After such instances it is clear that Cardinal Antonelli has no chance of attaining the tiara; and therefore no interest in doing good.
If he could at least hope that the successor of Pius IX.

would retain him in his functions, he might observe a little caution.

But it has never yet happened that the same Secretary of State has reigned under two Popes.

Such an event never will occur, because it never has occurred.

We are in a land where the future is the very humble servant of the past.