct
sans Sptth6te Ia accused Of leaning toward .Oid