Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-05

1t vas made known also that Germany
would have interposed a similar veto II
sbe had the authority.
The action of Austria was well under
stood. The principal objection to Rampolla
was his uncompronisifg attitude toward
the civil government of Italy, which, with
Austria and Germany, ecomposes what is
known as the triple alliance, which has
treaties of offensive and defensive support.
Rampolla is the leader OF the faction known
as temporalists in the sacred college; that
is, the cardinals who are striving for the
restoration of the temporal power of the
pope: That was the principal plank in his
platform as candidate, for pope, II 1 may
put 1t that way. Italy knew that If he was
elected the fight against the civil authority
that has been going on1 with more or less
vigor In Italy for thirty years would be re-
newed with zeal and ability, and although
1t rs not possible to say that Austria exer-
cised the veto power at the request of Italy,
Francis Joseph and the German kaiser I'M
derstoon the situation SO clearly that such
a request was superfiuous.
Relations With Italy.
The italian government. ever since its es-
Establishment, has pursued a policy of in
difference toward the pope. 1t has pre-
tended to be ignorant Of many demonstra-
tons that have occurred. and has mani
tested no concern over the instructions for
bidding faithful members of the church to
participate In political affairs. AS l told
you in a letter the other day, the "blacks, u
or adherents Of the pope, do not vote at
national elections. and will not accept Of
fees from the king or seats in parliament,
although they exercise the right Of suffrage
In municipal affairs.
This is the will Of the holy see publicly
expressed. and occasionally the pope has
made known his views upon questions that
have arisen in legislation or the politics of
Italy. But the king. the ministry and all
concerned with them have seen fit to ignore
his utterances and show a contemptuous in
difference to his existence. Yet as I have
said, Austria did a friendly service Of the
greatest importance to the Italian kingdom
when 1t prevented the ablest enemy 1t has
from ascending the pontif1cal throne.
There was another reason which is not SO
important, but was equally influential Some
years ago the newspaper organ Of Cardinal
Rampolla contained an article concerning
the wretohed domestic affairs of the i'm
perial family Of Austria. and intimated in
unmtstakable language that the sufferings
and sorrow Of Francis Joseph were the pen
atty of the sins he had committed in his
early life. 1t expressed surprise also that
any one should expect his children to be-
have differently after the example they had
received from their father.
Cardinal Rampolla was supposed to be re-
sponsible for the opinions Of this newspa-
per, and 1t was believed that he controlled
its utterances. which of course gave the
publication greater attention than 1t other
wise would have received. And. in addition
to this general responsibility. 1t was cur
rently reported that the Austrian ambas-
sador had secured fragments Of manuscript
or proof slips Of the article. or equally tan
gible evidence that 1t was written by the
secretary of state himself No official notice
was taken OF the matter. but the Austrian
emperor has been very bitter against Ram
polla ever since