New-York tribune., 1903-04-26

pastor than a statesman and who is likewise
persona gratissima with the royal family. is so
Ill with diabetes that the condition Of his health
would preclude him from accepting the tiara,
even if elected, while Cardinal Gott the pious
and ascetic Prefect of the Propaganda, made
so many enemies among the higher ranks vi
the Italian clergy while Prefect of the ConSre-
cation of Bishops and Regulars, by endeaVorlng
to apply to them some of the discipline which
he had been accustomed to exercise as General
of the Order of Carmelite Monks, that his pros
poets of succeeding Leo XIII Pope are con-
sidered to have completely vanished
\ similar fate has oVertaken the hopes OF
Cardinal seraphin Vannutelli. who for nearly a
decade past has been constantly put forward
as the most likely candidate at the next con-
cIave and as possessing the Endorsement OF
bath Austria and Germany. But this most
agreeable prelate, who spent several years at
Vienna as nuncio, and has the reputation OF
being more of a statesman than d DIVINE mas
been the subject of too much discussion III coh-
nection with his aspirations TO the tlaia' ANU
moreover is blessed with too large fanny, 10
render his election in the least degree propaple'
For il is taken for granted thitt Il ht were
r,*s,d to the Chair Of St Peter he would at once
aGpoint his brother, Cardinal vincent Ndhhd-
,eIH to the Secretaryship of State. and his other
-A'S-'
lion with the Vatican, thus placing. to all in
,a,tc and purposes the government OF the
Church in the hands of a single family. There
Is nothing more fatal to the prospects OF elec-
,iop N the Chair Of st. Peter than TO inquire
fo. = length of time as more or less aVoWeo
candidate The prelate may be SAID 10 outl4'e
his chances of success, and TINS Is PIeclSelS
what has taken place in connection Win oaI-
6iual Seraphin Vannutell. whose grandfather'
if NAV be of interest to state, acquired large
fortune as rnajordomo of the beautiful Princess
Pauline Borghese the sister of the first Emperor
Napoleon.
# has frequently been alleged that Cardinal
RarnpoIla the present Secretary OF State, VIII
be the next Pope. The arguments in favor OF
tbie theory are based on the fact that the vast
ma iority of the now living members of the
Sacred College have been created cardinals
since he has been the principal counsellor of the
Holy Father, and are. therefore, believed to be
indebted TO his nomination for their red hats.
But gratitude is a virtue that is exceedingly
rare. and it is seldom that a dignitary who has
attained high honors likes to recall the fact that
he is indebted to the support of friends rather
than to his own merit for the emnence to
which he has been raised. Moreover Cardinal
Rampola is too closely identified with Leos
policy The latter does not meet with the ap
proval of the vast majority of the members of
the Sacred College. and they fully realize that
they would be merely insuring continuance of
the course pursued by the present Pontif were
they to elect Cardinal Rampolla as his successor
Cardinal Rampo!la's power, which is to-day
more extensive than that of any of his prede-
tessors as Secretary of State, With the excep-
ton, perhaps, of Cardinal Antonelli, will cease
from the very moment when Leo XIII draws
his last breath 1t is then that Cardinal Oreglia
di Santo Stefano, who has all along been per
sistent opponent of the present ~egime and
bold critic of Leo XIIFs policy. becomes Omnip-
otent and acquires the sole and supreme control
OF the affairs of the Papacy and of everything
and Of everybody in the Vatican until the elec
zion of the new Pope It is .umored that car