The chronicle=news., 1913-04-18
WHO WILL Be SUCCESSOR
TO POPE Plus X?

italian Kingdom.
Moreover. while all nations have
become accustomed TO POpcs OF ltnl-
Ian nationality. the French. and pos
sibly the English. would resent the
election OF German Pontiff. and
In the same way the German and
Austrian Catholics might hesitate
about accordin. their spiritual alle-
glance to u French or English Pope.
We Arouse Apprehension.
Finally. despite aii professions Of
friendship. there Is u considerable
States prevailing In Europe. There
Ii also certain amount OF appre-
hcnsion with regard to America. due
to tch lattcr's phenomenal political
and economic growth. These scnti-
mcnis would be OF nature to unite
the Italian mud the other European
members OF the Sacred College
against he elevation OF nm American
Cardinal to the Holy Seat.
Foreign Cardinals may thus BE-
considered out Of the rucc-.ycn
Cardinal Merry del Val. who. born
In England of Spanish parents. suf-
fcrs from the additional handicap Of
having been Secretary OF State
throughout the entire reign Of Plus
Y.
Iff my memory serves me arIaht.
there IL no instance In the history
Of the Papucy OF n Pontifical Sccre-
tRry o! State succeeding the Pope
whom he has served In that capa.
city. The authority which he has
exercised during his term Of office
In the name of tn. Holy Father Is
bound. no matter how discrccily
cxcrciscd. to have given offcnsc TO
many influential pcrsonngcs. Then.
200. u the end OF reign the Sacred
CollcE, Ecncraiy wishes for n change
OF pol.cy. and seems TO lie Of the
opinion thni II they were TO elect the
secretary OF state II would he merely
a coniinuatic. OF the policy OF his
pIcds sccsso..
This is to be regretted. FOR Car
dinal Merry del Val. who IL well
known ON this side OF the Atlantic.
though the Youngest member OF the
Sacred College. Is one OF It's most re-
nlarkablc members.
lie IL u member Of The old Irish
family OF Merry OF County Water.
ford which cmigrntcd TO Spain nt h"
Tim. OF the overthrow OF tn. Stuart
DYNASTY. brother Of the Spanish AM
bassa'Ior to the Court Of ST. James
and son Of n former Spanish Ambns-
sator at Vienna. lie is still fond OF
all those sports into which he be-
came initiated ut school In England.
aud cannot forge, his former Prov
cis on the football field.
ENnoscd TO every sort Of criticism
by reason OF his office. even his hit
;crest foes have found II impossible
to lay any serious fault at his door.
He has administered the delicate du-
tics of the secrctaryship OF state with
rare tact ana ability. and II seems
pity that he reward OF his services
should be rclcgation to comparative
inacticn. nay. almost to oblivion. if
he remains at Rome.
Mgr. Merry del Walls predecessor
as secretary OF state. Cardinal Ram.
polla. who has lived In the utmost
retirement since the death OF Leo
MIL. Is more fortunate. Being M
Italian he has some chance Of cleo
tion ut the next Conclavc. He re-
coivGh no less than siNty-twO votcs
NJ the last election, an ample sufIic-
icncy to have secured for him the
tiara had IL no; been for the 0ppo-
sion OF Germany. which. having
no veto OF her own. induced Austria
to make use or hers. Germany oh.
jccted to Rampolla on the ground
that h. was believed to be more
friendly to Franc" than to herself.
and that he constituted n danger 10
the continuance Of the Triple All.
ancC.
Rampd1la and Austria,
There will he no longer any dan
ger of Rampolla's election being pre-
vented by Austria's veto IL lie sue.
cccda In anclIriny the nrcrsaarY