The San Francisco call., 1899-08-02

ROME, Aug 1.-The interview with
| General Ricciotti Garibaldi, published
in the Herald recently, caused great ex-
citement at the Vatican and much an
noyed the Cardinals belonging to the
group which has not abandoned all
hope of reconciliation with the mon
archy. The group comprising Cardinals
devoted to the triple alliance met yes
terday.
A member of the sacred college, who
belongs neither to this nor the oppos-
ing faction, and who formerly was
Nuncio in great capital, and is thor
oughly familiar with the complications
and difficulties of the diplomatic posi-
ton of the papacy, gave me his opinion
on the question raised by the interview.
with the exception of a few mar
minded men," he said, every one
among the higher Italian clergy is con-
vinced that temporal power such as
existed before 1870 has had it's day and
that an absolute restoration of the
status quo would be a calamity for the
church of Rome.
What was thirty years ago is i'm
possible now. People are accustomed
to lay institutions which imply many
things Incompatible with clerical gov
ernment. We are convinced that such
government Nuulu not ldSl lOlS VI eAlSl
amid struggles such as disturbed the
reign of Plus TX.
practically only the Spanish and
Portuguese episcOpateS are uncompro-
missing tempOralists. 1t is no lack of
respect to them to declare that the
leading forces upon which the Holy
Father can reckon to be found are to-
day in America and France, and the
tendencies we have rather come to con-
slider are those of the American and
French episcOpates.
Does this mean that remuneration of
temporal power has become posi-
bility?"
No; whatever has been said and
written, the Pope can only be truly
free and independent in territory which
belongs to him nGminally, if not ex-
clusiVely.
Many Italian and foreign preIates
think that a practical solution of this
serious problem is to be found only in
a republic, which, organized on federal
lines, could create in Rome a system
of nominal sovereignty for the Pope
which would insure his effective inde-
pendence without infringing on the
principle of national integrity. AS
General Garibaldi has well said, no
compromise is possible with the Pope.
who cannot tolerate the presence of a
crowned sovereign in Rome.
There is nothing to lead TO the con-
clusion that among the Cardinals who
may be called upon to rule the church
there is a single one capable of re-
nouncing the legitimate claims of the
Holy See in favor of usurping
dynasty.
From this point of view it might be
supposed that understanding between
General Garibaldi and the Vatican was
an accomplished fact"
| have reason to believe that things
have not gone so far as may have been
supposed. | know that Garibaldi, be-
fore leaving for South America, saw
several Cardinals who occupy highest
positions in the hierarchy-am
others Cardinal Parocchi and, perhaps.
Cardinal Rampolla also. From these
conversations arose the conviction that
the Italian democracy was no longer
imbued with nti-clericalism, and that
the Italian preIacy and episcOpate on
their side, enlightened by the teachings
Of Leo XIII, no longer entertain their
former prejudices against republican
institutions.
l think that an understanding will
be reached, but for the moment 1t is
no more than a pious desire shared by
a great number of Catholics.