The evening times., 1901-04-16

on Monday. the dispatches tell us a
secret cOnsiStOry was held IT Rome.
and twelve new cardinals were appoint
ed OF these ten were italians and two
Austr:ans This action brings the Sa-
cred College up to within three Of its
maximum. there being now sixty-sAvcu
members of the body Of whom ferry
are Italians and tveuty-seven nati--es
OF other countries.
Considering the growth. hcurishing
condition. and achievements Of the
Catholic Church in America, iii the ,vay
of religious. charitable and educati nal
foundations and endowments. the
learning and zeal of its hierarchy. and
The great moral. political, and social in
fuence of some Of its prelates. il has
been generally thought that Leo NIII
would regard it as entitled 90 mere
than a single Cardinal 10 represent il
in The College: but the Cardinal Arch
bishop of baltimore still continues to
be the sole American.
Judging from the aIIocution delivered
on the occasion Of the consistory it is
probable that tue peculiar trials through
which the papacy is passing may
account for the Pope's desire to keep
the governing power of the Church as
greatly Italian and as little interna-
tionaI as possible, and it may be that
this policy VIII work a hardship to
American preIates. as it is To be feared
that the drastic action Of France aith
regard to the suppression Of the relig-
joUs orders in that countrs and the
conf5scation of their propertH has ere
ated fear at the Vatican tina; the com
/ q1union Is in dsnEer wherever It Is ex-
posed to Republican ideas and Condi-
tons other ctun-rieS besides France
the Italian Kingdom notably. are at
odds with the Church. bui il mast be
remembered that the chief sources of
disturbance t. the Holy See are Cath0-
lie Sta-es.
In the United States OF America
which y neIther Catholic, Protestant
Hebrew. buddhist. nor anything else.
FeliEiously considered as a nation. ihe
Catholic Church stands in exactly the
same legal position Of absolute freedom
ll-at al other bodies Of believers OF
nnn-beIievers. do. Like the members
uf ether denominations. or the adher-
ents OF opponents OF other crceds. It's
members are bound only in political
allegiance To The state which Under
the Constitution Is estopped from inter-
ferins with the free exercise IF their
religion. II may well be wished that
this freedom IN matters of faith were
as well understood in Rome as il is
here If that were The case it Is prob
abla that in what must be recognized as
the closing days OF the present Pontif-
cate. <he Catholic people of the Unitsd
States would b. honored in the eIeva-
tion OF more than one Of their higher
clergy To the rank Of Cardinal.
The result Of Mondays consistery
win be q serious dfsar rpointmenJ 10 the
friends Of ArcHbishops Cortigan. ire
land. anG Chape:le. who have been
mere or less confident that their fav-
crate preIates. or two of them at least.
would receive the red hat. That is yet
possible. since there ara sill three Va
I cancies. Eut II would be a departure
from recent custom 40 fill every seat.
although ehat may have been done un-
d@I exceptional conditions. Hove
tFe Americans who have been looked
" on IS most likely 10 be given the
highest honor hut one in the gift OF the
CE1rch, are stiu men whose ages and
Eeaith give promise of many years %
active work. and their reward may
come later