Washington sentinel., 1899-02-25
Dur FOR EIoN Ew S
Translated and Selected frOtE leading
EHv06saa6 6dbsIsJ0Y tie SENTINEL.
ENGLAND.

THE Next Pops: WHAT Will He Bt
LIgE.
Debuty X. de CeSdrs, in the "C0yyfert
df Ndb0f."
Never in the history OF the College o
Cardinals have there been as many
changes through death within the same
period OF time as in the last ten years
Nearly all of those who had been re-
| garded as PababH-i. e. possible candi'
dates as successors Of the present Pope,
as also the majority Of that group who
had been recognized as the Pope cleo
tors" lie. as having the decisive voice
in the election oi Pope-have died.
The changes under Leo have IN this re-
| spect been greater than those under
| Plus TX. The latter reigned thirty-two
| years, and during that time lost IIS
members of the College, while the for
mer has in the last twenty years lost G23,
Only two Of the cardinals created by
Plus are left namely Oreglio, aged sew
enty, and ParOchi aged seventv-six.
The former is Dean at Camerlengo of
the Sacred College, and would. in case
of a vacancy, exercise the most influence.
This is unfortunate, as he is a represen-
tative Of the group that is antagonistic
to any agreement with Italy, save by a
restoration of the status quo before 1870.
The coming conclave will consist
almost entirely Of new elements, just as
it was at the death OF Urban VIII. where
there was not a single cardinal present
who had attended an earlier conclave,
and who knew how to conduct such an
assembly. And Just the best and most
available candidates have been removed
by death, the few who had not been
spoiled by the last ten years of Leo's
reign, the most disastrous in his ponti-
ficate. Those who are gone were the
best because they subordinated political
to religious interests. Dusmet and
Ohmondi were excellent bishops, as was
also the mild hammered Cardinal Batta-
glini, who for quite a while was regarded
as the head of the party that sought to
effect a compromise between the Church
and Italy.
AS matters now stand, the political
interests are paramount in the make up
and the doings of the Sacred College,
and only in the case Of a number of
older members are the religious inter
ests still in the foreground, All the new
appointees have been selected with
view Of the political bearings of such
ea1arNtnn rThs- - haaL -,
Italv and in other countries. Among
the new men are number OF NNHfif, and
the rest are bishops who became noted
through their determined defence ofthe
Ultramontane principles in their
dioceses Unless something like a
miracle should happen. the new Pope
will be an irreconcilable opponent OF the
present status in Italy and firm protag.
onist Of the political interests Of the
Vatican as against the political powers
Of all States. 1t would be more than a
surprise fin our day the selection should
result in the selection OF Ganganelli or
a Mastai. Such unexpected selections
are now scarcely within the range Of
possibilities, When Pecci was selected,
it was done by the diplomatists and the
politicians, in the hope that he would
maintain friendly relations with the
other Powers, and in this wav, by skill
and diplomacy, regain what the Holy
See had lost in 1870. Let 1t be remem.
bered that at present there is not a single
member IN the College who, in view Of
the doubtful political complexion OF
Europe, and Of Italy in particular, and
Of the degenerate parliamentary system
Of the day, and Of fhe fact that every
monarchy is dependent for its existence
on the votes of the majority and Of the
current radcalism Of the hour, is willing
to trust the present condition of fairs
and believe them TO be permanent, and
who accordingly is willing to see any
safety for the Holy See except in the
establishment Of its temporal power
The only member of the College of
Cardinals who still believed in the
possibility OF a compromise between the
Church and the State as at present
organized was the recently deceased
Cardinal Gustav Won Hohenlohe, the
brother OF the Chancellor OF the German
Empire. But he stood alone in the
College and was there regarded as a
curiosity, and had no influence whatever,
Notwithstanding his high family connec.
tons. In his study he had, between the
pictures OF Bismarck and of Crispi, that
ofthe young German Emperor, with the
significant motto: Gaze, aaSHtHl
If the question IS asked whether Leo
has satisfied the hopes and the calcula
tions Of those who elected him, we must
reply that he has surpassed the hopes,
but has entirely disappointed the
calculations. He will close his days
without having persuaded the political
Powers, 20 whom he made concessions,
TO aid linn in the reestablishment Of the
temporal power of the Vatican He
has not even secured the city of Rome.
Until recently he has repeatedly ex-
pressed the conviction that God would
vet permit him to see the temporal
power restored before his death but in
this he has been doomed to uisappOint
ment.
ZroNIsM No MORE A ROMANCE
London.-Feb 10.