Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-07-25
POPE LEO XIII.
Picture Of fbs Crsas Ponfj6f Of fbe Catholic
Church WHO Hos .yus5 Passed Array.

tended first to bestow the red hat. When
the nuncio reached Rome Gregory lay dy.
ing.
His successor, Plus IN, confirmed the ap.
pointment. For 80 years Leo filled
this pastoral mission. Plus was not unmind-
full OF Gregory's design for his promotion,
but political troubles which crowded all the
years of Plus pontificate, delayed for six
years the insignia of the red hat
In 1877 was celebrated the golden jubilee
c: Plus TX. His strength was failing and he
know his end was near. Death had just
taken his oldest friend and paved the way
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. 1t 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, 1873, Victor Emmanuel died
in the Quirinal paiace-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-
mails to assemble freely in conclave and elect
a successor to Plus TX? Will not the gov
eminent raise the flag of Savoy and secure a
spiritual head of its 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 assembling the conclaye.
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 alb.
sent. Two were III and McClosky only ar.
rived in season to do homage to the sue.
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 day
morning and evening. Two-thirds majority
was necessary to an election. II no choice
were made, little smoke emitted from the
burned ballots told the fact to the outside,
waiting people. The first balloting gave
q votes to Cardinal Pecci-he was seen to
be greatly disturbed-his face expressed
dismay and grief. At the second balloting
the name of Pecci was called 3S times
great tears rolled down his cheeks-his pen
dropped from his trembling hands. Before
the third balloting he begged the cardinals
to drop his name and choose one more wor-
thy. The third balloting begar-A votes
were recorded against his name. He rose
declaring his unworthiness. 81 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 pontifical name.
He trembled at the threshold of this un-
known glory, where he must be solitary, 50
high above those who were nearest to him.
The hour was very bitter. There was not a
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, :