The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-24
MORE RED HAT TALK
Cardinal Gibbons Statement Revives
Speculation in Regard to
Archbishop Ireland.
With Several New Cardinals, His
Chances Are Thought to
Be Good.

Recent information from Rome has re-
v1ved the hopes of Archbishop Ireland s.
friends that he will soon be made a car
d1nal. Very significant. in the first place,
Is the unqualified statement made by Car
dinal Gibbons on his arrived Tuesday at
New York: There will be another Ameri-
can cardinal" But the Baltimore prelate
did not tell ALL The conviction is now
strong in the higher Catholic circles Of
the northwest that Pope Plus will pres
emily create not only one, but several
American cardinals, and that Archbishop
Ireland will have but a single competitor
Tor the red hat, to-wit Archbishop Ryan
enter the sacred college first, but he will
be followed almost Immediately by Arch
bishop Ireland
The Probable Program.
That the new pope is we'll disposed
towards American Catholics, that he re-
Allies keenly their Importance to the
church, has been manifest from the first
days OF his pontifcate. 1t was to Car
dinal Gibbons, to the American college,
and to the American pilgrims that Plus
devoted special attention Immediately
after his election. Independent as he is
Of the vatican oabals, formed in the in
terests of various continental powers, the
new pope, like Premier Balfour, enjoys
the full advantage Of an "open mind" He
understands the interests of the church at
large and he realizes, it is reported, even
more than did his predecessor, the fact
that In American Catholicism lies the
vitality, the hope Of the papacy. He is
understood to agree with the most en-
lightened cardinals that the church in the
United States should be represented &C
cording to its real influence, by not less
than three cardinals. Another cardinal
In the east one in the middle west, a
fourth on the Pacific coast-such Is the
program.
There Is Ample Room.
To this plan no serious objections are
possible on the grounds Of policy or prac-
tice. England must. indeed, soon have
another prince at Rome; several continent
tai governments may shortly exercise
their right to nominate candidates for red
hats not distributed. But there are half
a dozen or more vacancies in the college
of cardinals, OF which two or three might
be filled as we'll by an American as by any
European. The choice lies wholly with
the pope. He may consult the cardinals
Of the Roman curia, but he Is not re-
stricted. @--.:
America, 1t is true is still a missionary
country, but SO also is England so Is
Australia, both of which have been hon
ored with the cardinalate. The first
American cardinal came from the Amerf-
can metropolis, the second from the old
est Am erican see. But st. Paul is more
important relatively than Is Turin or sew
eral other Italian cities that have fire.
quently sent princes to the church.
AS to Archbishop Ireland's rivals, the
| archbishop Of Boston is now too advanced
in years and the colleague of Cardinal
Gibbons must be an active man. Arch
bishop Ryan Of Philadelphia, the famous
orator and administrator, Is an ideal can
didate. But the friends Of the st. Paul
prelate concede Archbishop Ryan's fitness
without misgivings. There is ample
ROOM they say, Eat Rome .i.s a.