The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-22
MESSENGER SUNDAY NOVEMBER g.
The War Rumors Throughout Europe.
rLondon Tablet, Oct. 81, 1s74.I


london Tablet. Oct. 81, 1s74.I
A saying which has often been found to
possess remarkable truth would now seem
ever. When the Church is in peace, it has
been observed, the world is at peace, and
the frmest guarantee for the security of
the thrones of kings has appeared to be
the security of the throne of the Sovereign
Pontif. For many disastrous years the
Church has now been the object of wide
reaching schemes of perfidy and persecu-
ton, and within the immemorial capital of
his universal pastorate the VICAR of
CHRIST is discrowned prisoner. But
what has the world, and what have the ma
tions and the Governments gained by It'll
From every side come the boding rumours
Of vaster commissions than even those of
1866 and 1870 II, and there does not appear
to be people or q dynasty In Europe
which is not perturbed with the dread of
colossal war and revolution. In Spain, in
France, in Germany, in Russia, in Turkey,
in every quarter and district OF the CONT
nent, the din of military preparation is
conflict or angry recrimination: Men are
being trained by millions for the work of
mutual determination, and the iron despots
who are endeavoring to substitute their
merciless yoke for the beneficent suprem-
acy of the Christian order in Church and
State, are bending on one another frowns OF
a deadlier hatred than even that which
they have vowed against the faith and the
ministers of Jesus Christ. The Pagan
Romans sought horrible relaxation in the
sanguinary sports of the amphitheatre. In
the great century of Liberalism and pro-
press what was the dreadful trade of brutal
lied slaves and wretched barbarians is now
the foremost preoccupation of "Cultur
und Bildung," and the final triumph of
science that repudiates religion is to trans
form Europe into an exhibition of savage
gladiators.
The law Incorporating the Landstrum in
Germany raises the total of the immediate
military slaves of the empire to some
eighteen hundred thousand, who can be
called out at a moments notice, at the
simple mandate of an aged Prince, who Is
the mere puppet of an audacious and un-
scrupulous Minister, and who are ready to
be sent west, south, or east, like an ava
lanche of destruction and death. In IN
fortunate France every effort is being
strained to raise the national forces to an
amount which in five or ak years may be
not UNEQUAL to the task of barring the road
to Paris against a new inundaton of fire and
steel. In Russia, hardly less menaced by
the enormous development Of aggressive
and devastating force that has risen in the
centre of Europe, the whole attention of
the Government of the Tsar is devoted to
the organization of counter host which, IT
only sufficient time is allowed them, are
likely to ontnumber even the swarming
myriads of Marshal Van Moltke. Austria,
in spite of deficits, and Italy on the verge
of bankruptcy, can yet allow neither stay
nor pause to the work of CONSUMPTION and
drill. At the Same time that the secular
powers are meditating their measures OF
hostility towards each other, they do not
omit, even now while the sword OF the
Chastising Angel is so visibiy drawn
voroDf Of THAR inter f1ia-
regard of the law of God. Not to mention
Germany and Italy, those sworn enemies of
the Church, what is to be thought of Aus
| tria, where Monarch, boosting the "apos-
tolicityn of his title, is yet unable TO secure
| even the destined members of the Christian
| Priesthood from the odious yoke of en-
forced military service. Here is what we
read in the columns of an Austrian jour
nal 1.-THE Imperial Ministry has graciously
permitted three theological students, who
were under the obligation of military ser
| vice, to be ordained to the priesthood.
Naturally the permission was only granted
| for the special case and the Minister has
strictly reserved his right to grant or re-
! fuse such favors. This happened in the
diocese of Gratz. and the reality of the min
isterial "reeervation of right" to turn not
| only Seminalists but priests in the bar
rack yard, and train the hand coDsecrated
| for the Holy Sacrifice 10 the trade of human
slaughter, las been only too clearly exhib-
tied in peighhoriug diocese. ''The
Bishop" we are Informed, chad ordained
probably in reliance on the 'modus vivehdi,
some theological students who were beld
to be under obligation of military service.
Tbereupon the Minister of War expressed
| himself in tho most indignant terms, aud
nothing but the most distinguished medi-
| alton saved the ordained priests from be-
| ing marched off for Incorporation as pri
vate soldiers in a regiment"
|. 1t is not unimportant, in connection with
the mutual suspicious aud preparations of
| the rival nations, to observe that it is by
no means improbable that the great mill
tary Power which has up to the present
kept the start of all it's neigbbors may not
be disposed to allow its supremacy to be
destroyed by the gradual acquisition by
France and Russia of similar or superior
military organizations. Nothing Gao be
more certain than that in Eve or six years
at the latest both France and Russia will
| be quite able to contend single handed
with Germany. 1t is just as certain that