The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-08-04
GERMANY AND THE HOLY SEE.
London TAblet, July ls.

|
| The publication by the Prussian Govern
ment in the Official Gazette of it's portion
| of correspondence between the Holy
Father and the German Emperor has at
| tracted a lively interest inNGermany, and
given rise to considerable comment. 1t
would have been more straightforward and
| satisfactory il the full text of the Pope'e
letter of April 18th had been communicated
| to the world, as well as the Emperor's OF
| March "a to which it is a reply and the
Grown Prince's rejoipd der. We are able,
however, to understand sufficiently both
it's tenor and purport, and 80 to form an
| estimate of the whole correspondence, and
| the condition of things to which it refers.
1t is not usual to publish documents which
are really only fcagments of q negotiation
until that negotiation has been either con
cluded or broken off ; and this holds true
especially in the case of negotiation deal
ing with a very delicate matter. Hence it
has been Inferred by some that all chance
of an arrangement between Prussia and
the Holy See has gone by, and that nothing
remains for both sides in this unhappy
conflict but to endure the evil cousequen-
ces which flow from it for both recipro
cslly.
Bot calm perusal of the Crown Prin-
ce's letter will not bear out this gloomy
view, and affords some glimpse of a more
cheerful prospect. Not only does it state
that confidential communications" had
taken place between Rome and Berlin, but
it also expresses the hope that ''the concil
iatory sentiments of both parties will open
for Prussia the road "to peace" This
sentiment rups through all the criticisms
of the Liberal journals on the correspond
ence. 1t has been long known that all
parties, except perhaps some extreme
fanatics, are heartily tired of the "Cultur-
kampf." The newspapers bear witness to
the general desire that some means shall
no fOnn6 for aarnrinD ShOn0FRhlAU
retreat from the present uHteaable position
of hostility to the Catholic Church. This
is the more noteworthy because it is evil
dent that, in his communications with the
King of Prussia, Leo XIII, has not de-
parted hairs breadth from the position
maintained by his illustrious Predecessor,
and defended with such constancy by the
Bishops and Cetholic people. The Pope
has not Recommended the servants of
Ihis1 Church "ro obey the laws of the land
and it's supreme authority" Yet there are
none of the customary declarations against
tion," etc. Indeed, come of the Liberal
papers have even taken the Pope under
their protection, they praise him for having
attempted to restore peace, and they hope
that, through TIE conciliatory and court
eous coDd1ct of the Court of Berlin, the
conflict will be brought to an end. Not
the least singular point in this business,
nor the least deserving of attention is, that
all seem TO recognize that the attitude of
Leo Kill, towards the Prussian ecclesias
tical Legislation is to be attributed to the
fact, that 'he could not act otherwise"
If the Prussisn Legislators and the chorus
of Liberal journalists who cheered on
their campaign against the Church." had
only taken tho pains to inform themselves
of some of the essential principles of her
constitution, they too would have recog-
Missed that Plus TX. also "could not act
otherwise" Had they done 90 at the right
time their country would have been spared
much misery and heart. bnrnings, the evil
{ fleets of which have not yet exhausted
themselves.
The Pope's position is very simple, and
every Catholic must at once recognise that
he could not depart from it without being
untrue to his most elementary duties
Without some ALTERATION in several laws"
which have been enacted by the Lagisls-