The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-17


The Spirituaiists will hold conference at Ger
mania Hall, No. 200 Third avenue, at two p. M.
to-day.
Relation or the Jesuits to European
Governments.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HRRALD:-
1t would be utterly impossible to understand the
wholesale prescription OF the Jesuits "and other
afiliated ordersp namely, Redemptorists. Chris
tian Brothers and Sisters OF Charity Without being
aware OF two great historcaf facts-the traditional
hatred entertained by kings and ministers toward
every theological school favorable to Pontiical in
fallbility-a hatred which became In France State
policy and parliamentary fanatcism, and which
from France was communicated afJerward, more
or less, to all the governments controlled by the
House OF Bourbon, Spain, Portugal, Naples, &c.
and the fact that the Jesuits were from their first
institution the foremost defenders of Papal prerog
alive. The .'utramontane" theology OF the Jcsuits
retarded for long time their admission into
France as religious order, and the hostility OF
the Jansensts to the Court OF Rome was one great
cause Of the favor which they enjoyed with the
French Parliaments and some of the most infiuen-
tial members Of the French administration down
to the expulsion OF the Jesuts. This Jam
senistic outcry against the Jesuitcal doctrine
OF Papal infability, as utterly irreconcable with
the autonomy and peace OF every Commonwealth,
was sedulously propagated by them from their
great centre at Utrecht; 1T spread to Bavaria and
Austria, came over to England and Ireland with
the exiled French doctors OF Sorbonne during the
French Revolution. was petted and cherished In
Portugal by the great Minister Pombal. and taught
openly in the University OF Combra, once the
great seat OF Jesuit theology; its teachers were
especially favored by Joseph H. In Austria, and It's
doctrines promoted in Italy by the
MINOR BRANCHES OF THE BOURBoNs
until 1t found vent In the famous Synod OF Pistoia.
at this time century ago all the Catholic govern
ments, with one exception resisted this doctrine
OF Ponti1cal inlabillty as one which threatened
their very existence, and combined to strike down
the Jesuits the apostles OF that doctrine. This
was grateful, ! do not say to Professionals
they were not Immediately concerned in the
strife-but to the whole body OF European free
thinkers. voltairians, Freemasons and Jacobins.
Ultramontanism (which meant, Of course, Papal
infallibility) and Jesutlsm became from that time
pass words OF the press by which the fears OF gov
ernments could be at any given moment reused
into the most extreme measures OF prescription,
and 1T is SO at the present hour.
Nor was this carefully cherished prejudice with
out some show OF foundation In medieval history.
1t was remembered that France had again and
again been laid under interdict by the Pontncal-
power; that English kings were declared to have
forfeited their crowns and Srusades had been
preached In France against them; that Kingdoms
aud sovereignties In Germany and elsewhere had
been disposed of again and again by the Roman
Pontifrs, and ALL 1t was maintained, by virtue OF
their supreme authority as Christ's Wears. These
assumptions OF political as well as spiritual su-
premacy had ever found their most uncompromis-
Ing advocates among the Jesuits.
Nevertheless, when suppressed by Clement XIV.
and driven from the dOmlntOnS and colonies OF
Spain and Portugal with a ruthless Ddiscrimina-
tion not equalled even by the cruel deportation
I'M MnvtSn fhn Vasn ttu fonn "a tn
FREDERICK THE GREAT OF PRUSSIA,
and in the Russian Empress, Catharine H., true
need In she territories OF these tWo
sovereigns the poor hunted exiles found rest.
protection, security and liberty to pursue
their avocatlOns. In England, t0o they continued
with comparative freedom their missionary labors:
IN Maryland, both before and after the Declaration
OF Independence, their houses iourlshed, and the
British authorities in Canada refused to enforce
the bun OF suppression. Thus, IN non-Cathoc
freedom or liberation. And it Is, with o few ex-
ceptl0ns, the case at this very day.
me e sr were early IN
eral. BtOzOwski, had been held in great esteem by
Paul |. ana in suspicion BY MS son and successor,
Alexander l., and while much favored by his Min
lister, Galitzln, the atter's nephew became con-
vert OF the Jesnts. This at once decided their
In Prussia they never ceased since the days OF
Frederick the Great to enjoy the confidence and
respect OF the government up TO the late discus
sons on inlallibility. Had they been gifted with
any hing like the worldly wisdom and polite lore
would either have not advised the Pope to urge
the definition OF the doctrine OF inallibllity or they
part in the proceedings OF the Vatican Council and
Kept prudently In the background. Whether
through sincere devotion to the Holy See ana
LOVE OF CATHOLIC TRUTH,
or through desire to have heir own peculiar doc
trines once more solemnly decreed as dogmatc
truths they were deaf 10 the warnings OF their
friends and the threats OF their enemies. Hohen-
lobe and Won Lutz IN Bavaria were not more
firmly resolved on their ruin than Prime Minister
dainty testify. The latter's projects OF revenge on
triumphant ultramontanlsrn were loled by his
masters overthrow and his own political annih-
alton; but the victory OF Germany enabled the Ior-
mer to find all powerful instruments IN Bismarck
and his Emperor and not unwilling auxiliary in
the weak King OF Bava Ia.
The entire anti-Catholic press OF Continental
calls, rationaists and revoluti0nlsts gladly took up
the cry OF SHOWN with the Jesults!n
1t required this combination OF press and Par
lament to overcome the resistance which the pro-
posed measures OF prescription met with in the
bosom OF the Imperial family OF Germany, as well
as from the Catholic arstOcracy, whose sons had
been oucated by the Jesults and had in many in-
stances become members OF the Order. Whatever
reproaches the Jesuits may deserve in countries
on this side OF the Atlantic, or their inleriorty to
their predecessors OF another generation, is GER
tain that in Germany, IN france, IN Spain and IN
England, they count among them the best III blood
and in intellect, men III whose lives is douDly verb
fled the saying n06lesse Obtige. This letter is
neither an apology nor an accusation the writer
owes the Jesults no favor and accepts from them
your readers the truth; and what is here said,
though incomplete and lragmentary, may enable
them TO appreciate past occurrences and present
proceedings III Germany and elsewhere.
Why, the, were the Jesuits thus suddenly out
lawed in GermanyY Because TO Protestants and
some OF the well meaning classes the definitions Of
the Vatican Council were represented as
PAPAL AGGRESsIONS
on the independence OF the Fatherland and the
most sacred rights OF civil government and free-
dom; because in the eyes OF all the adversares of
the Catholic Church, the Jesuits were Its most en-
ligntened, daring and incorporating defenders;
and especially because radicaism. rationalism and
evangellcaltsm are perfectly aware that the
Jesuits are, In Europe, whatever they may be in
America, among the most successful and venerated
educators OF youth, while the avowed object or
these their enemies is to debar the Catholic Church
from all share IN educatiOn and thereby totally de-
stroy her influence over the rising generation.
At bottom all other motives for passing the
Falk laws we're either nugat0ry mere pretexts.
The sole and supreme reason OF the knowing ones
who Introduced these laws OF the unacrunulnns