The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-16
Aost Rev. Br. Manning, Arehbishop Of westmia-
stsr ON the Pope and the Emperor william.

In preaching at the church of So Peter and
Edward, Westminster, his Grace, the Arch
many, and the letters of the Pope and the
Emperor which appeared in our columns last
week. He spoke as follows:
/" But the other day saw statements such
Church has been acting REASONABLY, rebel
liously, in opposition to Law, against legiti-
mate authority; and, therefore, that the meas
ures which are taken there are merely defen-
sive, justifiable and wise. Well, now, the
difficulty is to ascertain what are facts and
what are not facts. For, in truth, every day
there lies upon our tables multitude of facts
and fiction, and they are so mingled together
that the greatest difficulty is to find out what
ia and what is not truth. I will confine what
I have to say to two points only. In the letter
Of the German Emperor find two grave asses-
tions-one, that the Catholics of Germany have
for two years conspired against the peace of
the Empire and against the peace of other
denomin atoms; the other, that nothing in the
sentences which have been inflicted, touches
the Catholic religion, aud that, therefore, in
no way is the Catholic religion affected by
what is now passing in Germany. Here are
now deal. First, would ask, did not the Ca
tholics of Germany shed their blood on all the
battlefelds of Francef Did they not lay the
foundation stones of that Empire with their
life blood Were they not in the foremost of
those conquering hosts that laid the first basis
of that Imperial powerf Where was there any
many in the men who laid down their lives for
itf What man is there that has either openly
or secretly conspired to undo the work he thas
helped to accomplish What Bishop. what
priest (for they are accused by name) has in
any way, by act word manifested himself to
be an enemy of that Empire which was founded
on the blood and the lives of the Catholics of
Germany No such thing is to be found. 1t
does not exist in any record. l say that for
this reason. When the great Minister of the
Empire, standing up before Parliament was
challenged to produce the proof of his aec1-
lenged again and again to bring proof of these
allegations, he brought none but this, You
must trust my word Brethren, we live under
stand how free men speak in the light of day.
No man may be accused unless good proof is
brought against him, and any Minister, how
say that you must take his mere word that a
large body of your fellow subjects are conspir-
ing reasonably. and should bring no better
proof would not be listened to. The honesty of
Englishmen and the justice Of free men would
absolutely refuse to hear the black charge of
treason brought against q body of men with
out proof Of the fact. Nevertheless, without
evidence, and upon the trust of . word that in
the darkness Of official knowledge hid away
somewhere in the recess of abureau, there was
proof which could not be produced, the Legis-
1ature passed laws of kind which will pre-
sently describe. I say then-frst, that the
charge that there has been conspiracy or hos
Utility upon the part of the Catholics of Ger
without a shadow Of proof. Aud when mon
ask for it in the light of day, they are bid to
take it on trust. l can we'll understand that
Of country may awaken jealousy. can un-
derstand that what has happened in Italy, and
in the centre and in the south, might have
happened also in Germany. There may be
ever small, who do not like the process of
absorption, who are impatient of being ami
hilated, and there may be those who, being
politically on their side, may have thwarted
this great political action. But that was not
the Catholics of Germany. 1t was not the
work of religion; therefore was not the work
of Catholics. That was the work of Protest
ants and Catholics alike, politicians and petty
States, and old discords and strong repuision.
Nay, believe it was more the work of Pro-
testants than of Catholics. 1t was not q mat.
is laid against the Catholics, and whyf Be-
cause the name of Catholic means that they
believe in q Kingdom not of this world = that
they own supreme authority-the Vicar of
Jesus Christ that there is head on earth
higher than the Imperial head in all matters
touching the faith and all matters relating to
the conscience of man and that no man can
with high hand touch those things which
belong TO the soul and the kingdom of God
The day is past when that old saying which, if
am not mistaken, had it's origin in Germany,
Cuyus regio ejus religiO,'-that is The lord of
the soil is lord also of the faith, of his subjects
can any more prevail. The civil authority
over men has no power to prescribe what is
to be their religion what are to be their arti.
Giles of faith-whether they shall be thirty
nine or forty, and what is to be their form of
worship; whether it shall be in a book of
Common Prayer or in eztemporaneous effu-
sions. The Catholics are accused because they
hold that Casar's power has it's limits, and
that beyond those limits it has no existence
Let me take the other assertion-namely, that
the ecclesiastical laws which have been passed
in no way touch religion, in way touch the
conscience. Well, in order to fully appreciate
the meaning Of this point, let me remind you
of our great st. Thomas, of Canterbury, one
Of the greatest martyrs-the martyr for the
liberties of the Church. And for what did he
def The King of England exceeding the
limits of the Christian and Catholic sovereign
ty CT King Edward, violated tho liberties of
the Church in these particulars. He took its
goods, But that was the least wrong he com
mitted. Let worldly things perish We care
little about them, except 80 far as it is a sin
and sacrilege in those who steal them There
are dearer things than these The liberty of
the Church and the purity of the Faith are two
things dearer ten-thousapd-fold than any DOS
session of earth. The King of England, then.
violated the liberties of the Church in these
also. He forbade the Church to excommuni-
cate those who deserved to be accommodated