The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-05
Record Of the Peisscution in Germany

!. Record Of the Peisseudonsin Germany.
TYRANNY OF THE GOVERNMENT IN ALsAcE-
- LORRAINE.
Consequently. we can hardly be surprfs-
ed that the Alsace -Lorrainers are anxious to
be rid of their connection with the German
Empire. However, in this demonstration
Of the Reichstag,. they went beyond the
limits Of law and gropriesy. Only on the
xiops to stifie all Catholic feeling in those
cQ3htries, can we understand why he has
prolonged the really dictatorial power OF
the Ober- President. The hostile demon
stration in the Reichstag afforded him a
welcome pretext. "A majority Of the House
seconded his designs, and the motion for
Withdrawing the dictatorial power was
Imperial Chancellor. We can infer how
widely the door had been opened to abso-
lutism by what has already transpired In
Alsace Lorraine. Deputy Guerber declar-
ed, in his speech, that "personal freedom
and the liberty of association, had been
the action of the dictatorship. The Press
was under restriction such as existed in NO
other country in Europe. With respect to
the schools, the Government had paid 10 re-
gard whatever to existing relations, but had
compelled Catholic children to enter Pro-
testant schools, and had placed Protestant
teachers over Catholic schools. The Cath
Ollie Press is prosecuted and gagged Ger
man newspapers are forbidden" Such and
similar attacks upon their freedom, will
the new inhabitants of the Empire have to
look forward to for the future.
THE NEW PREss-LAw AND THE LIBERALS.
However, the Committee which was en-
trusted by the Reichstag with the previous
discussion of the new Press Law, has not
given its approval to It's seterest portions.
One rejected clause was to this effect /:
"Whosoever, by means Of the Press, re-
presents disobedience to the law or o vio-
lation of the law as permissible or merito-
rious, will be imprisoned for not more than
two years If there are extenuating cir
cumstances, he will be find 600 marks"
This clause was especially directed against
the Catholic Press, to prevent it from ex-
pressing any criticism or blame of the ex-
Church and clergy. The Liberal members
Of the Committee were, however, shrewd
enough to see that in the event of any
change of direction in the policy of Gov
eminent, such measure would rebound
very fatally against themselves. They
have consequently been forced to check
themselves in their course of legislation
against the Church, in order to secure the
liberty Of crfticising the acts of the Gov
eminent for their own party. However,
in the discussions before the Reichstag ad-
ditions are sure to be proposed which will
put the required gag on the Catholic por-
ton Of the press.
~ DISTURBANCE AT MUNSTER.
The confscation of the Bishops goods at
Munster was followed by serious eonse-
quences. The conduct Of the school lads,
who had their Joke ont Of the unsuccessfui
attempt to sell the Bishops property, by
taking number of the articles back into
the palace, was followed by an official ex-
animation OF the gymnasium and elemen-
tary schools. En- the course OF the ex-
animation they unfortunately discovered
hostile to the Church, took part in the
frolic. The second attempt to take pos
session of the Bishops goods was attended
by moro disastrous circumstances. The
Government showed its weakness and bad
conscience. Five persons were sent quite
early in the morning (about half-pas swo)
to the Bishops palace, got over the railing
which surrounds the court by means of q
ladder, then began to pull violently at the
bells to awaken the household. The door
got opened at last, and they set about re-
moving the furniture as fast as possible.
However, just as morning began to dawn
and the bailiffs were stealing of, they were
alarmed by the footsteps Of some pious
people who were going to early Mass, and
We're passing the palace on their way. In
their terror the left number of things be-
hind them, and made OFF as speedily as
possible. They had managed, however,
to remove most of the confseated goods
When the news of this got abroad, people
were exceedingly excited, aud popular feel
ing expressed itself bitterly against the
men who had lent hand in this rather
burglarious attack on the Bishops palace.
One mans house had to be protected by
the police. Unhappily in the course Of
the day the crowd became somewhat up
roarious, although it was composed almost
entirely of school children and q few idlers.
The officials, however, got fright, and the
military were sent to reinforce the police,
and received orders to clear the streets.
They did not fail to make use of their
Weapons. A student at the gymnasium was
felled to the ground by sabre-cut over
the head fifteen persons were apprehend-
ed. 1t is certainly to be 1amented chat they
allowed themselves to be carried away to
such excessses. The consequences has
been, that double the number of soldiers
are billeted on the householders.
Our renfarR w o rviab fr aacura hor -,