The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-26
The Champion of the German Catholics.

To the irs. number of tho American Cctho-
lie QAuricriy Rtrietn DR.. JOSEPH SCHROEDER
has contributed an interesting account OF
LUDWIG WINDvucEsr, the stcadfast and tri-
umphant defender OF tho Catholic cause in
the German EeirhstaS. Next to B1sMAHcllS,
there has been no more striking individual
i,y than W1SpTuoRsT's In the Germany OF
this generation, and tho rccol!cctions of n
man who knew him well, and is familiar
with both his personal and private history,
arc o! much historical value.
II was in tho ycar 1866 that Wr;DTnoEsT.
whose reputation had before been provincial
only, entered on the path that gave him
national and even European fame. The King
OF Hanover, who had boen the faithful ally
Of Austria, was defeated in the battle of
LangensalLa, and his kingdom was an
nexei 10 Prussia. WISprHoRsr, who had
formerly been Deputy to the Hanoverian
Chamber and King GEORGES Minister OF
Justice. held at this tmo high post at
tho court. Apparently tho annexation OF
Hanover would end his Official career but,
as II matter of fact, another, moro brilliant
and more lucrative, was opened to him in
Prussia. There were three subjects OF the
dethroncd King GEORGE whose services the
Berlin Government was especially anX-
ious to secure. These men, BENNIGSEN,
MIGUEL, and W1NDTHoEST, Were later to be
known rs the three sorcheadS OF Hanover,
and they were characterized as follows:
THE first is very able, the second is still
ADLER, and the third is ADLER than the other
two put together" BENNIGsEN and MIGUEL
fastened to adore the rising sun, but WIND.
THoRST was Of another temper. He was
not inclined to change masters IA man
changes his coat. From that time to tho
day of his death it could truth.uly be said
OF him that Victric causa deis placuit, sed
picta. CAToNI": by the victor's slde tho
goGs abide, but by the victims, CATO"
WINDTHoRsr made up his mind that tho
cause of justice and Catholicism would
need defenders in Berlin. Accordingly he
went thther and took his seat in both the
Prussan and the imperial legislatures. At
first he placed himself at the side of NAL
L1NCKRoDr, RE1cHENsPERGER and ScHoRLE-
MER, but it was soon reserved for his arm to
upbear the memorable standard which bore
on one side the inscription: mo hope OF Of
fetal advancement here;" and on the re-
versed side the words: For truth, for
right. for liberty" Around this banner for
quarter OF n century WINDTHoRsr ranged
| the unsuitable phalanX Of the Ultramon-
| taneS. His followers alone could neither be
inundated nor scduced by BISMARCK.
Other factions dwindled, but their strength
| grew. The time came when BISMARCK
understood that without compromise
with WINDrHoEsr it would be impossible to
! govern tho German empire through the
Rechsas. 1t was to Mcppcn, the district
represented by WINDTHoRsr, and not to
Canossa, as superficial observers fancied
that tho naughty Chancellor was at last
| forced to make a pilgrimage. Hc had to
| submit to the rigorous terms OF his Han
overan opponent: no had, in other words,
to agree to repeal tho May laws. which he
had repeatedly declared uurepcalable. With
| the abolition of those offensive anti-Catholic
statutes, the great work o. WISDTHcRsT's
| political life WAS done.
WIEDTHoHST vas particularly noted as n
master of parliamentary strategy and rs n
coscnt and pr"suasv. speak i. But these
qualities do not explain tho passionate at
tachmcnt Of his followers, nos t!.c species of
| sympathy, as well a5 admiration, with which
even his Anniversaries; regarded him. Tho
! secret OF the deep and fCrvcut feelings which
he excited is to be found in his moral char
mcter. his uprightnc3s. Observation-Disclosures,
intrcpldity an na9nanlm,ty. Al an epoch
| when politics rVcryN..ntc was ruled by
material interests, h. inGsnt for an ideal
| end, anu With intellectual arms atone. It
Is imp ,ssib!e t, imagine Il moro s,vik-
| Ing contrast than thai presented by
the two great pro.agonists o. the
| Reichstas. On the o2e side stood tho
most Towcyfal of European states mon, III
| his Cuiras. irr'5 ua.!Orn,, w!:05> tall stature
and thu clnllkiAg %. whose spurs throw his
| pa.Ljnns into ecstasy; on tao other side
was Il ln1l OF enA. stature, bcnt, n!nlust
| blind, who @ walk was rs cirrun5prc n ! hi,
| speeches and political actions, y"t wnn5n
plans, thoroughly thought out. and carried
out with uDwaycriNg pcvsi5tcnry, Mt last
cherkmntnI tae hero OF m'dnrn politics.
The tlni5 of WINpfHoRsV'S cila"a ter
| which proved n once imposing and attrar-
| live, his moral super ority, In bHcn exhibit
| cd from IN carly age III his college days
| he Was rrmoriabe not oaly for nj, Ill lin
! guisilcl tIlcut5, but ais 70 e.nmpliry be-
| hav!or. He reuolNcod not Il faw "nipymants
that nmong "ouHg mon are deemed !ngitl-
| mate. II il no. TO hH iuforrcd, however. that
there was anything aus-nro or forrldlnS
about W.SDrHoEsr; o. The contrary his
good l.umor and ioyality We're provnrb al,
HIS goodness was = loyubo goo !ncas and
the fact helps as 10 understand his extglor-
binary influence. Ills social AMI CON
vivial virtues made Inn cverywhrrc
tho centre of attraction: ut meetings. OF
the Catholic students OF German universities
lie would command u salamanca" with
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