The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-05

proved OF by His Excellency the Minister OF Pubic
Worship, alter special report has been made TO
letter and spirit OF the Fak law the preates,
priests, ministers, rabbies-in one word the whole
Catholic, Protestant and even Judaic clergy OF
the German Empire-are no more independent IN
the fulfment or their sacerdotal functions buc
ought to be mere employees Of the state, disciplined
only what does not dispease him and his lay
officials, lest they should expose themselves to be
dismissed at once and replaced by more supple
lackey OF the civil power.
THE CATHOLIC POSITION.
TO such mOnBtrous pretenslon the dinerenc
clergy, and more especially the Catholic one, re-
fused, OF course to submit and IL Is well known
that Tor while Bismarck's credit at the Court OF
fostdam was much impered, the nrm represen-
tanons made by the indignant doctors in divinity
n ing C our an eloquent echo n the
royal family OF Prussia But the Chancellor
succeeded at length in overcoming the highest
scruples OF the Emperor, who. being informed
that the partlcuarist spirit OF Bavaria. Saxony
and. above all, Alsace-Lorraine. could be crushed
sented though reluctantly, to afix his imperial
sign on the tyrannica bill. need not remind you
manifested throughout the Fatherland at the pro-
mitigation Of that lava feeling which, still en-
imprisonment OF the Archblshops OF Posen aud
K6n and the Bishop of Treves, threatens to burst
out at every moment IN an open rebellion against
the civil authorities by the people themselves.
SOUTH GERMANY.
Moreover, in South Germany and the conquered
provinces the particuarist element, lar from
being checked by the low persecution ordered by
| the Berlin Chancery, against the Independence OF
the Church In the name OF the States supremacy,
has received formidable impetus from that very
persecution. In Bavaria Few days ago
bill OF distrust brought in the House by the
| ultramontanes against the Bismarckan Ministry
that sits at Munich was defeated by only nve
vo se 0 U ro the ei morrow TT Of the
Frankfort Treaty in our way 10 the unihcation OF
Germany under the Prussian pointed helmet helmet;
Now, suppose that an international CONNECT
should happen to break out tomorrow between
Germany and France, possibly Russia, what would
be. then, the most perceptible result Of Prince
Bismarck's foolish course against The liberty OF
the churches, If not to afford to the numberess &c.
opportunity either Of recovering at once their
religious independence in exchange for their par
| or OF parayzing the latter's moral and material
forces by their significant neutrality, unless they
should resoutely declare enemies in the field
THE vAssALs OF PRUSSIA
However extreme 1t may seem TO you. that Is
eyentnay openly spoken here In fS p Usx
alarmed at the growing discomfort manifested by
both governments ana populations. especially In
Bavaria, with regard to his despotic internal
policy, Prince Bismarck has re solved to cOnyoke at
Berlin council OF all the great vassas OF Prussia
(the kings and sovereign princes OF the Father,
land). and exact from each OF them Inc formal
engagement OF an unconcondltionai Yielding
Louis OF Bavaria, Will object to obeying this rather
imperative summons, Bismarck should move
| that the high and Industrious magnates OF the En-
pire be pleased to depose at once the rebel King
and appoint another IN his place. At all events,
fac! IS nencelorth out Of contest-vlz. that the
provoked by the Chancellor has assumed such
gigantic proportions as to put in question the ex-
istence Of the new Empire itself l must ada that,
however smart and INSCRIPTIONS Prince Bismarck
may prove In pushing things to the last, nOtwltl-
standing his immense and nearly unlimited power
and means OF action the ultimate triumph OF HD-
erty over Bsmarcklsm cannot be doubted single
moment. or what use ore Won MOtke's ana Fried
rich Carts military talents the millions of bayonets
and thousands OF Krupp guns and twenty lmpreg-
nable .Ortresses to contend with untamaoe con.
sciences filed with the holy enthusiasm OF right
LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.
Moreover. 1t should be borne IN mind that the ree
thinkers more numerous in the country OF Kan,
and Strauss than anywhere ese heartily lndorse
the cause OF the prosecuted Church In the name
their very principe-"llberty OF conscience
And it Is not the least striking partlcuiarit!!
OF this solemn crisis to witness the close all
ance Of free thought on one side with Catholicism
and Lutheranism on the other-that Is to say, o
g the helpless prosecuted with the fanatic perse
cutOrs OF yesterdaytn order to check tue tyrannl
purpose OF CesarisIn and secure the triumph
that spirit or liberation and freedom IN relglou
| matters initiated by VOltaire and Frederick tn
would heretofore consent to acknowledge.
! FRBE CHURCH AND FREE STATE.
1t Is q grand and comforting sight. out or wh1c
the thluker IN his sound meditattons on The prob
abilities OF the future, is happy to draw the fna
3 divorce OF that monstrous couple, Churcn an
State. gigantic step towards peace and iraternlt
II between men by the settlement all over Europ
. OF the religious question, after the example Of til
IL United States which, long before CavOur, foun
e the only rational solution to it-"Au the churcht
N free in q Tree Statep'