Year: 1871

Nothing exhibits more strongly the quiet per


sistence which the Germans apply to the solution
| of great questions, than their recent treatment


of matters bearing upon the relations of Church


and State. The doctrine of the Papal InfallI-


bility was opposed by large number of the


German Bishops in the Ecumenical Council, and


its adoption was generally deprecated throughout


the country but no violent demonstration was


made against it; and this very moderation and
reserve may have deceived the partsans of Rome
into the belief that the Dogma promulgated with
such arrogant authority, and opposed with such
apparent aDguOr, would in time be accepted, and
thus the bands of ecclesiastical thraldom would
be ryeted anew on the most enlightened people
of Europe. But the year which has passed since
the doctrine was sent forth from the Vatican has
shown a steady progress in the other direction,
evidently stimulated by the pretensions of Rome,
but free from any appearance of impulse or ex-
citement.


The story of the morning journals Of Franco
Russian alliance against Germany, and the con-
sequent meeting of the German Emperors at
Isehl to concert measures Of defense, is Of course
mere midsummer folly. In the conference held
by the veteran Emperor William and his nephew,
the Emperor Francis Joseph, it is highly probable
that the most important subject Of conversation
between them, and what is Of more moment
between their attendants, Bismarck and Beust,
will prove to have been the relations of the
spiritual to the temporal power in their respective
realms, and the measures to be adopted to free
Germany from its divided allegiance to Rome.
Although the Emperor Of Austria belongs to a


family always distinguished for its devotion to the
Church, it has been evident for some time that
the spirit of revolt against ecclesiastical dictation
which has inspired the recent legislation Of the
Vienna Parliament has begun to reach even the
serene attitudes of the Hofburg. At first, the
Court fought fercely against the so-called Con
fessional laws, upon civil marriage aud public
instruction, which we're supposed to infringe the
provisions Of the Concordat The mother of the
Emperor, the venerable Archduchess Sophia,
was the leader of this palace cabal against the
plain tendency of the popular desire, and the
consequent legal action Of the Rechsrath. But
this aristocratic rebellion against the Parliament
seems to have greatly died away under the in
creased dissatisfaction with the Utramontane
pretensions, as formulated in the doctrine Of In
fallibity. Count Won Beust is Protestant, and
this circumstance is, of course enough to make
him very circumspect in any measures which
might bring him into collision with the German
Catholics but most Of bis colleagues in the
Government are liberal Catholics or rationalists,
and all Church questions are likely to be regarded
by them IN future in the light of the public vel
fare solely.


The Emperor Of Germany, before setting out
for his Summer journey. gave a striking exempIi-
fcaton of his intentions in regard to these vexed
questions Of conflicting allegiance. Since l94I,
the Department of Worship in the Prussian
Government has been divided into two sections,
one entirely Catholic in its organization and per-
sonsieI and the other entirely Protestant. In
this way the priesthood had a power over the
people, in their relations to the Government,
almost as absolute as that which they enjoyed 10
Spain On the very day on which the Kaiser
William set out for Ems, the 9th Of July, be
signed an order. approved by every member Of
The Cabinet, uniting these two sections 10 one,
md thus breaking up these powerful sources Of
influence formerly enjoyed by the Catholic Church
authorities. The recent change Of Ministry in !