St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-21
A CUSTOMS LEAGUE.
Formation Of a Central Eu-
rOpean Commercial
Union.
The Terms Are at Present
Withheld by the Official
Circles.
Emperor William, in Closing
the Landtag, Talks Of
Peace.
Supposed Seamless Coat Of
the Savior to Be Shown
at Treves.

a great central European customs
league is an accomplished fact
acknowledged byl the official cir
Gle. The exchange of communi-
tications between Germany, Austria,
Hungary, Italy and Switzerland has re-
suited in the basis of an agreement
which became known here to-day. In
tereSt in the realization of the
most formidable zollverein ever
conceived will overtop that in
every other public matter when the
scheme is generally published. In the
meantime the official circle alone knows
that the negotiations have attained a
definitely successful stage. The terms
upon which commercial union was
agreed to are meant to be held secret
until after the plenipotentiaries prepare
the draft of the treaty. A conference
meet at Berne on July 20. The league
is TO be an intimate commercial
alliance, III which no one of
the contracting powers will be priv
lleged to form trade treaty with any
other outside the union unless it iirst
obtains the assent of the other parties
to the alliance. 1t is understood here
that the government has obtained the
consent of the federal states Of Ger
many to denunciation of the treaty of
frankfort, and to accepting whatever
grave consequences that may arise from
The HOstilities of France.
to such course. The existence of the
league will naturally affect the trading
relations of the four contracting powers
with France, England, the United
States, and every quarter of the globe.
How far the independent action will be
controlled depends upon the nature of
the decisions Of the Berne conference.
in characteristic manner. He con-
graduated himself and the country
on getting from the upper and lower
houses OF the landtag nearly all that his
ministers had demanded. During the
course of his speech his majesty said:
although the aims | constantly hold in
view have not been wholly attained. |
and my people may nevertheless derive
just satisfaction from the fact that
necessary and valuable basis has been
agreed upon Tor reform in the
system of taxation and primary
conditions have been by law deter
mined for the improvement of COM
munal institutions in the rural districts
of Prussia" These references to prof.
ects which had been forced upon the
upper house were listened to in gloomy
silence. The emperor then proceeded
to express the hope that the taxation
questions still remaining unsettled
would find an equally satisfactory set
tlement. He trusted that the newly
enacted communal laws would be :
ried out with due regard to old-time ~
stitutions. This, he said, will secure
the development of the communal dis
tricts and
Draw Closer the Ties
uniting the people to the monarchy.
Touching upon ecclesiastical affairs, the
emperor said he noted with pleasure
that the restitution to the Catholic
church of the clerical stipends which
had been stopped during the Kultur-
kampf. was resulting in an essential ad-
vance Of the settlement of the differ
ences between the church and the
nance of religious peace. He
became all the better assured,
the more this conviction gained
ground, that the claims the church put
forward required to be confined to meas
ures compatible with the duties of the
state. In the single concluding pas
sage of his speech, alluding to the for
eign situation, his majesty said: Con
Sidering that the session now about
to close will be attended with
fruitful results, l and my peo-
pie may cherish the hope that these
results will be turned to good
account while we continue to enjoy the
blessings of peace, which l have no
reason to apprehend will be imperiled,
and the preservation OF which is the OBJ
ject of my unremitting endeaYOr." A
number of the deputies afterwards at
tended garden party at the emperor'S
palace at Potsdam The emperor's
references to the further demands of
the clericals related to revival of the
proposals that the
Kedemptorists and Jesuits
have recognized status in Germany.
Bavaria has asked the bundesrath to
admit the redemptoriSts, and the cues
ton has been referred to commission.
1t is the general belief, however, that
the bundeSrath will finally refuse to
make report on the subject. 4 great
religious function will open at Treves
Aug. %, when the rarely seen "holy
coat will be exhibited in the cathedral
of st. Peter and st. Helen there to be
Catholic faithful during six weeks. The
''holy coat is a relic which has been
preserved with the greatest reverence
in the Treves cathedral for many years
and is esteemed as its greatest treasure.
1t is alleged to be the seamless coat
worn by our Saviour. 1t is said to have
been discovered by the Empress Helena
during her memorable visit to
Palestine in the Fourth century.
After numerous viciSsitudeS the
coat was deposited in the
cathedral of st. Peter and st. Helen.
and since the year 1196 has at exceed
ingly long intervals been exhibited to
the faithful. Miraculous curative prop
critics are ascribed to the relic The ex-
hibition of the ''holy coat" in 1914 is
memorable for the reaction which it
produced, leading to the secession of
the Ronge and German Catholics from
the Church of Rome. The exhibitions
have always been attended by almost
countless throngs, and an enormous in
fiux of pilgrims is expected in August.
The Rhine railways are preparing for
the service. They expect to carry 1000
passengers daily.