The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-12

| some MONTHS nave Decn pcnulng between
BISMARCK and the Vatican. A letter written
in August by the Pope TO his Secretary Of
state was given to the world in October,
and this document, with the statements
| which IL has drawn from the other side, will
assist us to discern the attitude Of the two
| powers and TO gauge the probability OF
final compromise.
Soon after the accession of LEO NIL signs
were not wanting that the policy Of the
| Vatican would undergo change. The first
authentic utterance Of the now PontifI, de-
livercd in Consstory. was noteworthy, as
we pointed out at the time, not olly for its
positive avermcnts, but for its discreet rcti-
cencc. II was evident that the new Pope
would not be an instrument in the hands OF
Cardinal Secretaries, but that his own will
would dictate the management OF affairs
Especially the conduct Of the difficult rcla-
tions with Germany and Italy was appar-
emily reserved to his individual judgment
In II word, the new Pope had foreign
policy, and we are now able 10 determine
with tolcrable precision what that policy is
Nor have we any need TO insist ON the I'M
portancc, not only to the Roman Church,
but to all nations which include Catholic
elements in their populations, Of learning
the temper, spirit. and purposes which ami
mate and control the Pontifrs mind.
| From tho tone Of the first speech pro-
nounccd In Consistory. we inferred that the
new Pope would presently cvincc willing
ness to come 60 terms with Germany. Until
pacific relations were brought about be-
tween the Catholic subjects Of the Kaiser
and the civil law IL was vain to hope for the
moral and diplomatic support of the Ger
man empire In the vital disputes which
might at any time arise between the Vatican
and Italy. The more rcsolutc and impaca-
ble might be the attitude which the Puntin
should hold himself constrained to take in
the affairs OF the Peninsula, the moro ncccs-
sary was 1t TO waive impracticablc con-
ditions, and favor concliatory movements
In dealing with n Protestant sovereign be-
You'd the Alps. In word, there would
seem TO be a. much wisdom as zeal In the
present policy OF the Vatican. The Pope
declines to challenge the whole world at
once, and means, by Offering TO conclude an
aimstice with Germany, To have his hands
free to pursue the most vigorous anti-Italian
tactics.
On tho other hand, in tho present political
condition Of the empire, there are reasons
why biNhNh' n NAVhAh w hlHI'0'b ~ 9l'Ah
something In order to compass an UNDER
standing with the Papacy. In the Rcichs-
tag, Herr WNDHoRsT controls about n
hundred members. and when we consider
the recent drift of the ChanccllOr's Govern
mcnt toward Capitalization and repression,
there can be no doubt that the Ultramon-
tanists are his natural allies. Could he
have gained their cordial support IN the
recent debate upon the Socialist bill, that
measure would not have lost so many of it's
arbitrary features, or have been subjected
to the troublesome restrictions imposed by
Liberal coadiutors. How then did IL hap
pen. with such a favorable state Of things on
both sides, that the negotiations begun
between BISMARCK and Monsignor MAsELLA
at Kissingen have so far had no tangible
RESULT II now appears that BISMARCK was
disposed TO make substantial concessions
and TO materially modify the ecclesiastical
laws. But this the Crown Prince refused 20
do, unless the binding authority Of the
statutes was first Ovcrtly recognized by the
priests. Thcrcupon the Pope nditcd the
letter TO Cardinal NINA, first published
some weeks ago, in which the German en-
pire Is referred o. In the most suavc and re-
spcctful tone. Instead OF predicting like his
predecessor the speedy ruin Of that State,
the now Pope offers to confirm the loyalty
Of it, Catholic subjects and blandly hopes
FOR the removal Of existing difficulties. 1t
is said that copy ~ this letter was sent in
August TO Berlin but the Crown Prince per-
sisted in rejecting all propositions while the
law Of the land was ignored by the Catholic
clergy. There was some reason TO believe
that the missive had never met the eye Of
the Emperor and Empress at all events,
the recent publication OF il has called forth
from the Kaiser n prompt and very friendly
reply, Prince BISMARCK has been instructed
to assure his Holiness Of the earnest desire
of tho German Court TO come 10 terms The
sole condition now prescribed is that nom
inccs for livings shall he merely proposed
to the secular authorities as n mark Of sub
mission to tho law II being understood and
agreed that induction into Office shall fol-
low as matter Of course. 1t is hard TO see
how the concessions Of self-respecting
Government could go any further. and there
have been many times in the history Of the
Papacy when Catholic soverelgns, shield
ing themselves behind pragmatic sanctions.
have granted a great deal less.
Whether durable compromise between
the conflicting claims of the Papacy and the
civil power in Germany can be arranged on
this basis still remains uncertain; but it IS
said that LEO NH. might consent to sub
scribe TO the above-named formality If the
Cardinals could be persuaded TO approve,
Possibly the new members of the College to
be created during the present month, may
be open to argument upon the subject; but
their older colleagues, who were mostly
chosen by Pho NoNO, are likely to show
themselves intractable.
The Neat Senate-The Next Congress.
The terms of twenty-five Senators in Con-
nrnss nvnlrn I'm Mnrch nnYt Snvnntnnn Of