The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-07
APOSTOLIC DELEGATE TO THE
PHILIPPINES.

The announcement has just come
from Rome that Most Reverend Pla-
cidus L. Chappelle, D. D., Archbishop Of
New Orleans and delegate Apostolic to
Cuba and Porto Rico, has been APP
pointed delegate Apostolic to the Phil
ippine Islands.
The appointment of Archbishop
Chappelle is not only wise, but it is full
of deep significance. 1t means. first
and foremost, that the vatican intends
to second every effort of the United
States government for the best welfare
of the people of the Philippine islands.
Here in the western states, where
! Archbishop Chappelle is so well known,
the people realize that his wisdom, tact
and gentleness will do much to bring
about a peaceful state OF affairs in
those islands, now so unhappily torn
asunder by strife and bloodshed. 1t is
the opinion of the Intermountain Cath
| olic that a better selection than Arch
bishop Chappelle could not have been
made from the priesthood or hierarchy
of the states.
In this connection, knowing Arch
bishop Chappelle as we do, we cannot
let the opportunity pass without calling
attention to a statement sent out from
Washington and spread broadcast over
the country This =. statement, while
preteS1iGlng to be friehdf. stn-~'tsile new
+ delegate apostolic, is intended to Gre
ate prejudice against the archbishop
and is based on anything but fact.
Mgr Chappelle's main source Of
strength says the dispatch referred to-
at the vatican is the answering sup
port of the French cardinals under the
Concordat and of the French govern
! ment If he obtains the red hat, as is
now to be expected, his appointment
will at once fill the American desire for
! such representation and at the same
time add one more vote to the French
representation in the college of cardi
nails"
The one who inspired the above dis
patch had at heart neither the best in
terests of the church nor the govern
ment of the United States. 1t is unfair
! and unjust to Archbishop Chappelle.
who. although a Frenchman by birth.
! is in every fibre of his being a thor
] ough American.
! We are fully aware that there are
! those who, jealous and envious Of the
rapid rise of Archbishop Chappelle in
the councils of the church, have never
| lost opportunity to scatter broadcast by
insinuation and inuendo the statement
that the archbishop owes his eleva-
ton, first in the see of Santa Fe, next
in the see of New Orleans. and lastly
as delegate apostolic to Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines to the infiu-
ence of the French government.
We have had occasion heretofore to
brand this statement as false, and we
repent now what we have heretofore
said, that, of our own knowledge, we
know that Archbishop Chappelle was
selected for these important missions
by Leo XIII proprio motu. In no case
was the French government ever con-
suited nor is Archbishop Chappelle un-
der obligation to any government or
any person except Leo XIII for the
honors that have come to him.
The statement that Archbishop
Chappelle as a cardinal would be con
sidered a creature of the French gov
ernment is too contemplate for notice
No man in the United States is more
loyal to the country of his adoption
than the Archbishop of New Orleans,
and the Intermountain Catholic will
never lose opportunity to characterize
as they deserve all statements to the
contrary.
To Archbishop Chappelle the Inter-
mountain Catholic extends its greetings
and what it considers to be the well
merited honors that have come to him.
1t likewise congratulates the people of
the United States on the happy choice
Leo XIII has made in the person of his
delegate to the Philippines.