The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-20
for his office among the

reverence for his office among the
progressive, races.
II is not probable, next to lmpossl-
ble that a non-Italian cardinal should
he elected. Not only is the majority
in the conclave composed of Italians
horn. but there are grave reasons, al
most overwhelming reasons, why no
one not of that nation should be elect
cd The old reason that the Church is
centralized in Rome. and that the con-
eregations or committees which gov
Fern it. would feel themselves out OF
touch with foreign pope, is still Oper-
alive. and rather stronger than weak
pr because the new dogma has COM
nplled that all to exalt their chlefs S
sDiritual rights International enml-
ties have become more bitter, and no
German or Englishman could be elect
ed because Frenchmen and Spanlards
wOuld believe him hostile, while the
choice of a Frenchman would rouse
suspicion in all who think in German
or D0ssibly in Magyar The death of
Cardinal Ledochowski has left but
one Slav Cardinal-Missia-w
might be included among the Papa
y
candidate, he would be disliked betf
in Russia and Germany, as sure to
keep up the sentiment partly rellg-
iOus and partly national, which pre-
vents Poles from being politically tor
gotten. An American cardinal might
no doubt be elected without exciting
much international feellng-thOugH
Spanish America it must be remem-
bpred. is a great division Of the Cath
3lic world. and both detests and breads
the North American-but the election
of Cardinal Gibbons would seem to
| he CONGREGATIONS a revolutionary pro-
| ceeding. and one, moreover, forbidden
| by the grand obstacles of all. 1t
would be fatal to the last chance OF
| the restoration of the temporal pow
er. That restoration. if accomplished
at all. must be accomplished by the
sword, and to modern ideas the impO-
stiOn BY force of a foreign sovereign
| rejected by whole people is painfully
| reDugnant. Even the moderate cardi-
| nails cannot bring themselves to sur
| render all hope Of once more becOm-
| g princes. and showing the world how
a state ought 10 be governed for the
| promotion of Christian life, and they
| certainly will not add to the Difficult
| ties in the way of their dream by Sc
| lecting as their chief any foreigner
whatsoever, whether German, Slav,
| Latin or American.
| They will choose an Italian, and
| among Italians they will strive to find
! a man of ability and spotless charac-
ter who will be strictly conservative
in his policy, especially as relates to
| the kingdom of Italy. They are far
too we'll meaning, as we'll as worldly
| wise, to elect man about whose char
acter there rs any shade of doubt, and
| TOO well aware of modern necessities
| to choose any man whose abilities are
| manifestly unequal to his lofty and
unique position. At the same time
| they will desire a safe" man. certain
not to shock the world with novelties.
| or to travel on a line which his sub
ordinate cOadjutars 60 not understand.
| These conditions will be found 10 thin
| the numbers greatly, they striking out
| Cardinal Oreglia, who would be dan
gerously fanatic; Cardinal Capecela-
trO who is too Old-19; Carulnal
| Svampa, who is too young; Cardinal
| ParrOchi. who is plebian and CCTrulent
| on outward appearance: Cardinal dl
| PietrO. because he is disliked at Ber-
| lin; and, above all, Cardinal RamDol-
| la, the secretary of state, who has
| probably defended half the sacred col
! lege by his mperviOusness. and all
the governments of Europe, especially
the French. This leaves in the front
rank of the Papabili only two men:
! Cardinal GOtti, whom Leo XIII indlcat-
! ed as his successor, and Cardinal Van
utellf. The first named is a reserved
| man, a CaTmelite monk, who is great
| ly favored by Cardinal RampOlla, but
whose purposes may be kept secret
even from him. Cardinal Vanutelli
is man of accomplishments. who has
COnciliated the foreign vote, and who
| may yet succeed in soothing away the
| opposition of the Jesuits. 1t would
| seem therefore that unless the choice
| fell upon some comparatively un-
| known Italian, it would rest upon
either of these two. The chances Of
| the unknown. it should be remember
ed, are greatly impaired by certain
necessity for speed, the Conclave de-
| string not to leave time to the govern
| mentS to interfere, or to exert press
ure on behalf of a favOrite with their
| peoples.
Battle With Venezuelan Rebels.