National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-21
THE pApAI SUCCESSION.
Famous Circular from Bismarck to German
Diplomats.

Famous Circular from Bismarck to German
Diplomats.
The following full text Of the German Chan
eellor's confidential circular will explain some
thing Of the recent policy Of the Empire, both to-
wards the Pope and Count Won Arnim. 1t Is fur
nished BY the Paris correspondent Of the Lon
don Tiaes:
''BERLIN, May IL 1871.
According to all the intelligence received,
the health Of Pope Pho NIno Is perfectly satsfac-
tory and not at all likely to undergo an early
change for the worse. In the course Of nature,
hSTsysr new pope WIN have ito, 70 Dc n eisc's go
% Ii in whose Countries the Catholic Church
chief Of thai church Is Of such great Importance
that It seems expedient to try and realise even
now the consequences likely to ensus from 3
change Of pope. II has long been acknowledged
that the governments having Catholic subjects
have q great and direct interest," both In the per-
s Se 81 es sas Viz WITH ns s Soss rm
ula and material guarantees rendering It possible
for governments 10 regard the election IS valid,
and having full and iDdubitable force In their
countries and with their subiects
There can be no doubt that before allowing
pope to exercise in their respective territories
rights 50 extensive as In many respects to border
on sovereignty, the governments have conscien-
tously to ask themselves whether they are In q
q pope were not Recognized By all or by most Of
the European soTereigns, should the reasons for
disoWling him be Of . formal or material nature,
be bishop without the consent or approval Of his
government. Such was the case even uRder the
former regime, when, the position OF the bishops
being more independent, governments but rarely
had occasion to communicate with the Pope on
matters ecclesiastical. But in consequence Of
t6is ceStSGT the restiops between the Pope and
the governments became more direct and In q
sense more intimate, and now that the Vatican
Council and the two principal votes passed BY the
same, referring respectively TO the infslIi6Ility
and Jurisdiction Of the Pope have entirely changed
the relative position Of the Pope and the govern
ments, the latter are all the more interested In
the person Of o future Pope, and accordingly all
the more entitled to insist upon the due and I'M
9uaHisa ,bs Pnns ~ snsbIsd bssI
to exercise Episcopal jurisdiction in each and
every diocese, SO as entirely to supercede the au
sent OF the secular power. In other words, the
Episcopal jurisdiction is entirely merged In the
Papal. The Pope, no longer content with few
reserved rights, but appropr ating to himself the
whole Episcopal authority, has in theory super
coded the bishops and Is practically ct liberty to
enforce his new powers at any moment In the case
of any bishop he chooses. The bishops are only
his tools, his servants, sWsyed by his dictates,
and without any responsibility Of their own. In
their relations to the secular government they
are now the servants Of q foreign sovereign, and
this Of q sovereign who by means Of his tnfalli-
bility has become more absolute than any abso-
lutte monarch in the world. Before allowing Q new
Pope to assume such position and exercise such
rights, Governments must ask themselvesWhethe
his election and person offer those guarantees
against abuse Of power which they have q right
to demand. This is the more necessary as It is
not to be expected with certainty that even the
few guarantees formerly surrounding Q eonclave,
partly inherent in its composition and partly
making its rules, will be granted under present
circumstances. The right Of excluding candidates
possessed by the Roman Emperor, Spain and
France often enough proved illusory, and the in
fiuence the various nations exercise in the Con-
elave through Cardinals Of their nationality is q
mere matter OF chance.
1t is impossible to foresee under what clreum-
stances the next papal election will be made and
whether it will not perhaps be precipitated in
such a way as 10 imperil even the forms guaran-
teed in the past. For these reasons it seems desr-
able that those governments concerned in the
election of Pope tor the ecclesiastical Interests
oftheir Catholic subjects and the position Of the
Catholic Church in their countries, should Rp-
prOach the question in time, and if possible agree
upon q common attitude and the conditions on
which they will recognize the next Pope. Gould
an agreement upon this head be effected between
the European Governments this would be Of i'm
mense Importance, and perhaps might obViate
serious compiled tiOns. request your EXcellency
conhdentiaIly to ask the Government to which
you have the honor Of being accredited whether
they would be inclined to exchange opinions and
eventually enter upon an agreement with US
upon this subject. If the willingness exists we
shall easily md form for the purpose. au-
thoriZe your Excellency to read this rescript to
the minister, requesting you at the same time to
give out no copy for the present and to treat the
whole matter discreetly. Receive, &C.,
BISMARCK.