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Show I APOSTOLIC DELEGATE TO THE PHILIPPINES. The announcement has just come from Rome that Most Reverend Pla-cidus Pla-cidus L. Chappelle, D. D., Archbishop of New Orleans and delegate Apostolic to j Cuba and Porto Rico, has been appointed ap-pointed delegate Apostolic to the Philippine Phil-ippine Islands. The appointment of Archbishop Chappelle is not only wise, but it is full of deep significance. It means, first and foremost, that the Vatican intends to second every effort of the United States government for the best welfare of the people of the Philippine islands. Here in the western states, where Archbishop Chappelle is so well known, the people realize that his wisdom, tact and gentleness will do much to bring about a peaceful state of affairs in those islands, now so unhappily torn asunder by strife and bloodshed. It is the opinion of the Intermountain Catholic Cath-olic that a better selection than Archbishop Arch-bishop Chappelle could not have been made from the priesthood or hierarchy of the states. ; In this connection, knowing Arch-"bishop. Arch-"bishop. Chappelle as we do, we cannot let the opportunity pass without calling attention to a statement sent out from Washington and spread broadcast over the countr.Xhis.v, statement, while pretTKng to be fntlSTKitobe'nev.'' "uolegate apostolic, is intended to cre-I cre-I ate a prejudice against the archbishop j and is based on anything but fact. I "Mgr. Chappelle's main source of J strength," says the dispatch referred to. I "at the Vatican is the unswerving sup-; sup-; port of the French cardinals under the Concordat and of the French govern, ment. If he obtains the red hat. as is now to be expected, his appointment will at once fill the American desire for such representation and at the same time add one more vote to the French representation in the college of cardinals." cardi-nals." The one who inspired the above dispatch dis-patch had at heart neither the best interests in-terests of the church nor the government govern-ment of the United States. It is unfair j and unjust to Archbishop Chappelle. who, although a Frenchman by birth, is in every fibre of his being a thor- I ough American. ' j We are fully aware that there are those who, jealous and envious of the rapid rise of Archbishop Chappelle in the councils of the church, have never lost opportunity to scatter broadcast by insinuation and inuendo the statement that the archbishop owes his elevation, eleva-tion, first in the see of Santa Fe, next i in the see of New Orleans, and lastly j I as delegate apostolic to Cuba, Porto j Rico and the Philippines to the influ-j influ-j ence of the French government, j We have had occasion heretofore to brand this statement as false, and we jrexient.now what we have heretofoie i said, that, of our own knowledge, we know that Archbishop Chappelle was ; selected for these important missions by Leo XIII proprio motu. In no case was the French government ever consulted con-sulted nor is Archbishop Chappelle. under un-der obligation to any government or any person except Leo XIII for the honors that have come to him. The statement that Archbishop Chappelle as a cardinal would be considered con-sidered a creature of the French government gov-ernment is too contemptible for notice. No man in the United States is more loyal to the country of his adoption than the Archbishop of New Orleans, and the Intermountain Catholic will never lose opportunity to characterize as they deserve all statements to the contrary. To Archbishop Chappelle the Intermountain Inter-mountain Catholic extends its greetings and what it considers to be the well merited honors that have come to him. It likewise congratulates the people of the United States on the happy choice Leo XIII has made in the person of his delegate to the Philippines. i . 1 |