New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-11
RLSMARoK IND TIE HA1CAN.

BISWARCh 4ND Ihb- Fd1lChNs
The controversy over the repeal of the Falk
laws in Prussia has apparently reached its final
stage. The negotiations between Berlin aud
the Vatican were opened in 1880 and conduct
ed for three years, mainly for political effect
Bismarck being anxious to obtain working ma
jorities in the Landtag snd the Reichstag
through an alliance between the Conservatives
and the Ultramontanes After the Prussan
elections last fall the Emperor in opening the
Landtag referred in terms OF sincerity and cor
diality to these attempts to effect reconcilia-
ton with the Vatican. The Pope thanked him
for these expressions and received late in De-
cember q reply, countersigned by the Chancel-
lor, expressing the willingness of the Court 10
have this question settled at once. The En-
peror proposed that the Vatican should trans
NIT to the Prussian Government the names of
priests selected for existing vacancies and
promised to revise the clerical laws without de-
lay. The Pope's response was not received I'M
til February, and was not so conciliatory as the
Foreign Office had expected it would be. He
announced through Cardinal Jacobini that the
Bishops would be instructed to give official
information to the Prussian Government re-
specting existing vacancies and appointments,
at least in certain classes, but declined to do
more than to receive its formal objections to the
names presented, or TO make the concession q
permanent precedent unless the Falk Laws
should be thoroughly revised. The tone OF this
reply seemed most unfavOrable to the success
of the negotiations, the Vatican apparently
perceivng that it had more to gain than to lose
from the prolongatiOn of the controversy. Bis
marck has persevered in his diplomatic con-
sultations at Berlin and Rome, and so far as
the conflicting reports of the results of the ne
gotiations can be received as Ineligible evil
dence, he has not succeeded in efiectng any
further compromise of the questions at issue.
But he is unwilling to acknowledge his fall
ures, although lie has been defeated IN his
diplomacy by the willy Italian ecclcsiastics. He
proposes a Government bill for the partial revi'
sion of the May Laws, when it is apparent that
even if the UltramOntanes in the Landtag con-
sent to vote for it, and for biennial budgets as
well, the Vatican itself is not pre- pared to
make permanent peace unless the Falk legisla-
ton is entirely swept away.
The bill which was introduced on Wednesday
in the Landtag marks an advance upon the con-
ditions imposed in the EmperOrs letter of De-
cember. Besides permitting clerical functions
on the sole restriction of n notification TO the
Government of Church appointments, 1t re-
moves the obligation of giving information of
changes in unbeneiced cGracies or appointments
by incumbents, abolishes the jurisdiction of the
Ecclesiastical Court with certain reservations,
and limits the grounds of objection to appoint
ments to the position of the candidate as citi-
zen. These concessions virtually involve the
A. 1 Ill ff... H. To-
Vatican Council for the protection of the rights
of the Prussian Crown. Ii is a retreat long
way in the direction OF CanOssa. 1t is yolun-
tary surrender, after many positive failures on
the part OF the Chancellor TO wheedle, dupe and
oyerreach the Vatican. But we have no idea
that the Vatican will accept these concessions as
n basis of settlement For example, the bill re-
serves to the Ecclesiastical Court authority over
the Appointments CT teachers in semiuaries ard
over many questions of discipline and clerical
rights. The Vatican will not be satisfied until
the Prussian Government has relinquished all
control over the seminRries where priests are
educated and disclaimed any intention of regu-
lating by means of a State tribunal any ques-
tons that are distinctively ecclesiastical. The
repeal of the Falk laws must be unconditional
or the Chancellor will have to sue for peace
again.
Leo XIII. has more fexibity and tact then
Plus TX. He has shown remarkable adIoitness
in all his negotiations with European Govern
ments. He has dealt simultaneously with the
Belgian Liberals, the French Radicals, the
Prussian diplomatists, the Irish clergy and agi-
tators, and the English Government. and his
methods have disclosed n statesmanlike versa
tlity and an Italian fineness of perception
which have already convinced thoughtful Pro-
testants that he may prove more dangerous
opponent even than his predecessor. But while
he is more subtle and insidious in his processes,
and knows when and where to bring his infu-
encc to bear with powerful effect, as has recent
ly been illustrated oy his well-timed manifesto
against the Parnelites, he adheres tenaciOusly
to every inch of ground for which Plus ~,
who was bad diplomatist but good warrior,
battled with stout heart and an iniexible will.
In Germany, where the Chancellor has weak
ened his position by repeated efforts to comprO-
mise and by tho voluntary surrender of the
vital questions at issue, Leo XIII. will have the
patiencs aud adroitness to wait for q complete
triumph.
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SENATOR BECK'S BLUNDER.