The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-21
Religious Liberty In Germany.

| weIl-inf0rmod source ut the Vatican, stotee
| German government have been again resumed
| The basis Of them appears to be proposition
on the part OF Germany, that without for
become o dead letter, the public utor
being directed not to take steps for their en-
foroement but to let them laDse into forsetful-
ness, as was the case In Englsnd with the
ecclesiastical titles bill, which was daily viola
lated for twenty years without o single pros
eoution being instituted under it.
This looks little improbable, consid-
ering the insolent tone of the latest su-
hentic news on the subject, which was to
the, effect that the German government
hoped the Pope would use his influence to
make the Catholic population submissive
to the very Falk laws alluded to In the
above dispatch. Still, stranger things have
happened. The Emperor seems to be q
good hearted old man and very paternaily
inclined towards all bis subjects. 1t was
probably with great reluctance that he
schemes, and with great pain that he has
observed the bitter fruits of their operation.
He has seen nearly half the German people
partially estranged from his government,
and that too at the very time when So
cialism, Revolution and Anarchy are
rearing their serpent heads defiantly over
the land. The foundations of the state are
being shaken by the spirit of revolt;
contempt for God carries along with it
still greater contempt for all lesser author
ity; assassination aims it's blow at the
very throne.
This is the ripening fruit of Bismarck
ianiem this is the frightful condition in
which the present Emperor's reign seems
likely to leave his country. What a
gloomy ending to SO glorious a career of
success and conquest How bitterly the
heart of the old sovereign must feel the
disgrace of such a failure! 1t may be,
then, that he lie pressing Bismarck to aban
don the fatal policy of irreligion, 30 certain
to bring down the speedy curse of God
on any country. The old man has not
much longer to live, and perhaps, as the
ambitious dreams of life lose their power
over him, he may be able to see more
clearly the folly-of defying God.
There is an immense difference between
false religion and irreligion. A false
religion may be wrong only as to its
organization. 1t may deny the authority
Of the Church as organized by divine
power, and yet hold firmly to all the other
great doctrines of revelation. Its venera-
tion for God may be most profound ar d the
moral working of it's faith may be flea
cioue. Its votaries may be suffi ficiently
under the ipfu ence of supernatural truth
In ind fhair N aaioDa cprba1 and tbair xz III O.
somewhat controlled. Eventually it will
lose this vitality for it is separated from
the source of life, stil, while it lasts it's
efficacy is considerable.
But how different with irreligion Ven
Grafton for God does not exist, the control
ling influence of q future responsibility ia
not felt, passion is emancipated from those
checks which alone can curb it's selfshness,
and men literally do as they please. They
have no other law than their own inclina-
tieD, except the fragile law which, impos
ed on them as it is by other men, they
resent as an impe1tinence and hate as q
butthen. No society can exist without a
stroug sentiment of religion among the
people, for society is impossible without
Ao") ohO 40" 40 AuPOlCuG "IIuOub LD0
moral support which it draws from pop
ular religious conscience.
But it is in vain for governments to at
tempt the creation of a religious senti
ment among their citizens. Men inevitably
feel that religion is divine and supernatu-
raj that it is not of the state nor through
it, but above it and totally distinct from
it. 1t is direct from God or it is nothing
Therefore they m ust be allowed to follow
their own prophets. False or true their
priesthood is their link with God, and if
they are not permitted to hear that priest
hood they will hear no other.
SO, If the German government desires
the active, strenuous operation of its
Catholic population in It's. great Issue with
Iufidel Revolution, it must not imprieon
all the Catholic clergy ard Danish all the
Religious Orders. 1t must give religion
freedom to grow after it's own instincts