The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-02

Bishop of Metz in the actual presence | of the German emperor. The previous
 occupants of the See of Metz since the German conquest have performed this
 significant formality before the local
 representative of German authority
 and there was a disposition not to
 make too much noise about a matter which was notoriously disagreeable to prelates born of the race and imbued
 with traditions of the Lorrainers of the
 French period. With the death of Mgr.
 Francois Louis Fleck, the last Bishop,
 two years ago, the German government resolved to change all that sort of qua ] si-neutrality. and to insist that the
 crozier of Metz should be as much at
 the disposition of the new German pa-
 triotism as any pickel-haube of the
 military garrison. The circumstance | that the vacancy since Mgr. Fleck's de-
 cease endured two full years is already
 an eloquent indication of the delicacy of the questions involved and of the
 resolution of the Emperor William to carry out against the old pro-French sympathies and resentments his max
 i'm, Sic volo, sic jubeo."
 Mgr. Fleek had been the Vicar-Gene-
 ral, and afterward the coadjutor, with right of succession to the famous Mgr.
 Dupont des Loges, who had been actu-
 ally bishop at the time of the annexa-
 tion, and continued for sixteen years aftedward to rule the diocese, with the unbroken confidence of his French flock,
 and with the very highest respect of the German masters. So great was the
 esteem in which Mgr. Dupont des Lo-
 ges was held by the German authori- ties, that even high German decora- tion was conferred upon him, which he
 accepted out of deference to the donor, but which he refrained from wearing
 out of unbroken attachment to the past.
 The mourning of Lorraine for it's lost
 French nationality was most impress sively represented in the person of the
 venerated prelate, whose conduct to the
 conquerors was so irreproachable, but
 whose passionate devotion to. fair France was constant and overpower-
 ing deterrent for all waverers who might be tempted to give the new sys- tenn an adherence of the heart and not of the lips only. The annual service TUT lue utdu III LIl6 tl OL NnCLN for the French soldier of the defence during the siege was always function which stirred Lorraine to the very depths. and the stirring was not to the profit of triumphant Germany. Mgr. Fleck, the friend and successor of Mgr. Dupont des Loges, was less im- pressive personality. but there was as little doubt about the direction of his sympathies. After thirteen years in the See of Metz he followed his predecessor to the grave, and the Emperor William at once caused it to be made known at Rome that the line of French minded bishops must come to an end and had came to an end. In truth, the Emperor William had been in no way responsi- ble for the successor of Mgr. Dupont des Loges, as at that time he was still standing on the steps of the imperial throne.
 As might be surmised from the long duration of the struggle, the conflict with the Roman court was stubborn and marked by vicissitudes of fortune; but the emperor's resolution prevailed, though with modification which modl- fled very little. The favorite of Berlin for the succession Of the Metz diocese was Mgr. Zorn pon' Bulach, scion of the great Alsatian house which delight ed the conquerors. and drove the con- quered to fury, by openly accepting, and not only accepting but welcoming, the advent of the German power. Lor- raine, which Is French in race and not merely, like Alsace, in language and sentiment, instructed its mandatories at home that at all risks Zorn von Bu- lach would receive no allegiance on the scriptural throne of Lorraine's capital. For nearly two years the Kaiser insist ed with all the vehemence of his impet- uous nature, while the Lorrainers showed an obstinacy beyond intimida- ton or persuasion, At length the em- peror William said: "One thing must be There must be no more French bishops in Metz. For the rest I care less" Forbidden to choose q French man. perr#sted to reject the alterna- tive of a born German from beyond the old frontier. At 9hy rate, such one would not give the example of sue cessful turncoat The choice of Rome and the consent of the emperor then easily agreed upon the nomination of Mgr. Benzier, Lord Abbot of the Bene- dictine monastery of Maria Laach, "who cannot speak the French lan- At least, such Is the official As the Benedictines are a learned body, with gift for languages, 1t is possible that Mgr. Benzier may be able to conciliate the Lorrainers, after a few months of private lessons or oth- erwise, by displaying a sufficient com prehension of the popular tongue. But one fact stands out for the reflection of French man and French sympathizer: the line of the French Bishops of Metz is at an end, and German speak Ing successor of Bishop Dupont des To- ges will conduct on purely ecclesiasti- gal principles the next requiem for the lead of the lost cause.--Pall Mall Ga