The English Bogey

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 13

The English Bogey

ABSURD ALARMS IN THE MINDS OF SPANISH PUBLICISTS. MADHID. April 2-t. The discredited statement that Cardinal Vaughan is likely to succeed to the Papacy is still entertained in some quarters, and it is amusing to find an eminent Spanish author and dramatist, Don Eusebio Biasco, thus seriously arguing on the subject in "La Correspondencia de Espana," a leading Madrid journal: "The life of Leo XIII. is ending like an expiring candle, and very soon his successor must be.elected. This, according to nearly all the European press, will be Cardinal Vaughan—-and Vaughan is an Englishman. "Spain at the present moment is jccupied with her internal affairs, her elections, and is making etforts to regenerate herself, and England, taking advantage of her weakness, is awaiting a favourable moment when *he can iay hands on the two islands, i.e., the Canaries and the Balearic Isies, whicn no,v aww i.-.u . to her, sad relic of her lorrn.-.■: a. The probability of a new Holy Fathei in Rome, and he an Englishman, is surely at the present time a menace for Spain and a precursor of impending disaster for her. . "Leo XIII. has throughout his reign as Pope followed a most liberal policy, he has been a Republican towards France, a Jesuit in Europe, Yankee in the United States, Socialist even at times, anti-Car-list always, and a warm supporter the Spanish Regency. "At his death he will be succeeded, according to all reports, by an English Pope, who will certainly in all things be an Englishman before he is Pope. If Spanish diplomacy does not take care to bestir itself to prevent such a state of things ali that the Regency has gained in Spain during the reign of Leo XIII. will be lost. The Carlist cause will find decided and certain protection in the "Vatican and in England, and the tragedy of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines will be reproduced with dramatic effect on the coasts of Spain before the end of another year."