A Mission to the Vatican
By L. A. S.
THE unsettled question of the disposition to be made of the lands of the Philippine friars, has finally resulted in bringing about a mission from the United States to the Vatican. The governor-general of the Philippines, Mr. Taft, has been selected for this undertaking. He is shortly to proceed to Rome, accompanied by Bishop O'Gorman, formerly of the Catholic university at Washington, who is described as being “thoroughly acquainted not only with Vatican etiquette, but with all the machinery by which the Vatican rules the Catholic world,” Judge Smith, of San Francisco, is also named as an associate. With these assistants, Mr. Taft is to conduct negotiations for the settlement of this problem199of the friars, with the chief Roman Catholic authority, this being considered the best way to arrive at definite results. There is no fault to be found with the logic by which the government has arrived at this conclusion. It is the natural outcome of the first step by which the government became entangled in the web of papal diplomacy. This mission is, by its nature, a temporary one; but a temporary mission is a natural stopping-stone to the establishment of one that will be permanent. We are not surprised at the announcement from Rome that the pope expresses “great satisfaction at the decision.” The same dispatch says it is likely that Mgr. Sbaretti will have an interview with President Roosevelt with regard to “the laying of the foundation for a concordat between the Vatican and Washington about the Philippines.” A concordat is “an agreement made between the pope and a sovereign or government for the regulation of ecclesiastical matters with which both are concerned.” Will not this “concordat,” when set up, call for the establishment of permanent diplomatic relations between Rome and the United States, with a papal nuncio at Washington and an American representative at the Vatican, in order that its business may be conducted in an effective way? This is the first envoy ever sent by the United States to transact business with the Vatican. Some Protestant journals are assuring us that it means nothing; but such a step, considered in its relation to American history and principles of government, speaks for itself. The government has no intention of establishing permanent relations with the Vatican, doubtless; but the question is, What are the intentions of the Vatican in the matter? and what will the Vatican, through its political wisdom and cunning, be able to make out of its present advantage? Full well does Rome know how to take advantage of every opportunity. Mr. Taft will doubtless, while in Rome, have an interview with Pope Leo. He will be there as the representative of the United States. Will he then kneel before the “sovereign pontiff,” as all are expected to do at a Vatican audience? This would be no more than papal claims require, but it would be contrary to every principle of Protestant and republican government. For the perpetuity of such principles, so far as the United States is concerned, this mission to Rome portends no good.