The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-10-30


Popular prejudice may sometimes ope- }
rate ipjuriously to the cause OF truth. IL I
is possible Catholic feeling has stopped
short in rendering justice to the whole
German character. In the London Iabtet I
we find the following, which may serve to |
soften. if not remove more or less of as
perity:
There seems to be general impression
current among Catholics that their relSlon
binds up their interests with those OF
France in the present struggle, and that
the victories of Protestant Prussia are TO
be deplored. / cannot at all acqulesce IN
this view of things, and shall thank you
if you will allow me to state the various
reasons why believe'that the loyal Catho-
lie ought to wish God-speed to Prussia
with ali his heart. know that France Is
nominally Catholic, and Prussia nomlnaIly
Protestant, but the number of earnest re-
| ligious Catholics in Prussia Is lnnnltely
greater than in France. Any one VINO mas
spent some time in both countries must
| necessarily contrast the utter indifference
and hostility to religion which pervades
the upper classes and bourgeoiste OF france
with the quiet, earnest piety OF sne Ia. an,
lies of Germany. Not only in PARIS anI
Lyons, but in all the provincial towns oi
France, the great mass of educated men,
and of the shopkeeper class, are intensely
irreligious; and if the peasantry still res
!, pect M. le Cure, it is only because the
reached them. But in the Catholic towns
of Germany the Church has a firm ana
solid hold on all classes; plety ls ho1 re-
; garded, as in France, as something Ia.hef
absurd in man of intelligence, ou1 ~ 40
. honored and esteemed even by those VINO,
for whatever reason, are Indifferent 10 such
things. Have we not heard how, before
: going into action, the Prussian soldier, al
, most as a matter of course, prepares MN
= self by means of the Sacramento for the
t Coming danger; while the average French
: man spends his time singing and drlnkine'
u careless about the past and reckless OF the
l. future. The true character OF the French
J, has shown itself during the last three
70 weeks in most unmlstakaole coicrs' no
10 spirit of =" the lawless one" is rife every
where, even in the army; disaffectlon anu
J, disobedience in the soldier; incompetence
u and sefishness in the officer, dynastlc IN
- terests preferred by the highest authority
d to the welfare of the country over when
IS he had usurped dominion. In Paris the
IS degenerate inhabitants danced and sang
y for 10y after the heart-rending defeat OF
e Sedan, because forsooth they could indulge
y: ~ their spiteful and pitiful triumph ovel
~ their fallen master All the WORST enellli e.
"a of religion and civil order came at once tt
al the front. RochefOrt and Victor hugo
10 II, and crowd of other birds of i'll omen have
~ become the honored heroes Of Catholic
" France. We have already heard to some
" extent how Priests and Religious are belne
" treated; we have not yet heard the end o
e. the story; the enemies of God will not fal
nc !. to insult His Majesty by yet further bias
" phemies and prosecutions. And II this
20 the character of the French people, VIVA
OF OF shall we say of their official treatment
ol the Holy See They have cruelty deserted
IN and insulted him, and, if report is true
no the departing soldiers left theacity wit
On fierce expressions of joy and contempt. l
ng is to France that the present sacrilege AM
A. treachery of Italy is due; she has pretende
rs. to be the best friend, but has really prove
u the worst enemy of the interests OF tn
rlt Papacy. Contrast with her traitorous hos
pc tility the respect and friendship of Prussia
ho Nothing could have been more dutlful tina
'Ie the letter which the King OF Prussia wrot
cn ~ to his Holiness, in answer to his otter {
al mediation. In his present distress Prussl
us alone signifies to the Italian Minister tha
no she gives no kind of consent to the occupa
III ton of Rome. She cannot do more; she
too wise to threathen where she cannot &C
In 1t ia impossible for her, while she has ha
OF a million of men in France, to insist @
ss, Italy withdrawing from her violation
ao faith and recalling Ter troops from tt
sn territories of Rome. l scarcely like to VeI
&c ture on too bold an assertion, but at lea
Vi hope that when France is reduced to h'
er- proper position, and humbly sues for peac
Ell, Prussia will turn to Italy, and order her
~ surrender her prey. From mere motives
III, pOlicy Prussia cannot afford 10 see non
seu occupied. Her millions of Catholic su
vi fjects whom she is anxious to conclliat
'oh will never be satisfied, when their ov
ken struggle is over, to see the Holy Father
heh suited by the parrenu kingdom of lta
'os; and it's weak, unstable king. Prussia, to
ven is aware that it is Republican lta
ury which has compelled this march to Ron
1no and Prussia is the bitter enemy OF kepu
leIe lcanism, and will always crush 1T out
ngs she can. 1t is not at all improbable I'll
'er- the increasing strength of the Mazz'ni
IA party will soon upset the Government
oh. Victor Emmanuel; and Prussia will n
!, at dare not, see two Republics on the fro
mas tiers of Germany. For this same reas
any Catholics ought to hope to see Alsace IL
Lorraine become Prussian, because eve
h men addition of Catholic population to u
t m many binds up her interests more u
hole -: ~ ~; oInssas ~ prussia none of
inc inc hostility to Catholicism that exists
lean - pu;noa sd ond f,ount Risma1
had 49,, 800 comnleta contempt
aid -; potas+ont;S,n aud If il t0rma
that ps..t; h;cl s,nc;,,lv hates
ue g. Church of God. Those who are called u
III vi man infdels are surprisingly fair iowa
uIon Catholicism, and indeed respect 1T as
urea most consistent religion in the world.
Or see the difference between Prusslan
hoet English Professionalism in the Treatment
"a. Al Catholics generally throughout the co
Ihe try. Look for instance at the almost
anu credible liberality of Prussia in provld
Jus' Catholic army chaplains. There is no dc