The Irish standard., 1906-06-30

The Church of God has known 0er-
secution in almost every age; from
the days of Nero and Diocletian down
to the present religious tyranny in
France, her history presents one aw-
part of her opponents. says the Cath
Ole Messenger. Whether hunted into
the Catacombs by the Roman Caesars,
or bcset by the fierce followers of the
Prophet. OF attacked from within by
the forces of Professionalism, or lastly
harasscd and dominated over by the
intidel governments of modern Europe
she has had to contend with the same
enemy who, Proteus-like, disappears
for II time only to rcappcar in a more
dangerous and misleading guise.
The darkest cras of the Churchs
existence have been lluinined by the
radiance of her greatest sons. ST
Athanasius, st. Dominic, ST. Bernard
and st. Ignatius were the cham
pions OF IL suffering church, and their
voices were raised for her when the
clouds of error were blackcst and
the gales of wickedness ticrccSt Turn
ing to our own times ana to the
humble ranks of the laity, we can
point with pride to O'Connell cman-
cipating the people of Ireland, Il Mon
talembert pleading for u distressed
France. u Morino bleeding for Il di
vided Ecuador, and IL Windthorst
battling for u suffering Germany.
The memory OF the last named has
been rcvcred by the action of
the Bundcsrath of the German En-
pirc In repeating the last of the an
ti-Catholic measures, the decree of
banishment against the Society Of
Jesus.
Ludwig Joseph Windthorst was
born in the year 1912, at Osterco-
recln, in the old Kingdom of Han
over. In 1886 at the close of his uni
vt.sity career he was graduated and
admitted to the bar Of Osnobruck.
His judicial knowled,. ana his clo-
uucnce soon led to rapi promotion
Within II few years he became the
leading barristcr of his native city,
and after filling with singular intcg-
ijly such minor positions as the lay
presidency of the ecclesiastical tri-
jullal he was called in 1S48 to Cellc,
as member OF the upper division of
tLc Court of Appeal.
In 1S4s. Germany was divided in
"G that Austria be placed or rather
retained at the head of the German
Confederation, the other strove to cx-
ciade the Catholic power ana place
the hcgemOny in the hands of
Prussia. Elected to the diet of Han
over in 1849, Windthorst, who now
bad entered upon his political career,
sided with Austria, especially as the
Austrian Government promised to al
low the various States to retain
their autonomy. He contested against
the German Parliament Of Frankfort,
which rendered the crown to King
Frederick William w., of Prussia. In
1851 upon the accession Of George v.
to the throne Of Hanover, Windthorst
now president of the Hanoverian
Chamber Of Deputies, received the
portfolio of Justice.
He continued to exercise the func-
ton of this charge till November 81.
1853. when the ministry If which
he formed part was dissolved. Nine
years later, he again became Minis
ter of Justice, and in 1865, lie left the
| lake up his duties as Procurator-
General to the Court OF Appeals at
Gale. The intervening years were de.
| voted to the promotion of Catholic
interests at court and at home, while
he rendered an eminent service to the
Church which resulted in the re-
| establishment of the Diocese of Os-
| nabruck. and the appointment to the
restored See of Mgr. Melchers, for
mer Vicar General of Munster and
later on the glorious Archbishop of
Cologne, who, imprisoned and exiled
suffered for the same holy cause that
Windthorst battled for from the ros-
trum of the Reichstag.