The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-21
NEWS FROM GERMANY.

The Liverpool Catholic Times Of July 5th
publishes the following letter from it's Berlin
correspondent:
ALI political parties are now busily engaged
! In making the best preparations they can fol
merable man; fsstoes issued this week We meet
with what We may call q great novelty In Ger
m IN politics. for not only the Protestans Con-
ssrvatives, but even the infidel Liberals men
tion the neoe ssity Of preserving religion among
the people. To outsiders suoh 9 ohSuge might
appear hopeful sign for the flturo Of Ger
and their slavish obedience to Almighty
ca ars find nothing In this phrase about reli-
.gion bot Q m saningless repetition Of the EN-
psror's famous word. partly TO please him,
partly to ostoh votes fJr the Government oan
didstes. The all but total absence Of any vital
religion in the Prussian Official world, from the
Minister'S down to the lower policeman, 10 9
fact which even good Protestants to bs only
too trRe. Tins the Reioksport, writing on the
German officials eent to Alsacs.Lorrane, ssye
that the great msjority Of oeicials In all
indifference TO ell religious life and work
they never 60 to any ohurch-not even their
wives and children. Many boast Of their inf-
deity. and PebliOly laugh and seoG st the
work on Sundays. at lesst in the morning. for
In the afternoon they wish to enjoy themselves
| In beer and wine houses. Bsfore the Bismarck
Ian era. all msunsl work was forbidden on
Sunday; now workpeopie refusing TO work in
Royal manu- factories would at once be dis
missed. Whilst, in former times, Catholic
Ulcers had to lead their soldiers to Macs, they
have now to superinteud the various inspeo,
tions or works going on in barracks, to pre-
vent soldiers from going to church. depar-
ture from this rule seems to be adopted where
the military authorities hope to ipiure the
faith of Catholic soldiers more effectively by
sending them to church.
This week, the Germania reported q casa 10
which 400 soldiers were led by command to
the church of the apostate priest Grunasti. of
Cosel. If single man had dared only to make q
remark on this tyranpicsl command, he would
baye been committed for insubordin alton.
That is an instance of Prnssian official ideas
about religion. The District President of
Nassau has all along been notorious for his
zsa in the persecution of the Catholic Church
in his province HIS cruel treatment of the
Catholics of Wiesbaden is known to the world.
Compelled by higher orders to adopt milder
views towRrds Catholics, at lesgt 10 cases of
Importance he seems now bent upon vexinE
them in little things. Last week. when the
bells of the new temporary church were to
have been ruDg for the first time, the Pfesi-
dent sent orders that the bells should at once |
be taken down altogether, rs they were not
mentioned 10 the building plan sanctioned by |
the Government. Last year the same gentle |
men forbade the holding of the Corpns Christie |
procession, on the ground that II would cause |
obstruction in the streets through which it |
would paes; bot this year he was over'ruled by |
the new Minister Of Interior, who allowed the |
procession to Issue from the church. On the |
other hand, DO procession wac allowed TO be |
held in Frankfort-on- -the Main, in Hanover |
and in Alssce. The Landrath of Allenstein |
has also taken arbitrary measures to put stop |
to the prccessonB that daily arrive at d .etrch |
swaled, where Sppsritions Of the Blessed Viz |
gin are believed to have taken place last year. |
In o ukRse dated 17th of June, and addressed |
to the viIIage bnrgomaster, ell inhabitants of /
the village who receive pil ilHrimS in their houses
are required to report the presence Of these |
strangers to the police cffice, and If they wish !
to provide them with food Sbey must 6rBt ssk |
the policies permission 60 do so. No meetiDHs |
in the open air being allo we'd without q licence
from the police, the assembling OF pilgrims in |
the churoh ard and public squares and streets
is strictly fol- hidden; the only place where pill
grimB sy come together 10 the parish ohnroh,
over which the deSpot does not dare to extend
his jnriedictoD.
IL has now been ss ss,ertained, hey ond don bt,
that Prince Bismarck's most intimate feicnd,
the Aulic Councillor LDthar Buoher, whom be
appointed one OF the Prussian secretaries at
the European Con RreSs inlBerlin, Wss, Until re.
comfy, if not an acknowledged member, At all
events great friend Of the SOciAlists. Some
years ago this gentleman invited the Com.
munist Karl Marx iu London to write for the
German Stats Gazette, which he could not have
done without BismArck'S knowledge and APP
proval) As Lasalle's best friend, this Mr..
Buchsr worked many yeaEs, 10 the press, Tor
the 1read of Socialism In Germany. and ct
time when he bad already become Bismarcks
right hand.
Last week about fifty persons were sgHin aP-
pretended, and most of them cent to prison,
for expressing sympathy With the Would-be
assassin NobiiDg, or using disresPsctfnl Ian
guags towards tue Emperor. Among the of
eudeTs were several sohoolmasteTB, scboolboys,
and o great many women.
Tue diem ssAl Of Socialist workmen in State
and private msa aufactories continues an in
creased scaIt; If the blind Government does not
speedily check this cruel persecution, thou
san da Of these people will either have 70 die of
starvation or TO seal for their livelihood. Az
yet, the SPECIALISTS have not been allowed TO
hold single election meeting; the consequence
IL that they assemble SecEetly.
The kwo sons of BIsmsrok nrO going 20 stand |
ct tho next election for she Rsichstsg.
DR.. DOilipgeF, ~ 3 letteE published by the !