New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-22
III.
IX-IIII TILE POW ERS

WITH HE fON
Nevertheless. conflict and contention speedily
came The first great struggle was waged with
no less an autocrat that Prince Bismarck, in the
famous Kulturkampf. OF that we need not here
rehearse the story. which is satisfactorily told
in the volume before us. Mr. Mccarthy thinks
and is probably right in thinking, that Bismarck
expected greater. or more active opposition from
the Vatican: expected and indeed desired. it so to
insist upon it's authority that he could raise the
cry that it was menacing the Empire. and so
could array Germany against 1t. Had such been
the case Bismarck might have won, or at least
might not have been so signay defeated. But
IT was not the case. thanks to the tact and far
seeing discretion of Leo XIII. Although bish-
OBS and priests were sent to prison wholesale
the Pope betrayed no wrath nor irritation. He
was suaye concatory. He wrote to the En-
peror. making appeal to his magnanimity Tor
the restora ton of peace and repose OF conscience
for His Majesty's Catholic subjects. The En-
peror's-really Bismarcks-reply was equally
suaye expressing hope that the Supreme Pontlff
would use his influence to induce the recalctrant
hishops to obey the law the intimation being
that only few leaders were at fault ana that
the masses Of the people were SATISFIED. IL was
a shrewd answer: but Leo was equal TO IL. lie
replied that the new laws were hostile 10 'he
convictions Of all Catholics. and appeaied 10 ''e
Emperor to restore the former freedom OF con-
science What Bismarcks reply to TINS "ouiu
have been can only be guessed at for the discus
sion was rudey disturbed. Two attempts were
made 70 kill the Emperor. not by Catholics, but
nv Socialists opposed to all religion Ihis con-
WINGED the Emperor that there was aho'her loe
To be dealt with. and better to be dealt Win 10y
encouragjng than by depressing rellgloh' "'o"
l.o1
after. Bismarck and the Papal Nuncio had sew
oral interviews at Kissingen Dr. FaiK' the MIL
lister nominally responsible for the May laws re-
s,,ned The Grown Prince-Frederick the No
hle-visited Rome and had most 1rlehoy III
t.rv;ew with the Pope The Caroline Islands dis
mite with Spain arose. and the Vatican by 'he
use Of its good offices therein was enabled 10 re-
o, c,oser relations with +he German Govern
want FINALLY William III found 1t desirable to
o,,is, tho Catholics in the Rechstag in his sup
MORT apainsr-Socialism for which he had to pay
nrics And so the end came. The Falk laws
wera repealed. and the Roman Church became
MT only free but stronger than before IN the
German Empire. -
somewhat similar struggle occurred IN
France in which France had more provocatoh
and resorted to more extreme measures. Inc
French Republic not then as secure rs II Is
now II was beset by foes without ara traltois
within Pretenders to the throne were on every
hand The most formidable Of these was de-
Won't Roman Catholic. He made his appeal 10
France largely on religious grounds, and 10 some
extent succeeded in using the Church as po-
litcal machine for the furtherance or his ampi-
ton Mr. Mccarthy omits all mention or TINS
latter circumstance. although ii has long peeh
notorious There is proof that Leo was cog
infant of it al the time and the presumption Is
that he was not. At any rate he afterWard
fully recognized the legitimacy OF the Kepuphc
and commended ii to the favor and support OF
the Church in France But such use OF the
Church by a pretender explains the animosity OF
Gambetta and Ferry. when they declared
"Clercalism is the enemy 1t does not JUSTIFY
all the measures adopted for the suppression or
the religious orders. Nevertheless. In that con-
troversy. and in the lesser but similar one with
Belgium the Pope was invariably calm. con-
ciliatory and diplomatic. and in the end was
largely triumphant. His triumph was largely
due to his disposition, yet largely also to
the very fact Of his loss OF temporal sovereignty
That loss has indeed. been Of incalculabe ad-
vantage to him in practically all Of his contro-
versies with Governments and in his efforts for
the unificaiion of the Christian Church and the
regeneration OF society on Catholic lines.