The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-22


Received As votes on twentieth /
ballot.
Crowned on March 8. 1873 I
:
On February 20. 1878. a dull. cold
cloudy day, the conclave which had as
sembled in Rome after the death OF
Pope Plus TX concluded its lators by
electing his eminence, Cardinal Gioac-
chino Pecci. who took the name OF Leo
XIII. TO the see OF ST. Peter He. seeing
that the votes were tending in his IA
vor, besought the cardinals TO pause and
reconsider their votes, as he was an
old man. feeble. delicate. and. in the or
binary anticipation of things he might
not live long, and they would then be at
the trouble of soon assembling again
and of electing another Pope. On Fri
day last this same Pontiff, now within a
few days of the conclusion Of his ninety
third year, celebrated the close of his
jubilee year in the See OF St Peter.
Since 1873 the Papacy. represented in
the person of Leo XIII, has made enor-
nous strides.
Breach With the 0ui1inaI.
when Leo XIII was elected one OF his
first acts was TO offer an opportunity to
the Italian government to enter on re-
lations Of a better understanding with
the Papacy than had prevailed in the
time Of Plus TX. Signor Crispi was in
Office. and the kindly intention of Leo
XIII was rejected From that time no
approaches of any kind were made
toward that government. and the breach
between IL and the Papacy has widened
with the years. At the present moment
the long course of anti-CathoIic Iegisla-
tion eliminates in the determination to
carry the measure which will establish
divorce in Italy.
The PoDe's attitude toward Italy in
regard TO the temporal power. which
finally departed from the Papacy in 1870
with the seizure OF Rome. has never
changed during the whole course Of these
twenty-five years. with less vebemence
but with more persistence. than his pre-
decessor. he has OF ceased on every
possible occasion 10 revindicate the
right OF the church to its temporal nos
sessions In his letters and in his nu-
merous addresses to the crowds of nil
grims which have been received bv him
IN the Vatican the fnsistence on his
right to temporal power has been a
prominent note.
Power in Domain CT Morals.
But though the Papacy lives in its
mead and carries on its administrative
duties in Italy. its scope is worldwide.
Hence Immediately after his election
Leo XIII strove to apply helping hand
and remedy to every good endeavor
in the other nations OF the world.
There are many ways In which the
action Of the Pope may be regarded dur
ing his career. That action seems TO
have been applied chiefly in the domain
of MORALS. including religious devotions.
in the line Of diplomacy or the relations
of the Papacy with the rulers of nations.
and in the Pontif's announcement TO
the development and extension OF sacred
science. the arts and literature. The
encyclical letters. in which his teach
ings and admonitiOns are contained.
written In Latin which won the admi-
ration OF scholars, constitute a remark
able summary Of Christian philosophy.
His Able Encyclicals.
Two months after his election. April
q. 1873. Leo XII published the encycli-
cal "Inscrutabin Del ConsiIio." I'm which
with learning and authority he teaches
the laws that insure the prosperity OF
nations. This is a document OF a high
political value. This was followed by
another denOuncins rationalism as the
outcome OF the heresy or the sixteenth
century and as the source Of socialism.
communism and nihilism. And SO. year
after year his letters addressed TO the
bishops OF the Catholic Church through
out the world are documents filled with
wholesome teachings conveyed in most
attractive form.
When HoedeI and NobIling attempted %
kill the old Emperor OF Germany. and
when other assassins made similar at
tempts on rulers at Madrid and Naples.
Leo XIII denounced these outrages on
soyereigns and these crimes against the
sacred principle OF authority. wherever
there was a wrong done the voice Of the
old man at the Vatican was raised in sts
deuuDciation.
widened With the Years.
AS the years went on Il seemed as IL
the field OF LeO's activities widened. IN
iii they embraced the great objects OF
human consideration. One OF his let
ters treated OF human liberty. which. as
ne SAYS, necessarily stands in need OF
ligh. and strength 70 direct its actions
20 good and to restrain them from evil.