The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1871-12-15
Letter of the Emperor OF Germa
ny to the sArchbishOp. OF CO.
lOEne.

IOSnes
The Empcror Of Germany has written
the following letter 10 the Archbishop
OF Cologne, in reply TO the Irussian
bishops Of the Roman Catholic Church i
"VESERApLE ARCMBIsnor:-Ir the
.,ctition signed and addressed to me on
The 7,h inst. By your Emincmce and 9TH
or bishops, measures with regard to cd-
ucation which my government has been
obliged to adopt in conformity with OK
listinr laws are designated rs an attack
Iuuo,, the most cherished convictions OF
tic faith and the church, as restraint
openly imposed upon consciemccs, ana
\ vour Emincncc, in consequence, believes
vourseli bound 10 make u so!cmn pro-
, lest against the possible cncroachmcnts
. on the domain OF tho faith and the rights
, Of tho Catholic Church.
"Artcr the fact that 1t has hitherto
+ lantl in all times been recognized by thc
| bishops Of the Catholic church, ana
: chiefly by his holiness the Pope, that
n thc church has almost in 40 other coul'-
try cnioyed so favorable a position as IN
Prussia. was surprised to find III the
pctition OF the Prussian bishops merely
: IN echo of the language by which 1t has
"A been attempted, by means OF the press
9 Ito shake tic just confidence hitherto
awarded by M Catholic subjects to IA!
c government.
!. "Your Emincncc is aware that nc
9 change has been made in the Legislation
: which has hitherto met with tho appro
, lbation OF the Catholic episcOpatc, ant
n the pctitiol 10, not cite any law J!
e n,rticu,ar which has not been observed
" by NV government. II, on the contra
= ~. events have taken place in the intc
T.. rior Of the Catholic Church, in consc
&C uuencc of which the present satisiactor
relations Of that church with the Stat
C sccm threatened with some change,
ot am far from believing myself authorize
c. 10 pronounce a judgment on question
le OF iormatic order; and relative TO thcs
Is same events, the mission Of my govern
is ment will rather consist in finding, D
,d means Of the Legislature, legal soll
"a tion OF the conflicts recently arisen b'
j c tween the civil and the ccclesiastic a!
rs tior;i;cs. I'm case these conflicts coul
he not be avoided. Until that takes plat
rs, In thc constitutional way, it is for nic
rs. maintain the existing laws and 70 pr
h,ltcct, in case of necessity, every irnssi'
mt in the full enjoyment OF his righ's.
leave IL 10 l1v SONcIu'uSne ~ n.
&C. thc rcproachcs addressed ~ it by yo'
Emincncc and tho bishops.
ne IL had hoped that the powerful e'
Up mcnts of tho Catholic Church, which
ic- former times opposed the nation
|he movement led by Prussia, would no
:. after tho legal organization OF the "e
TIL man empire, and in the interest o. '
to State. lend it their voluntary support;
in- The benevolent terms in which lis ~
Die illness tho Pope welcomed, by wrili
;m his own hand. the reconstruction
thc empire, made me hope SO. But cv
-. If that hope should not be realized,
.mo disappointmcn on that ground wo.
III. ever prcycnt me from watching that
IN y. and entire liberty should be secured,
~, ~, Tie present and the future, 10 every
-. lirious belief in my States, in coniori
,ea. 'a. ~ with tho rights and the cqnali'y
-, 4 all before the law.
- "Ccrtain Of fulfilling ccnscicn,'ou
ne nv royal duties, aud Of bcing just TO
ol / shall not allow the confidence ~
so' -. nut IN my Catholic subjects TO DC s!'ak
'55s, and | am convinced that this coniidc
"ss . = IS reciprocal and durable.
~ = "l.clucsting yo'r Emincncc, to c.
s"o municatc my answer TO tnc 0'ncr -
t. Fee .c crs of the petition, remain &c-
nc 'WILLIA,
'uc" .Drpr,x. Oct, Is, 1871"