THE INTENDED ASSASSIN OF PRINCE BISMARCK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4235, 16 October 1874, Page 3

THE INTENDED ASSASSIN OF PRINCE BISMARCK.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —So much has been said at Home and here by the Press against Catholics, on the occasion of the attempt at Prince Bismarck’s life by a Catholic, that a word of explanation is not out of place. Some dare to attach to the Catholic body a share of responsibility in the deed of the culprit. Why so ? Is it because Kullmann, the assassin, is a Catholic ? This is a most illogical reasoning. You may as well put on the shoulders of Protestants collectively any criminal deed perpetrated by individuals of their communions. Above all, there has been a rabid desire of finding priests accomplices in that dastardly attempt, or strong suspicions have been entertained against them, yet without foundation. Instead of suspecting of crime the German Catholic clergy, people should admire them for the spectacle which they now give to the world of heroic virtues and invincible courage, by which they allow themselves to be thrown into dungeons, there to linger with their bishops, rather than renounce the Catholic creed. Men ready to prefer death to apostacy will still respect the life of tyrants for conscience’s sake. To be sure, in the case of Kullmann, minute investigations were made against Catholics ; a priest was arrested, but had to be immediately released, as he was found completely innocent. After all some bigots will say with a morbid tenacity : “ Kullmann is Catholic.” Well, for the instruction of the public in this matter, let me say what sort of Catholic Kullmann is. First, he was refused admission into the Catholic association of his parish, because of his known habit of being a quarrelsome fellow. Secondly, his parish priest has written to the Germania that he is not among the communicants of his church, and that, since his first communion he never received the holy sacraments. His employers could never make him go to mass on Sundays. A Catholic of that stamp is looked upon by his fellowmembers almost as a deserter from his religion, and, should he die without sign of repentance, he would be deprived of Christian sepulture. Shall I say that Kullmann is suspected of mental derangement, and that it is a family disease, his mother being in a lunatic asylum ? I will not dilate upon the plea that the facts accompanying the deed we all deplore, have been not only grossly exaggerated, but nicely grouped together, in order to serve political purposes. However, despite the best refutations, irreconcilable foes will still cry, “ Down with the Jesuits ! Down with the Church !” Useless cry ! Prince Bismarck has long ago sent into exile Jesuits and other members of religious orders, and not a few of the ordinary clergy. As to the Church, it is safe in Germany. Indeed, in that country it never showed more vitality. Witness confiscations and imprisonments gladly endured by bishops and priests to profess and defend the holy Catholic faith to the last. Witness the public and splendid manifestations of the Catholics to honor and cheer their persecuted pastors. Prince Bismarck will not prevail.—l am, See., A Catholic. [Ho unprejudiced person could hold the German Catholics in any way responsible for the attack on the life of Prince Bismarck.— Ed. N.Z.T.]