The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-21
Many Changes Since the Present Pom
tin Became the Head of the Ro-
man Catholic Church.
DANGER IN WEST AFRICA
FRENCH EXPEDITIONS ENCROACH-
ING ON BRITISH TERRITORY.
All Inland Waters OF China to He
whether Foreign or Native.

ST. LOUIS, Feb 2O-An exclusive cable
gram from Rome to the Globe Democrat
says: To-day (Feb. 2O) Leo XIII completes
the twentieth year of his papacy, the long
est reign in the entire history of the Roman
Catholic Church, and advantage may be
taken Of the opportunity to draw attention
to the Importance of his eventful term.
When he succeeded to the tiara the prestige
of the Vatican was at d singularly low ebb.
The Holy See was in open conflict with Ger
many and with Russia, in both of which
countries the leading Roman Catholic prel-
ates were imprisoned or exiled. With
France the relations We're SO strained that
actually the ministers of the day declared
from the rostrum of the Chamber of Depu-
ties that clericalism was the chief evil OF
the country and the principal foe of the
republic. The other nations of Europe had
become SO wearied by the constant and un-
dignihed complaints of Plus TX against the
Italian government that they had ended by
treating the protests of the Holy See with
polite Indifference and as bore, while the
relations between the italian government
and the papacy were such that the former
committed all sorts of arbitrary acts, and
even threatened at the time of the conclave
to occupy the Vatican with it's troops UNI
less it's wishes were complied with with
regard to the election of the new Pope.
To-day the tables are turned. 1t is the
Italian government which is craving the
support of the Vatican against the forces
of the revolution which threaten to engulf
the monarchy. the Pope holding In his
hands the key to the situation, through his
power, to send to the polls at least 60 per
cent of the entire electorate, who have
1.:At. +,Ix; IN
of the parliamentary elections by his order
Leo XIII can send these 60 per cent. of the
electorate to the polls either for the mon
archy or in support of republic, and thus
has the whip hand over the Italian govern
ment
RELATIONS WITH THE QUIRINAL.
1t is probable that a far better under
standing exists between church and state
in Italy than people abroad realize. For it
must be borne in mind that any appearance
of an alliance between church and state in
Italy would inevitably impair the power and
influence of the Vatican abroad, and at the
same time diminish it's resources. The lat
ter are chiefly derived from foreign contri-
buttons, which are subscribed abroad I'M
der the impression that the Pope is sub
jected to persecution. Were the contrary to
be known there would no longer be any
reason for this financial form of sympathy,
and it is q significant fact that the sub
ScriptionS from abroad have always been
the largest when the relations between
church and state here have seemed at their
worst, while soon as there was APP
pearance of more friendly relations be-
tween the Vatican and the Quirinal the
contributions have notably declined.
Then, too, there is no doubt that foreign
governments and even the foreign clergy
would be less obedient to the orders of the
Pope were they, to believe for one moment
ha W. C inf " hn GOV
eminent or even by the considerations
which might appeal to him as a patriotic
Italian. For, while foreign Catholics are
ready to accept the supremacy of an Italian
Pope in matters ecclesiastical, they are ex-
tremely alive to the danger of his spiritual
supremacy and influence being utilized for
the furtherance of ordinary Italian politics
abroad. This in itself will show how ex-
tremely careful the Pope has been in steer
ing the papacy midway between war
the Quirinal leading to reprisals and peace
with the Vatican government which would
impair the power of the Holy See abroad.
Leo XIII, While he has never yet aban-
doned his claims for the restoration of tenn
pcral power, has never relegated them to
the background and devoted his entire at
tenton to the development of the moral
power and influence of the Holy See. And
in this he has succeeded in an astounding
degree, as will be realized by comparing
foreign relations of the Vatican to-day to
what they were when he became Pope. He
has not only made peace with Germany, but
has reduced that greatest military power
of Europe to the position of a petitioner,
asking for his support in its internal af-
fairs For without the support of the Pope
the Kaiser would never have obtained the
passage through the ReichStag either of his
military Septennate bill nor of his naval
programme, the Eemperor in return having
not only consented to the return to Ger
many of the exiled religious orders and now
of the Jesuits, but likewise undertaking to
present to the Catholic Church the Coenacu-
lum, or building at jerusalem in which the
last supper took place, and which has been
given to him by the Sultan--a building to
obtain possession of which Russia went to
war with Turkey in 1854.
PAPAL INFLUENCE EXTENDED.
Leo XIII has likewise re-established
friendly relations with Russia The Catho-
lie bishops and clergy have been recalled
from exile and restored to their sees. In
Spain it is admittedly the support of the
holy father that keeps little King Alfonso
on the throne and the Carlsts at bay. and
the same may be said with regard to King
Charles of Portugal. In France the church
is to-day hand in glove with the republic.
which latter owes to Leo XIII deep debt
of gratitude for having withdrawn the sup
port of the French clergy from the mon
archical cause and transferred 1t to the
existing regime In the Netherlands. form
erly the home of the reformation, Cathol-
icism has developed to such degree within
the last twenty years under Leo's guidance
that to-day the majority of the council of
guardians of the young Queen are members
of the Church or Rome III England, 100. all
old-time preiudices with regard to popery
seem to have disappeared. the government
being about to build g Roman Catholic uni
versity in Ireland. while state and society
accord to Cardinal Vaughn the CATHOLIC
metropolitan, the same honors and regard
as to the primate of the Church of England.
Above all is Leo XIII entitled to admira-
ton by his endeavors TO keep his church
abreast of modern progress and enlighten--
meut and to prove that Catholicism is not
reactionary. but liberal. An aristocrat by
birth he is the most democratic prelate who
has ever occupied the chair of St. Peter.
ana seeks to instill the precept of the found
er of the Christian faith TO the effect that
the church is the mother of those who most
need her care that is to say, the poor, the
oppressed-in one word those who are pop
ularly described as the stepchildren of ma
ture. He is of the masses, in fact. rather
thaa the classes, and is never tired of re-
calling that the founder of the faith. al
though born of the royal line of David. saw
daylight in q stable, spent His early career
among fishermen and artisans and died the
death reserved for the baSest of criminals.
FRENCH AGGRESSIONs.