The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-03-08
BISMARCK AND I'm CHURCH.

Berlin Cor. OF the n Y. lie II
Prince Bismarck has delivered "a remnr-
kable speech on the policy of the Prusslun
clerical party III the clerical Berlin Lind-
tag. The IIanoverian deputy and ex-
minister, Here " indhorst, who is the
leader 81. this party. has, complained that
the Roman Catholics are not plnced on an
eausl footing with the members OF other
religions in the country, and that they
are excluded from the ministry, the hip her
places in the civil service, and that the
nrofessorships at tie universities.
The Prince replied that In his
position as the president of the
ministry. he must repudiate any obliga;
ton inregard to filling up
places in the civil service
according TO the proportion sof no
man Catholics in tue country, and that he
wouli never admit such an obligation 1t
is possible that the statistical department
NAV have furnished some information on
this head, but neither know what 1t Is
nor do trouble myself aboutit The Sta
tistical department makes many calcula-
tions with whose tendency have nothing
to do. 1t is stated that | have no coll
leagues of the Catholic religion in the
ministry. rcgrc this We y much, but
which shall be ready to give decisive
support to the polity adopted by the gov
ernmrnt Does the previous speaker be-
leve that we can expect this from a mem
Der of his party? The existence Of spc-
cially religious party in political assem-
bly, is in itself monstrous phenomenon.
By this means pressure is exercised on
| all the Catholic members to join the party
| il they do not wish to expose themselves to
hostility and make religion the subject of
parliamentary debates. L adhere to the
principle that each religion should be al.
lowed perfect freedom, without, therefore,
| considering il necessary that II should be
| represented in the government depart
| ments in the same ratio as iii the popula-
ton. Every other religious body has us
much right to claim this as the Catholics
the Luherans well as the Jews, and |
have found that it is just the latter who
are the most distinguished by their special
intelligence and capacity for administra-
tive work. VIII n l returned from France
to devote myself to home affairs, the cen.
ter (clerical) par y, whcl had Just be- n
formed seemed to me party whose policy
was directed against the predominanct
and unity of the state. hoped that the
government wonld find support in a
'hurch party, which would "render unto
Cesar the things which are Ccsar's,' bu
instead Of this l hear with sorrow
chat in their speeches and utter.
tinns, the clericas had not a
word to say for the government. Al
though the testimony of the pope and the
bishops showed that the Catholic church
had reason to be satisfied with the regtlla-
lions of the state. and the honorable posi-
ZION assigned 10 it, this agitation assumed
| such proportions that ! was compelled 10
| take precautionary measures. Complains
have also been made about the abolition
of the Catholic department in the min
istry of religion This department had in
course of time assumed such character
that it appeared to represent only the
rights Of the monarch against those of the
state. | therefore proposed some time
ago to the emperor that, instead of main
tanning this department, it would
be better to allow n papa
nuncio to be accredited to the
court here, whose position could not
lead to any Misunderstanding and WHO
would inform US without reserve oi
the wants ard demands OF the church.
did not however, venture to take any
further step in the matter, rs public opin.
ION in general seemed adverse To the pro
posal. The prince concluded by urging
The house to avoid the great c,lamllir-
which theological discussion would bring
on the Father-land.' We must do all
We can, he said, $50 Ia arrange matters as
to have the least possible concern with rc-
ligion in our parliamentary proceedings
A government which ndheies To- the priL-
ciple of religious equality must not be asked
To adopt II sectariun policy; we have no
special state religion in thi 5 country