The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-29

r MUST be pardoned if I exercise
certain reserve in telling the story
of the most delicate Of all the at
fairs in which I have been en-
Il gagged. While the interests con-
cerned were, in their own nature, purely
the fact h saaf Of fne ssen
imnoses on me restraints which l am
bound to recognize.
T cannot recall at this moment wheth-
ar. in the course Of these "reminiscences,
I have had occasion to mention thaG l
was honoroed on several occasions ~
the confidence Of the lllustrlous pontan
who. in the course Of less than genera,
ton. exalted the papacy to q helght
Of power and reverent. esteem such as
81 had scarcely enjoyed since the mid
die ages.
To me, as to all who have paid any
attention to the history OF their own
ms the az pa spoos away IN he OF history Of
the world. + was in Paris. await;
ing the announcement which would
plunge two continents Into mourning,
when an hour before the fatal bulletin
reached the newspaper offices, re-
ceived dispatch desiring me to start
Immediately for Rome, and wait upon
Tue young A4uS u 1toAJ AA oAS Pe"~"S~
Of the Quirinal.
Whether in consequence Of my con-
nection with the Vatican or not, it hap
pened that I had never been directly
employed in the service Of the House of
Savoy. have told the story Of my
unavailing efforts to save the life OF
King Humbert; but on that occasion L
acted as the agent Of the friendly mon
= arch Of another country.
O,rinC nv Journey to Rome In Obe-
dience to the royal summons, my mind
was deeply exercised by the problem
between the Italian kingship and the
papacy.
When the troops Of Victor Emmanuel
l., thirty-four years ago, marched into
che city Of the popes, to make 1t the
the difficulties which would flow from
the refusal Of the popes to abandon
their rights as the temporal sovereigns
of Rome and the states Of the church.
Other dethroned sovereigns have fled
from their lost dominions, and gradual
1y sunk out Of sight. But the .popes,
seated in the Vatican, and solemnly
has displaced them, have rendered in
I myself, divided between my politi-
cal sympathies as an American citizen,
and my loyalty as q Catholic to the
head Of my church, had often sought in
vain for some way of reconciling the
with the patriotic aspirations Of the
italian people.
The various solutions put forward
from time to time, such as the cession
to the pope Of small slice Of territory
including the Vatican, seemed to me
inadequate and mean. Some loftier
treatment Of the situation seemed to
be called for, for no statesman, eccle-
siastical or secular had yet been found
to propose it.
Now, with the accession Of q new
pope, it was possible to indulge hopes
Of a new policy. I encouraged myself
to believe that victro Emmanuel IT
had sent for me that I might assist him
In such an endeavor.
-, The ,s character 5 Of this young ruler 5
curiosity. In his fathers lifetime he
was unknown to the public until he sud
denly stepped into the foreground, at
the time Of the Abyssinian disasters, as
the determined opponent Of Crispi Is
policy Of adventure, and the champion
of peace.
Since his accession he had won golden
opinions by his modesty, benevolence
and practical energy in the work Of gov
eminent. But he had as yet given nc
indications Of any marked individuality
or policy of his own.
Within an hour Of my arrival IL
Rome I found myself in his majesty .
presence.
His reception Of me was not merely
gracious but cordial In few well
chosen words he thanked me for my
services at the time Of the tragedy o;
Mona.
~ believe you have been employed
in the secret service Of the vaticans'
King Victor proceeded.
I bowed again.
"Will you tell me whether that con
stitutes any obstacle to your servin.
meq' he inquired.
I hesitated.
L should feel embarrassed If you
majesty were to ask me to act agains
the Vatican,' I ventured to say.
'sBut, suppose I were to ask you t.
pre@1Ha the ofee Of mediator t
papacy and the italian nation7''
Then, sire, you would be offerin,
me the task which I covet above al
others, and which I should feel to b
the crown of my career.O
), The young king made a gesture o.
delight.
"That is fortunate indeed! Listen
monsieur! From boy my heart ha
bled at the thought Of this miserabl
enlargement, so fraught with DANCE
to the cause Of religion as well as to tn
national freedom. In addition I mus
tell you that I feel very deeply my owl
position. I have conviction that on
house cannot prosper while it remain
under the curse of the church..