Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-04-05
ROOSEVELT AND The VAIL
OAN
C.Idip,l Merry del Val, pspal /

tsry OF state, received newspaper rep
resenlatlve yesterday for the purpose Of
granting special interview on the cir
cumstances surrounding the failure OF
Mr.. Roosevelt to meet the pope. The
c .rdiual began by ssyirg;
"This is the present situation: Inc
Methodlsts here in Rome strive By every
means to conduct O campaign OF VENT
mons hostility sgsinst the holy f'ther by
lies aud slapder. Here 1t his very door
in this his own episcopal city, they bar
Dor spostats priests. Moreover, they
openly sympathize with and aid his ene-
mics. They also advocate aud strive to
tut into effsct the principle enunciated
by Boyio at the iJot of the statue Oh
Giordsn's Bruno, the apostate priest,
when be said, I'VE have stripped the
pope of his temporal power, and we
will never rett TIL ne strip him OF his
spiritual power as WE'LL When Mr.
Roosevelt expressed a wish to see the
pope" the cardinal continued, "it was
feared that he did not know that the
situation Vas ss l described 1t. As
consequence, be vas advised 10 a friendly
way, and the hope was expressed that
the audience would not be prevented by
any Incident similar to tbst which made
impossible a meeting between bis holt
ness aud Mr.. Fairbaoks. No condition
was imposed, but the same procedure
WAS adopted as is customary when aud
fences with the pope are arranged"
Twice yesterday Theodore Roosevelt
was the guest of King Victor Emmsn'
usl. The king received the ex.president
at an early hour ct the Qairinal with
particular warmth, and they talked to-
9e,her for nearly an hour. Yesterday
evening there vas O grand dlnner at the
palace giveu by the king and queen 10
honor of Mr.. Roosevelt aud his family.
Grea. preparations had bsen going on
for this event, and the queen herself d.
rected all the arrangements, desifiug
that no detail should be neglected.
In all Mr.. Roosevelt had a strenuous
dsy. After his meeting with the king
he visited the Pantheon, where be was
| the objec! of popular demonstration.
He lu ached with Ambassador Lsishman
and received the Italian Journalistic 10
the afternoon.
Today wss less busy. 10 the morn
ing he drove with the king and spent
the afternoon sightseeing. He WAS the
Russt of the British ambassador in the
evening. The vatican incident which
bas aroused considerable bitter commenl
10 the newspapers has made Mr.. Roose-
velt the subject OF Intense popular IT,
terest. ard crowd is constantly before
the httsl where be Is staying, awaiting Q
chance to get glimpse OF him.
A special cable dispatch from Rome 10
the Chicago Daily News says: emperor
Francis Joseph OF Au tia will probably
decline TO receive Theodore Roosevelt
because of his refusal to meet the con
dltions imposed by the pope and the
consequent cancellation OF his intended
visit TO the Vatican. The sged monarch
tis reported, looks upon the failure o
the Vatican gu iience as an afrOnt ID thI
pope. The incident has produced
painful impression not only upon hi
Holiness, but upon all Catholics here
II is asserted on behal! Of the American
officials here that they have kept clea
of the whole affair, Mr.. Roosevelt actinI
throughout on his own initiative snd ln
sistiug on bis right to proceed in accord
auce With his personal views and feel
ings"