The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-09


tues and gave to each of them q medal, which
had been blessed by himself-London Tablet.
The Pope and the Gsrman Emperor.
from the London Tablet
The correspondence between the Pope
and the Emperor, as published in the Ber-
lin Official Journal, will be found below.
The signature of His Holiness is evidently
incorrectly given, but for this, as well as
for the substance, the official German paper
has made itself responsible. The letter of
the Holy Father is benevolent, carefully
moderate, and at the same time frank-a
frankness for which the Holy Father ad-
duces as reason his duties to all who
have been baptized, whether they are Ca
tholics or not. Even to this exception is
taken, but let this pass. What we wish to
point out is the studied disingenuousness
of the reply. The Emperor says, or is
made to say, that ga portion of his Catho-
lie subjects have organized for the past
two years political party, which endea-
vors to disturb, by intrigues hostile to the
State, the religious peace which has exist
ed in Prussia for centuries. Leading Cath
Ollie priests have unfortunately not only
approved of this movement, but joined in
it to the extent of open revolt against the
existing laws" "The existing laws !"
When, we would ask, were these laws pass
ed 2 Did the difference begin by the Cath
olic clergy revolving against existing laws
1t is we'll known that they did not, and
that there was no question whatever of
their resisting the Civil Power, until that
power claimed to prevent the exclusion of
heretics from Catholic communion and to
usurp control over the appointments and
education of the clergy.
- "VAIIcAN, August :, 1873.
Your Mcjesty-The measures which have
been adopted by your Majesty's Government
| for some time past all aim more and more at
the destruction of Catholicism: When seri-
| ously ponder over the causes which may have
| led to these very hard measures confess that
1 am unable to discover any reasons for; such a
course. On the other hand, am informed that
ceedings of your Government, and does not ap
prove the harshness of the measures adopted
against the Catholic religion. If, then, it be
true that your Majesty does not approx, there
has addressed to me formerly might sufficient
| ly demonstrate that you cannot approve that
which is now occurring-if, say, your Majesty
does not approve of your Government continu-
| ing in the path it has chosen of further ex-
tending its rigorous measures against the reli-
gon Of Jesus Christ, whereby the latter is
| most injuriousy affected. will your Maj esty,
then, not-beoome convinced that these mea
sures have no other effect than that of under
mining your Majesty's own thronef 1 speak
with frankness, for my banner is truth
\ consists in telling the truth to all, even to
those who are not Catholics, for every one who
has been baptized belongs in some way or other,
which to define more precisely would be here
out of place-belongs, l say, to the Pope. :!
cherish the conviction that our Majesty will
| receive my observations with your usual good
the present case. While offering to your Most
| Gracious Majesty the expression of my devo-
ton and esteem, 1 pray to God that He may
enfold your Majesty and myself In one and
| the same bond of mercy.
| (Signed) "PIo."
The Emperor replied as follows:
"BERLIN, September g. 1873
az am glad that your Holiness has, as in
| former times, done me the honor to write to
me. rejoice the more at this, since an OPP
| portunity is thereby afforded me of correcting
| errors which, as appears from the contents of
the letter of your Holiness of the 9TH of August,
must have occurred in the communication you
| have received relative to German affairs. If
| the reports which are made to your Holiness
respecting German questions only stated the
| truth, it would not be possible for your Holt
ness to entertain the suppositon that my Gov
eminent enters upon a path which do not
| approve. According to the constitution OF my
States, such q case cannot happen. since the
| laws and Government measures in Prussia re-
quire my consent as Sovereign To my deep
sorrow, portion of my Catholic subjects have
| organized for the past two years political
party, which endeavors to disturb, by intrigues
| hostile to the State, the religious peace which
| has existed in Prussia for centuries Leading
Catholic priests have unfortunately not only
approved this movement, but Joined it in to
|
1t will not have escaped the observation of
your Holiness that similar indications manifest
| themselves at the present time in several En-
ropean and some Transatlantic States. 1t is
not my mission to investigate the causes by
which the clergy and the faithful of one of the
Christian denominations can be induced ao-
lively to assist the enemies of all law, but it
certainly is my mission to protect internal
peace and preserve the authority of the laws
| in the States whose government has been en-
trusted to me by God. l am conscious that I
| 1or Gar of hn NIah-
ment of this my kingly duty. shall main
| tain order and law in my States against all at
tacks as long as God gives lne the power.
am in duty bound to do it as Christian mon
arch, even when to my sorrow have to fulfil
this royal duty against servants of a Church
which 1 suppose acknowledges no less than
the Evangelical Church that the command
ment of obedience to secular authority is an
emanation of the revealed will of God. Many
of the priests in Prussia subject to your Holt
ness, disown, to my regret, the Christian doc
trine in this respect, and place my Government
| under the neutrality-suspicious. by the great
majority of my loyal Catholic and Evangelical
subj ects-of extorting obedience to the law by
worldly means willingly entertain the hope
that your Holiness, upon being informed of the
Doaition of affairs will uSa vOnr an thOritV