The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-02
CATHOLICS
Views of Americans on the Action of
the Reichstag.

NEW YORK, Dec. lon being in
formed by a reporter of the action of the
Reichstag at Berlin to-day, in adopting
the Centrists' motion to readmit the Jesuits
into Germany, Mgr. Farley, pastor of st.
Gabriers parish, was surprised and visibly
showed his pleasure. 81 knew said he,
that this subject was being strongly agi-
tated in Germany, but this is really news"
The Roman Catholics in America, and es-
pecially the Germans, will receive this
news. with distinct qualification. 1 need
not say that it will please the clergy of
the Catholic Church, and, above all, the
Jesuits. to hear of the ~readmission of their
order into Germany after the years of ex-
pulsion from that country. This is one
of the last acts Of justice toward the
Jesuits in Germany which were begun
when the present Emperor ascended the
throne.
1.-The prosecutions of the Jesuits was
commenced in 1870, after the infallibility
of the Pope had been declared, when Prince
Bismarck began to wage a Litter war
against the whole Catholic Church. One
of the first of his battles was the impris-
onment of Cardinal Ledochowski, one of
the ablest men in the church, and now pre-
feet of the Propaganda and very close to
the Pope in power. Cardinal Ledochowski
was at the time bishop of Posen. Since the
beginning of the reign of the present Ger
man Emperor the wrongs Of the Jesrits
have been gradually righted through his
more favorable views of the situation.
This subject Is undoubtedly one of the
points of policy over which Emperor Will
lam and Bismarck quarreled. The Emper-
or saw that the stand Bismarck had taken
was a fatal one. There were 100000 very
determined Catholics in Germany, while
thousands of the parishes were vacant, be-
cause Bismarck would not permit the APP
pointment of pastors who declined TO sub
scribe 10 his schemes"
William ~Steinway, one of New York's
representative German citizens, was Wis
tied at his residence by the reporter. Il
am not much surprised he said, ION being
shown the cable dispatch announcing the
action of the Reichstag. | am not a Cath
Ole, but 1 have no religious prejudices. /
hardy know what to think OF IT, but the
vote would indicate that the majority Of
the representatives probably do not appre-
bend any evil effects from IT. Bismarck, If
I remember rightly, was the cause of the
expulsion of the Jesuits from Germany"
lido YOU think this subject was a factor
in the quarrel between Emperor William
and Bismarck? was asked HIM
II do not think So" replied Mr.. Stein
way. The present Emperor Is a man of
extraordinary mental capacity and knowl-
edge. and wanted to rule himself. and that
was, in my opinion, the chief cause Of the
break between him and the Prince"
this side of the Atlantic?' queried the re-
porter.
the United States as there are in Germany.
A proportion Of them, ! believe, oppose the
Jesuits. The majority. however, 1 am in
clined to think, will regard il as a sign of
the settlement of the Kulterkampf, or holy
war, which kept the religious element out
of the schools and out OF the State
The face Of Rev. Father Campbell, of st.
Fra ncis Xavier's Parish, on West Sixteenth
street, lit UP with pleasure on hearing of
the Jesuit victory in Germany. 1T will be
the cause of much happiness TO Jesuits
throughout the land TO learn OF this action
on the part of the German government i,
and, Of course, all Jesuits, can have but
one feeling on the subject-a feeling of
satisfaction because our brothers in the or
der will again be permitted TO return to
their people. TO teach in the schools. to
preach in the churches and once more as
sumo their place among the German peo-