The sun., 1903-07-12

mans or Lose IheAF FOWoF-hm~ Nest
~ Europe VIII Follow Soon--WisdOm
of Leo NIII's Democratic Measures.
ROME, June 24.-The Vatican has received
.,,.ral reports on the character and the
significance Of the German elections. When
CarGn.nl was asked some time ago why
wilhelm II. was paying such assiduous
oourt /, the Pope and Co the Catholics, and
es,criallv why the Kaiser paid 30 pompous
visit to the Vatican, against the wishes
~ the Qurinal, and finally, why he subor-
dna,ed every policy to keeping good rela-
,ors and close collaboration with the
church. he answered.: This ardor and this
roljcv are attributed generally to the great
idoo Of the establishment Of the Empire OF
Tho West and to dreams OF Pan -Germanism;
that il true, but IL Ii not the whole truth
In a few years the German Empire will
ortar into an organic crisis. Lutheranism
il diving out; faith has become rare jewel;
from the ruins Of Luther's Reformation
the triumph Of socialism will arise. With
ont the Catholics the Kaiser will be unable
10 rule He will have to become either
Catholic or Socialist"
The German elections justify this pro-
phc,ic view. Bismarck. with his wide
reaching and piercing glance, had seen the
flood rising and his patriotic spirit was
alarmed for his creation. He proposed to
Nindhorst to abolish the May Laws In ex-
change for the restriction Of universal
suffrage he wished for a coup d'etat. The
leader Of the Centre party refused; he de-
clared that the Centre, founded on the
people, would never agree to policy OF
political inequality and Of hateful reaction.
Bismarck did not dare to take action alone,
but he said TO Windhorst: you are wrong:
in twenty years the Socialists will have
the majority In the Reiohstag,'
Twenty-three years have gone by. II
the Socialists are not yet the ruling power
in the Parliament, they form the majority
in the Protestant provinces. Soon there
will be only Socialists and Catholics in the
Federal Parliament. From personal and
trustworthy sources I learned last winter
that Prussia, In consideration Of the radical
successes, was opening again the discus
sion of Bismarcks audacious plan and was
considering the means OF suppressing
universal suffrage.
| believe that the plan exists. 1 doubt
whether 1t will be carried into effect. Timid
and vainglorious, the Kaiser lacks the
cooness and the energy that are needed
for n dramatic scene and coup detat. He
is a representative man; he is neither an
initiate nor one who can carry out a scheme.
In the course OF his boisterous and con-
Trajectory reign he has recoiled before
every resistance. Eloquent tongues and
vivid imaginations are not arms Of steel
nor wills, sure OF themselves and i'm
placable
As the Government has it's majority with
the help Of the Centre, it will keep on living
from day to day. This temporary arrange
ment will last probably until the Socialists
work their way into the Catholic districts.
Will that ever come to pass2 Will the
Centre be able to retain the loyalty Of the
people? That question will be answered
by the Socialist policy which the German
Catholics will take up.
Since 1893. under the lead Of Herr Lieber,
who died eighteen months ago, a large
portion Of the Centre, accepting the Kaiser's
wishes and views. was in favor OF reaction
against democracy. Since the death Of the
last leader a happy return to the tradi-
tons Of Ketteler has become manifest
If the Centre develops a broad popular
policy the masses will continue to be at
tached to its fortunes; II 1t should join It's
cause to an anti-democratic imperialism,
the Socialists will make use of discomfort
TO strengthen their preponderance.
1t seems impossible, Notwithstanding
Cardinal Kopp's efforts, that the German
Catholics should allow the sources Of their
influence and popularity to dry up. 1t is
their glory that they remain the bulwark
of order and Of public safety in the face
OF Lutheranism that is turning into social
ism. A power, birthright likeIthis, cannot
be sold for a monarch's favor and mess
of pottage. Preserving their indepen-
dence they will form the last reserve in the
decisive fights between the Hohenzollsrn
and democracy.
Leo XIII. like Bismarck foresaw the
division Of minds and Of interests. From the
top Of the Sacred Mount he had glimpses
of the future battlefields on which the
Socialist parties would contend for victory
and domination.
That is why, spurring the doctrines Of
Catholicism toward the strong party OF
the time" he provided the Church with his
broadly socialistic and democratic pro-
gramme, The case of Germany will soon
become general throughout the Continent
OF Europe The battles will be fought on
the ground Of social reforms. The era OF
political parties is at an end. Just az In
Germany, they will disappear everywhere
except, perhaps, in Switzerland. under
the heavy and pitiless burden OF economic
interests and demands.
Hence 1t becomes necessary for Catholics
to follow the instructions from Rome and
TO enter joyfully into the general spirit and
movement Of the times. The future be-
longs to the Socialists When socialism
has shown all its effects the sane and purely
reforming part may constitute with the
Catholics the repairing and reconstruotive
government against the revolutionary and
extreme factions.
lhls ia talk about the future, 1t may be
sad That Is true. But nowadays we live
last One year counts for five. Every
day helps the So ialist parties. Public
'ducation, the movement of history cleo
'oral rights, popular sovereignty, the rule
OF economic prices, the predominance Of
industry and commerce-everything works
,or their inevitable triumph. That is the
basis Of future civilization. The form it will
p,Re will depend on the faults or the merits
OF the men. INNoMINATo