New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-20

patty with Lutheranism as with konal "a
tholicism. His father was clergyman
of an advanced school spf theoiogy-a uiS,
ciple of SchIeermacher. Liberalism ana
radcalism arc in the "Cultus Ministers |"
blood. During the monshs of feverlsh
excitement which followed the passage OF the
MAY laws, while jealous Catholics were de-
nOuncing him as a mateEalist ana an lhhuei,
equally Jealous Protestants displayed morDpd
anxiety TO wrench from him some confession
of faith by which he could be relieved OF the
odium of atheism. Whether he believed much
or little of the Augsburg Confession ana the
New Testament, he went on with the WORK OF
repressiye legislation without striving TO remove
the prejudIces of conservative ProtestantS'
He has held this Office since January, lo|Z.
Bismarck placed him there to carry out an
aggressive policy. The Minister dId his work
mechanically, without Manifesting either re-
sentiment or zeal for any religious body. lie
began by framing an act which aimed to re-
store the secular character of education
in the PrIlssian schools by diminishing the
influence of the clergy. After he had re-
leased the schools from religious control. he
Church authorities were restricted to the ex-
ercse of spiritual functions. He labored ike
kings man who owed no allegiance to any
Christian COMMUNION, and he left nothing I'M
done. lie set up courts for the trial OF cler-
ical offenders; he undertook to suppress the
houses OF the Jcsuits and affiliated orders he
fined and imprisoned the Bishops who refused
to obey the new laws; he cut off the
revenues which certain religious lnsti-
tutiOns were deriving from the State; he
invested the gOvernor-general of a province
with authority to decide upon the qualiiica-
tons Of bishop; and finally he made civil
marriage obligatory. The authority OF Pro-
t,stant rs well as Catholic clergy was restricted
by such legislation, and the loyalty of the Ma
tional Evangelical Church was subjected to rigid
tests. II may be that he has done more than he
was expected to do, and that the Chancellor, who
was not in accord with him on the Civil Mar
riages Act, now finds that the usefulness of
the Minister has declined as the unpopularity
of the man with Protestants rs well as CathO
lies has increased.
The religious conditions not only Of Ger
many but also of Europe have changed since the
enactment Of the May laws. The Chancellor
entered upon his warfare with the Vatican
by sending a circular to several Cabinets and
suggesting that the leading Governments of
Europe, before allowing new Pope to exercise
rights which had been enlarged by the dcclara-
ton of infaliibility, should ascertain whether
he would take advantage of those powers
But when Leo XIII. was elected the
Chancellor demanded no guarantees. Dur
ing eight years he has not been
able to cngraft his own ecclesiastical policy
upon any nation except Prussia. 1t is true
that Gambctta has lost his temper over acts
of Papal aggression and advocated a system
of rcprisals in France. 1t is also true that a
bin for the repression of clerical abuses was
pushed through one house Of the Italian Leg
islaturc aud that this intOlerant meas
IRE was defeated only by narrow
majority in the Senate. But the tendency OF
legislation us well rs the popular movement
both in France and ITALY, and even in Ger
many, now seems to he in the opposite dhec-
ton. The times are no longer ripe for such
sweeping measures as the May laws.
Inasmuch rs he has found no allies in
Europe, Bismarck has abandoned the line of
attack and contents himself with maintaining
the ground which he has recovered and still
holds. In the course Of an informal interview
with the representatives, Of the National Evan
gclical Church, which was held not many
months ago, he frankly avOwed that, so far
a. the Vatican was concerned, he was stand
ing upon the defensive, content to wait fer
what was to be. He acknowledged
that the May laws were defective in
some respects, but commended that upon the
whole they answered the purpose and were
strong wall of defence in the inevitable con-
fct with the Papacy. BY virtue of those laws
they had rcganed the position which they sur
rendered half century ago. He real
lied then that although the Evangelical
Church had supported and strengthened the
Government in that conflict, Protestant
ministers had been placed on the same
footing with Catholic priests, inasmuch as the
same laws had been enacted for both establish
ments. DR.. Falk.has little to do now. "Cnl-
"tus Minister" with stronger religious c0nyic-
tons may strengthen the hold which the
Government has up0n the masses.