The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-03-17

acquaintance with European diplomacy
but not enough to spoil the Pope's
plans. He had the singular advantage
of an English education. Irish blood, a
large acquaintance in America, and
modern temperament, besides being the
son Of a Spanish ambassador to Rome;
advantages to- which almost all the
members Of the sacred college are emil
nently strangers. 1t became perfectly
clear in short time that Plus X. had
no intention of plunging even lightly
into the methods of European diplo-
macy. He snubbed the French repub-
lie, much against the wish of Cardinal
Rampolla, ordered the French bishop
to keep silent, and let the government
run its own course with regard to the
Concordat.
I mention these matters to show that
political traditions have no influence
over Plus X. and that they will not
hamper him when he comes to deal
with the Italian problem. He has al
ready taken it up. The rumors of his
trip to Castle Gandolfo, the summer
home of the Popes. sprang from the
dispensation granted to Italian Cath
olics to vote at certain elections. In
two or three constituencies the mon
archical candidate was threatened with
defeat by the Reds. The Pope granted
permission to Catholic voters to ap-
pear at the polls, with the result that
it was q convincing indication that
the Pope intended to come to an UNI
Outstanding with the king.
However, no matter how eager and
willing Pope may be to follow a GER
tain policy, there are inpumerable diff
ficulties in his way, some born Of the
circumstances, others carefully planted
in the roadway by the interested. The
friends Of the policy of Leo XIII. are
still numerous and influential, with
Cardinal Rampolla at their head. The
conservatives, timid, cautious. anxious.
dreading every change, are not without
numbers and power. The Catholic
sovereigns, intriguers for the most
part and without any sympathy for
the Holy See, insist on having finger
in everything. These three influences,
whether sincere or not, will gravely
declare that the abolition Of the vati-
can Imprisonment is bound to destroy
for all time the chances Of restoration
Of the temporal power.
Plus x. must listen to their repre-
sensations, and must delay action
somewhat, in Difference to their adj
vice and protest. Undoubtedly he would
have gone to his summer retreat last
July but for his wish to be courteous
to men Of Cardinal Rampolla's timber.
He will postpone the production Of his
plans. but not even Rampolla can hold
him long, as was seen in the prompt
ness with which he dropped that pre-
late's policy toward the French Re-
public. The restoration Of the tenn
poral power is the dream Of the old
cardinals. and could they see it realized
nothing would disturb their conviction
that the Church had once more tri-
umphed over the world.
The temporal power no longer means
what it did in the days Of the first
Napoleon; it means only the city Of
Rome. the Holy City. the capital Of an
cient Christendom. The principle Of
sovereignty itself was recognized by
Italy and the powers as pertaining to
the Pope, by making the Vatican neu-
trail territory and acknowledging the
Pontifrs right to receive foreign am
bassadors. The expression Of this SOW
ereignty would be more complete. If
Italy surrendered strip Of territory
extending from the Vatican to the sea,
and providing a port; and that the
king would do this. were he free from
the domination Of the Reds, there car
be no doubt. Indeed. believe he
would gladly give up the city itself to
the Pope, for its necessity to Italian
unity was clearly the invention of the
revolution. which thought more Of hui
initiating and destroying the Papacy
and the Church than Of founding q
great nation ia the peninsula:
b s 81 *