New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
DIR. WINDTHORST DEAD.
HIS LAST WORDS, UTTERED IN DELlRluM.
A SPEECH ON THE JESUIT QUESTION.

Berlin. March l4-Dr. Ludwig Windthorst, the
Parliamentary leader Of the Catholic party in Prussia
who has been dangerously i'll for some days ded al
8 rs o'clock this morning DR.. Wndthorst aI mu
night was merely able to whisper replies 10 III
Guires as TO his condition suddenly. however, MS
voice returned and evidently imagining that he was IN
the Reichstag delivered an imprisoned address III
favor Of the abolition Of the law cxpeling the JcSuS
from Germany. The veteran leaders, voice could be
clearly heard through three rooms. lie never SpoAo
after having concluded his remarks on mat Dill
In the Reichstag day President Lcvetzow dehvereu
affecting eulogy upon the death OF Dr "ihu'iofS'
DIR. Ludwig windthorst was born January H. i0i-'
at Kaldenhof in the province OF AsnabruecR hanover
His parents were Of the agricultural class anu "eie
devout Catholics, that he came lesiimaiey by inc
strenuous ultramontanism which distinguished MN
throughout his public life. The Oldest existing schooi
in Germany is the CarOnum of Asnabrueck. WHICH,
as its name indicates owed its foundation to Charie-
magne. At this school young Windthorst was euu-
Gated, with the expectation that he would study
theology. His bent toward the law, however
and he prepared for that profession by studies at
Heidelberg and Gottingen. While he a scholar
at the Caronum, his readiness and wit made Man, IL
is said the pet of his teachers and OF the clergy.
Not until he trtysix years old, an age al WHICH
Montagne began to call himself IN old man, dld inc
future adversary Of Prince Bismarck have much op-
pOrtunity to show what was in him-when, aiter
Consstory he was made president Of the Council OF
Appeals at Celle He held this office only about a
year, and in 1919 became a member Of the second
Chamber of the IIanoverian Diet. Here he began his
public opposition to Prussia by supporting the party
which insisted retaining the separate Datl0nantS
Of Hanover, though even then the tendency oil al
Germany began TO set toward that unity which WIS
realized about twenty years later His readiness
a debater and his skill a parliamentary tactician
soon raised him to prominence, and within two years
after his legislative began he the acknowl
edged leader of the Conservative rather the Reaction
airy party, and President of the Chamber In November
1851 he made Minister of Justice, an Office which
he held until 1853 and TO which he returned in the
period from 1862 TO 1865. nthe interval he returned
as a private member to the Chamber. Although
George V, then King Of Hanover, was Protestant,
he prevailed on by Windthorst, as Minister OF
Justice, to side with the Catholic party, 10 admit
Catholics to the court, from which they had been
excluded and to permit the erection Of a Catholic
bishopric at Asnaburg Al his second term in the
Cabinet Wipdthorss efforts were directed 10 bringing
about an alliance between Hanover and Austria as
against Prussia, Late in lo65 he became Cmct
syndic Of the Grown in Celc. When Hanover was
forced TO yield to the inevitable and 10 become in
1866 a part OF Prussia it WndthorSt who con
Quoted the negotiations with Prince Bismarck con
corning the compensation to be made to the King
of the little state for quietly giving up his throne
In 1867 he became member of the PrusSian
House Of Deputies and the North German RccllstaS,
but the most signal incident Of those gears was his
participation in 1869 III the ay-conGress at Berlin
the purpose Of which was TO oppose the doctrine
Of Papal infallibility. From the outset he was
member of the German Imperial Parliament while
he still continued member of the PIssian Diet, and
at once took the lead Of the Catholic party. His eccen
trio appearance and his caustc wit earned for MIN the
title of the Pearl of Meppcn." in parliamentary
strategy he had the advantage Of compact, though
small. body of followers. who Willingly obeyed IN
uniting now with socialist agtdtOrS, the National
Liberals the, Progressive the Conservative parties,
rs the tactics of the hour seemed 10 demand. Though
ont lie the bitter oppOncn Of Bismarck. only IN one
great matter giving the Chancellor his support.
Th.- was matter of business. not OF religious sen
timept or reverence for the medieval past. lie
was as much alive a. Prince Bismarck himself to the
value OF cor po1Tcu'TT 70 al" All ,ln obrr
plans Of the Prince he was consistently OPP
posed, because he saw that Germany was
moving irrc,isbly toward all that Ice d.,
liked lie fought for forty years. it may be said.
losing battle. yet il is possible that man ever got
more satisfaction out of opposition for opposition sake