The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-03-20
GERMAN WAR OF RELIGIONS.


In answer to the letter of Earl Rus
sell, recently published by US, the EN-
peror of Germany furnishes a reply in
defense of his present attitude antag-
onistic to the temporal power of the
Pope, as follows:
DEAR LORD 3UssELL-I have re-
ceived your letter of January %, with
the resolutions of the great meeting in
London, and with my Ambassadors
report of the proceedings. I thank you
sincerely for this communication and
for the accompanying expression of
your personal good will. It is incum-
bent upon me to be the leader OF my
people in a struggle maintained through
centuries past by German Emperors OF
earlier days against a power the domi-
nation of which has in no country OF
the world been found compatible with
the freedom and welfare of nations
power which, If victorious in our
DAYS, would imperiI, not in Germany
alone, the blessings of the Reformation,
liberty of conscience and the authority
of the law.
accept the battle thus imposed upon
me in the fulfillment of my kingly du-
ties and in firm reliance upon God, to
whose help we look for victory; but
also in the spirit of regard for the creed
of others and of evangelical forbearance
which has been stamped by the fore
fathers Oh the laws and administration
of my States. The latest measures of
my government do not infringe upon
the Romish Church or the free exercise
of their religion by her votaries they
only give to the independence Of the
Legislation of the country some of the
guarantees long possessed by other
countries, and formerly possessed by
Prussia, without being held by the
ROmish Church incompatible with the
free exercise of their religion. l was
sure, and rejoice at the proof afforded
me by your letter, that the sympathies
Of the people of England wonld not
fail me in this struggle-the people of
England, to whom my people and my
royal house are bound by the remem-
brance of many past and honorable
struggle maintained in common since
the days of William of Orange.
beg you to communicate this letter,
with my hearty thanks, to the gentle
men who signed the resolution, and
remain, yours sincerely, WILHELM.
BERLIN, Feb. ls, 1874.
The other side of the question, con-
corning so deeply the tenets Of the Ro-
man Catholic faith, is thus presented
by number of Prussian Bishops, in
the language Of q New York Herald
correspondent:
The Archbishop of Posen has been
imprisoned merely for refusing to sac
rifice the freedom of the church and
to deny the Catholic truth. The charge
brought against them of being rebels
to the State the Bishops deny. They
have ever preached obedience in all
humility to the temporal power in all
things in which 1t can he rightfully
claimed. There is, however, point
where such obedience must cease, for
Scripture says, awe ought to obey God
rather than men, The Bishops take
credit for having sought to avoid the
conflict which they are accused OF
originating. They foresaw that it must
come along with the ecclesiastical laws
passed in May last. They consequent
ly earnestly implored the Crown to
withhold its sanction. The laws were,
however, passed, and that without the
Bishops being consulted. Rather were
the apostate heretics who style them
selves "Old Catholics" and are Pro-
testants consulted, who have no con-
ceptiOn of what the faith and life OF
the Catholic Church consists in. Now,
conscience dictates refusal to obey
those laws. That, however, is not
rebellion. Again, the Bishops have
been charged with giving up the
Church, by their persistent opposition,
to utter destruction. That, again, is
not true. Should the Church be de-
stroyed 1t will be owing to another's
fault, and sooner must they run this
risk than deny the truth and thus
desecrate the Church. Sooner may the
Church perish in its purity than be
perverted through the faithlessness Of
its pastors! Christ founded, not "Na.
tional Churches" but one Catholic
Church. He did not consequently en-
trust it to the care of temporal chiefs
but to that of His apostles and theil
successors, and in order the better tc
preserve its unity He placed the SUI
preme power over it in the hands O.
one man, Peter, and his successors, the
Popes.
e-..-s...a--
THE PRESS.