The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-03
Prince Bismarck's Absence Never Be-
fore Missed So Much by the OPP
ponents of the Catholics.
HOMPESCH-REUNICH'S SPEECH
The Centrist Leaders Plea in Be-
half of the Exiled Priests.
Interesting Gossip on Many F~atherland
~Topics-The Emperor Not a Gam
bier for Big Stakes.

Copyright. 1893, by the Associated Press.)
BERLIN, Dec. 2-The vote Of the Reichs-
tag in favor of readmitting the Jesuit
fathers into Germany is the sensation of the
week. not only in Germany, but throughout
the Catholic world. Never, perhaps, since
Prince Bismarck resigned the chancellor
ship, has his absence from the Reichstag
been so noticeably marked as yesterday.
No previous concession has been obtained
by the Center party with so little accom-
paniment Of heated debate and political in
trigue.
In the Kulturkampf struggle. Prince Bis
marck always poured the full walls of his
wrath upon the Jesuits and so earned for
himself the opposition of German Catho-
lies as a whole. Since that time the Pope
and the Emperor have become reconciled
and the position is much changes. Though
according to the calculations of the news
papers. the bill ought to have been rejected.
their anticipations were falsified by the
votes Of Indifferent members who believe
there is nothing more to be feared from the
interference OF the Vatican in political af-
fairs. In other words, 1t would seem that
the majority of the representative Germans
have come to the conclusion that the policy
of the Vatican is no longer that of inter-
ference in the political struggles of the diff
ferent parties at home and abroad and that,
should the Vatican, at any future time, use
its inference in the political affairs of Ger
many by leaning towards the Franco-Rus-
sian entente, for instance, il is believed
that the representatives of Germany in the
Reichstag would remain thoroughly loyal
to the fatherland, and that such action
upon the part of the Vatican would have no
effect upon the Catholics or Germany other
than to cause them to d-iscountenance the
interference Of the church in the political
situation.
Count Hompesch-Ruenich. the new Cen
trist leader, introduced this important
measure i'm q moderate and able speech,
during which he disclaimed all desire to re-
vive all bitter memories OF the Kultur-
kampf. According to the Count, the meas
ure Was essentially a measure of peace, and
If he and his friends. he added, supported
it as an act OF justice TO the Catholic
Church and to the Catholic community, it
should also commend itself to others as
an act OF statesmanlike policy. Continu-
ing. the Centrist leader remarked that the
law OF 1872 was passed in consequence of
hostilities in which the government of the
city had ~Nengaged. But now peaceful re-
lations between church and state had been
satisfactorily restored, and it's maintenance
constituted a law of exception against the
Jesuits. and was the only law of that kind
now in force throughout the empire.
Socialists and Anarchists, he said, are free
TO preach the destruction of every social
institution; the Jesuit alone is expelled for
preaching Gods word.
OPPOSED TO RED FLAGS.
Count Hompesch-Reunich then recalled
the indignant protest Of the German Epis-
copate in 1872 against The expulsion of the
Jesuits, and once more repudiated in their
name as an insult 10 the whole Catholic
Church the doctrines which he said they
had been falsely charged with preaching.
A recent circular of he Prussian Home
Office. the Count continued, confessed that
the tide OF socialism was rising, and the
Socialist leaders openly prophesied the
speedy advent of the days when the red
flag would float over church and palace.
German Catholics. the Count assured the
Reichstag, wished to see no other flag but
that of the cross of Christ wave over her
churches. and no other standard but the
imperial standard of Germany wave over
her palaces, and it was 10 help To MAIN
tain them against the forces OF social de-
mocracy that they demanded the Jesuits
be allowed to return TO Germany and that
the unjust law excluding them from the
empire be promptly repealed.
The Conservatives Free Conservatives
and National Liberals We'd with Count
ia AFRNlGlH NtAe tGCES-
sity of religious peace is a reason for re-
slsting the repeal of the law excluding the
provisions of this law interfered in no way
with the liberty OF conscience guaranteed
b. the Constitution. or with the free exer-
else OF religious worship by the Catholics.
on the other hand, il was claimed the re-
peal of the law excluding .IeSutts from Ger
many would cause alarm and CONSERVATION
among the Professionals If the empire and
would prevent the very cooperation of
all the conservative forces in the country
which Count Hompesch-Reunich urged upon
the house.
The supporters of the measure. who in
cludsd almost all the extremists.
except those forming the group
headed by Herr Rickert. were
careful TO explain that they voted.
not from sympathy with the Jesuits, but
in obedience TO their liberal principles and
as a protest against all laws OF exception.
Even Herr RICKETTS, objections. which Herr
Richter also shared 10 a certain point. were
directed against the form rather than the
substance of Count Hompesch-Reunich's
bill. Many Conservatives, representing con-
stituencieS containing a strong Catholic
element. declined to vote. and Herr Rickert
proposed an amendment. with the object OF
securing perfect freedom OF public discus
sion on religious questions; il that were OBJ
tanned, IL was claimed, there would be no
fear OF the readmissiOn of the Jesuits. The
amendment was only supported by the Rick
erists and Socialists. The government has
not yet given any indication of it's inten-
tons in regard 10 the Jesuit motion adopted
by the Reichstag, and though il is almost
certain that no immediate attention will be
given TO the vote, the power to do SO will
remain in the hands Of Chancellor Won
Caprivi as a useful resolution should he
desire to attempt 10 bring about more
cordial relations with the Vatican, with the
view. possibly. of alternating the POpe's
Partially for France. Another inducement
which may cause the government TO accept
the bill would be that it would do much
20 reduce the cleavage which manifested
itself during the army Till debates between
North and South Germany.
THE COMMERCIAL TREATIES.
The Reichstag committee 20 which the
commercial treaties were referred last
Saturday to-day approved the Spanish
treaty by a vote Of l. to 6. The majority
was Unexpectedly large and insures the
adoption of the Servian treaty. The fate
or the Roumanian commercial treaty Is
still doubtful. A motion made by the
Agrarian party that the treaty should be
concluded for three years only was mega
tived Dy the committee having the treaties
under consideration. The commercial
treaty committee strongly advised the gov.
eminent 10 make special concessions tC
Cuba and Porto Rico on account of the
American reciprocity treaty giving them
advantages in iron and manufacture
goods and making competition upon the
part or m almost imDOssible. II is
stated In parliamentary circles that the
Polish party, departing from It's previous
declarations. had decided to vote In favor
OF the treaties. and ~ over One-half OF the
NRnfF1EfS also GUHnnTF tho at - =