New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-06
POPE LEO AIiI.

The latest dispatches from Rome concerning
the health Of the Pope continue favorable ana
Indicate that his complete recovery is only
question Of a few days. The career Of Leo NIL
has been creditablc alike to himself ard 10 the
Church Of which he has been the tltuar head
for 50 many years II would be too much to
say that his Pontifcatc has been in all respects
successful For he was brought face to face
with complex problems that are apparently in
soluble by human wisdom. After the first in
terest in his election had died ON II came 10 b"
widely believed that he WIS strongly lmnued
with liberal sentiments and high hopes were
entertained concerning his course ny those who
thought the time ripe for a modification Of the
Churrh's rigid ultramontane policy. That he
fully justified tn, So hopes for time l. mat
ter of record But like his predecessor. Plus
IN who also started out a. a liberal. he '"on
found Il at the conservative tendencies of the
Church could ret h. successfully antagonzed.
even hy the Pope himself. That he did not
succeed in uniting an end 10 the anomalous at
ttudc of the Vatican toward the Italian GOV
eminent wa not surprising. For the issue
that has been raised * fundamental 10 the
/ Church. The enthusiasts who thought that Ia"
/ could bring about sort Of pptico-"c icSaStl'al
love feast 10y few amiablc uttcranccS fSled
10 take account of the facts Any compromis"
/ with the Italian Government would be shock
/ 10 sincere Roman Catholics throughout the
/ world and would seriously weaken thc Papacy.
Rut though the Pope il not radical. he is
/ Iv 30 means II hidrhound conservative. and in
fact. ne has done some things that We're by no
/ means agreeable 10 the conservatives. His ru"
has been characterized by dignity. gentlcnesS
and intelligent sympathy. Their" has never
been the faintcst breath of scandal in regard
TO his private life He is Il man Of ascctic and
scholarly tastes. who has taken much delight
in the study Of literature. and who is capable
If writing crcditablc verse. As a statesman
he has ranked we'll mp among the greatest
Of his time. His relations with the various
countries of Europe Protestant ard Catholic
have been at all times cordial. and his reception
of distinguished visitors has been marked 10y
courtesy and frlendness. He will not pro5nDly
rank among the greatest OF the Popes. His
nature was not cast in an heroic mould nor Is
il marked by the strenuous aggressivcness OF
the great leader Of men His policy has beer
largely one Of opporunism. except where ;
fundamental principle was involved. And II
he has not always taken the wiscst course I,
strengthen the Church he has never done any
thing to bring il into disreputc.
While the missionary operations Of th'
Church under the present Pope have beer
prosecuted with energy. there has been II
some Catholic countries an 0minouS declensiol
Of faith This is especially the ease in Italy
Even the Church admits il. but attributes il Il
the hostile attitude of the present Italian GOV
crnmcnt. However that may be-. IL j. fac
that in the home of III, Papacy. where TN
Church has until recent years welded boil
, temporal and spiritual sovereignty. and whcr
It has been troubled by no Protestant revolt
il has been unable to hold the acgianc" of h
people. large proportion of thcm to-day be
ing hostile or Indifferent 10 II. The recent wa
, has revealed somewhat similar state of nj
fairs i'm cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippines
and there have been frequent complaints tina
. AInn md the South AMerlcAn .eplDllcs