Evening star., 1903-07-16
AMERICAN CATHOLICS
They Desire Equitable Representation
in the Sacred College

The New York Herald today republishes
from its Paris edition the following letter
of its correspondent at Rome upon the sub
ject of the influence of American Catholics
on the Sacred College:
| today had an interview with a monsig-
nor who is friend of the United States
apropos of the coming conclave, and the
interests Of American Catholics. He said:
Cardinal Gibbons is on the point of arriv
ing in Rome. This Is very important,
it is the first time that an American car
dinal takes part in the election of a pope.
Cardinal MCCloskey, on the last occasion.
arrived too late to take part in the con-
cllve. He heard of the election of Leo
Nil on his arrival at Queenstown.
IF il had not been that number of car
dlnuls favorable to him have died lately
Cardinal Gibbons would have had very
good chance of being elected pope. The
late Cardinal Sicilano de Rende, who was
formerly pdpal nuncio at Paris would have
done all he could to have had him elected.
Cardinal Gibbons, however, will have Il
great influence in the next conclave. His
cminence has very great authority with all
the members of the Sacred College and will
impress upon that assembly the power
which he possesses as the representative
of the United States.
He Will prove to them that the United
States has a right to be no longer consid-
cred as a simple colony, with a single car
dinal. 1t has a right to have prOportionate-
ly many cardinals Spain. If this right
We're admitted there would be twelve
American cardinals The conclave in view
of the authority which Cardinal Gibbons
Will exercise, Will probably pave the way
for more just representation of the United
States in the Sacred College, which will
bear its fruits in the next conclave. But
even now Catholics of the republican
United States will not permit that a mo-
narchCal nation should intervene in the
coming COnFliVe with lis and b1S .,f-
firm its historical right to have at the Vat
lean an ally OF European monarchies.
FOR the moment. while awaiting the
forthcoming transformation of the Sacred
College in their favor, the Catholics of the
United States demand a new pope with
modern ideas-ideas which will lead him to
approve the action of American Catholi-
CiSin, pope W no Will maintain most friend
~ relations with the President of the
nited States. as Leo XIII showed his great
admiration and sympathy Tor the personal
qualities of Mr. Roosevelt
Leo Mi did much for the Catholics of
the United States. He put an end to the
stupid polemicS of certain French Catholic
writers against so-calied Amercanism. he
created Il Catholic university in Washing
ton and instituted an apostolic delegation
by which he put an end To conflicts between
Catholics Of the United States. but one of
his most Important acts was making Mgr
Gibbons cardinal
cardinal Gibbons enjoys the reSnect Of
every one in the United States. Mr.. Roosa-
Welt gave the measure of his emnenca's
great personal authority by giving him first
place after himself at the ceremony of lay
nS the foundation stone of the St Louis
eNhlbltion ana this in spite of the presence
u leading ucrs"nagcS of the United States
II Leo Mil did 50 much FOR the Catholics
u the United States. We can See how great
are the duties of his successor, VIS-a-vis the
American republic. Catholics cannot accept
4 pope with reactionary and anti-liberal
IDEAS"
The prelIte concluded by saying:
AS nave said, American ideas will play
I"tdlnS part from In" very beginning Of
IA" coming couclaYe. You may be sure
mat these ideas will have most powerful
influence on the future destinies OF the
'hurCh OF Rome"