New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31


blow was aimed In June. 1872 the Federal
Council and the Rechstlg adopted law pro-
viding for the suppression Of the houses OF the
Jesults and affiliated orders. This law was
gradually executed toward the c.oss OF IsIz Inc
ensuing legislative measures which were aimed
against the corporate and public work OF the
Jesuis enacted by the Reichstag ana
demptorists. Lazarists. Ladies' OF the Sacred
Heart and few other orders met the same rate
In Prussia the Bishops refused to obey the new
laws The Government enforced them rigor-
ously filming the Bishops heavily and In many
cases Withdrawing the support which Catnonc
institutions were deriving from the state inc
Pope wrote to the Emperor and asked for MS
personal interference In behalf OF the Cnufch
The Emperor In reply reminded the Pope that
the Bishops had wantonly disturbed the peace OF
THE FALK LAWS.
By assuming control over religious instruction
In State schools, the fundamental principle that
the servants Of the Church are subjects Of the
Empire and are bound to submit Internationally
to the law was further enforced. The Prussan
Chambers now resolved to afford protection to
the minor clergy and the laity against the abuse
Of ecclesiastical discipline and Jurisdiction The
Falk laws devolved upon the Governor-Genera
of a province the duty OF deciding upon the
qualifications of those who were appointed TO
be Bishops and OF compelling them TO swear
fealty to tic Emperor and obedience to the laws
These laws the Pope condemned and under his
instructions the German prelates and priests
refused 10 conform TO the new regulations
large number Of them were prosecuted. fined ana
imprisoned Archbishop Ledochowsk was one
Of the first to be convicted. He was imprisoned
for contumacy in not paying the me ana was
finally released on February B. lS,6 after ne hao
been raised to the Cardinalate. The Bishops re-
newed their opposition 10 tie Falk laws IN lS'o
but the clergy offered less strenuous resistance;
Many prelates and priests were convicted ana
banished, and several Catholic seminarles were
closed. and their endOwments conflscateu.
BIsMARCKs OWN EXPLANATION.
Subsequently the Chancellor gave this striking
account of his conflict with the Papacy:
first applied 70 a bishop. inquIrng whether 70
be good Catholic 1t was absolutely necessary M, 70
0 pa P2 Wit2 Or bsef in the Roman creed
the length of Offering TO this reverend preate me
clinfd on the plea that ne did not understand any
Polish. Well. Count Ledochowski who subsequently
up in Rome did not understand word OF PoiiSn
either. bu; he learned it subsequently Meanwhile
seml-Polish provinces was vigorously continued;
until at last | objected to that sort OF thing ana
with This amounting to declaration OF war,
raised fearful storm against us In I!tramontane
bers OF the Ultramontane party In Parlament.
Some indictments former Ministers Under Secr re-
efforts Of the clerical Opposition The conflict thus
assumed more extensive range. and the Govern,
ment we're necessitated to have recourse 70 the
Legislature The May laws were enacted ! con-
tend that. upon the whole, they answer the ne puT
evtable conflict with the Papacy BY virtue OF
tn Rei nave OUR own
up to that date. We can now afford TO- stand upon
the Evangelical Church, it has never thrown any
Contrary supported and strengthened the state.
control the freedom OF the Protestant clergy; yet
avs FOR both estabishments Professionalism had
to be placed the same footing with the priests.
WHY HE DID NOT FULLY SUCCEED
The truth was that Bismarck had entered into
contest which could only be fought out on
international ground. and he could not induce
any other Power to adopt an ecclesiastical policy
similar to his own. He began by addressing
circular to several cabinets. directing their at
tention to the increased power Of the Pope in
consequence of the declaration Of infalbihty
and suggesting that governments before allow
ing new Pope to exercise such rights should
ascertain whether he would be apt TO abuse or
strain those powers. But nothing came OF this
extravagant proposal and when the successor
Of Plus TX was elected neither Bismarck nor
any one else in Europe thought for moment or
demanding guarantees Of any kind. The Italian
Government declined 10 after lHe VI
Papal inviola billy and even Mancn was unable
to force his bill for the repression Of clerical
abuses through the Senate The Austrian legls-
lation Of 1874 was imperative. and In France the
clerical party too strong to be overthrown.
Even in Germany the Chancellor was unaoie 70
enlarge the circle Of alliance against the vatican.
for the Grand Duchy Of Hesse and Baden were
the only allies which Prussia won In this eccIesi-
astical contest. Eventually he had 10 undo what
he had done. abandon the Culturkampf and SEND
an Ambassador to the Vatican.
HIS CLOSING YEARS.
The adoption Of this policy brought the Chan
cellor into close relations with the Liberals the
political party that had supported his domestic
measures since 1866. His former allies, the Con-
servativcs were now his bltterest opponents
Religious fanaticism went far as to inspire
a second attempt at assassination. which was
made at Kissingen In 1874 when the Chancellor
was slightly bruised In the hand by a bullet
which crazy Kullman had aimed at his heart.
He was irrltated and worried at every turn OF the
course of domestic legislation. The military or
ganization, the criminal code and the coinage
werc shaped in accordance with his WILL but In
minor details he was constantly hampered He
has been compared 10 a man who lays out tor
himself a fine park "and then finds that he has
to pass his life in spuding thstes" This was ex-
asnerating work for 2 man with his peculiar tenn
permanent. Three times ne rendered his resis-
nation, once in 1872. when he Presidency OF the
Prussian Cabinet was temporarily assigned to
the Minister OF War again. in 1874, when he lost
his temper over the partial defeat or the Army
bill: and again in 1877 al a European crisis when
he knew that he could not be spared. In Parlia-
ment he set one political faction against an
other and contrived to have his way on |
issues. In the council chamber n
was suspicious, Jealous and domneering. He |
treated Cabinet officers clerks rather than |
colleagues Count KOngsmark once cast a port |
folio ar his feet with the sneer Il am your equal,
NOT vOur laclSey" Count Arnim, once his |
intimate friend. was prosecuted and crushed FOR |
Many a Minister VINO at |
,sponted tC obstrllct his plans forced 10 re- |