The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-08

Of kurope than the Vatican The anxiety
in the matter is not concerned entirely
with the safety of the Pope and the
welfare OF the administration of the
Catholic Church.
il IS due largely to the fact that in the
archives of the Vatican are contained
secrets Of vast dynastic import. the reveI-
alton of which would in some cases shat
ter the foundations Of thrones. and grave
" affect the status OF many OF those
families watch now enjoy actual or non
orary sovereign rank. 1t is well known
that the Vatican has for a number OF
years past come in for large share OF
attention on the part Of the leaders Of
international anarchy, who look forward
TO the day when they Will be able to
storm the palace Of the Popes. and to
plumber az their will the treasures with
which it is popularity supposed TO be
filed.
In fact. it is a common saving that
there is no building in the universe that
can boast of such vast boards Of wealth
OF every description, representing as they
do the offerings and the tribute Of the
faithful from all quarters of the globe.
and which have gone on accommodating
there for centuries
SO well does the italian government
realize the extent to which the Vatican
is an object of cupidity to the anarch-
lists. that in al cases of popular unrest
and disturbance in the Eternal City.
troops are at once massed. not around the
Kings residence at the Quirinal. but about
the abode of the P0ntin for the purpose
Of protecting il against any coup on the
part Of the reds; and it is noteworthy
fact that on each manifestation OF any
weakness on the part of the Italian au-
thorities in dealing with popular risirgs.
anarchist leaders have fastened to the
Eternal City, not only from different
points OF Europe, but even from this side
of the Atlantic.
Many plan 10 Loot.
Among these anarchists who yearns
for the opportunity Of looting the Vati-
canaan opportunity which they are con-
WINGED Will come sooner or later-are a
number of men of exceptional learning:
The most dangerous and the most fanatic
of this cult OF crime against our present
social system, and who is planning the
capture OF the great stronghold and
headquarters of Roman Catholicism. are
prompted. not by the lust of the ordinary
riches which the palace may contain, but
by the idea of being able 10 secure pos
session and to lay bare those secrets of
history which are known 10 be preserved
in the Papal archives.
Profound study often ends by bunting
moral sense TO the extent of causing men
to invoke the use OF crime in order To in
crease their store of knowledge Ii is
therefore not in the least surprising that
those who have devoted their lives and
their fortunes TO the research of history.
and who have been bafled AT many
points by obstacles in the shape OF in
soluble mysteries. should revel in the
notion OF having these secrets at length
revealed 10 them, and should be ready
10 promote any and every scheme that
viii enable them TO attain such an end.
How important are the secrets contained
among the archives of the Vatican. is
demonstrated by the attitude Of vari-
Gus foreign ENJOYS accredited 10 the
court of the Pope. whose principal mis-
sion seems TO be 10 prevent students
from obtaining access to any meteriaI
that could affect in the slightest degree
the prestige and the interests of the
family of the monarch whomN they rep
resent
In fact when some fifteen years ago
Leo XIII proclaimed his intention of
facilitating the success of the students
OF history to the archives Of the Vatican.
storm of protests went up from the
various ambassadors and ENJOYS 10 The
Holy See. 10 which the Pope was com
PEELED 60 lend ear. and which resulted in
the issue Of rule that no document of
less than hundred years ago could be
shown 10 visitors. Moreover. il is
thoroughly understood by those in charge
Of the archives that nothing even anter-
Tor TO that date and which relates IN the
slightest degree TO any Of the sovereign
houses Of Europe. can be shown without
the full consent OF the diplomatic repre-
sentative of the monarchy concerned.
Papers Antedate 900 Years.
These records go back for a thousand
years. and even to stIl more remote
periods During all that time the Papacv
has either directly or through its agents
played an important roll. not merely in
each historical event but in every dy-
nsStic episode.
Indeed, It is no exaggerati0n 20 assert
that no single act Of craftsmanship has
taken place, no dynastic,. arrangement
made. that no royal drama or tragedy
has occurred, without fun and anthem
tic record thereof being filed among the
archives Of the Vatican.
The Papacy has had its agents. not
alone IN its diplomatic representatives.
Formerly famed as the cleverest in the
world, bFt also in every prelate. i'm every
priest. and in every member of the re-
ligious orders. among whom the Roman
Catholic soyereigns and the princes and
princesses Of their house have invariably
found their spiritual advisers.
Even nj Protestant courts the Panacv
has always had its more or less openlv
avowed but invariably clever and able
emissaries. And in this fashion nothing
of any importance can be said TO have
taken place among the sovereign bouses
of Europe within the last 200 wears
without a very complete record thereof
being received and filed in the archives
OF the Vatican
Among the many problems of history
for which a solution might be found is.
Tor instance. that relating 10 the fate of
the Dauphin, son and heir of King Io1iis
XVI and of Queen Marie Antoinette al
legged 60 have been done to death in uris-
on at Paris by his brutal taller. simon
but who is generally believed to have ef
fected his escape. It may be remember
ed that when the Vatican was asked
in 1920 for permit of conservation of the
memorial chapel At Paris. erected over
what were understood to be the. remains
OF King Louis XVI. OF his Queen. and
Of their son, the Pontin only granted
IL on the condition that the name OF the
Dauphin be removed taking the ground
set forth in an official dispatch which is
on record that the Pope could not Ieno
himself 10 the comedy Of consecrating a
memorial chapel TO a living person.