New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-30
CORRIGAN'S SUCCESSOR,
EFFORTS TO TRANSLATE A WESTERN
PRELATE TO NETWORK.
THE RED HAT ONCE OFFERED TO THE
LATE ARCHBISHOP AND DE-
CLrNED BY HIM

bishop Corrigan. And while both rectors and
bishops have been invited TO nominate candi-
dates, it by no means follows that the PontiT
will select any OF the names thus submitted to
him. 1t is possibe-though I do not believe il
IS probable-that some entirely different divine
may be chosen 70 occupy the throne in St. Pat
ricks Cathedral, so long and so worthily occu-
pied by Monsignor Corrigan. In selecting a
prelate. mere priest who has until now
enjoyed 10 ecclesiastical connection with this
archtepiscopal province. Leo XIII would merely
be carrying out the policy that he has followed
IN 4 number Of other instances. notably in the
case OF the appointment of Monsignor Keane to
the archbishoprc of Dubuque. Iowa
In view of this possibility IL may be timely at
the present moment 10 draw attention TO the
campaign which has been started by certain
members OF the American hierarchy, in the
press and at Rome, with the object of influence
ing the Papacy to appoint some cleric who does
not enjoy the advantage OF being a Newly
as successor 10 the late Archbishop Corrigan in
defiance of the wishes of the bishops, the clergy
and the laity OF this province. The leaders of
this movement have apparently settled upon
three names, namely, those of Archbishop Ire
land, Archbishop Keane and Monsignor Dennis
O'Connell, the former rector of the American
College, at Rome worthy of the distinction.
and this selection is remarkable in view of the
fact mat the thfee prelateS IN question nave
been distinguished by their unrelenting and bit
ter antagonism toward Archbishop Corrigan. an
luminosity so intense that it led the Archbishop
OF ST Paul. whenever he visited this city, to
neglect to pay that visit TO the Archbishop Of
New-York. which was required by the most
elementary rules OF ecclesiastical etiquette and
OF social courtesy. And 1t is generally under
stood that the candidature of these three prel-
ates in particular that of Archbishop Keaner of
Dubuque, is strongly supported and Endorsed at
Rome by Cardinal Gibbons.
II would be difficult to regard the appoint
r1ent Of Archbishop ireland, of Archbishop
Keane or of Monsignor Dennis O'Connell to sue
coed Archbishop Corrigan as anything else than
an affront to the latter's memory. and as a token
of Pontiical disapproval of his long and emf
nently successful administration Of this great
and influential archdiocese, one of the most i'm
portant of the entire Roman Catholic universe.
This being the case, one cannot but regret that
the candidature Of these prelates should re-
ceive even the most indirect Endorsement and
support from the Archbishop of Baltimore. who
is indebted for his red hat TO the modesty. the
self-effacenlent and generosity of the late Arch
bishop Corrgan. I am perfectly aware that
Archbishop Corrigan has been frequently repre-
scented as ambitious for seat in the Sacred
College. But there a few people in this
country. and likewise quite number at Rome,
who are aware Of the fact that far back as
in 1886, Archbishop Corrigan was offered the
red hat and that he not only declined 1t. but
urgently recommended the elevation Of the
Archbishop Of Baltimore to the College of Car
dinals in his stead. may relate rather curl
Gus incident in this connection. Shortly after
the arrival in Rome of the letter in which
Archbishop Corrigan declined the red hat for
himself, and requested its grant to the Arch
bishop of Baltimore he received a cable dis
1s,,sN1 nrAG
Your request IS granted" Believing it to be
the response to the letter In question he at
once sent a private message to Archbishop Glib
bonE informing him OF the dispatch which he
had received from Rome, and on the following
day the news that Leo XIII had decided to ele-
waite Monsignor Gibbons to the Senate of the
Church was made public from Baltimore. A
week later Archbishop Corrigan received a letter
from Rome ntimating that the cable dispatch
fn question referred TO some totally different re-
quest that he had made months previously. and
that il bore no relation to the creation OF Arch
bishop Gibbons as a Cardinal. Greatly dis
mayed. Archbishop Corrigan cabled the circunl-
stances of the case to Rome. The matter was
placed before the Pope who, being very fond
OF Archbishop Corrigan. gave orders that mes
sage should be sent to him not to distress him.
self about the affair. since it would be settled
without delay in accordance with his wishes.
ton to the Sacred College. and may add that
II was only one of several instances within my
knowledge in which the late Archbishop OF
New-York went out of his way to serve his
emnence of Baltimore.
OF course IL may be denied that Cardinal
Gibbons is indorsiug the candidature of Arch
bishop ireland of Archbishop Keane for
the appointment Of Archbishop of New-York
But I doubt very much whether the Cardinal
would be willing TO vouch for these denials and
Il is q fact that only few weeks before Arch
bishop Corrigan was taken i'll Cardinal Glib
bons wrote TO Rome urging the appointment of
Archbishop ireland to the Sacred College. The
letter of Cardinal Gibbons supporting the
claims of the Archbishop of st. Paul to a seat
in the Sacred College in preference to those of
the Archbishop OF New-York was most strongly
worded, and might have carried more weight
than it did the Vatican had it not become
known at the latter place that President Roose-
welt had been urged 10 intimate. either directly
or even indirectly 10 the Holy Father that the
grant of red hat to Monsignor Ireland would
be agreeable 70 him, and that he Ghe Presi-
dent) had refused to do So.
with regard TO Archbishop Keane, 1T was the
late Archbishop Corrigan who was the first
20 nut forward his candidature for the Arch
bishonric Of Dubuque thus rescuing him from
the relative obscurity TO which, after his sum-
mary removal from the rectorship OF the uni
varsity at washington, he had been RELOCATED
az Rome where a mere monsignor, or even
bishop IS a parsonage OF so small Importance
that he enjoys but little attention or distinc-
ton Yet Archbishop Corrigan had every rea-
son TO feel embittered against Archbishop
Keane who in various ways and especially In
his use OF the press was largely responsible