The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-22

tributes to Everybody's Magazine for August an article on Pope Leo's Sue cessor" Mr. Crawford. who Is Cath olie has enjoyed the privilege of an inti- mate acquaintance with Pope Leo XIII. for nearly score of years. As result Leo appointed him an official biographer and gave him access to much valuable material that the casual biographer would never have acquired. Rumor says that the biography Is already written and has waited merely for the closing chapter.
 Mir Crawford believes that the next pope will almost certainly be an Italian. for 1t Is from the Italian cardinals that the popes have chiefly been chosen since the captivity of Avignon' and, without a single exception, since the Council of Trent. And as there was no departure from this custom of electing an Italian in the last conclave, though 1t was the first one held under a hostile government after the fall of the temporal power, It is not to be expected that any change will now take place. since the Holy See has found a way. however unwillingly. for coexisting with the government of Italy for more than 30 years and since no new development could possibly Justi- fly any attempt at a violent solution of the Roman question:.
 The foreign cardinals. he thinks, will naturally separate into groups In the com clave, each group supporting the candi- dates whom it thinks most likely to ad- vance the religious interests of it's nation.
 ''The fact" writes Mir. Crawford that three foreign cardinals are now present in Rome-Steinhuber, a German; Matbieu, a Frenchman, and Wives Tuto, a Span iard-is not without importance. Being better acquainted than their respective fellow-countrymen with their Italian col- leagues and exercising great influence in the Curia by virtue of their personal merits these three men will naturally lead their respective national groups, and, by agreeing, will probably be in posi- tion to decide the election of the next pope"
 The probable choice, thus narrowed down to the thirty-seven Italians in the College of Cardinals. may be still fur ther reduced by selecting "those men who
  qualities necessary in the head of the Catholic clutch, at the same time taking into consideration the exigencies of the age in which we live, the serious problems that await solution and the tendencies of thought in this new century, which are already becoming pretty clearly defined.
 Some persons can see no safety for the church except In slxillful policy. and they accordingly desire a political pope. a statesman at peace with all the states and their rulers. upholding their authority and himself upheld by them.
 "Other hope for theological pontiff who Is to defend the dogmas of the church and of Christian wisdom, Illuminating against the errors of all such reasoning as they consider over free and rebellions against the will of God.
 Lastly, there are many who dream of a humble. charitable and pious pope. who shall renew the miraculous conversion of mankind by truly apostolic means"
 The sole surviving elector of Leo XIII. is Cardinal Oreglia di San Stefano. He Is man of superior gifts" but 'of naughty and unbending character" and his opinions about church government are not those of Leo XIII nor of the ma jority of the cardinals of the curia. There fore MT. Crawford thinks that he will never be candidate for the papacy, nor will his influence in conclave be great, even if he should attempt to exert it.
 As Cardinal Oreglia is too old. so Cardi- nal Serahno Vannuteli is probably too young to be candidate at the next con clave. though his influence will be pro- foundly felt. Nevertheless he is clearly what the Italians expressively call papa bile''-a possible pope, and certainly one who would come under the designation political"
 His rapid and brilliant diplomatic ca reer brought him the rare good fortune of being able to apply his talents in the service of the Holy See under difficult circumstances, always with honor and in many parts of the world, as in Mexico. Ecuador, Peru. Bavaria, Brussels and Vi- enna; above all, his real ability and high personal qualities contributed to make him widely known as persona grata to sovereigns, governments and the diplom- acy at large"
 As to his younger brother, Cardinal Vim cenzo Vannutelli, who resembles him in personal characteristics, MT. Crawford thinks that he will never be the pope, but it is not improbable that in the con- cIave he may obtain many votes for his elder brother"
 MT. Crawford holds that if anybody could bring the long disputed questions raised by the loss of the temporal power to peaceful issue, Cardinal Capecelatro could do so.
 There is no man in the Sacred Col lege more deserving to be elected pope by exclamation, no man more truly good and lovable, few more profoundly learned. He is sound in health and his mind Is as fresh as ever, but his is nearly 80 years old, and the probabilities of his ultimate election recede day by day toward the limits of the possible.
 Cardinal Rampolla's policy aims at preserving peace and friendship at any | price with foreign states. while urging an impacable warfare against official Italy.
 'In this programme Cardinal Rampolla has persisted during 16 years, through failure and success, never gaining any leading advantage. yet always able to boast that he has maintained intact the rtoh+s of fha Holy See in the face of the