The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-17
truth ABOUT POPE'S HEALTH
FALSE RUMORS SPREAD FOR
POLITICAL PURPOSES.

Loo XIII. - vigorous Mentally Now a. for
Years Past-wm Drop Away suddenly
without Illness When the Time Comes.
eays Dr. Lapponi - Recent Reports
Intended 70 influence French Elections.
ROME. Now s.--More thar once the Holy
Father has expressed a natural bitterness
N regard to the campaign OF lies about
the state OF his health. Parties are savage.
They respect neither the majesty Of the
hara nor the sanctity Of old o Political
strategy does not take into account senti-
ment and delicacy. As every one knows,
II IL the A, b. G. Of good not TO
mention. above all, not to speak loudly. OF
the frailty Of an old man. When such
fables reach the point OF constant violence.
which has caused regret TO all Of us. such
lndelcacy becomes gross boorishness. Leo
XIII. has all the more reason to complain
Of such misconduct. inasmuch as he Is still
hale: he In proud Of his youthful old age.
just as a woman is proud Of her beauty.t
His name OF life continues the same;
his habits Of work and administration have
not changed; the one novelty. not recent
but d ating back several years. is the minute
caro- with which he IL watched by DR.. Lap
poni, who likes 10 show his zeal; and the
DOCTORS strict prescriptions. which the
great Pontif avoids a. much as proprety
permits. DR.. Lapponi's predecessor was
not 80 ~tyrannioal; he read Leo XIII 3 soul,
he knew the Pope better and had attained
the physician ideal. to let the patient get
along according to his own consciousness
of his siren 9Th. Unfortun ately DR.. Lapponi
Ia a pompous, stiff provincial: he counts for
his reputation on the preservation Of the
Pope's precious health. Leo XIII. complains
with a smile. but is obliged to obey, inasnuch
AZ all his attendants are In league with the
doctor.
That IL the real state Of affairs, II IL q
shame TO see ignorant. deceived or design
Ing Journalists lay before the public daily
the alleged suf erings and the interminabie
agony OF the Holy Father.
What increases the natural sorrow OF
the Pope IL the fact that he Is perfectly
we'll acquainted with the sources. tho
character and the object OF this abominable
modification. Better than any one else
does he know whence these fanciee arise,
In what hands are held the threads OF tho
intrigue, what result Is desired. When the
matter Is looked into 1t Is a person high In
p~olitical power who Is directing the odious
machipation. Private letters, confidential
notes, party relations. communications OF
personal police rave all been used for the
stage setting. Agencies. intrigucs, combi-
nations Of groups are acting at the bidding
% this person. Great attention has been
directed to the fact that this person has
the mission Of managing in behalf Of the
TRIBE Alliance the affairs leading to the
coming conclave. Al the same time another
striking fact Is that French royalist news
papers gave the keynote for this scandal
lous concert. The other apers chimed In.
some 70 give news 10 their readers, others
because they had drawn from dishonest
sources.
The character and object Of the cam
paien might be guessed even II precise
Information did not enable US TO hnow
them precisely. To increase the confusion
In mems minds, TO discourage the obedient,
IN incite the rebelhous, TO bring it about
that all ser.ou action shall be put on until
the next Pontifcate and that the Resistance
In the conclave shall be 20 strong a. to
bring about not only a change OF person,
but a change Of administration and OF
p~otcy-theae are clearly the directing ideas
OF the conspiracy.
we are on Inc tNt O1 lTf ~ Nit'N'hSs
n n desired that the Pope shall inspire
naither confidence nor fear. They wish
70 Rive a free hand 10 every form Of DISC
bedience and TO authorize all kinds OF
ambiguous actions. In this way. the OPP
position TO the rdliiement and TO Christian
democracy hopes by a flank movement TO
juegle away the permanent policy OF tho
Papacy and 10 enmire Catholicism in the
old. conservative methods Of work. The
work ~ sl1lful investment is supported 10y
tie parallel movements Of persons who,
though faithful 20 the republican instruo-
lions Of the Pope. aim az checking the social-
lat tendencies. under the pretext that In
France tire democrats are exaggerating
the ~teachings Of Rome and creating a schis-
matte atmosphere.
At times sone irnprudenoe in matters
OF detail gives a semblance Of truth 20
theee p4~fdious accusations These com
binations Of intrgues sadden the heart 81
the Holy Father. Was IL not the Chs
tan democrats Of France that carried
into effect with most joyous and grateful
promp,ness the counsek. ths policy and
IN. secret wishes Of the Holy Serf What
hrroRaDns and what savage hypocrisy
20 bubble over tnfes with the secret IN
t4n,ion 81 making a historic movement
turn from its course Amid th" Willy al
yersanes are all the detractors 81 the on
rress Of Sasardotal Norks III" object
/. Ia fnghten tie Pope aud =" disarm his
strength 81 80
ko' a thousand times mo- leo NH
10 no, In his d-ath agony III" a common
dscr-pit and worn-out uld nan When
oIe Cardinal can talk 90 him '"f two hpuis
about tho Affair Of AuIrr'd aDd ~ h"f-
many. ~h.n ou. Amna-sador chn captain
b. him A. great Iruglh iha ih"fu'"s' din-
ailue- - fiauo- AMI un ~" sam" da'.
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hny uf ,l-Iu ~ consumption 900
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