New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-29
TIE RELfGIous QUESTION IN GER,flNy

The contest in which Prince Bismarck has
engaged with portion of the Catholic Church
of Germany is another evidence of the te-
mority which has always characterized his
management of important political problems.
The announcement recently made by tel
egraph, of the final passage of the bill
against the Jesuits, is a clear indication
that the German Chancellor has inaugurated
q system of repression against a body which
is untiring in its activity for the propagation
of its code. Trustworthy statistics show that,
in Prussia, for nearly quarter of a century,
ecclesiastical orders, which had been preyi-
ously almost entirely suppressed, have been
rapidly. increasing in number and Importance.
In 1866 of the orders which were then
in existence at least nine-tenths had been
founded in the preceding II years. In that
year there were o. Institutions for monks,
with 1068 members. In Bavaria there was an
equal number of members, and it may be esti-
mated that in all Germany there are at least
$50 Institutions with over $500 members. Of
these, probably onet third are Jesuits In a con-
test with the State the power of the Jesuits
would not be limited to their own direct in
fluence with the Catholic laymen. Any at
tempt to circumscrbe their authority could
easily be represented. by them as a crusade
against all Catholic orders and, although
very large portion of the Catholics
are opposed to the Jesuits and favor their ex
pulsion, the laws o. Prussia at least regard all
monastic institutions with SO little favor that,
for their own maintenance, q certain bond of
unity must subsist between them. In addition
to the monastc intitutions for men there are
at least five times rs many orders and assO-
Citations for women great portion of whom
can be brought to lct more or less in the in
terest of the Jesuit while performing the Off
ces of charity which their vows prescribe.
The Jesuits, however, sare still, with q great
portion of the inhabitants of Germany both
Catholics and Protesants, very unpopular, and,
in a contest limited to that body and the
State, an energetic Government might even
tually succeed in securing the greater advan-
tage. Such Government is that which is
guided by Prince Bimarck, and the measure,
the passage of which he has now secured, is
well calculated to secure this end The bill
which has just been adopted by the German
Parliament at the recommendation of the
Government declare, all members of the
Order of Jesuits as aliens. Without
being obliged to proceed against the
Jesuits, the Government can always menace
them with expulsion from the territory, thus
placing them on Their good behavior; in case
of necessity there cm be no doubt that this
menace would be relentlessly carried into exc
cution without any very strict inquiry being
made into the legality of the means by which
it is accomplished. Bat there are circumstances
in the present relations between the Church
and the State ich will materially add to the
difficulties of the latter. 1t will be remembered
that, at the time of the Gcumenical Coun.
Gil at Rome, there were no members
who appeared more sincere in their hos
tility to the promulgation of the dogma
of Infallbility than the Bishops o.
Germany and so decided were they in thei
opposition that 1t was assumed by many that
in case the dogma were adopted as a doctrin,
OF the Church, they would place themselve
at the head of a schism. But these conclusion
arose from misapprehension of the ground
upon which that hostility was founded. Tn,
German Bishops, who met at Fulda to devils
means for averting the PRONUNCIATION of tn,
dogma at Rome, clearly indicated their con
viction that TO ask the Germans TO believe il
the infalliblity of a mortal like themselve
would be running the risk of inficting a sever
blow upon the Catholic interest in Germany
that to pit Catholicism against culture woul,