Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26
The Papal Peacemaker Retires


/ course of action. But Gasparri in this
matter saw further than the end of his
nose.
Though he openly condemned the ex-
aggerationS and crudities of Fascismo
and of its political politices, and thereby
brought down on his head tons of news
paper abuse, yet he was also man enough
to recognize the good qualities of the
movement and did not disdain to enter
into negotiations with its leader for the
! settlement of problem which had di-
vided Italy into warning camps for al
most so years.
| These negotiations were rendered ex-
! traordinarily difficult by the cloud of
misunderstanding and atmosphere Of
| ill-will raised by certain powerful ele-
/ ments of the Italian press who daily
! harped on the GOODNESS which GaSparri
showed toward the Fascist program
/ They accused him of being responsible
! for the calm and cautious attitude which
the Pope himself always maintained
| toward Fascismo, as we'll as being the
real source of the criticisms which the
holy father publicly leveled against the
conduct and views OF prominent Fascist
officials.
Blamed for Anti-Fascist Move.
The anti-Fascist movement led by
Don Sturzo was credited TO Gasparri as
its real author and support. Sturzo, it
was claimed, was a mere stuffed shirt
acting for his principal, who, when the
Christian Democratic party collapsed,
did not fail to put forth every effort to
| protect its leader from the vengeance of
his antagonists. Not once, however, did
these charges ruffle the calm serenity
of Gasparri nor change his attitude
toward the political policies of Fas-
cismo
This remarkable man was born in the
little village of Ussita IS years ago.
His hardy mountaineer ancestors and
the free air of his native countryside
have unquestionably contributed a
great deal to the building up of a char
acter in which strength mixed with
gentleness stand out as most prominent
notes. The cardinal deeply appreciates
what his native town has meant to
| him. To it he returns at every oppor-
! tunity; there he spends the month of
his "villegiatura" walking through its
old, narrow streets, horseback riding
over the beautiful countryside. To the
inhabitants of Ussita he is simply I'll
nostro Cardinale." To his generosity
are due many civic improvements and
especially the erection of the city hall
whose lobby proudly displays the many
decorations which he has received from
| AOASA6h 6OfSAAAAAASAOS SNA AA6 AAAo ASAe
career.
This exposition Of grand crosses and
collars which have been conferred upon
him gives in epitome the story of a
truly remarkable political life and is an
object lesson and incentive to the VII
lage youth Of how great men are possible
even in this the twentieth century. TIC
speak to the cardinal about Ussita is to
strike in him a responsive chord. His
face lights up at the word and he i'm
mediately proceeds to draw for his visi-
tor a picture of its beauties, to finish
with the hope that he would like to be
on his way at that very moment to
paw it a visit.
Gasparri received his early education
at the small seminary of Nepi and COM
pleted it at the Roman seminary. After
ordination he became secretary to the
great jurist, Cardinal Mertel, man nc
less remarkable for his knowledge OF
the law than for the fact that, though
only cleric, he had been made a car
dinal. Mertel was the last deacon t.
receive such an honor. Gasparri taught
in Rome for about four years and
then accepted a call to the chair OF
canon law at the Institut Catholique Of
Paris. Here he remained 18 years
teaching and writing From his per
came three remarkable treatises, Ode
Eucharistia," DE Ordine" and ''De
Matrimonio." the latter work Justly
Continued on Eighth Page.)