New-York tribune., 1877-08-20
PRINCE BISMARCK AND THE CHURCH.

HE SPEAKS FREELY on HIS CONFLICT WITH TIE
CATHOLICS, AND OF CHURCH LAWS IN GEN
ERAL.
Berlin lArg ~ Correspondence Of The London Tin'eS
After the many fragmentary accounts OF the
conversation Prince Bismarck recently had at kssingen
with some Protestant cer.ymen rom Niirtemburg upon
ecclesls c subjects, The Leipslc journal DdhcH Obges
us with full and complete report The clerical gentle
men having frankly ayOw that tDer motive n coming
TO Kssngen the Prince, TIE latter after lew
courteous remarks turned The conversation upon tcce
sia,tical affairs one the cerg ymcD III answer 70 the
Princes inquiry remarked that CGtwaray at ea-t tue
Catholic Churcn at peace with the MuteinDus Gov
ernment, when the Prince held forth In tins wise;
And yet you have the ecclesiastical legislation at
Prussia. In Wurtemburg, then, the Catholic Cburch
calmly acquiesces what is denounced wholly unac
ceptable in Prussia This difference IN the policy Of the
Papal See il still more remarAaDi when We come 70 con
slider that Prussia too lived al peace WIN the Na
till 1s4O. though under institutions similar 10 your
There were certainly cOulslohs rom liic 70 ng
yet on the whole, the Pope was On tiendiy terms WIN
tue King. Unfortunately ehanse su4er'en9a ouri1s
the reign oi is late Majesty fieueI icA "nlalh -
Roman Catholic family belonging TO the highest aris
tocracy Of the land (Radziw, one OF whose ancestors
married Prussial princess y years Ego lohed ny lLe
circumstances the time to secure 10 the Catholic Church
ia the kingdom prlylegeu position; o. lou Ie = Ia ~
in iTOubl0us daysoi ls4s, when the INST y nos OF
a sOciastc movement came 10 The surface the eiecuors
in the slrcKy orthodox wards were Conservative aad
highly acceptable to the Government THIS rendering tie
Government disposed to strengthen the CATHOLIC CIC H.
special Catholic Department was established IA tlie Minis
nv of Ecclesastca Affairs TO regulate the relations be-
tween Church aud state. The members oi thiS Depart
meut, though belonging 10 the Prsslan Cyl -eYcewere
80 10 say serIs RadZwi family SOit spOacn ana
benevolent Jeshts us Afforded an opportunity Of
the Catholic Church at last occupied more dominant
position Prussia than anNhere else. Oar relations
If HIS Holiness 4ad sent a NuncO to lord IL over rs
We should, comparatively seaAins, have ueen better OF
political affairs, 1t deyoived upon me To take note OF
wnat vas going hrst applied To a Isnop lnqur-
ug neither good Catholic II wts absolutely nee
CsSlIy be Pole, wne her TO be German Vas III
oompataDie Win belief Ia the Roman creed went the
length OF Offering To this reverend pteate The Arceps-
cOpdl POsen; but the offer was declined on the
plea tlat lie did not understand any Polish Wel Count
how
Posen having been brought up ia Rome, dld not
understand word OF Polish either sut he learnt II sub
sequentiy Meanwhile the PclOnlLaton Oh The 6Uinlan
alsricts scni-Pusl Provinces vac vigorously con
unued until al last objected % that thing and
caused the Catholic Department 10 be done away with
IhIs amounting TO declaration vi war raiseda fearful
storm against In UraLsOutane circles. Livery effort
was 10 add TO tAe numbers oi tlc IuaulOntane
party in Parliament some uilcOaeut- former Ministers,
OF state ee dd not hcfue TO second
tie efforts the clerical Opposition ccOhhc, thus as-
suIed a extensive range aud the eminent were
uecessitdted 10 nave recourse 10 nc lsaidtIe. Inc
MAY laws enacted. caunot ray il.al approve
every item enacted Ia these Idm-, bt contend that
upon the whole they answer rue purpose, and are
strong wall of defense In tEis inevitable conflict gn the
Papacy By virtue 0f these aMs We nave recovered the
position We gave up III 1890 We have taken back
what was up TO mat date. We
afford TO stand upon the defensive, ana 10 wait Tor
As % te Evangelical Church his is tue OF the
Protestant establishment ~ the Kingdom Of lrussla II
has never thrown any difficulties tha way OF the
state contrary supported and strengthened
the Hence the May aw canno have been meant 10
control the freedom OF lhe 1lo'tst"hl ctTsy yet
as we have had alternative but 10 enact the same
laws both establishments, IfOiesLatsin had TO
he placed on the footing with the priests regret
that IN consequence o the sweeping measures that mad
10 be taken, apprcneusOns nave been Ia many
quarters. auding here chiefly To civil marriage,
winch The attitude Of the priesthood had made II
neusable 10 introduce. confess mat al first far
IRON approving IL II true, ciyll marriage
IL moi ppO>ed to The CulIsdu doctrine. NOu
whst ntBer thought about II you know, too mat We
have had civil marriage tine khlne ior many years.
and This without any detr ment 10 religion. let i
did not Ike 10 shake yeBeraticn Tor an ancient
usage sanctioned by Christianity did not ike tO offend
the feelings OF hOucst and loyal people, VINO possibly
might be excited andthIoWn ntO Consideration by the
innovation. But 4 failed to persuade my colleagues,
and shoua have brought Ministerial CRISIS had
sisted SO gave my consent Though ioresaw that
lie measure would less effective Others lima g1ued,
il il law being such respected by the Prot
eststlt Church.
As 10 the new arrangements for the government OF the
Protestant Church. admission OF the lay element 10
power in the establishment II an important measure.
Especially Cavinstic Districts people after this
eessou take greater interest la CLuch matters, and
are ready support 10 IN different ffO what
used 10 be the To the Protestant Church Prcsbye-
ran government il essential the Catholic Church j.
structure ready finished, in which the aity like
accessories landscape