Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-18

patriarch of Venice never returned to
his diocese, but remained and will re-
main until death releases him, a vol
untary prisoner in the vatican, a SOW
ereign, styled Father OF princes and
kings, ruler of the orb OF earth and
vicar of our Saviour Jesus Christ"
but whos kingdom has dwindled to u
palace and a garden.
Plus x. has been a much
stood man. His chagrin at being elect
ed pope was apparent especially on
the day of his coronation. when borne
aloft in the sedia gestatoria. To a man
who has lived for fifty years a quiet
life. performing his duties toward his
flock with patience and simplicity, the
sudden rush into public notice was
nothing short Of p%aralyzing. And ven
now, after three years of pontificate,
he continues the simple trend of his
earlier days. Under Leo XIII. the
papal court felt that all hopes of res
toration of temporal power were not
lost. Leo himself was the p~ersontfica-
lion of these hopes, and at all public
functions one felt that he looked o a
king in exile.
Pope Plus. on the contrary, the single
minded peasants son., was known to
have worked for spiritual influence
rather than temporal power while
patriarch OF Venice. and hence at first
he was regarded as favoring and wish
ing for q ~peaceable understanding be-
tween the vatican and the Italian gov
eminent. Such a surmfse was supposed
to be so we'll founded that "a compro-
mise OF the vexed Roman question is
still expected. The pope is apparently
plant. but the vatican encourage know
better. Many a v regarded the pope
and some still regard him as entirely
relying for his opinions on the secre-
tary Of state. Cardinal Merry del Val.
This nay have been quite true in the
beginning of his pontiflcate, but is no
longer 80.
Plus X. has a will of his own. he Is
practical n an enemy of political cob
webbery. Behind HIS kindness of de-
which once reused cannot be changed.
The first instance when the pope as
serted his independence Of action oc-
Cured. shortly after his election. in re-
gard to the dispensing Of tickets for the
functions in st. Peters. Formerly 1t
boxes on both sides of the high altar
during holy week n other solemn
functions. Tickets were much sought
after, and often 1t was possible to OBJ
tain them for a consideration from no.
tel porters. The sale Of tickets proved
late. and the bartering for them
amounted to nothing less than a scam
DIAL. Plus X. abolished the tribunes
n made 1t a rule that when any func-
ton was to take place in the Basilica
all alike should have the same privi-
leges.
The choice of the secretary OF state
was entirely the pope's. Cardinal Mer-
ry del Val represented to the pope what
he needed. namely. a DUN clever pre-
lat. versed in the ways of the world
and hence also In diplomacy, and a
good linguist, yet having the spiritual
good OF the church at heart. The choice
is said to have Deen Unfortunate. es-
pectally as Cardinal Merry del Val is
~unjustly blamed for not having averted
the church crisis In France. But Plus
x. is evidently OF a different opinion.
as he reposes implicit confidence in his
secretary OF sta1A
The predominant influence acquired
by Cardinal Rampolla during the last
pontificate had created for him many
enemies In the sacred college. His un-
fortunate Francophile policy. which led
to disastrous result even before the
death Of Leo Kill, mad him lose pres
tige among his colleagues, the French
cardinals included, and his determined
opposition to the political unIon Of Italy
was notorious.
Piu X. as parish priest, bishop and
cardinal. succeeded in abstaining from
that intransigentism which is charac-
teristic of Italian clericalism and only
serves to widen the breach between
church n state. to the prejudice of
the true interests of religion and moral
ity; n as pope he meant to initiate
a new policy. hardly differing from that
followed by his predecessor at first, but
gradually becoming characterized and
distinguished by the simple faith, the
quiet virtues and the abundant charity
of heart Of the son of the Riesi farmer
who was thrusc weeping On the papal
throne.
The pope's first step in this direction
was the appoitnement OF the new secre-
A~.~, - rA~A> M ---A
ant at heart. He has succeeded az
pope just as ne had succeeded as pa
!triarch Of Venice. His only object In
life is to be good and live like his
humble forefathers. quietly and simply,
without o~stentation. He spends . great
mart of hil Tina In nra var 9o~A Al-~