The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-20
Who VIII Succeed Leo KILL

we nave pointed OUT HOW uocPhy h-
tsrested for political reasons are Italy,
Austria, Germany and France in the
choice of a successor to LEO XIII. or
incompaMbly greater moment to the
whole of Catholic Christendom will be
the decision of the Conclave from a
religious point of view. Will the next
occupant of PETERS chair be man
qualified by intellect and character to
uphold and extend the spiritual intlu-
ence which has been SO strikngly ex-
tended and upheld during the pontiiicate
that has now come to an end?
The history of Conclavcs is only too
full of proofs that the members OF the
Sacred College have their share of human
weaknesses; and that their preferences
for this or that particular candidate have
been often shaped by worldly motives.
Nevertheless, such motives have usually
neutralized each other, and been subordl-
mated in the end to q sense of tremendous
responsibility. During the last four
centuries, at least, the choice ultimately
reached by the Cardinals in Conclave
hns, as a rule, evinced extraordinary Wis
dom, and has been justified by events
There have been times when the pre-
eminent piety and capacity OF candidate
have commanded recognition so universal
that he has been chosen by reclamation,
or, as Catholic writer's would describe it,
by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.
Even when factions within the Con-
cave have, for the moment, proved ir-
reconcilable, and have therefore sought
to postpone a settlement of the great
policies at stake by placing upon the
papal throne man supposed to have
but very brief lease of life they have
sometimes builded better than they
knew. Thus. for instance, in 1873, when
in favor of Cardinal PECCI rule was
broken that had been observed for GEN.
turtles, the rule which forbade Gamer
lengo to be regarded - candidate for
the Papacy, it was because he was gem
orally believed to have but short time
to live. He himself shared the belief,
and is reported TO have said in the Con-
clave to a Cardinal who voted for him,
You desire, then, to elect another
HADRIAN "" The last-named Pope, it
may be remembered. reigned only thirty
six days. Yet, whatever may have been
the reasons which controlled some
Cardinals in 1873, the result could not
have been more felicitous had they voted
with an eye single to the highest inter-
ests of the Catholic Church.
1t is not impossible that at this time
recourse may be made to an expedient
similar to that which was adopted
quarter of century ago. There are
now, as there were then, factions in the
Curia, which, sooner than aCquiesce in
the immediate triumph of either, may
prefer to postpone. by the election of an
aged Cardinal, the definite settlement of
their respective claims On the one
hand seem to be arrayed the friends of
Cardinal RAMpoLLA and of the Franco
phile policy with which, in his capacity
of Papal Secretary of State, he has been
for many years identified. On the other
side stand marshalled the adherents Of
Cardinal GOrTI whose promotion 70 the
papal throne is known to be desired by
Germany, and whose pretensions LEO
NH. was presumed TO favor when he
made him Project of the Propaganda.
Cardinal RAMPoLLA. indeed, has no hope
of attaining personally the papal chair
Mt the present juncture, but he naturally
desires that the policy he has favored
shall be maintained, and not reversed
If he il unable in any other way to defeat
the election of a candidate whose con-
ccption of Pope's duty does not meet
with his approval, he may try to defer
decisive solution of the questions at issue
by securing the requisite two-thirds vote
for an old and neutral Cardinal. There
are two prominent members of the
Sacred College well advanced in years
. One is Cardinal CAPECELATRo; the other
is Cardinal OREGLIA. 1t is true that the
latter is now Camerlengo, and, as such,
would have been held disqualified for
election previous to 1875 but the new
precedent established in that year might
conceivably be followed. Both to him,
however, and to Cardinal CAPEcELATRo
there is one grave objection, namely, the
belief that they favor more accommo-
dating attitude toward the Quirinal than
has been hitherto assumed. 1t is certain
that the selection Of either would be joy
fully acclaimed by the friends of the
Italian monarchy.
We shall have to wait some time before
learning the name of the new Pope. The
Conclave will not begin until the tenth
day after the death of LEO XIII, and
there are grounds for thinking that the
session may be long one.
Abusing the National Anthem.