Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-22

was as clever a politician as he was an
excellent churchman.
Before his return to Rome he visited Lon
don and Paris, aid was received by Victoria
Prince Albert and Louis Philippe, to whom
he had been warmly recommended by Leo
pold.
Death had claimed the bishop of Perugia
The hearts of the people and the clergy
turned to him, who had endeared himself
to them in his brief sojourn as governor
The pope acceded to their wishes, but in
tended first to bestow the red hat When
the nuncio reached Rome Gregory lay dy-
ing.
His successor, Plus TX, confirmed the ap-
! pointment. For 80 years Leo filed
this pastoral mission. Plus was not unmind-
full Of Gregorys design for his promotion,
but political troubles which crowded all the
years of Plus pontifcate, delayed for six
years the insignia of the red hat.
In 1877 was celebrated the golden Jubilee
of Plus *. His strength was failing and he
know his end was near. Death had lust
taken his oldest friend and paved the wav
for new Camerlengo. Plus appointed
Cardinal Pecci. 1t was position involving
during the vacancy of the papal chair, the
supreme authority to administer the tenn.
poralities of the holy see. It was the Cam
erlengo who must use the silver hammer
upon his brow and thrice call him by his
baptismal name before it could be admitted
that he was dead. Already the shadow of
the cross had fallen on Cardinal Pecci.
January II, 1878, Victor Emmanuel died
in the Quirinal palace-eight days after
Plus followed him, whom he had deemed
The prosecutor and spoliator of the church.
When the wires flashed over the world the
news of Plus death, Protestants believed
that the papacy which was claimed to have
come down from Peter was at an end. The
questions arose, will the government not
take possession of the vatican and St. Pc
ter's! Will they, can they, allow the cardi-
nails to assemble freely in conclave and elect
a successor to Plus TX? Will not the GOV.
eminent raise the flag of Savoy and secure .
spiritual head of it's own selection who will
be amenable to the house of Savoy? Such
might have been the case had Victor En-.
manuel lived, or had the papacy had at its
head man of less diplomatic skill. less tact
than Cardinal Pecci. He carefully avoided
everything that could give offence, but was
determined there should be no delay that
he could prevent in assem- bling the conclave
which should be ten days after the death
of pope. At that time the papal tiara was
not crown to be coveted.
Out of sixty-four cardinals three were ab-
sent. Two were III and McClosky only ar.
rived in season to do homage to the suc-
cessor of Plus TX. The Camerlengo pre-
pared for long session. The doors were
closed. None might enter, none pass out.
But two ballots could be cast in one dav-
morning and evening Two-thirds majority
was necessary to an election. If no choice
were made, little smoke emitted from the
burned ballots told the fact to the outside.
waiting people. The first balloting gave
% votes to Cardinal Pecci-he was seen to
be greatly disturbed-his- face expressed
dismay and grief At the second ballotirg
the name of Pecci was called SO tine
great tears rolled down his cheels-ii>
dropped from his trembling hanGs. lse eI+
the third balloting he begged the cardinals
to drop his name and choose one more wor-
thy. The third balloting began-44 votes
were recorded against his name. He rose
declaring his unworthiness. Il am old, ! am
feeble. | shall soon end my days; it is not
the papacy, it is death that should be given
me-" Finally he bowed to what his brother
cardinals declared to be the Divine will
and gave Leo XIII. for his pontifcal name
He trembled at the threshold of this un-
known glory, where he must be solitary, SO
high above those who were nearest to him.
The hour was very bitter. There was not
stain upon his name. In statecraft he ranked
with Gladstone and Bismarck-when they
passed away he stood alone as the greatest
statesman in Europe By his uniform,
steady line of action, his aims were attended
by remarkable success. Leo's benevolence,
his self-denial surpassed even his zeal and
worldly wisdom. To aid the poor he
stocked all the streams he could control
with fish. The fruits of his gardens he or
dered to be preserved and dealt out to the
needy.
A late empress craved an audience with
him-had the poor taste to denounce GER
tain doctrines of the church. Leo listened