The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-08

10 The Post.
The faithful Of the Catholic church ara
looking with trcmors ~ anxiety Tor bad
news concerning the pope. Not that he
is A. but g. Is some time since the cable
sobbed forth = message Of the approaching
dissolution Of the fral temple Of the papal
soul. Such a message rs due. The pale
horse has been waiting at the gates Of
the vatican for a long time, but Leo KIN
stul lives. Upon SO fragile thread does
his life hang, however, that the cardinals
Of the consistory, have actually been
summoned to the papal palace and
have received from the pald lips Of the
pontin himself instructions regarding the
vitally important action that must follow
the waiting of the soul Of Leo XIII TO
another sphere.
While the college Of cardinals numbers
about seventy members, at least twenty
I'VE Of them are stationed in Rome. and
because of the nature Of their duties they
are brought into Intimate contact with the
nontin Naturally they acquire an insight
into his personal wishes in many matters,
not the least among them being that ~
cardinals ia 10 consequence exceedingly
powerful among the others in the college.
Leo himself. as is very well known iF
deeply concerned as to his successor. His
own policy has been so conducive to the
prosperity Of the church that he nat
urally wishes to have the next pope one
brought such good results 10 his own reign.
That desire has been impressed on the
cardinals of the consistory.
So busy have been the makers Of secu-
lar history that they have had no time TO
notice the course OF events 10 the church
Of Rome. These are fraught with the
greatest significance to the welfare of the
nations While wars and rumors Of wars
nave distracted the attention Of the peo
pies Of two hemispheres, the Roman church
has discussed the impending event on It's
own horiZou--the spectre of death-and
has without doubt decided who shall take
the PLACE Of Leo XIII when that prelate
has followed his illustrious predecessors.
The formality OF voting In the interesting
manner arranged by the rules OF the church
VIII be gone through with as usual, and
which proclaims that q new pope has been
elected viii he watched for as eagerly as
possible outside the vatican. But the name
known 70 the cardinals Of the consistory
They will guard the secret jealousy, for
| ,hese cardinals are no ordinary men.
Prelates who have such q secret as this
| In their keeping are deserving OF more
papRl system would be like that Of The
| government Of this country deprived OF the
senate and house of representatives.
There is In fact an analogy between the
government OF the greatest spiritual or
gsnize ton ever teen on earth and the great
est temporal power as found Ia the govern
ment Of The United States. They are or
! Ranlzed on a similar bssis, and in every
detail Of the executive, judicial and legis-
! latlve branches show that both originated
| from the same source NJ that enc gave the
| plsr and argument for the form alton OF the
ether. In only one important thing do they
| dicier-thnt q, The matter Of tenure Of Of
| fee with the church II is for life unless
| there ensues cause for dismissal or forfeit
RE If power In the government Of the
| United States the period Of ofliceholdinR
seldom exceeds short term Of years.
The cardinal Is prince Of the Church OF
| insignia of office, together with his ring.
The proof NJ fitness for the position that
| cardinal Is called upon 10 give is greater
| than thst required ~ any public Official II
| is interesting 70 note that the csrdinalate,
contrary 20 general belief. does not consti-