The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-08
CANDIDATES FOR The PlpAGY.
Several Cardinals Prominently
Mentioned But the Issue Still
in Doubt.

Rome, July 6.-All Kinds OF specu-
lation are already in circulation as to
the probable successor to the throne
Of St. Peter. Opinions are much di-
vided owing to the many interests
which will be affected according to the
choice made by the sacred college:
The first question the cardinals will
have to solve will be whether the con-
clave shall be held in Rome or outside
of Italy. It is believed that the sup
porters of the idea Of abandoning
Rome will be even fewer than in the
conclave held after the death Of Plus
TX, when 81 out 81 cardinals voted in
favor of Rome. The second question
will be whether the next pope must be
an Italian or a foreigner. 1t is gener-
ally believed that be will be an Italian,
because in view of the struggle. be-
tween the church and the state since
the fall of the temporal power and the
constituti of united Italy, all the
clergy as we'll as the clerical party,
and even foreigners think that an 1tal-
ian pope can protect better than
stranger the advance of the religious
and political interests of the church.
The candidates chiefly spoken Of are
Cardinal Rampolla and Cardinal Sera-
fno VannuteIli They are both repre-
sentatives Of the conservative policy,
but are bitter antagonists of each
other. Cardinal Rampolla is a very
warm Francophile, while Cardinal
VannuteIli is averse to the policy in.
augurated by the present pontlhcal
secretary of state Of assuming the
power to which he has adhered for l5
years. The most probable Liberal can
didates are Cardinal Bishop Agliardi
and Cardinal Priest Satolli, whose
breadth of views and love of modern
ideas have been strengthened during
his stay in America. The most pro
bable religious candidates are Cardi-
nal Priest Gotti, who would carefully
avoid mixing up in politics, and Car
dinal Priest Angelo di Pietro, who
also has the very desirable requisite Of
age, being Is years old.
All these cardinals live IN Rome,
but strong party which might in
clude good many foreign cardinals
advocates the election of a cardinal
who is not member Of the curla such
as Cardinal Sato, patriarch Of Venice,
Cardinal Ferrari, archbishop of Milan,
both intransigeant, or Cardinal Cape
celator, Archbishop of Capua, who is
perhaps the most learned member OF
the sacred college, and has concilatory
ideas.
It is believed that the first ballot
will be merely a test in which nobody
will be elected, but it will be nsed to
see which way the wind blows. 1t is
considered certain that II Cardinal
Rampolla sees the impossibility OF
succeeding to the pontifcal throne he
will throw all his strength in favor
of an outsider, with view to pre-
serving his candidacy for next con-
claye. Under these circumstances, it
is supposed that Cardinal OregE,
dean of the sacred college, will be
chosen as he is IS years old and lately
had attack of pneumonia.
All these plans especially those
drawn up by the cardinals of the curia
may be disturbed by the attitude of
the cardinals coming from outside
Rome, principally foreigners. Things
might be pushed to such point as to
induce portion of the Italians from
the provinces to ally with the foreign
cardinals, in which case alone there
might be possibility of a foreign pope.
However, no French or Spanish cardi-
nal could command the votes Of the
Germans or English or vice versa; so
that if an opportunity arises for
foreign cardinal to be chosen the most
authoritative members of the college
think that the only one who could OBJ
tain the prescribed majority is Car
dinal Gibbons.