Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-02
MANY PROBLEMS FOR POPE
Interesting Exploitation of the Ro-
man Propaganda.
THE LACK OF DIPLOMATIC TACT
Misunderstanding In the Sacred Col
lege Behind the Tactless Handling
Of International Questions.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
ROME, February 2.-One week ago
your correspondent gave what might be
considered the clerical side of the dis
pute between the Vatican and France,
which is. with the possible exception of
the struggle between the kaiser and the
socialists. in all probability the para
mount question in European politics to-
day. After quoting the clerical news
papers, the cardinals and even the off,
cial statements of the Vatican-giving
the Catholic side of the controversy-it
is perhaps only fair to give something of
the arguments used by the anti-clericals,
or, at least, to give q consensus of the
opinions Of the newspapers and public men
whose political policy appears to consist
Of the art of keeping IN the middle of
the road"
Many diplomats who cannot be counted
az distinctly anti-clerical saying that
while formerly papal diplomacy was re-
garded as the model for the world for the
past few years 1t has been regarded as
making one mistake after another Leo
XIII Is admitted to have been something
OF statesman and diplomat and when he
died there was peace with France, or at
least no antagonisms which the papal num-
clio could not smooth away; in Germany the
government in the final analysis found It
ecll relying upon the clerical party,
while in Spain 1t must be admitted ultra
monttsm was practically supreme
Today France has denounced the con-
cordant and appears to be willing. IL pro-
end in the humiliation Of the Catholic
church In France. In Germany Prince Bue-
low. as the representative Of the imperial
government, has shaken off the Catholic
Roeren and Herr Won SPAIN. a war which
will not end with the close Of this week
and the ballot boxes Of yesterday unless
fear Of the socialists forces an alliance
hateful to the representatives of the Vati-
can and the Lutheran government. In
Spain the whole country appears to be in
ferment and ready on small provocation
to start repetition of the Kulturkampf on
which France has embarked. At the same
time the question as to whether Polish
speaking children shall be forced to receive
religious instruction and say their prayers
by order of the German police in the Ger
man language, which they only imperfectly
understand. appears to be causing the Cath
Ole bishops no end of worry in eastern
Prussia.
Some Vatican Observations.
So much may be said to be a fair state
ment Of the case from the point Of view of
the historian who deals merely with the
facts as he finds them. OF course, there are
thousand and one things which can be
said by way of explanation-it is perhaps
true that Pope Piux x has had series Of
problems to deal with more serious than
those which confronted Leo XIII during the
closing years of his life.
The election of Pope Piux x was a COM
promise. At the last conclave the two
leaders, the only two who had chance
polla, the secretary of state. Unfortunately
for both they had the reputation of being
partisans. Cardinal Rampolla was de-
scribed as the representative Of France.
yxyh of tho nF fha
propaganda. was supposed to be devoted to
the kaiser and the triple alliance.
The fact that Cardinal Rampolla was the
secretary Of state of Leo XIII caused
enemies to the effect that he was the more
dangerous Of tie two. His position was at
least sufficiently prominent for The Austrian
emperor, at the instigation of the kaiser to
fear him sufficiently to exercise his right
of veto against Cardinal Rampolla. 1t is
true that it is claimed that this right has
never been recognized by the Vatican, but,
inasmuch as it has always been recog-
upon, 1t Is q power to be feared. And, ac-
cording to all accounts. at the psychology
ical moment the objection of the Austrian
Emperor against Cardinal Rampolla was
entered, and in the very next vote the sec
rotary of state being practically eliminated,
the patriarch of Venice became pope.
Cardinal Rampolla and his opponent. Car
dinal Gotti, are both rare guests at the
Vatican since the selection Of the new
pope. In one way this may be said to be
truly natural. They are growing old. and
ambitions for preferment being eliminated.
since it Is not probable that any combfna-
lions could arise which would carry them
to the chair Of st. Peter, they are for the
first time in their lives perhaps securing
a little well-earned rest. Certain 1t Is that
Cardinal Rampolla never appears unless
his duties as member OF the sacred col
lege require his presence But not even
his harshest critics have ever accused him
of neglecting his duty. His great rival
he is also rare guest at the Vatican, holds
fast to the immense power which lies in
his hands as project OF the congregation
of the propaganda.
Barring the "black pope" the general OF
the company Of Jesus, there is no such
powerful figure at Rome as the red
pope" He has under his jurisdiction the
divides the universe into two parasitic
Christian world and the mission. In the
first Is the organized church; the second
belongs to the propaganda
A Vast Propaganda.
The propaganda has under its turisdic-
ton the whole Of Asia with the exception
of the archbishopric Of Goa. all Africa
except the bishoprics OF Carthage and Of
Angola, Oceanic, nearly all Of America,
Great Britain. Sweden, Norway, Denmark,
Holland. Luxenburg. Bosnia, Servia, Ro-
mania, Montenegro. Turkey, Greece and a
part Of Germany and part of Switzer-
land. Its hierarchy includes Wears, pre-
fects and nine apostolic delegates. thou
sands and thousands of missionaries which
carry the word Of God into the countries
which constitute it's domain. It's chief
source of expenditure is in connection
with the College Urban, the great semi
nary at Rome, where the missionaries are
trained. Its receipts are enormous. 1t
also possesses printing presses and has
been responsible for the translation and
the circulation Of the Catholic Bible in all
countries and all lands.
Cardinal Gotti, the project of the propa-
ganda, has just celebrated his jubilee.
Among the innumerable gifts which
reached him from the ends of the earth.
the one which touched him the most, was
the album sent him by the Society OF Dock
Laborers OF Genoa, in memory of his
father, who was himself a dock laborer
and one of the founders of the Dockers
Union.
The chief cause Of the lack of diplomatic
tact. to phrase 1t mildly, in connection with
the handling of the details in connection
with some Of the international questions.
would appear to be the Misunderstanding
which have made 1t almost IL not quite Inn
possible for Cardinal Gotd and Cardinal
Rampolla to do much toward Strengthening
out these international complications. 1t is