Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-06-23
RECENT BAD BREAKS
MADE BY PAPACY
Have Weakened Church in
Germany and England.

uation in Europe is strangely topsy-
turvy Every one seems to be playing
his opponents game.
In Egypt the extreme nationalists by
their violence have weakened the Brit
ish liberals n their efforts to resist
- reactionary and arbitrary counseis
of Mr.. Roosevelt In Russia the ef-
forts of ou siders to help Finland pre-
cipitated the hurried passage of a
bin asserting Russian predominance.
In England the lords have played into
the radicals hand by rejecting the
budget.
But the most strik ng instance Of all
is supplied by the action of the Pose
and its reaction on German politics
Germany today is humming from end
to end with protests against the Pope.s
encyc!ical on Charles Borromeo on ae-
count of its naive restatement Of the
conventional Catholic view of the r.
formation. The liberals are il. ecstas-
les over the unexpected bolt from the
blue in their favor.
Catholics in Ascemdcncy.
Of late clerical conservatism has
seemed as if it were certain to achieve
a great victory at the next election. In
Germany the Catholics have made
much Roadway, thanks largely TO the
zeal and INTELLIGENCE with which the
bishops ana priests have helped the
cause OF social reform. They are tSa
largest group in the reichstag, and
their growing ascendency was watch
ed with unconcealed alarm by the lib
erals Of all shades.
But the Pope's encyclcal has revo-
lutionized tie situation. Pus X, M
his Charles Borromeo encyclical.
deemed it wise and prudent to height
en- the tribute paid to the saint by con-
trasting LIS work with that of the
Protestant reformers, who were d's-
cussed as being responsible for a cor
ruption of morals and perversion of
discipline which could hardly be par
alleIed in the worst days of the Mid
die Ages ssA
The pontiff merely repeated the com
monplaces of the ordinary Catholic
priest, never dreaming wiat a storm
he was bringing about and what a darn
aging blow he was deal 'ng the Catholic
party in Germany. To say almost in
so many words that the reformers
brought the works of the devil NAY
pass unquestioned in tLe pulpit. But
when such words are flung in the face
of the children of the reformers who
occupy the greatest thrones in Chris
tendon. vito have ministers aecredit-
ed to the Holy See it is a different
matter
ClPricals Are Chagrined.
The whole of Protestant Germany
is in a blaze and the liberal party
through its press most diligently fans
the fire. The clerical organs are cow
ed and the apologize paragraphs from
dispatches just published describing
the communications which passed be-
tween the Pope and the Prussan gov
eminent affords intense sat sfaction to
the liberals and corresponding chagrin
to the clericals.
The Prassian minister appears to
have addressed the Vatican in the big |
stick style of Roosevelt.
You have insulted the king, princes, |
and peoples of Protestant Germany. |
Please explain why you are lighting up
the flames of a rel gious conflict. We
hold YOU responsible for the conse-
quences and you must order your
bishops 10 forbid the reading of the
eucyclical in German pulp is"
Never was a successor Of TIfdebrand |
addressed so haughtily and never did
d supreme ponHff take it weaklier. /
is unfortunate the Pope should have
issued The eneycIical.
Seek to Bar Harsh Words.
The English government s endeav-
oring to remove from the declaration
the harsh and wounding words by
witch every king on his accession
must declare the most cherished ten
cts of HE Church Of Rome to be super
stjtious and doiatrous.
The old Protestants guard had
sounded tla alarm, but the defeat wa
regarded as certain. When the fun
bearing of the papal encyclical is ex-
pounded on platform and pulpit the /
difficulties in the way Of striking ont
these offensive words may easily be
come indispensable If 50. King George
will be compelled, much against h s
VIII, to declare that the Roman doc
trines are fdolatrous and superstitious
ard all because tie Pope could not re-
sist the temptation Of finging re-
proaches at reformers.