No. 245.
Mr. Cushing to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
San
Ildefonso, August 7, 1876.
(Received August 24.)
No. 1071.]
Sir: I transmitted to you, with my No. 1045, copy
of a pamphlet recently republished in Madrid, in the Spanish language (there
have been previous editions in German as well as in Italian), by the Italian
minister here, Count Greppi, on the question of the right of certain foreign
powers to intervene in the election of popes. The pamphlet has attracted
considerable attention in Madrid, in view of the extreme old age and alleged
precariousness of the health of Pio Nono, and has afforded occasion to the
Spanish government to assert its intention to revive and maintain, so far as
it is concerned, the authority which Spain has exercised in other times, of
the exclusiva, as it is called, that is, official
opposition, to the election of any unacceptable candidate for the papacy.
Considering the uncertainty of the present relations of Spain to the See of
Rome, and especially the pending negotiations for the modification of the
existing concordat, in order to reconcile the same
with the religious liberty accorded by the new constitution, this purpose of
the government may have important consequences; for if Spain insists on her
right of exclusion, so, we may be sure, will some other Catholic
governments. I therefore inclose herewith translation of an article on the
subject from the Diario Español, which would not
speak so absolutely as it does without authority. As the question is liable
at any moment to become a European one and greatly to agitate the Catholics
in the United States, it has seemed to me that you might desire to have
early information on the subject.
I have, &c.,
[Page 450]
[Inclosure.—Translation]
Editorial article on the election of popes, from El
Diario Español, Madrid, August 4, 1876.
The not very satisfactory state of health in which His Holiness found
himself a few days ago gave occasion to some foreign newspapers to
occupy themselves with the intentions of certain powers in the
melancholy event of the designation of a new pontiff having to be
effected. As it has been, it is, and it cannot do otherwise than happen,
when a question of such transcendental importance is under discussion,
the press, which represents, first of all, the interests and the policy
of the Vatican, has taken part in the discussion thus set on foot,
advocating above all that, in the occurrence of such an event, no one
shall interpose obstacles to the will of the cardinals. The journals to
which we allude have nevertheless done more than this, by giving the
greatest publicity to a certain Italian pamphlet devoted to examining
the matter, and counseling that all the world should conform to what is
written therein, by reason of its being the true Catholic doctrine,
obligatory upon all the faithful. This advice or counsel, by reason, on
the one hand, of the manner in which the work in question analyzes the
attitude which should be assumed by the states of Europe in the election
of the successor of Pius IX, and, on the other, the way in which it is
published, has caused the belief that the pamphlet referred to had a
high origin, and that it was invested with greater authority than was
generally believed on its appearance. Be this the truth or no, it seems
proper to insert the following lines which it devotes to the exercise of
the exclusiva, a right which, there is no need of
reminding the reader, is enjoyed by Spain, France, and Austria in the
case of the pontifical elections: “As soon as the actual Pope,” says the
part of the pamphlet to which we refer, “shall, because of the
inexorable law to which all of us are subject, abandon this transitory
life, the cardinalic family will be assembled in conclave in order to
elect his successor, and, without fears of being disturbed in any
possible manner, it will freely realize its high mission. Kings, under
the influence of antiquated traditions, will not
resort anew to the exercise of the exclusiva in order to reject
or suggest such or such a candidate, especially as the motives do not
now exist which in former times justified its employment. Italy, jealous
of the honor which is incumbent upon her to shelter the papacy, will
watch over the conclave, confiding in the good judgment of the members
of which it is composed in order to promise to herself anew an election
which shall give glory to the Church and peace to the civil powers.” We
do not know from whence the author of the paragraphs above transcribed
can have deduced that kings will not recur to the exercise of that
prerogative, an asseveration which we at once qualify as inexact, adding
that in no manner will our Crown forego the rights which attach to it.
The exercise of that power has not been kept up exclusively because of
the existence of the temporal power of the popes, but because of other
causes which it is foreign to the case to recall to mind, and upon which
in these our days no manner of discussion has yet turned; but if, under
this point of view, the right of the exclusiva
will not be renounced, neither can be renounced the circumstances of
these latter times, and the reations which the several states at present
maintain with the Vatican render that prerogative needful and expedient
for the melancholy contingency we have indicated, and in which its
exercise could not be dispensed with.
