The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16
8 REALMS IN BITTER THROES,
TAXATION VAR IN GERMANY,
PROGRESS or UNRELTGTON.
pape's Policy Of Cembat the Best for the
revival OF Interest In Things Ecciesi-
p~.ucal-Engiand Drifting to separation
Also --NIakInx Bisodless Revolutions.

LCNlDN OcCsNlOs AeuICAy h1NC SeAORO"s
ass'rs PRESENTED pictures Of such intense
3rs.nati3 interest as at the present momen
~ Emperor is fighting his people upon a
crave issue OF policy. a religious war has
-ezun between a republic and the most
numerous Christian Church and Great
Britain is at a deadlock in the first stages
II arother religious controversy, its present
.,isa being the education problem, but the
-eal issue being the question OF the separa-
lion Of Church and State.
An outside observer who studies impair
;Ia,ly great popular movements is able
u.Iallv to see situations in a truer per-
~snective than those in the thick Of the fray.
It Is in this spirit that the following brief
observations upon the German. French Inc
Fnglish crises now pending are offered.
The struggle in Germany is not based on
mere question of colonial policy. 1t is the
eliminating protest Of the German people
sealnst the terrific financial burdens which
he Emperor's vast ambitions in world
POLITICS have imposed upon h nation.
Added 70 this lie the almost rsbellious oppo-
slt!on Of the general populace TO the heavy
increase in the cost of food, brought about
" the prohibition of imports for the benefit
IF the agrariAn class. Germany is now
he most tax ridden OF progressive nations
md the patience Of the people il well nigh
exhausted.
The Germans fully sympathize with the
49,. ar,hfftnna for national Uraafnaaa
but they protest hat his pace is 90 rapid
hat 1t is ~exhausting the vitality of the
empire. They are shocked and appalled,
nv the revelations OF a scandal and cruel
atrocity in connection with colonial adj
ninistration,~ especially in Southwest Africa.
The military spirit has gone mad in GER
ain directions and the Germans resent 1t as
he world at large resents the horrors Of
he Congo. The average patriotic German
argues: sIf all my sacrifices for the great
ness of the fatherland bring disgrace in
The eyes Of C~hristendom as one of the cor
sequences. then the price is too great 20
pay
It does not follow that the next Reichs-
tag will reject he Governments colonial
budget as the old one has lone this week.
It would do 30 II It correctly voiced German
opinion, but the Reichstag is one Of the
most unrepressntative national Legislatures
in the world. Il Is impossible for it to be
otherwise under the forty year old dis
tnbution Of the seats, which the Govern
ment refuses 20 alter. One district in Ber-
lin with 200, 900 inhabitants, for example,
has the same representaion in the Reiohs-
;ag as a district Of 10000 persons. in Sa1ony.
There would be a great Increase in the
Socialist membership and a ciminution Of
he Clerioals n the principle OF one vote OF
one value prevailed.
II is impossible az yet to forecast the re-
suit Of the impending campaign. There
will be much beating of drums and appeals
for support of the Kaiser tn creating a
world empire. and it is not at all impossible
hat he Emperor viii carry his point once
more. This is certain, however: the i'm
perisl programme will nave to be moder-
4ted. The burden is greater than the
people are wiling to bear. and they will
End means one or another to tighten it.
No outsider is competent to express an
opinion upon the merits OF the French re-
iigious controversy. One may, perhaps,
he permitted 10 say that. looking at the
situation from alternate points OF view. each
side has made the best possible moves under
the present circumstances. The Pope has
certainly consulted the best interests Of the
Church in forcing the struggle. The reason
may be found for this In the fact that for
fifteen years, during which the writer has
been a close student OF French public senti-
nent. a great and significant change has
been the steady drifting away OF b popu-
lsoe from religious convictions.
This, OF course, has been most marked in
the urban populations. II h not that the
French people are developing antagonism
10 religion. The change lie far more dan
gerous than that; France is becoming not
religious but unreligious. The Church's
only hope in combating this tendency to
disintegration is TO make its q fighting
csuse. The Pope clearly recognizes this
and has acted accordingly. The Govern
nsnt, on the other hand. had no option but
TO meet the challenge with unyielding in
sistencs that the law Of the land must be
Nbeyed.
It is true that the law OF 1881, requiring
notification Of all public meetings, did not
contemplate religious services in its sppli-
cation. 1t is equally true that the Govern
rnent would not dream Of passing such a
law as a new piece Of legislation. 1t cannot,
however, repeal The existing law the
foreign threat which came this week from
Rome. lift did the Pope would probably
raise, and rightly from his point Of view,
some new controversial issue.
In other words, a long and bitter struggle
netw cen the Roman Church and the French
Government seems inevitable. It will be
a bloodless war IL h present directors
of the French Republic can make it so.
They are not haters of b Papacy. They
ara honest republicans VIC believe that
there should be no connection betw cen
The civil Government and any Church.
Bitterness will probably develop on both
sides. and the development Of the struggle
will be the spectacle OF most absorbing
interest which the world will have to watch
during the coming year.
Englald's religious controversy has o
reached It's most acute parliamentary stage.
There is small chance of the question COM
ing Immediately before the county, eve
II the deadlock between the two houses
N the education bill continues. Prime
Minister CampbeI-Bannerman dare not
risk the reduction or probable disappear
Hnoe Of his majority by appealing to the