New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18


ment of mob outrages which they repudiated ana
revolted from, yet the accountability for winch
they could not escape.
There is likely 10 be a difference OF OPINION
between Mr. Fay and many of his American
readers as to the true value of the so-caled con-
stitutions granted during and after s4S to the
Germans and especially the PruSSlans; but we
think he shows quite clearly that there is no
room for difference as TO the superiority, from
democratic point OF view, OF the PrusSian
programme over any other which was then attain
able in the German States. Austria, of course,
throughout stood for the reaction, and when the
Vienna Revolution went down under the cannon
Of Windischgratz, the acquiescence Of Prussia In
the Austrian policy would have been a disaster
far.reaching in its consequences. Mr. Fay de-
seribes the rise of Prussia with sympathy and
admiration which are not disguised and incl
dentaly he traces the development Of Prince
Bismarck from mere Yunkcr with set opinions,
or ra ther preiudices TO the great and broad minded
statesman Of the Imperial Chancellery. One OF
the most interesting and suggestive chapters In
the work is that on the Culture Struggle lhultur
! kampG which followed the conquest OF France
and after sixteen years OF determined effort Issued
in the almost unconditional surrender of the
strongest government in the world Bismarck
entered upon it Olivier entered upon the fatal
war of 1870. with a light heart lie evil
IDENTIFY thought that ii only necessary to put
on a bold front and meet the defiance Of Windt-
horst and his party by drastic legislation
Whatever happens he declared in those days.
we will not go TO Canossa.' Yet the tlme
came when he had to 90 there.
The rppeal Of the May laws was bitter draught
for Bismarck and the Emperor, but-and Mr.. Fay
! bpra ~
necessity The allies upon whom Protestant
Germany had counted in her struggle with Rome
failed her They either proved Indifferent or they
abandoned her. The EvangeicalS found them
selves threatened as much 10y Matcrialism As by
Romanism The Socialists hoped TO do away with
all religion. The May laws alienated the German
Catholics as we'll as the Catholics Out,lde oil
Germany The general situation produced state
of tension and dissatisfaction dangerous for an
Empire surrounded by watchful enemies and fair
weather friends who were liable to be transformed
into foes by the first indication of declining sta
bility on the part of their great nelghbor. Inc
remarks Of Mr.. Fay on the causes of Bsmarcks
defeat in the Kultur Kampf are deserving Of con-
Sideration lie says: What were the allies Of
Rome? ~ Her long-tried organization e.
Her perfect worldwide discipline. 81 Ller al
most complete unity, against which the GA
Catholic party soon ceased 10 be of weight
The Roman Church is so united rs 10 form a
separate body; whereas Professionalism is broken
into separate pieces, to present no common
front to her great enemy. At the time OF the
Reformation, and during three subsequent cen
turics there were more than 300 German States
besides the countries outside of Germany.
Professionalism, it came from the hands OF
Luther. Melancthon, etc., could flow only
]
broken up, not only in separate
countries but into separate denominations, some
Of them as much opposed to each other as the
Reformation and Rome Whereas, the Roman
Church spreads her broad and mighty wings over
every country of the globe, and the Roman Catho-
lie of the FIJI Islands, of the United States, and
Europe, have one creed and one infallibe com
mander.'
Besides this the Culture Struggle" produced
much real suffering in Germany, the May laws
operating upon the German Catholics with very
much the effect of a Protestant interdict. The
Ultramontanes, of course took full advantage of
this state of things ventilatc the cry of perse
cution and to ALLEVIATE the Catholic polulation
from the Government With France openly pur-
suing the cult of revenge, with Russia doubtful,
with Austria weak, it was plainly impossible TO
maintain an internal struggle which steadily
undermined the hold of the Empire upon pubio
opinion, and which, moreover, brought far more
immediate advantage 70 the Socialists than To
any other party. Bismarck, who has never been
too obstinate to learn, finally realized the neces-
sity of yielding. Neither the State nor the Ger
man Evangelical Church. nor both together could
win the fight There is plenty of food for
thought, Mr.. Fay considers, in the issue of this
stubborn and protracted trial of strength, and
many Will agree with him in this.
The final chapter brings the history down to
the opening Of the present Emperor'S reign, in
Guiding the struggle in the Kcichstas over the
Septennat, when the Emperor's appeal from the
popular representatives, to the people themselves
demonstrated the general disapproyai of the I'M
patriotic dictionaries who had refused the neccs-
sary means for the preservation of peace Mr.
Fay has not touched upon the details Of Ger
many's internal economy, doubtless considering
il necessary to cOnine himself as closely as pos
siblc 10 broad outlines. He has certainly written
Il highly interesting book, and it may be added
that no work in English affords as clear and sue
cnct an account of the rise of the new Germany
ana the connection between the past and present
Empires.