The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-12
The CHURCH QUESTION IN PRUSSIA.

The Government Versus Ultra mon tn n.
ism-The Irreprcssible Conflict Between
Church and Stnte-Bismarck's Latest
ConfessiOn-TIis Great Affection for the
Press and the Representatives of the
People.
BERLIN, April 25, 1872.
The aggravated difficulty between the Ermand
Bishop and the government has come to the final
crisis. The Minister OF Public Instruction in.
ssts that Bishop Crementz shall remove the civil
effects Of the major accommodation pronounced
by him against Professors Wollmann and Michelis.
Minister Falk plausibly maintains that, as the ex-
communication deprives the excommunicant OF all
social intercourse and f0rbids the faithful to rccog
nize, speak with, or visit them, 1t Is not only
spiritual but civil penalty and an Infringement
upon the rights of citizens, whom to protect is the
privilege and duty Of the State. The Church
cannot, therefore, innct punishment which has
this twofold effect without previously consulting
the State authorities The Minister concludes by
stating to tho Bishop that, unless he can remove
the opposition to the laws OF the land to which he
committed himself by issuing his decree OF excom-
municatlon against the above named professors
the government would consider Its sanction OF his
once abrogated.
THE PERSISTENT BISHOPS REPLY.
Bishop Crementz, In lengthy response, declares
himself incapable OF removing any contradiction
which may exist between his decree and the laws
OF the State as he had strictly adhered to the in
structiOns OF the Catholic canon respecting
heresy, which canon, he maintains, Is acknowledged
by State treaties and the constitution. He further
not necessarily conflict with the social standing or
honor OF the excommunicant and tries to represent
them as rather harmless In conclusion the pre-
late declares his Willingness to make amends in
case that by misunderstanding passion, any OF
those expelled from the Church are insuted or
ill-trcated. Such is the evasve answer OF the
Bishop It's weakness is evident from the iact that.
mt first, he rests the act of accommodation and
its results on the Church statutes, while he after
wards claims the results to be harmless, and utl-
matcly acknowledges that there may be something
to remove.
THE IRREPREssIDLE CONFLICT
the prelates salary stipulated Cby the Papa and
Prusslan governmental in the bull de salute ant
nady1nn, and which In this case, as In that Of the
Bishop OF Cologne, amounts to $4,000 thalers per
annum, secured-as is carefully provided by the
and and domains Meanwhile the dsharmony between tween
the Romsh Church and the German government Is
abuse of Germany in Ills last aocution the eXpul.
sion Of the Jesuits the close watch exercised by
government over priests in pulpits and schools, the
and the warm sympathy OF the imperial and the
several governments for the Dollinger reformatory
movement.
BIsMARCK's LATEST CONFESSION,
made to a blue conservative who very ingenuOusly
inquired OF His Highness If he believed that German
consttutiOnalism, having lasted twenty-five years,
would last fifty years longer, may be summed up
follows:-I am too busy with the present to enter
upon such farreaching specuatons 1f were to
express my opinion on constitutlonalism should
say that to-day we can't do without 1t. The
peoples representatives and the press must stand
by the government; for even the most powerful
absolute ruler could no longer manage the Intricate
machinery OF state. The chief duty OF the represen
administration. They ought to occupy themselves
less with the more elevated politics, for in these
the chief agencies are screened from the unini-
tated.
THIS rARoxysM OF AFFECTION
for the press however, sadly contrasts with Presi
dent Delbrueck's answer Of yesterday to an inter
pcatOn from Deputy Wiggers, who wished to
know when, II at all, the government proposed to
submit the promised Press bill to the Reichstag
Last year motion requesting government TO draft
such bill was passed by an overwhelming ma
lority, and 1t was Indeed high time to think Of abo
editors and publishers OF newspapers. 1.-THE stamp
duty on newspapers" said the Interpolation, lis
direct e. premium on stupidity, and Germany needs
year ago"
The President coolly replied that the bill in ques.
ton was not as yet drafted and could not be laid
before the House this session.
This unsatisfactory answer, however, had the
enee1 81 pfnsmg about during wnca
lay, because, they unanimously maintained the
press Is In miserable plight-in condition I'M
worthy or an enlightened country
:. Prominent among the complaining deputies was
Herr Won kusserow, former Secretary OF the fTussa
over the English press law, but looked with horror
upon that OF America, "where." he said, dweng ~
large upon his experience abroad sne pre e9ansf
made the vehicle OF calumny and weapon as"lnS'
the sanctity OF family lfc." -.ars IN
HOW the Deputy VINO w was so' which eliminated
in such discovery no must know best: , ~ a
events things here remain as tney wein ue,uio,
security for fines to which they may pe 81. supJecnea
in future; their papers may be sezed oy .ne ponce
anently Judged mot guilty" returned to them,
Tw"nths or Years afterwards, waste paper with
out the shadow Of decentralization.