The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-27
The Prince Tells the Conservative Peers the
Reason Of Their Recent Defeats
and Loss of the Govern
ment's Confidence.
JUNKER STUBBORNNESS
coincidence Is a Tender Flower; Once
Destroyed, Comes NeVermOre.
THE GOVERNMENT VICTORY.
The Constitutional Amendments Placing the
Church Under State Control Carried.

Church Under State Control Carried.
BERLIN March II, 1873
The House of Peers was yesterday
cupied with the first reading OF the
amendments to paragraphs Is and IS OF
the Prussian constitution, which IN their new
shape are to form the legal basis for secular SUI
premacy In ecclesiastical matters. The Lower
House passed the proposed amendments, 1t will be
remembered, by large majority 1t was feared,
however, In view OF the intense and vast opposl-
ton that has been expressed on the part both Of
the Catholic and Protestant clerical bodies in and
out of Parliament that the measure would be de-
leated in the House Of Peers. 1t was known that
the government was, nevertheless, determined
that the bill should be passed. Members of the
government and Prince Bismarck himself have eX-
pressed themselves more than once to this effect.
In the general debate which took place yesterday
three speakers were for and three against the
bill. The most important speech was the
one by Prince Bismarck. who boldly charged
the peers with inconsequence and stubbOrnness,
though 1t Is well known that he alone caused their
disOrganizatien and discontinue and that, finally,
when he could not break down their resistance to
the reform OF district administration, he had re-
course to the creation of the new liberal peers.
ago the Bismarck Ministry undoubtedly foresaw
that without 1t they would stand before another
deadlock in the present movement for the reform
Of the relations between Church and State The
Princes speech yesterday must be considered in
the light OF an expression of the intentions Of the
Prussian government. Though not the Premier
he Is still the strongest man in the Cabinet, and
words from him bear far different import than
would the same coming from the mouth OF Won
Room.
PRINCE BIsMARK's SPEECH
lasted over an hour in its delivery. He began by
treating of the conservative regret that "iberal-
ism' has of late been gaining ground in the House
Of Peers. The reason why liberalism has grown,
he said, lies essentially in the fact of the disor-
ganization OF the counterparty, the conservatives
more especially in the fact that the government
has been deceived in the suppositon that the con-
servative party placed entire confidence in it, The
undeceiving took place IN the discussions ON the
the law relating to school superintendent, when
the conservative party gave to the Ministry vote
OF distrust on highly important political question,
and "c9nhdence Is a tender plant, which, once de-
str0yed, comes never Rore.n The conservative
party thereupon, guided by well-meaning leaders,
but at the same time more jealous than
is compatible with essential success fell into dss0-
luton. In discussions which did not attend, it
own resolutions, and thereby pressed the govern
ment to cM de sac. Those peers on whom the
Crown--or will express myself IN parliament
airy manner-the Ministry Of His Majesty the
King believed they could trust for support in the
carrying out OF Its thoughts have not only not
given this support, but have refused it in such q
manner that the government can no longer rely
upon them for 1t. How can you lay this condition
OF things to the charge OF the government and its
measuresS We do not live under constitution by
which His Majesty carries on a policy at Will,
without regard to the constitutional formation
OF the LaHdtag. You, gentlemen have essen
TALLY contributed to crowd me-who believed
myself able to conduct the administration at the
head Of a conservative party of some Importance
aud weignt-out OF my former position in the
Ministry. You have destroyed the presuppositiOns
under which l thought to remain at the head of
the Cabinet DO not hold the government respon-
sibe for your own work-the work Of your own
overhead; your own pretensions to make your
own personal convictions prevail in State ques-
tons which the government considered to be
Cabinet questions. DO not hold the government
OF His Majesty responsible Tor that; and do not
complain about things which, in my opinion, must
be laid TO the charge OF an essential number Of you
and VI the conservative party OF the other House.
POLITICS AND RELIGION.
The question In which we are at present involved
IL placed, according to my Judgment, in false
light, II we call IL confessional, religious ques-
ton. IL Is essentially poitcal IL has nothing to
do with the conflict OF an evangelical dynasty
citizens are taught to believe: IL has nothing to do
with the conflict between faith and inidelity; it
has solely TO do with the ancient contest for do
minion, which Il as old as the human race with the
contest for power between monarchy and priest
mood, the contest which IL much Older than the ap
pearance OF the Redeemer In the world: The con-
test with which German history OF the Middle
Ages up TO the dissolution OF the German En-
pire, Is filled, under the name OF the conflicts OF
the Popes with the Emperors; connict which
found It's tragic conclusion when the last represent
alive OF the imperial race OF the demonstrations
taA IN aQaf falA hama "A tha nj Er.ra nah
conqueror-a conquer0r IN alliance with the then
living Pope. We have, indeed, been very near TO
an analogous solution Of the SITUATION translated,
OF course, to our own times II the French war OF
conquest 1.-THE outbreak ol which corresponded with
the publication OF the Vatican decrees) had been
related In the clerical sphere In Germany about the
gestis det per nuncos Similar plans existed before
the last war with Austria; similar plans existed
before Olmutz-an alliance opposing the
royal power as II exists IN our land
Rome. 1t is, in my estimation, a Justification Of
politics and Of history when His Holiness the Pope
Is considered exclusively as the n,gh priest OF any
sentative OF churchdom Ia general. The Papacy has
been IN all times political power, which, with the
terfered In all the relations OF this world which
meant to interfere and considered such interior
ence as ,s legitimate programme TINS programme
by the Papal power like the Rhine borders before
the eyes Of the Frenchl=the programme which at
realized-is the making the secular power
subject to the clerical an aim eminently political,
the effort TO attain which II, however, as old as
humanity-for SO long have there been persons,
whether cunning people or real priests, who have
asserted that the will Of God was better known to
them than TO their fellow citizens; and 10 In well
known that this principle Is the foundation Of the
Papal claim to dominion.
THE CONFLICT or THE PRIESTHOOD WITH The MON.
ARCHY.
The conflict In this case OF the Pope with the Ger
man Emperor, as we have already seen IL In the
Middle Ages, must be judged Ike every other con-
nict. IL has Its alliances; IL mas Its treaties OF
peace; II has Its cessations; IL has Its truces.
There have teen peaceful Popes; there
have been Popes who fought and conquered;
there has even been Q peaceful King
Of France, although Ludwig XVI. came into
the condition to carry on war Thus even among
our French neghbors there have been found mon .
archs who had mere liking for peace than for war.
And In the battles Of the Papacy IL has not always
been the case that Catholic Powers were the ex-
elusive allies OF the Pope have priests always
stood at the side OF the Pope. We have had cardi-
nails a. Ministers OF great Powers, In a time when