Year: 1868

The Austrian Cabinet has issued an oficial


circular warning the clergy of the empire
against "fomenting discomfort" in the country


an extraordinary government necessity, the


acceptance and shaping Of which by imperial


authority form remarkable commentary on


the effects Of the present teachings of the con-
secrated representatives Of Him who incul-
Gated "peace and good will' to oil men, and
who Himself maintained a perfect silence
under false accus ltions, oven unto death,
eighteen hundred years ago.


Austria labors under many difficulties, gov
ernmental and social, just now, and ct is very
plain as o matter Of historical fact that the
Emperor Francis Joseph is making laudable
endeavors to relieve them by the inauguration
OF system OF political conciliation towards
the different peoples subject to his rule, and
the harmonizing, as far as possible, for pur-
poses Of universal application, the distinct
usagcs and peculiarities of government 80 long
enjoyed by each. For such ends and in such
crisis religion taught in the spirit of early
observation-disclosures and universal-must be
used as q most potent agent So VIZ find that
the government in Vienna has been endeavor-
ing during the past few years to enlighten the
Catholic Church as to the real intent and scope
of its mission, the utility and success of which
do not depend on the observance Of Concor-
dats with Rome go much as the preaching and
practice Of Concordat with humanity. Hence
We have heard Of the passage by the Austrian
Legislature of liberal measures emancipating
Protestants from certain civil disabilities
imposed on account OF their religion,
reform of the law applicable to "mixed
marriages." laws for the relief of the Jews, the
repeal Of the antiquated school system and the
perfection of more enlightened and enlighten-
ing system Of public education, with other
acts of the same sort which are progress
ing towards legal fuliment under the execu-
tive charge OF Baron Beust, the Premier, him
self o Protestant All this is distastefnl TO the
Austrian clergy, not SO much, perhaps, in their
character as Catholic clergymen as that of the
members of a close corporation-which clergy
men OF every denomination arc-frmly per-
suaded that the world is good enough as it is,
that they themselves point the sway" the
"truth" and the "ligh" nnerringly, and that
the latest sermon which each or any Of them
breaches is the best and most essential to sal
vation that was ever uttered-the same delu-
sion which befogged the mind Of the venerable
Archbishop Of Toledo in his treatment Of Gil
Bias as 90 homily critic"


The peoples Of the Austrian empire sustain
the government SO far as they understand its
intentions, and the mistaken endeavors OF Ahe
clergy to bring public thought 10 q halt and re-
acton induce merely "discontent," which, in
the technical language Of the circular, is thus
"fomented." The issue Of this document will
serve to enlighten the hierarchy in the matter
OF the law Of public progress, and we nave 10
doubt that when duly instructed, the pre-
lates and priests OF Austria will accommo-
date themselves to the everyday advance Of
citizen rights and declare that all measures de
jure are measures de facto. and good aad TO be
obeyeI accordingly.