The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-17

Referring to the character of the people
th Us prosecuted and the false charges made
against them in justiti cation of this persecu-
tion, he said:
But they often beard it remarked that, il
Catholics had to suffer in toe matter described,
surely they must have done something 10 de-
serve the ill-feeling of their countrymen who
u ade suoh laws against them. In reply, ne
would ASSERT that Catholics had done nothing
to deserve the persecution. Ihey belonged 10
the most orderly, tolerant, industrious, peace
loving, loyal, and patriotic section OF the Ger,
man people. The Catholic population had
afforded no ground for the Nay Laws, but the
German infidels raised o series OF pretexts, ana
made assertions that had not particle OF
foundation. He would give an instance OF
how Bismarck and his followers sought to
iustify the legislation Of which the Catholics
complained. When the law against the Jes-
uits " as passed, Prince Bismarck srled hard'
| but in vain, to raise an accusation OF disloy
atty against the order. with ounole OF
| papers in his hands, he appeared In Parliament,
and told the representatives of the nation th at,
according to trustworthy information he had
received from distinguished foreign olplo-
| matist, the Jesuits were plotting all over
| Europe for the destruction OF the German Em
| pire. /.
prove his assertion, TO give names and state
| crcumstau ces-in fact, to reveal the plot
| Bismarck declared that he oonld not comply
| with their wish, oct of regard for his friend
the diplon atist, but that he held the proof OF
| what he advanced in bie hand. Again pressed
| TO Law the papers on tho table and to name n
| committee of one two members OF each
section for tho purpose of examining those
papers. Prince Bismarck declined again
The other reasons the legislators gave
! for the May Laws were equally frlVO
lous and untrue. At one time the Ger
| man Chancellor professed profound respect
| for the Catholic Church, and assured the
Catholic world that the May Laws were not
directed against tho Church, but against the
Ultramontane influence in tie Church. Later
on DR.. Falk, confessed that they were engaged
in q warfare against Rome, and some of his
more fanatical 81 pporters added that they I'D
| declared war to the knife to the whole CAtho-
lie Church, aud that they would not stop IN
their undertaking until al German Catholic
Priests had either accepted the May LAVE, e."
turned apostates, OF been one and all driven
ont of the country. Again, 1t had been saio
by their enemies that the CHIEF cause for the
MAY legislation had been the declaration OF the
PoDe's Iufailibility that by that declaration
the oonStitution of tho Church had been
changed, aud consequently Also her relAtlone
| With the State, 90 that it beloved the Govern
ment-in fact, that it was its duty an act ol
! | eslf. make laws for It's protec
, ton against the snoroHchments OF the Catholic
Church. OF course, where and when such en-
oroachmepts had taken place they could moi
, tell Finally, he might mention another pre-
text alleged by Prince BismRrck himself, Wh'
instified the persecuting Nay Lave by thu
. formation of the Centre party In the PrussisI
Parliament aud the RechstSR. The formation
2 of a political party. distasteful to the German
" Chanceilor, was sufficient in his estimotion 9
inatify the persecution of eight million sub
}eetG The recent legislation was an et1oE
70 destroy the Catholic Church In Germany