The New York herald., 1870-02-15


get up European protest against the Papal
Syllabus. The telegram is not very complete,
but II leaves us little room to doubt that tho
Count lie just as willing TO fight the Pope as he
was some time ago 10 isht Austria--which
ho did, as all tho world knows, with some sue
cess-and as, later, no has beon 70 nght France.
II was the opinion Of many that because King
William was magnanimous enough to present
to tho Holy Father for the use Of the Council
costly carpet, that Prussia as a whole and
Count bismarck as an individual were to DO
passive and indifferent spectators of the doings
of the Council. Those WHO knew the feelings
Of the Protestant populations Of Northern Ger
many, and who had formed a correct opinion
Of tho character OF Count Bismarck, were no.
SO rash In arriving at conclusion. Tho
announcement TO which we call attention shows
which was right.
We cannot think that this piecc Of intclli-
gence, although communicated TO us very
imperfec'ly, is baseless rumor. 1t must have
some solid foundation. Intellectually Cor
many Is now, rs she has been moro or less
regularly for the last throo hundred years, Of
the head Of tho nations. During the last
hundred years we have had in Fathrrland oil
SORTS Of actions and reactions in politics, In
science, in religion; but intclcctualism has
never ceased to DO tho dominant characteristic
Of the German race. True of the Protestant
North, this has been scarcely less true OF the
Catholic South. Trus of the Germans in
4 g.. ~ lass >r ~, -,
the New World. A true German insists on
having a reason for tho faith that il in him.
He may be Catholic, Protestant, Ration
alist in matters OF religion, monarchis. abso-
lutte or monsrchst qualified or a republican
in matters political; but whatever his opinions
may be no can explain, aad from his own
standpoint at least, justly them. II was
this spirit that developed Luther and
begot tho Reformation. Ii was this spirit
that, IN the first instance, gave the
First Napoleon tao mastery of Europe
and that, In the second instance, prepared, has
| tened and determined his downfall People
! who think and who Lave some faith In their
own judgments cannot be long deceived.
| This latest news iron Germany, taken in
| connec ion with many recent and deeply
| important facts, shows that the old spirit
still lives in the soas and daughters of Old
| Fatherland.
We do no. forget that tho opposition to the
| Council and its programme has been mainly
German. Voices have boon raised against
| tho Council in other quarters In France
and Spain and Italy there arc. not few who
have spoken and written extensively, in the
| Rrst place. against what it meant to do and, in
the second, against what it has done and tried
to do. La Great Britain thQs. who have no!
| been in favor OF tho Council have ridiculed 1t
| rather than reasoned against it. With one or
| two exceptions 1t has been tho same in the
United States. North Germany has not by
| any means been Indifferent; but, being Pro-
testant, and therefore not SO Immediately
interested, it has hitherto waited and watched
rather than been aggressive. In South
Germany il has been quito otherwise.
There tho Council was felt to be a
great and dangerous instrument. 1t might dc
! good, but it might d. evil ItJ every act was
| certain to touch them and to affect their posi-
ton. l, might justify their past struggle witt,
| tho Protestants Of the North, orr! might mako
them ridiculous in the eyes of their brethren
| and bafors all the world. Hence it il that
South Germany, although IL has not been
opposed TO the Council in Itself considered, hn,
| poured forth such warnings, and instructions
| and remonstrances that at the present moment
the Council halts, hesitates, trembles al n knows
not what to do. The Aggemei'se Zeslkmg, in
spired by Southern genius, commenced the
fire before tho Council began. The searching
work by ''Von Janus" appeared almost stimuli
taneously with the opening of the Council.
| The Primate Of Austria, the Prince Primato OF
Bohemia, and o greater than either, although
| he has no place in the Council-Dr DSllinger-
| have been firm, active and forcefu. in their
opposition. The recent letter OF DR.. D1llinger
on Infallibility, which is now being reproduced
and commented npon IN every journal in
Europe, has fallen upon the Pope and his
| friends like a thunlerbolt. The sentiments
Of Count Hohenlohc, tho Prime Minister
of Bavaria, and of Baron Beust, the Austro-
Hungarian Chancellor, are well known.
South Germany, in fact, is in state Of fierco
fer,nent on tho great questions before the Coun-
| Gil. II would be the easiest thing in The world
to provoke another Reformation. The people
are ready. They require but skilful leader.
1t Is not the Immaculate Conception or the
Bodily Assumption they care for. II is the
Syllabus and Infallibiiity. These last they
cannot and will not swallow
| 1t is this state Of feeling which gives point
and Importance to tho announced attitude OF
| Count Bismarck. Bismarck has no interest
in tho two questions that relate to Mariolatry.
But as o statesman he has much TO do with
both Infallibiiity and the Syllabus. If the
| Pope Is pronounced infallible 1t is easy to sec
how the Church may be brought into deadly
! and dangerous collision with the secular