, 1876-10-22

The London Telegraph Of Sept Is thus dis
cusses the proposition to celebrate the submis-
sion Of Canossa:
The repudiatlon Of any wish to insult the great
German people does not deprive the proposal OF
the Papa orgnn. the 1oce deIta Verftd TO Celebrate
next january tile octocentenary Of the famous sub
mission Of the Emperor Henry to Pope Gregory.
at canossa. Of its Objectionable and singula:ly in
81, eaid Prince Bismarck, only eighteen mouths
ago. and sncli i celebration us the one suggested
could have no other meaning than the assertion Of
belief that the incidents of the remote past oul1
sooner or later be renewed ip the struggle between
the German Empire and the Ro,nan Church.
Home has always been particularly proud of the
one Of the most powerful and dauntcss enemies
by whom she was ever beset, The form in which
victory asserted itself was one peculiarly well
spirit Of IN ambitions and rindictive Church. ana
TO captyate ana instruct the popular Imagination.
hen1y, after lying out In the snow--so, ut least,
loves to run-for three days and three nights VIVA
At length admitted to the presence or the Vicar Of
Christ. and groveIed on the ground before him. in
token Of repentance for unflial disobcdicncc and
unchristian rebellion. TO those who read history
rather for its lessons than for its pictures the Incl
dent presents somewhat different features All
sought 10 be reconcicd with fhe papacy. which lie
had previously acted ind in crnyng for reconcile.
atiou he accepted humiliatins terms from the power
reasons Of statc. de saw lis eceptrc shining
from his grasp through the insubordipate tenlper
Of his vassals and the bold enterprises Of Ills rivals
nc stood IN need OF Allies and the Church in those
days was an ally, OF no small value. Gregory, in
order to e1alt his own office, attached to the price
OF hs alliance conditions which typiaed the supe-
riority Of ecclesiastical over temporal dominion,
even IN this world: md the Emperor for the mo-
ment yielded to the excctions OF an unrelenting
adversary. But the story OF Henry cid not end at
more exactly the meaning and the worth OF the
submission OF ! monarch whom he had once seen
PROSTATE ut his feet
Who are those who will celebrate this octocen-
tenary: We have never been able 10 convince
ourselves Of the wisdom or the pFopriety OF all the
measures taken by Prince Bismarck against lis
Roman Catholic countrymen. Some Of them were
proper enough. but others munfestly dictated
by IN irritated and acrimonious temper, and some
Jew of them are but too we'll calculated try the
loyalty Of tie Roman Catholics Of Germany. In
all probability the quarrel purroscIy fntensi-
fed by the Imperial Chancellor, partly in order to
show that his personal power was irresistible,
to WHICH it was nconyenicnt to him that it should
then be directed. But the l'oce della Terita
greatly deceives itself II it mag1nes that the 15;
goo, 600 OF Romsn Catholics TO be found in: the
them, would participate in the celebration it
recommends. Patriotism may be ! sentiment
which has Of late years been striking1y Weakened
the greatest sufferer from the lamentablc change.
Hut it is not to Germany that we must look
heahy now ana 01 aua6le teeng The o. even's ss
trials, and victories of the last ten years hare
welded the German people together with force
not easily Infected BY violent domestic differ
enccs of opinion; aud We fully believe that any
overt attempt to glorify victory OF Rome over
German Emperor, even though achieved 500 ycsrs
ago. would be as universally resented In Germany
as the aggression Of France upon Prussia " WAS
in 1870. Thus tile Papacy would ind opposed 10
its theatrical Intentions the teachings Of history
and national sentiments alike We can scarcely
persuade ourselves that the rash project OF the
Foce delta le7ifu will obtain the tnprin.dfnr OF
the Vatican. There is no possible parallel between
the Germany and Rome Of the eleventh and the
Germany and Rome Of the nineteenth century; and
colnmemoeation Of the submission at Canossa
would be the affirmation OF the principle that the
State is but the serEant of the Church, and that
cry European Government il bound to frame Its
laws and regulate its administration in conformity
with the wishes and commands Of the Ro-
that this principle is the cornerstone
OF the Vatican. aud that it was laid down III
the bruauest manner twelve years ago in the ccle-
brated Encyclical Letter and Syllabus Of Errors.
mcnts have enjoyed, mere publication, no matter
low wide the circulation by which 1t may be fol-
lowed, how keen the controversy by which It is
accompanied, produces the same effect on the pub
lie mind rs snowy pageant. The proclamation Of
the dogma OF Papal 1nfailbiity would not have
excited tenth part Of the surprise repugnance
it Las caused Ind If not been fer the splendid and
imposing ceremonies by which it was ushtred in.
A comu1emoration OF canossa would be equivalent
to challenge addressed to all the Governments Of
his Cardinals to pick out Germany US the one cgre-
gous repudiator Of Papal rights. the Sovereign
Pontiff Is we'll aware that there is not Court
Cabinet which does not, with equal determination,
deny tine alleged supremacy Of the ecclesiastical
over the civil power.