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Show RECENT CHANGES AT ROME. "Innominato,' 'the New York Sun's correspondent at Rome, whose letters were once thoroughly reliable, but who Is now given somewhat to guessing, is, nevertheless, generally interesting and always readable. He writes as follows under a recent date: Christian democracy is flourishing in Rome. The appointment of His Eminence Em-inence Cardinal Jacobini as vicar of His Holiness is announced as being certain. Broken down by night watches and fatigue, Cardinal Paroc-chi, Paroc-chi, the present vicar, who fell, sick after af-ter his last retreat on the feast of St. John and St. Paul, will be made vice-chancellor vice-chancellor of the holy Roman Church in- place of the late Cardinal Mertel. He had supported the social movement with his universal knowledge. Though mistaken reactionaes looked upon hirru as their protector, he sent to Don Al-bertario Al-bertario advice, information and encouragement. en-couragement. Cardinal Jacobini, his successor, has been a socialist for some time. A Roman of Rome, as they say in Trastevere, the future vicar of the Pope began. his brilliant' career by broad and successful public activity. While holding the office of secretary of the Propaganda for the Latin rite, Leo XIII selected him to be at the same time ecclesiastical councillor for the Unione Romana and for the working-men's working-men's clubs. . ' . At the beginning of his 'pontificate Leo XIII believed in the possibility of an agreement with the House of Savoy based on the restitution to the Pope of the patrimony of St. Peter., Under his protection the living forces of Rome created the network of an election organization or-ganization at Rome whose like will be found nowhere else. This model of administrative ad-ministrative action was to inaugurate the coming political campaign for the election of members of Parliament. It is from that early period of Leo XIII's reign that the Unione Romana dates. The Borghesi, the Ruoncompagni, the Paulli, were ready to take action, but on the Holy See's consulting them the bishops declared that it was necessary to stand by the 'programme of non-intervention, "neither elect nor electors." The Unione Romana continued there-ganization. there-ganization. It is through this gate that Cardinal ToiViliini antarajl inA f Vi A ViitrVnv. rvrwlifl- cal life. On the model of the Unione were formed the clubs, the associations, the social organizations. Each local society, rallying around its parish church, depended upon the general organization. or-ganization. Rarely has any administrative adminis-trative machine been kept so strictly in balance. As councillor, Monsignor Jacobini consecrated his life and his pen to this movement. Early, long before be-fore the encyclical "Rerum Novarum," he scented the socialist and democratic tendency of the church. A Roman, full of piety, of learning and of faith, he has planted the associations under the direction of the Holy Father. ' Hence arises his popularity and his appointment appoint-ment to the vicariate. The Romans look upon him as their benefactor, th?ir foster father. His selection will be acclaimed ac-claimed with enthusiasm by all Rome. May his strength, which has been, drawn upon by a long illness, not fall below his good will or his devotion. We learn at the same time of the promotion pro-motion of His Eminence Cardinal Agli-ardi Agli-ardi to the post of prefect of the Congregation Con-gregation of Sacred Indulgences. Tho Socialists and Democrats will scon hold the hiirher offices. Monsifrnor Aeliardi received at Vienna, where he was nuncio, nun-cio, the sacrament of confirmation, as protector of democracy. The Catholic party was springing up in Hungary in the shadow of the Kulturkampf. He succeeded in upholiing the rights of the church and of the people against the government. Three years later the court of Vienna, supported by the bishops and the aristocracy aris-tocracy of Berlin, by the King of the Belgians and by many Catholic groups, tried 'to induce the Pope to take action ac-tion against Dr. Luegcr and the Christian Chris-tian socialists. In spite of this mobilization mobili-zation of forces Monsignor Agliardi covered with his eagis the forerunners of Christian democracy. He was risking risk-ing his cardinal's hat, but trusting to the right, and proud of his ideas, he withstood the general attack. His solution so-lution was that accepted by Leo XIII against the rest- The greatest com- u;: nrc) thf socialist f"athnlir was defeated. Since those battles Cardinal Agliardi has fought under the socialist banner of the Pope. He is one of our most watchful watch-ful protectors. Ideas expand, and soon no ether manner of thought" will be found in Rome. Though the German Kaiser marshaled all his troops against dAmiocracy, the sword will break against the tiara. Our only adversaries adversa-ries are a few groups of "intellectuals" and of men of systems. These cannot be won over, for they think that' they are formed of a finer clay. The "intellectual "in-tellectual elite," however, the "five hundred" of Renan, will never prevail against the impetuous onrush of history his-tory and the rights of the people. American ideas, it will be seen, are spreading over Eu--rope. Each pilgrimage of Monsignor Ireland to Rome is marked by an advance ad-vance in social and political questions. The further on we go the closer we come to the day when the transformation transforma-tion of things American into the patrimony patri-mony of Europe as well will take place, surely and successfully. During the last three years European writers have hampered the work of appropriation, but today the rocks have been removed and the starry flags floats, proud and free, above all attacks, bearing in its folds the future of the world. |