New-York tribune., 1903-07-23

and only one of the four powers is interested
even remotely in reafirming it. The republican
government of France is not likely to veto the
election of any candidate who may be favor
ite of the Triple Alliance, and neither Spain nor
Portugal is prepared to revive the right of inter
vention in Vatican politics The Italian Gov
ernment does not have the traditional privilege
of veto and is unwilling to have any Catholic
power exercise 1t, even an ally like Austria
Hungary.
The veto privilege has wellnigh lapsed when
the only chance of employing it springs from
alleged Austrian hostility to Cardinal Rampola.
because he has been unduy friendly toward
the French Republic and has established work
ing relations with it. The newspaper contro-
versy at Vienna over the exercise of this power
Is reflected by the italian press, but it has hol
low sound, and nobody in touch with either the
diplomatists or the Clerical leaders is prepared
to admit that history WIFI be repeated, and that
Austria will defeat Cardinal Rampolla through
the privilege of veto, was done in 1121 and
1923. Consequently, while explicit statements
are made that the Austrian Government has
armed one of it's cardinals with plenary powers
of veto against the candidature of Rampolla, it
is intimated by Vatican adherents that he will
be even more deliberate in reaching Rome than
Cardinal Gaysbruck was in 1916, when invested
with similar privilege.
1t is also open to question whether an attempt
to exercise the veto power might not be bene-
fetal rather than detrimental to Cardinal Ram
poIla's chances since it would he resented by
the concave as an encroachment upon the liber-
ties of the Church and an unwarrantable
invasion of the privileges of the Vatican, which
has been deprived by the Italian Government of
temporal power. Hence, while there are fore
casts that several days will be wasted in COM
bining votes on accidental candidates until the
bearer of the veto privilege is compelled to dis
close his intentions, it is probable that the
Austrian Government will remain in the back
ground and that a prolonged struggle will he
avoided by agreement among the most influen-
tial cardinals on non political Pope
There are two cardinals who are generally be-
Iieved to possess pre-eminent influences as Pope
makers. These are Cardinals Oreglia and Ram
polla. Cardinal Oreglia has been a consistent
and rreconcilable opponent of the flexible diplo-
macy of Leo XIII. and is naturally inclined to
favor a reactionary candidate His two brothers
have been Jesuts. and his sympathies are sup
posed to be with candidate of the religious
orders notably Cardinal Gotti. Cardinal
Oreglia's authority will be great in the ap-
preaching conclave, and he is likely to make full
use of his Office. every Dean Of the Sacred
College invariably does. in the election of a
Pope.
Cardinal Rampolla, on the other hand, while
himself probably destined to defeat as a candi-
date for the tiara, owing to the strong desire
among the cardinals for change of administra-
tion after long reign, is likely to retain sufh-
cient influence to dominate a Pope who Will
not reverse the recent policies Of the Vatican.
especially in its relations with France, Germany
England and the United States. For this rea-
son the election of a candidate of marked ad-
ministrative capacity and liberal tendencies, like
Cardinal Sarto is expected by close observers.
This result might be forecast more confidently
If Cardinal Sarto were in better health than re
cent reports from Venice represent
The election of candidate of this kind. who
has not been identified with Vatican politics or
Roman intrigues would reproduce the situation
in 1916. when Plus TX was chosen through the
persuasive efforts and skful combinations Of
Cardinal Micara and the reactionary influence
of Cardinal Lambruschini was counteracted-
The candidature of Serafino Vannutelh is dis
tinctiveIy political and receives the indirect sup
port of the Triple Alliance and many foreign
influences. Progressive and liberal Catholics in
America and elsewhere would not be averse 70
his election since it would strengthen the move
ment for Cancellation between the Vatican and
the Ouirinal