The Irish standard., 1906-10-20
nd titanic struggle to preserve tho

Catholic Church In Germany, COM
pelled the Great Bismarck-the Man
Of Blood and 1ron'-to go to Canossa,'
although, few years before in the
Upper House Of Prussia. he said that
unlike a German Emperor who had to
Cross ths Alps to make his peace with
the Pope. there was no fear that he
would make the same trip.
yet, after a persecution in which
the houses of the Archbishops and
Bishops were stripped Of furniture to
pay the fines imposed for refusal to
violate their conscience and for their
failure to comply with what they con-
sidered ubiquitous laws, persecution
a. result Of which in one part Of
Prussia 100000 Catholics were with
out the ministrations Of single priest,
after struggle in which Catholics were
forbidden to hold meetings and hum
d7eds Of Catholic editors were i'm
prisoned. after an attempt by Bismarck
to crush not only the Catholics but
also the Lutheran Church into a slav-
ish subordination and submission to
Prussia, the Great Chancellor himself
had to go to the Upper House and beg
its members to rescind the infamous
Falk or May laws, in order that he
might get the support Of the Catholics
IN Germany in his plan to develop its
greatness and in his efforts to nullify
the endeavors of elements which were
beginning to threatent the disruption
of the empire whirch his genius had
wrought.
And today the Catholics Of Ger
many are the bulwark against destruc-
tive anarchistic and socialistic tenden-
cies and for the stability and perpetu-
alton Of the German Government.
"And the fight Of the Center Party
through all these years and today has
been the greatest factor not only Cor
preserving the Catholic faith in Ger
many but, for perpetuating whatever
Christianity there is in Germany OUT
side Of the Catholic faith.
For it is rezrettabie fact that
both in France and Germany there
are tremendous atheistic and agnostic
tendencies, and you will find few Of
the better classes in German, outside
Of the Catholic and Lutheran faiths
the latter being the State Church
who have any positive religious con-
viotions."
How large a proportion of the pop
ulation Of Germany" asked the report
q. do the Catholics form?"
.HEhay number 100000 out Of g.
100000"
Continuing his remarks about the
convention. Mr.. Koelble said:
ANY one of the 5000 or more dele.
gates had the right to discuss and vots
on any resolution. Hundreds attended
the session of the committees on
social questions. They occupied three
long tables in the Krupp Hall.
1.-THE discussions on the various res
buttons were followed with the clos
est attention. There would be argu-
ment after argument over a single
word.
THE German is nothing II not thor
ouSh. and when finally vote was
taken on any proposition, every para
graph and every word Of the para
graph reflected with almost arithmet-
ical sxactness the thought and senti-
sasut not only Of those who participate
Cd in the discussion but Of the whole
convention. And so there were prac-
tically no debates in the convention
proper. ~ chairman of the commit
tee read and explained the paragraph
az carried in the sessions Of the COM
,nittee, and one or two leading mem-
bsrs Of the convention suocinctly urged
the reasons underlying the resolution.
We Catholics of America can learn
much from the Catholics from Ger
unany. And the first lesson we gan
learn 10 that Of unity. We do not need
q Catholic party. but in Germany a
Catholic party is necessary for the
preservation Of the religious freedom
OF the people. ...
We do not enjoy the unity the Ger
man Cacholics do. We do not Coop
Arats az fully as the Germans do. 1t
seems to mo the srsar organizations Of
this country should begin to UNDER
stand that, although they do great
work In various fields Of Catholic &C.
ttvity. they are stu too narrow in
Mmiting their work only to their indi-
vidual organisations.
THE Catholic Congresses of Ger
many preached the lesson that the
Catholics Of this country should unite
for the common good Of all the Cath
ohes OF the country and all the people
OF the country. The Catholic organiza-
tons should not be limited to their