The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-21
GAINED CONFIDENCE
OF WORLDS Governments
BY ENLIGHTENED POLICY.


ton to the papacy produced favorable
impression. because they denoted an en-
lightened mind and character at once firm
and moderate. He found religious matters
compromised and gravely troubled in va
rious parts Of the globe. He was anxious
to end the crisis Thus. on the very day Of
his election, in notifying his advent to the
throne to the Cabinets Of Russia. Germany.
Switzerland and Brazil, he took the initi-
alive in favor OF Cancellation, and formally
expressed desire to smooth the difficulties
which disturbed the peace religious. In
several Oriental communities-Chaldea, Ar
menia and Malabar-Pope Plus IX thought
It his duty to modify the discipline which
had been observed from the earliest days
of Christianity in regard to the election Of
Bishops and Patriarchs. The Grand Council
OF Lateran under Innocent LII. had con-
firmed this ancient discipline and the Orr
entails, In reuniting around the Holy See.
have always reserved to themselves the
patriarchal rights Gura patriarcharum).
The bulls If Plus TX served as a pretext for
the fomenting Of dissensioins which ultt-
snately became a deplorable hierarchical
schism. Leo XIII speedily took measures to
re-establish peace among the Oriental
communities.
Toward the Italian Government the atti-
tude of Leo XIII was full OF reserve and
, dignity. He was anxious to settle the con-
fict concerning the taking possession OF
their sees by the Bishops and the due noti
fication demanded by the Government. Leo
XIII prudently pointed out the urgent ne
cessity of ending this dispute.
On the other hand, he abstained from all
| puerile provocation and took no heed of in
| teres,ed representations. addresses. speeches
| fired with political illusions. or otner in
cidents likely to embltter or prolong tho
| contest 1t was more a matter of interest
| with him to consider the modus viveudi with
! the italian Government than to discuss the
problem of the permanence of the Pontifcal
| Court at Rome or its emigration from the
Peninsula, supposins that circumstances
should require this momentous estrange-
/ ment.
GAINED FOR HIMSELF THE
| TITLE OF PRINCE OF PEACE.
| Leo XIII gained for the Catholic Church
| proud position in the world. not only as
| prince Of the church, but as prince Of peace.
| Europe acknowledged that for many dec
! AIDES no such far-seeing head as Leo XIII
| had worn the triple crown, and that except
| ing Prince Bismarck no layman in Europe
had shown such skill In the most delicate
| diplomatic negotiations the late Pope.
| See all that he has done. His successes in
| his negotiations with the German Chancel-
lor, and the remarkable foresight shown in
his dealings with Spain, and in putting the
1
publican France, showed his skillfulness a.
! rare diplomatic sense. As prince Of peace.
| he was called upon to settle the most diff
, cult problems. Under his guidance the bit
| ter Kulturkampf that ragged in Germany
since the year 1870 was ended.
| AS prince of peace he was called upon to
decide a question that at one time
threatened to bring Germany and Spain into
difficulties-that OF the Caroline Islands
, and the world knows with what tact he
arbitrated to the satisfaction of both coun-
| tries
After King Emmanuels entry into Rome
in 1870. all true Catholics were prohibited by
the Vatican from availing themselves IN any
way of the electoral franchise, and were
consequently debarred from taking any part
in either parliamentary or municipal life.
Some years ago. however, the Pope is
sued an order Withdrawing his predecessors
injunctions concerning the nonparticipation
OF the faithful In political contests, and
instructed the priests throughout the coun-
try tc encourage their focks to take part
IN the municipal and parliamentary elec-
tions. The result was soon apparent. When
an important municipal election took place
soon afterwards in Rome, and twenty-four
seats in the Municipal Council had to be
balloted for, 1t was found that in every
J case the candidates of the Vatican had been
victorious. and that not single Liberal OF
Radical had been elected.
This result was all the more significant
inasmuch as the latter had adopted the
words Roma intangible" no surrender OF
Rome to the Pope as their war cry. Sim.
liar municipal elections followed shortly
| afterwards at Naples, Salerno, Milan, Ge-
) noa and Venice. with the same results-a vic.
} tory all along tbe line for the Vatican nom.
inees.
|; Having thus at the most propitious mo.
: ment laid the foundation of a powerful
clerical party in parliamentary and munich
| pal life. II became necessary to provide
Them with a programme and to furnish then
with policy. with this object In view the
Pope. in his allocution TO the assembled