The New York herald., 1872-10-14
They Will Never Surrender Their
Rights Of Conscience.
THE BISHOP OF MAYENCE.
The Empire Cannot Injure the
Church but May Wrong II.
B0LLNGER AND THE OLD CATHOLICS.
German Ideas Of individual Rights and the
Sphere Of Government.

bCTDuM luCuN Vi AuuiSlduul bl6Atb onV tuO
Sphere Of Government.
MAYKNCE, Sept. ~, 1871
1he war between bismarck and the catholic
Church begins to assume threatening proportions.
its latest phase is the dinerence that has arisen
between them regarding the right that was exer-
sised by the Bishop Of Ermeland In excommunicat-
lag the priests OF his diocese who refused to accept
she dogma OF infalMbAity. This accommodation
was pronounced some time ago. and was the cause
Dr q protest on the part Of Bismarck at the time;
but AZ the matter rested there and no further &C
tiOn WAS taken on 1t by the Imperial government
Il was thought that Bismarck simply meant to pro-
scst In order to save the principle and that 1t
would result In nothing serious, especially as .
very email number OF priests seem disposed to
take up with the Old Catholic movement. 1t
would appear, however, that Bismarck has
only been waiting ior favorable moment
10 act, or that with the forethought that charac.
tertzes him, he has been getting ready for the
which seems inevitable. The question came up again
when least expected at the centenary celebra-
ilon that took place few days ago at Aarienburg
This celebration OF the hnndredth anniversary OF
the annexation Of the Polish province to Germany
1he Emperor william was expected to attend, and
the Bishop Of Ermeland, the head OF that diocese,
wrote to His Majesty requesting permission to be
present and renew his allegiance, as religious head
sf the province, to the newly-constituted German
Empire. The Emperor replied by pointing out the
fact that the Bishop had taken up position In Op
position to the laws Of the country and that It was
necessary before he could be received, to ackn0w-
ledge the supremacy Of those laws. To this the
Bishop replied by protesting his submission to the
state, his intention OF 0beyng the laws, his alle-
glance to the Emperor and denying all intention Of
resisting the laws OF the land.
BISMARCK SHOWS HIS HAND.
1t is thought by the Catholics in Germany that
Ihis pr0fer Of allegiance and recognition OF the
rights Of the State would have satisfied the En-
perOr and that the matter might easily have been
arranged by friendly interview, to which the lat
ter would have consented, had not Bismarck inter-
cred in this stage OF the negotiations. Here, how
ever, Bismarck took charge Of the correspondence,
and replied to the Bishops last letter by reassert
ing that he had acted contrary to the laws In the
matter Of accommodation, and that to be re-
ceived by the Emperor 1t would be first necessary
10 acknowledge publicly his error In pronouncing
such excommunicatlons without the permis-
sion Of the State. To this the Bishop
fsssgsi issSSsS? informing s% sSs: re- il sses
be impossible to attend the celebration at Marien-
blfE, end by one to Bismarck, in which he accused
the latter Of aisying the Import Of his e(ter ana
dnding In 1t q meaning which 1t did not bear, and,
besides, pointed out that Bismarck's note difrered
nom that OF the Emperor In demanding more than
the latter himself had demanded. Were the En-
peror more susceptible or the Chancellor less firm
In his position this Episcopal shaft might have put
The latter in an exceedingly unpleasant situation.
He replied to the Bishop, however, by pointing out
that while the latter professed obedience he really
practised disObedience, and reiterating the
slty for an acknowledgment OF error. Here the
matter stands for the present 1t is not yet Known
nnd Is Impossible to predict what will be the fur
ther action Of the government
THREAT OF PUNISHMENT.
II has inst been announced by the Kreus Zeitung
that measures OF exceptional rigor will be taken
against the Bishop OF Ermeland which probably
that his salary will be stopped, and that at
the next session Of the Reichsrath Bismarck will
bring forward project for the better subection or
the Catholic Church to the laws of the land 1t Is
dificult to imagine what ne can do besides taking
away the revenues Of the Church-a step that will
only tend TO irlltate the Catholic population with
out gaining more than nominal victory.
THE POSITION OF THE CHURCH.
judged by Conversation co which have had with
the Bishop Of Mayence, whom found Of his modest
house in this place. Upon sending In my letters
looking out ton on a pretty garden. and found
u q tall man, about six feet three inches; large
limbed and broad-shouldered In proportion, and
very hs6 man He has
altogether unlike Bismarck, but giving evidence or
equal power, and preserving something OF the mar
tial mien and erect bearing acquired In his youth
when an officer in the Prussan army Alter the usual
salutatlons asked him what were the prospects
anything from the Issue OF the present conflict.
''rhe prospects or the Church are fair enough"
he replied 1.-THE Church In Germany Is on too
solid foundation to be much affected by any
measures the government may take. II is In their
power TO do II great injustice, but not to do 1t
.sWhat do you suppose will be the measures
taken by Bismarck In the present casef"
81 do not know and IL is dficult TO predict. He
viii, however, probably at the instgaton OF the lib
eral party, pass more special laws for the better
su6Jngation OF the Church. Without doubt tney
system oattack OF the liberal party upon the Catholic
Church consists In making special and exceptional
with the Church on the broad principles OF com mon
right, and they therefore oolishly hope to win by
the operation special laws. The truth is that the
German mind, as manifested In the workings OF
government, has as little conception OF the rights
Oi the individual as the French themselves. Tie
government claims the right of interference every
where; Of doing everything and directing every.
come so accustomed to IL that majority of GER.
mans look to the governments
FOR THE VERY RIGHT TO BREATHE
Il is only in England and America that the old
saxon idea Of liberty Is understood and practised;
OF their institutions and government. The Ger
mans and French have no conception OF the rights
OF the individual; they only know the rights or the
governments, Of whatever form, republican or mo-
narchlcal.r
II have seen something OF the German respect
for the rights OF the individual, as well ~ German
regard Tor human lifc," remarked, "in the charge
III the police upon an inoffenstve and unrcsistng
crowd at Berlin during the Jetes. But DO you sup
pose Bismarck will take away the revenues OF the
"He cannot do 10 without making exceptional
laws for that purpose. That, OF course he can do;
and have no doubt he will. AS have already
saia IL is their systcm to govern by special aws.r
D0 you think the future Of the Church Will be
oucn endangered by such measure ~