National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-12
Bismarck and the Church.

To the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: The Times Berlin correspondent oT.the
llth instant informs the world that Germany has
asked Italy whether she will continue to exempt
he Pope from the obligation of law, and com
plains that he is now abusing the liberty given
him for the purpose Of fomenting rebellion. In
other words Bismarck demands, with a menace,
that Victor Emmanuel shall use all his power to
aid him In his war against the Church as repre-
scented in the person OF the Pope, to blot out the
ecclesiastical public law Of the world, and to
destroy its universal and salutary influence among
mankind. have given this controversy with the
Church some attention, and upon the highest
authority / am forced to believe that the con-
duct OF Bismarck is most perncious to the best in
terests of mankind, and destructive TO the public
of the world, in that he seems determined to
destroy the solid basis upon which civil society
stands The enemies Of the Catholic Church gen.
orally are the friends Of Bismarck, and approve
his course, little thinking that the Church and
themselves are common sufferers in the madness
Of the German Premier
Nay more, the Church has the assurance of
Goqs protection, while society may suffer not
wlthstanding the general care Of the Almighty to
what does ne propose to do further? He has in
violation Of all laws human and divine, under
taken 70 remodel the ecclesiastical public laWsn
that edect the public and private interest OF the
world in order 10 reconstruct the Catholic Church
This can't be done! No earthly power can accom-
I take the liberty of quoting from the great
work Of learned commentator. Not an eccIesI-
astlc, nor yet Catholic, but q great English
lawyer. "Our Lord, " he says, constituted the
Church in the form Of commonwealth or body
polite separate and distinct from the civil State;
and he gave 10 II peculiar magistrates, with
power to govern and administer It. That power
was, In the first place, given to ST. Peter and his
successors, constituting the summit and plenitude
| OF Jurisdiction, and then, that supreme pTimscy
having been constituted, power was given TO the
apostles including st. Peter, and to their succes-
sors. By divine ordinance, besides st, Peter and
| the apostles, and the successors Of both
| THAT is to say, the Roman PontiH and the other
olshops) ministers Of inferior rank are instI-
tuted, and for the more convenient government
Of the universal Church certain degrees or Qrs-
datione OF othces are appointed by ecclesiastical
authority. These sacred persons and degrees pre-
sent the idea Of the hierarchy
The Church having been thus pIaoed In the
world the next step leads 70 the public governing
authority or the complex OF various rights belong
ing TO the Church. 1t comprehends the right or
preaching the faith and doctrine Of Christ and
deciding infalhbly controversies regarding them;
bsptizlng and administering the other sacra-
ments; prescribing divine worship and sacred
rites; enrolling and ordaining the ministers and
pTiesthood, and especially instructing and train
Ing them. Thus we ind that 1t II Of divine inst.
tuition, altogether separate and distinct from all
natural, civil and political power. This Is the
character and position Of the Church in the world
the favored and faithful spouse OF Christ
the earth. When God is with her she can proudly
DEFY the intrlRues Of men. She survived the per.
secutiOns OF the Roman emperors, and she will
come gloriOusly out Of her new trials Bismarck
can't reconstruct the work OF God in the world
He might as well undertake to create world.