The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-22
PONTIFICATE OF PLUS X
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 C NICE the Patriach of Venice be- N came Pope under the name or " Plus X many difficult problems have been pressed upon his attention which, unlike his predecessor, he Was not qualified by long experience in dipio- macy and statecraft to solve What was to be the relation of the paraoy to the civil power during his pontificate, not only in such storm centers as Italy anu France. but also in Germany and Russia and even in Spain? To none of these problems has a defnate solution vet been found but it must be acknowledged that in more than one instance the interests of Catholicism have been upheld With sagacity and skill. and that Plus has thus far succeeded in avoiding in any country a bitter war with the CIVIL au- thoritiy such as was waged between Leo XIII and Bismarck
 In Italy it is manifest that the relations of the vatican and the quirinal arc more amicable than they have ever previously been since the loss of the Popes tenn poral power. Plus X has not indees. revoked the mandate by which farfuI Catholics were forbidden to take part in parliamentary elections, but he has sus- pended it sporadically by leaving it's en- forcement optional with the bishop Id each diocese It is well known that the effect of the suspension has been to stringhten materially the conservative party in the Italian chamber of deputies, and there is reason to believe that stlli more marked recoil from socialism will be witnessed on the next appeal to the electors There is no doubt that the royal government would welcome an in timaton of a willingness to accept the subvention allotted to the Pope by the Italian parliament some thirty-five years ago, together with the arrears, which now amount with interest 10 tens of mil lions of dollars It is true that Plus X has given no such intimation and still depends for support on the voluntary contributions of faithful Catholics; but he must see with satisfaction the striking change in the attitude of the civil power, which, formerly hostile, has now become conciliatory and friendly.
 In France, too, the same method of proceeding suaviter in modo, fortiter in re has averted collisions that might have caused civil war, for, although refusing with firmness to sanction the cultural associations prescribed by the separation act, the Pope has carefully refrained from any provocative word or act, and has given the radicals and socialists no excuse for the exhibition of anti-clericai rancor. The result has been that the Clemenceau cabinet has put the most liberal construction possible on the tex. of the separation act and has announced that Catholics will be at liberty to wor- ship in the churches for a year from December II; and although other church property will be taken possession of by the government on the date named 1t has been hinted that this might be trans ferred by ministerial decree to cultural associations, should such be formed dur
 ing the coming twelvemonth. The spirit of forbearanee thus evinced by the civil power is obviously response to the calm and gentle, though unwavering tenor )f the Pope's encyclcal to the French bishops.
 In Spain also a Pope who had no train ing in diplomacy and statesmanship Is showing the virtue of the soft answer that turneth away wrath. The Domingnez cabinet which represents a coalition of liberals and constitutional democrats, Is following to certain extent the example set by the anti-clericals in France, but although it is resolved upon the intro duction of civil marriages and upon sub jecting to government control those re lieious associations which engage in teach ing, particularly those which have emi- grated from France, it is expected to stop short of a rupture with tho Holy See partly because all it's members are Catho- lies, and partly because the vatican has