Bismarck and the Pope.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4322, 21 February 1887, Page 3

Bismarck and the Pope.

It is a noteworthy incident in the present situation that His Holiness Pope Leo XIII is giving every enconragetnent to the designs of Prince Bismarck, the avowed enemy of France, The latter country is considered, nest to Ireland perhaps, to be the particular pride of the Mother Church, and it is openly asserted that the declaration of war by France against Germany in 1870 was directly instigated by the Pope, with a view to humbling the great Protestant power tbatjwas, under the iron sway of Prince Bismarck, becoming intolerant towards its subjects of the Eomish faith. The complete reversal of positions at the present time is therefore very significant. His Holiness has boldly stepped into the arena of German politics and has given a direct, earnest and mandatory direction to the Catholic electors to support the Army Bill policy of the great Chancellor. In seeking the explanation of the changed attitude of His Holiness, several facts most be borne in mind. Firstly, the Government of France, instead of being identified with Bomanism has become decidedly anti-Cbriatisn ,* and coincident with the relaxation of intolerance in Germany, the Papacy is encountering every species of enmity at the hands of the seonlar power in France. Imperial institutions command the sympathy of the Church much more than the democratic forms of Government, and this constitutes another bond of union between the Pope and Prince |Biemarck. The opposition psrjy in Germany is made np largely of Socialists and Badiosls,and the Catholics will feel much more at home in opposing these revolutionaries than in lending them valuable aid to their antagonism to the Government. There is, therefore, every assurance that Prince Bismarck’s policy will secure the verdict of the country in its favor, although the fact of the Pope having repeated his commands to the German Catholics would indicate that a number of them are rather shaky in their allegiance, and inclined to go into opposition. »■ !-l=