The age-herald., 1899-08-29
THE SUCCESSOR
 OF POPE LEO XVIII
From the Gaulois.

1 his genius the most sincere admiration. | Any news from the vatican?"
 "Yes, but nothing very favorable. How ever after all, do not believe that Leo l XIII will die in bed. He will die like Rich-
 elieu. leaning upon his political will, which
 at last will reveal to us the spirit and the | essence of his ninteenth century policy.
 superstitious, like Napoleon I. and Sextus | Quintus he believes in horoscopes, and, &C.,
 eordng to them. he will live to be as old l as his grandfather-that is to say, until he
 reaches the age of 95. He is firmly. con- vinced that God will preserve him at the head of the church until the day when he 1 shall have solved the Russian problem, 1 the Roman problem. and the French prob- lem. His doctor, Lapponi. said to me one | day The holy father will go out like a
 lamp without oil or he will be carried away by some violent emoton--a great joy or profound disappointment
 That was also the opinion of the Abbe l Kneopp, who saved the life of Cardinal
 Monaco della vattetta, who died some
 time afterward. but recommended the honest and rustic priest of Woerischoffen
 to Leo XIII. To the Abbe Kneipp the pope spoke of his infirmities. the pains in his knee and his-eyst. The priest ex- plained to him the great virtues of his treatment, and the pope consented to be
 treated by him. M. de Rahaine presented
 the case to Cardinal Rampolla. who alarmed the pope and dissuaded him from following the advice of Abbe Nneipp. But
 the pope had already had time to take his , first cold bath. Instead of taking the sec ond he made the Abbe a Monsignor The Bavarian was furious. T would have made him live a hundred years said he, with
 indignation. but. after all, notwithstand- ing the grave error which he has just com- mitted. he will live very long time. His inirmities give perfect freedom to his brain. , Just here I was about to repeat
 what Mime. Recamier said about Joubert, but as suspected that Monsignor Kneipp had not read French classic literature swallowed my quotation. Monsignor Kneipp went on: Yes, when the pope took his first bath under my instructions,
 l was startled. For the first time in my
 life found myself in the presence of
 phantom. That man can never die like other men, And the Abbe went away
 laughing heartily
 But suppose Leo XIII should die, what
 then would happen? What would we do?
 Who would be the White Man of tomor- row? And the conciave?"
 Now, you ask me grave and delicate questions. It seems to me that M Del casse foresaw the case. That meridionai hna HNN Ix Ig
 stands the knot in the affairs of Rome and Italy. do not know what M Nisard has borrowed from our great ambassadors | of former days, from M. d'Estree, from the Due de Nivernais. from Chateaubriand, and from Behane. But our task Is easy. | We have the astonishing good luck to have in the College of Cardinals the abiest Frenchman or Francophile in Europe. Car dinal Rampoia. A mystical Siclian. Car dinal Rampolia. mystical Sicilian, gen. tie and passionate like St. Francois de Sales with lofty ambition. he is secretary of state from duty and from affection for Leo XIII, who has taught him just as the Abbot Joseph taught Richelieu. Cardinal Rampolia has only one sentiment, the col- Liberation of the papacy with France, and one interest alliance with France. AL though independent, he will constantly guide his policy on those lines. Now, have patience! Whatever may be our political sentiments, we must admit that in exter- for matters we have one ideal only: The
 power and glory of France. Cardinal Ram polia is a worker for our glory and our influence
 twill he consent to be the canddate?"
 
 system; there is only the misc en scene To foresee. to become strong, and to pre- pare, there you have the great political art. If. in spite of our efforts, Cardinal Rampolia should resist what would happen to us? If the secretary of state should re- fuse to be the candidate we would be ob- liged to take his candidate. As a great elector he would be even more powerful
 There seems to be in the mysterious world of the Vatican what we call a combina- zione, presented in the candidacy of Cardi- nal Pietre. Gentle and good, moderate and pious, the former nuncio of Madrid, who succeeded Monsignor Rampoiia del Tin daro, would be new Plus VII, and the present secretary of state would be his Consalvi. And if God should give to France new Bonaparte we will make him forget the road to Fontainebleau.
 The struggle will be lively? Who knows? But after all, the thing that is certain is that the duel will be full of interest. Be- tween France and Germany agreement is | not now so easy as it was in 1878. The | Kaiser, 1t is true, spoiled his chances By | donning the helmet of Godfrey of Bouilon, | William II brought out with too much eclat his desire to take the lead in religious af- fairs. He spoke to the stage wings like a | newly crowned tenor. in the imperious | style of a Lohengrin. The blindest see now, and the most indolent are on the alert. His great chaplain, Cardinal Kopp. | will no longer find Galmberti. The Ro-
 mans are suspicious; the cardinals are l forewarned''
 | "Do you believe that thet cardinals of
 the crown in France would be with Cardi- nal Rampolla? Would they not cross them- | selves in silence on hearing even the name