The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-16
MEANS MUCH
n OLD SPAIN
Effect of Leo'S Death Felt Most
There.
ALFONSO LOSES FRIEND
Late Pope Always Advised Him
for the Best.
ALFONSO LOSES FRIEND

London, Aug ia special to the
Times from Madrid reports that there
is no attempt here to conceal the fact
that the death of the Pope is likely to
be for Spain an event of considerable po-
litical Importance. Almost the last act CT
Leo XIII. was TO sign the letter in which
he directed Cardinal Sanchez to organize
a Catholic union. The Times pointed out,
when this letter was published, that the
aim of the Pope was to lend all the forces
at his disposal to the defense and con-
solidation of the present dynasty in Spain
and of the existing regime. Cardinal
Rampolla, secretary of state, was form
erly Nuncio in Madrid, and there is lit
tie doubt that, if the choice of the Sacred
College were TO fail upon MIN, the policy
of the Vatican towards Spain Catholic"
King would suffer no change. But in the
present uncertainty as to who may be the
next Pope, Spanish political parties are
justly concerned with the possibility of
radical and sudden change in the attitude
of the Opposition forces in this country.
No figure in the world was ever more
genuinely veneTated by all Spaniards than
Leo XIII Even the Radicals regarded
him as a consummate Liberal. truly
catholic" in the literal sense of the word
Lest they should pain his ears and trou-
BILE his declining days they tempted their
criticism and invective. His death de-
stroys the chief prop of the Spanish mon
archy. For Alfonso XIII. it is more than
3 personal loss.
Those who hold that after the death of
Cardinal Lavigerie Leo Kills predilec-
ton for France was transferred to Spain,
as being the sole nation in Europe which
did not deny" him overly, are prob
ably in the right Better informed than
the successive Madrid governments as to
the dangers to which the Spanish mon
archy is exposed. Leo XIII. mad partic-
ularly pressing reasons for applying here,
with the same sincerity as in France
the doctrine of the church that all tenn
poraI power proceeds from God. The
order to the French Catholics to recog-
nize the legitimacy of the republic Is
an act identically the same, therefore, as
the recent letter to Cardinal Sanchez IN
favor of the organization of party or
Catholic action. The one act IS as purely
political as the other and the same con-
sequences are likely TO follow in Spain
as have already taken place in France.
1t should be said however, that the deci-
sion, of this great opportunist to throw
in his lot with the democracy has been
of less effect here than elsewhere, and
that Carlists and Integrists, who have
refused TO rally like the French mon
archists have been at a disadvantage
therefore. in comparison with the Span
fish Republican Opposition.
It is stated that the distress of the
King. and notably of the Queen Mother
Dona Maria Crstina. is genuinely sincere
as is indeed but natural. From his verys
birth Alfonso XIII. has virtually lived,
as it were, under the shadow of the
Papal wing. Leo XIII. rendered his Maj
esty and his House incalculable services,
without counting even the famous arbi-
tration. after the dispute with Bismarck,
over the question of the Caroline Islands,
nor the initiative in favor of an armis-
tice in Cuba in connection with the Span
ish-American war. The language of ten
derness and gratitude in which Alfonso
XIII referred to the Pope in the speech
from the throne last May will also be
recalled That Alfonso XIII. should feel
this death therefore, with that sort of
poignancy which is wont to attend only
the sense of the loss of a personal ann
self-sacrificing friend need cause 10 sur
prise. The young King cannot easily
exaggerate the extent of the misfortune
that has befallen him.