The New York herald., 1879-08-24

was secn tnat tne Roman Catnoiics SUP
ported-at first partially and then entirely
the customs policy of the Prince. the opin-
ION became confirmed and extended that. OBJ
lvious of his memorable utterancs. I'VE shall
not 90 to Canossa." the Chancellor had struck
secret bargain with his old antagonist The resig-
hstion which followed of Dr. Fslk. the real COM
mander in the Cuiturksmpf. rendered the conviction
all but universal that the governments attitude
toward the Church of Rome had undergone ma
teria change. Such general distrust of Prince Bis
marcks ecclesiastical policy having been awakened.
it is not surprising that every piece of intelli-
gence from Catholic quarters pointing to
peace with the government is readily believed.
Even the principal Papal organ, the Germanid.
which hitherto has cautioned its readers against the
deluson that the ecclesiastical struggle is drawing
to close has since the appearance or the article in
the Ministerial I,oosaciai Correspondents. already
communicated. assumed hopeful tone. On
point. however, absolute reliance may be placed,
plausible arguments to the contrary notwithstand-
Ing. However wished for contamination peace
with Rome may be aud whatever means may be taken
to achieve 1t it will not be based upon surrender
OF one OF the leading principles OF the Prussan May
laws recent article in the Cologne Gazette prob
ably inspired may be cited in support OF this yiew
The writer. commenting on the suggestion that for
the sake OF peace some OF the elected bishops might
be reinstated, contends thai ths could be done in
no other way than either by Papal surrender of
principle or. the part OF the government, by
repeal of section "A OF the May laws For the section
referred expressly stating that the displacement
OF bishop by the government involves void
OF his benehce. IL follows that III order to
place him a reappontment is necessary. Now the
powers qualified to appoint bishops continues the
article not the government. but either the Chap
ter or the Pope. But an appointment by either of
these authorities would involve the admission that
the see mad been Legally vataea Which h , Would De
here have added that the difficulty would be IN
creased by the fact that. according to imperial
decree, all newly appointed bishops have to take
oath OF absolute obedience to the laws. AS for the
other alternatvc--an abrogation modification of
the section referred tohe writer concludes by de-
such step would be to all intents and purposes
the pilgrimage to Canossa repudated by Prince Bis
narck.
THE CROWN PRINCES LETTER
1t may, however be urged by those who ore per-
suaded that the struggle with Rome will END in an
infringement of State supremacy. that such enuncin-
tions the above vaIueess; that the will
which today inspires them may tomorrow direct
the publication OF contrary propositions supported
by arguments of apparent equal plsusibility. But
there is. happily, one declaration to which such
an objection cannot be made During the short
| regency of the Crown Prince. rendered necessary
| by the illness which followed the attempt the
Emperor's life His Imperial Highncss had occasion
| to address letter to the Pope. His Holiness. in
| continuation of correspondence. had written. on
the 18th April to the Emperor expressing the hope
that earlier satisfactory relations might be reestab
lished, and suggesting as means to that end the
alteration of certain laws. The Grown Prince, writ
ing the 10th June to thank the Pope for his SYM
| pathy the attempt on the Emperor. referred to
| his Holiness unanswered letter OF the 18th April.
After explaining that the delay in replying to it
| communications might have relieved him Of the
| duty of expressing. by letter, difference of
| principle on the suggestions offered which con-
tinuation of the correspondence in the sense of the
| Papal letter would have necessitated the Grown
Prince thus continues :"From the contents of that
communication am unfortunately compelled to
that Your Holiness deems 1t impossible to full
fl the hope expressed in the Emperors letter OF the
oath OF March h-namely that Your Holiness would
counsel the ministers OF your Church to obey the
laws and the authorities OF their country. The
quest contained in your letter or the 18th OF April
that the PruSsian laws and constitution might be
altered in accordance with the statutes OF the
Church of Rome is one which Prussisn
ereign comply with, inasmuch as the inde-
pendence Of the Monarchy, the maintenance Of
which now incumbent upon me rs heir of my
ancestors aud as duty to my country would suffer
diminution the free movement Of her Legisa-
ture subordinated to an external power. II. conse
uuently, unabe-and probably it is also not
within the power of Your Honess-at the present
timE 20 accommodate disputes on matters OF prin-
cipl6 which tor o Thousand years have been more
prominent feature the history of Germany than in
that of any other country, am none the less de-
srous that the mutual difficulties resulting from
conflict handed down to US from remote ages may be
treated in that spirit OF love Of peace and recon-
ciliaton enjoined upon me by my Christian convic-
tious.
Were modification of the May laws seriously
contemplated, is feared by some the above letter
would prove an iusuperable obstacle to its being
effected. The solemn declaration virtually made by
the Prince i'll that letter. that alteration Of
Prussian laws, in accordance with the statutes OF
the Romish Church, would be inconsistent alike
with loyalty to his ancestors and duty to his coun
try, cannot be explained away. Had such words
has such place In the hearts Of his subjects they
might possibly be hereafter qualified but coming
from the heir apparent 1T q time when he was in
vested with executive power they could neither be
annuled nor modified without detriment to the i'm
perisl dignity. They are irrevocable and hnal.